The Alt Weekly Roundup (1/9)

Posted: by The Editor

The Alternative Weekly Roundup is a column where our staff plugs a variety of new releases in a concise, streamlined format. Albums, singles, videos, and live sets. Check back each Monday to see what we were jamming the week prior.


Stalled – Contentment

Stalled employs a unique mix of slowcore and post-hardcore that places it closer to forgotten ‘90s gems like Seam and June of 44 than contemporaries like Horse Jumper of Love. Contentment is an impressive feat in that it manages to juxtapose both somber resignation and unhinged bombast in a way that makes each hit harder.

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Stolen Jars – “Adeline”

Stolen Jars’ latest track “Adeline” creates a beautiful, expanding atmosphere in the interplay of Sarah Coffey’s steady, expressive vocals and the smorgasbord of guitar sounds. Lines like “I stare into my iPhone but I can’t find my friends” and “hold me for the moment / forget the could’ve beens” are woven between crunchy palm-mutes, lightly glinting lead lines, and gorgeous open chords, allowing the song to grow naturally to the brightly cutting coda. It’s the first tune off their upcoming record I Won’t Let Me Down, out this spring.

Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject


Cutlass – Wire b/w Incinerator

Comprising members of Sinking, Massachusetts’ Cutlass exists in the sweet spot between hardcore and alt rock. Their debut single bears resemblance to last year’s Praise LP: hooky Revolution Summer style emocore.

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Louser – “Stain”

Recent No Sleep signees Louser make the kind of crunchy, throaty alt rock that recalls earlier No Sleep favorites like Balance and Composure and Daisyhead. Their upcoming LP Clandestine takes the best parts of those bands’ sounds and builds on that foundation. It lends them a unique place among the contemporary wave of grunge bands, and their latest single “Stain” might be the best cut off Clandestine.

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Crime Lab – “Gumshoe”

Brash but catchy, grimy but refined, Crime Lab’s “Gumshoe” strikes that perfect balance of barroom rock that adds some complexity overtop of its slacker vibes. Even the guitars find that balance with solo lines that embrace melody over intricacy and pounding rhythm guitars that leave it to the adventurous bassline to add movement under the wave of distortion. It’s a whole lot of fun, and a good representation of the group’s upcoming album, Fall In Love With Everything, which they will be self-releasing this spring.

Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject


Half Thought – Blackout Curtain

An indie punk band thought gone forever drops what might be their best record yet unannounced on one of the first days of the new year—that’s right, Half Thought is back. The Clique-shaped hole in my heart has only grown larger in the years since the Philly cult favorites faded away, but Blackout Curtain effortlessly blends slinky indie rock, carefree punk, solemn slowcore, and groovy post-punk into a tight package.

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Northeast Regional – Heiress b/w Do You Love Me Now

The influence of powerpop-inspired hardcore bands like Turnstile and Drug Church is already being felt. The latest band to tap that well is Richmond’s Northeast Regional. The project, by bandleader Jeff Byers’ own admission, owes as much to bands like Superchunk and Lemonheads as to hardcore, and that comes through on the band’s latest single. A-side “Heiress” is blistering and raucous, but buoyed by a fuzzy, melodic guitar line, and the backing Breeders cover is a bit airier.

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Haunt Dog – “Canker Sore Go Brr”

Haunt Dog only had two songs to their name, but they’re already primed to be one of 2023’s breakout bands. “Canker Sore Go Brr” combines Snowing’s impassioned mayhem with a dirty post-hardcore gloss like something out of El Paso around the turn of the century.

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


The Alternative’s ‘New Music Friday’ playlist

Each week our editor Lindsy Carrasquillo compiles a playlist of songs our staff has been jamming. We’ll post it on Fridays on Twitter and then include it in each edition of the ‘Weekly Roundup’ to make sure you don’t miss all of the great music we’re recommending.


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