The A-Side:
Dweller – Aquarium
Philly-based indie-rock band Dweller recently released their sophomore album, Aquarium, via Forged Artifacts. The follow-up to their 2018 self-titled release, this new record finds the band expanding on the formula of their unique brand of surf-rock, adding in elements of shoegaze and prog. Aquarium is a collection of landlocked blues, gasping for air in the confines of the surreal. It’s also just an achingly beautiful guitar record, if that’s your jam (it’s definitely my jam). –Tyler
Brick Nova – Brick Nova
The Montgomery County 4-piece came down to Manayunk to support Cat In The Wall’s residency early in the new year. Tom Drakeford (vox/ guitar), snapped mid-set. He chugged a PBR, crushed it, and chucked it across the stage while the band exploded into their Wilco-Big Star inspired set. Check out Tyler Asay’s full-length review of Brick Nova’s self-titled album here. –Kevin
Knightlife – Let Us Escape
It’s a bit strange hearing Aaron Van Allen on lead vocals after seeing the three-piece version of Knightlife (Bruce MacKnight, Rich Giduck, Anthony Angelina) perform Let Us Escape live for the past year. You get over it quickly digging into the depths of Bruce and Rich’s songwriting. On track 8, “Vulture,” Van Allen sings, “Do you have a secret culture? Pull me, drag me closer.” Since the band’s inception, they have felt isolated through surrounding neighborhood fraternities living in county West Chester. This gave Knightlife a purpose to create their own, unique culture for those looking for an escape. It’s their own, little club that allows them to morph into a cover band when necessary, change out lead singers, and book annual Rocky Horror Shows & Last Waltz tribute performances. Every night life has its own culture, this is Philly’s Knightlight. –Kevin
Ali Awan – “Cherry Pits”
Phila Globe’s Kelly Liu reviews Ali Awan’s “Cherry Pits” in full here.
Philly garage-rocker Ali Awan tones it down with a beautiful, late-summer walking song. If Butterfly was his Hard Day’s Night or his Help!, “Cherry Pits” is the first entry to his Rubber Soul, digging into hazy psychedelics, getting out of the city and enjoying nature while we still have it. Wasting the day away is a good thing. –Tyler
Tyler Sensenig – “Clarity”
Son of preacher, Tyler Sensenig, is a new singer-songwriter on the Manayunk music scene. He previews his new album, Along The Way, with “Clarity,” a soulful, folk number reminiscent of Mt. Joy, the Lumineers and more. – Kevin & Tyler
PHNTMS – “Carabelle”
PHNTMS debuted “Carabelle,” live during their Alt 1045 birthday show performance supporting the 1975. Alyssa Gambino gives us the business by belting her heart out. Listen below. –Kevin
Honeyjar – Mystic Woman
Honeyjar’s Dylan Gallimore (bass/ vocals) referenced the “Mystic Woman,” foreshadowed on his verse in “Hot Nights.” She gets a song of her own on the band’s newest release. Every time you listen, a teenage girl gets a scarf. –Kevin
The B Side:
Fleet Foxes – Shore
The closest thing that’s come to the new Phoebe Bridgers record to being my AOTY. Shore is everything I love about Fleet Foxes and more; the dense poetic lyrics, the intricate harmonies, the world-building that Robin Pecknold creates within his storytelling. It also helps that he let up on the abstract pedal to dial in his most catchy and pop-centric songs yet. Even if music is a “Young Man’s Game,” Pecknold has still got it (if you couldn’t guess, that’s my favorite song). –Tyler
Deftones – Ohms
Classic Deftones! Moody alt-metal, rock. Hey, remember when Adam Sandler joined Deftones live for an MTV exclusive acoustic performance of “Be Quiet and Drive,” for Little Nicky promo? Check it out below. –Kevin
The Menzingers – From Exile
The Menzingers re-cutting their triumph of a last record (2019’s Hello Exile) from an acoustic perspective only strengthens its story. I may have listened to this last week when it was raining in Philadelphia and tears may have swelled up in my eyes. Good things happen in Philadelphia. –Tyler
Philly’s own heartland-punks deliver on a COVID experiment. The Metzingers stripped back 2019’s Hello Exile and re-released it as From Exile. (Makes sense – aren’t we living in exile?) Focus tracks “Anna,” and “Hello Exile,” are gorgeous as acoustic ballads. You know you have a great record when your songs can be reimagined like this. –Kevin
Gangstagrass – No Time For Enemies
I was introduced to Randy Green (aka, R-Son) while shopping around at Comics & More in Plymouth Meeting. Like all nerds, we bonded over comics, music, & podcasts. The Superman loving MC has been droppin’ politically charged bars with his supergroup, Gangstagrass since 2012. I’ve been following the ensemble since their 2014 Broken Hearts & Stolen Money LP. Their latest release, No Time For Enemies, climbed to #1 on the bluegrass Billboard charts and now features R-Son as a mainstay feature. The record reflects the times addressing the state of the world’s pandemic and the citywide antiracism protests. Despite the challenges 2020 have brought, Gangstagrass remains positive with upbeat bluegrass/ hip-hop fused anthems like focus track, “Ride With You.” -Kevin
Royal Blood – “Trouble’s Coming”
If I were on a roller derby team, this would be my intro theme. Find Royal Blood’s new single, “Trouble’s Coming” at the intersection of funky and evil. Stream this sinister, disco-rock jam below. It fux. –Kevin
We also like:
Joan Osborne — Trouble and Strife Jealous of the Birds — Peninsula Anjimile — Giver Taker Native Harrow — Closeness The War and Treaty – Hearts Town Sylvan Esso – Free Love
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