The Alt Weekly Roundup (2/15)
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.
BAXTR—”Grace On Fire”
Quickly becoming one of my favorite all-female, DIY groups, alt-pop/geek rockers BAXTR make it hard to believe the trio was only formed last year. Last time I covered them, their rowdy-rough debut single “Feathers” had just been released, donning me an immediate fan. A little over six months later, Baxtr’s back with their third single “Grace on Fire” which takes the band’s prior pop-rocks-like-sizzle to an explosive chemical reaction. From the start, Floss Mackintosh’s steamy vocals reel you in atop the glowing hot soundscape of Bash Powers and Keiko Jackson as the song pedals towards a grungy chorus that spits ember. Its quick-pacing, 90’s verve, and early 2000’s glam punk edge makes waves as it leads to a rattling breakdown before pulling the reins as the closing turns soft. There’s loads to enjoy from the 3:26 run-time, and if anything, “Grace on Fire” proves that BAXTR has a tool belt of nerve in their repertoire giving these pink and powerful badasses a red-hot presence…. and perhaps I did have fun dancing around my kitchen cooking breakfast with it blaring on repeat. If you’re a fan of Fickle Friends and MUNA, you’ll adore BAXTR.
Hope Ankney | @hope_ankleknee
Mere—”Second Wind”
“Second Wind” is the second song Mere has released, and the first in over a year and a half. It’s unclear when their fabled With Absence Comes Clarity EP will come out, but it is clear that “Second Wind,” a post-rock meets alt-rock banger, absolutely whips.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
So Badly—”Harley Davidson”
So Badly’s new single, “Harley Davidson”, is a melancholy dream-pop song about wondering how it all went wrong. The entire sound, including Grace Howie’s pure vocals, feels like it is being filtered through a gloomy, rainy day that you want to wallow in instead of take shelter from. FFO watching raindrops slide down the window pane.
Jami Fowler | @audiocurio
Photographic Memory—”Twirl Back”
The latest Photographic Memory single, “Twirl Back,” is a beautiful dream-pop duet with rising star Rat Tally. It’s a lovely, all-too-short taste of Photographic Memory.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Potty Mouth—”Let Go”
Potty Mouth’s new single “Let Go” is a catchy mid-tempo rocker in line with the group’s excellent 2019 record, SNAFU. The song kicks off with a great, fuzzed-out riff that comes back between the infectious chorus and more dynamically-reserved verses. “Let Go” will appear on the upcoming Sunday, Someday compilation, which finds Potty Mouth alongside Nervus, Full On Mone’t, Solstice Rey, and KOJI.
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
Fanfare—”Nothing’s Changed”
Fanfare is a pop-punk band I can listen to without feeling shame. “Nothing’s Changed” is an introspective, rough-around-the-edges look at anhedonia that avoids all the cliches of the genre.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
JPEGMAFIA—EP2
JPEGMAFIA is one of the most unique rappers around, and EP2! proves that’s still the case even when he’s more toned-down. It’s his least chaotic release yet, giving a glimpse of his more somber and melodic side, but it’s a great sound for him.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Jordan Krimston—Bushwhacking
Bushwhacking is an incredibly cool rock record that takes the pop sensibility of early aughts emo records and rearranges it with jittery synthesizers and off-kilter production. Jordan Krimston, known for his other work as the drummer for Weatherbox and a few other adjacent bands, does a very good job at balancing the spacey with the hooky—like on the alternatively buoyant and jammy “Back Home” or the wobbly undertones of the catchy “Betty.” Bushwhacking is just sugary enough to be immediately lovable, and just odd enough to remain interesting after a dozen listens.
Jordan Walsh | @jordalsh
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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