The Alt Weekly Roundup (8/1)
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.
Mary’s Letter – In Spite of Everything
There are very few emo bands like Mary’s Letter anymore. Their debut LP In Spite of Everything prioritizes first and foremost creating an atmosphere. They dabble in post-rock like early Foxing or The World Is, and there’s traces of The Gloria Record in the ways the riffs seem to float and swirl in the mix. It’s a powerful statement for a new band, and it’s a beautiful collection.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Soul Blind – “Stuck in a Loop”
Soul Blind is only ever getting better. With each new EP the band’s riffs get murkier, melodies get sharper, and vision becomes clearer. They keep up this streak on their pulverizing new single “Stuck in a Loop,” which finds the band at their heaviest yet. Grunge is back in style, and no one wears it better than Soul Blind.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Liska – “Baby Blue”
Liska’s new track “Baby Blue” is a fun, snotty rocker built off the back-and-forth of fuzzed-out riffs in the chorus of “what did you want? What did you want me to do?” and breezy acoustic strumming in the verse. The hook rocks, but Liska’s voice sounds particularly strong in the verses, as she puts on a more sugarcoated affectation that reflects the lighter instrumentals.
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
Present – I Want
California’s Present turn in some of the best fuzzed-out alt rock in recent memory on their debut EP I Want. The hooks are pristine and effortlessly catchy, and the riffs are dreamy and languid. Projects like Beabadoobee are bringing back ‘90s-flavored fuzzy pop rock, but Present is perfecting it.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Ithaca – They Fear Us
Ithaca’s second LP They Fear Us is a wild level up for the London metalcore upstarts. 2019’s The Language of Injury was a powerful and inventive debut for the band, but They Fear Us is a step up in every way. Ithaca’s metallic hardcore gains new depth with the band’s willingness to experiment with structure and melody, turning in gorgeous post-metal gems like “You Should Have Gone Back,” bracing post-hardcore in the contrast of breakdowns and clean vocals on “Fluorescent,” legitimate earworms like the hook of the title track, and a soaring ballad to cap it all off. They Fear Us is the maturation of one of the freshest, brightest stars in heavy music.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Togaru – This Is the Last Time
Togaru’s This Is the Last Time is further proof that much of the best emo being produced today is exported from Japan. Togaru’s sound is crisp and laid-back, like a brighter answer to Empire Empire and Joie De Vivre’s wintry styles.
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.
The Alternative is ad-free and 100% supported by our readers. If you’d like to help us produce more content and promote more great new music, please consider donating to our Patreon page, which also allows you to receive sweet perks like free albums and The Alternative merch.
