Music Recommendations

The Alt’s Bookshelf is a series where our staff highlights some of their favorite books and zines related to music. For our seventh volume, Bineet shares her thoughts on My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen, I Would Leave Me If I Could by Halsey, and Mellow Zine.

Transatlantic Trawler is a monthly column where Conor Mackie writes about five bands from mainland Europe that he cannot get enough of. This month includes melodic punk from France, screamo from Finland, and Austrian alt-club bangers.

Wednesday's debut LP came out this February and was an excellent AOTY contender. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic has made promoting music extremely difficult, and the record had trouble with it's release. Finally now, Wednesday are ready to give their album the release show it deserves on November 13th, via live stream.

On October 23, 2012, one of the most highly regarded prospects of the UK pop-punk scene, Basement, released Colourmeinkindness. Despite the band's surprising hiatus, the record cemented Basement's status as a foundational band to that current wave of grungey emo. Now, over 8 years later, Colourmeinkindess still holds up.

Invented, which came out ten years ago last month, is nobody’s favorite Jimmy Eat World album, but it has still forged an important place in the band's catalogue and rock music in general. Find out why in Jordan's newest addition to our It Holds Up series.

Acrobat Unstable Records have only been around since 2018, but their roster and impact on the DIY scene would make you think otherwise. The label has been putting out a steady stream of great albums. Short Fictions, Infant Island, and many more, the roster is deeper than you would expect from such a young label, so there is plenty to discover.

Over more than 2 decades, Laura Stevenson has perfected landing just the right note in her songwriting, nailing a point so visceral and deeply felt that it makes you feel weak at the knees. With the approaching reissue of one of those landmark albums, now seems like the perfect time to take a look back at some of Stevenson's best tracks.

In the latest edition of his periodic shoegaze column, Eli Enis interrogates Hum's inclusion in the shoegaze canon and then highlights releases by No Joy, Narrow Head, Luster, and many others.

The Alt’s Bookshelf is a series where our staff highlights some of their favorite books and zines related to music. For our fifth volume, Jordan shares new reads including Cult Musicians by Robert Dimery, Total F*cking Godhead: The Biography of Chris Cornell by Corbin Reiff, and Glitter Up the Dark How Pop Music Broke the Binary by Sasha Geffen.

The Alt’s Bookshelf is a series where our staff highlights some of their favorite books and zines related to music. For our third volume, Bineet shares new reads including Your Song Changed My Life by Bob Boilen, PUP the zine, volume 4: Quaranzine, and Convergent Lines by Jackson Watkins.

Our monthly roundup of the best new Asian alternative music is is back with another one, featuring Hiperson's experimental indie opus, iamrain's post rock-inspired emo, and a goth punk concept album about the tragic life and death of a Catholic priest.

Transatlantic Trawler is a monthly column where Conor Mackie writes about five bands from mainland Europe that he cannot get enough of. This month includes noodly emo from Spain, chaotic math rock from Germany, and more.

A highlight from a Blink-182 covers comp, the glimmering return of bedbug, and the great new Tough Age record were among our staff's favorites from last week. Check out all eight new releases that we deem 'must-hear':

There is so much great music in the world! After the success of Keegan's monthly Friendship International column that highlights the best new Asian rock, Conor has started his own version to discuss his favorite bands from continental Europe. Take a listen and find some gems.

Welcome back to Friendship International, our deep dive into the best new DIY, underground, and independent music from Asia. We've returned with a new schedule and whole new hardcore-specific edition. Get into it.