• Robber Robber - Two Wheels Move the Soul
• WU LYF - A Wave That Will Never Break
• Brown Horse - Total Dive

I never learn. Any week I dread because there’s no obvious “I don’t even need to listen to know it’s a good one” album, there is one that I regret not listening to right away.

This time April 3rd’s release day came and went… I listened to a few of the records, like Arlo Parks and deary. I liked them enough, but not ENOUGH… so I put off listening to the other 10 or so records I bookmarked… fast forward to April 10 and I added another dozen or more records to the pile.

Thankfully I had a long drive to my daughter’s college accepted student day, so I put the drive time to use… and wow, there are a handful of albums I REALLY like, so I am excited to share those with you…

And, like every other two week combo post, I have a ton of honorable mentions for you! Twelve more albums that span many genres, so there’s something for everyone.

May your ears enjoy some new music. 🤘

Honorable Mentions

POMPEII // UTILITY by Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE, SURF GANG

• 💿 Released: 3 April on 10k Records
• 🤘 FFO: indie hip hop, alt hip hop
• 🎧 Your first song: “Leadbelly”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Ambiguous Desire by Arlo Parks

• 💿 Released: 3 April on Transgressive
• 🤘 FFO: indie pop, Billie Eilish, SZA, Clairo, Holly Humberstone
• 🎧 Your first song: “2SIDED”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Birding by deary

• 💿 Released: 3 April on Bella Union
• 🤘 FFO: bdrmm, My Bloody Valentine, shoegaze
• 🎧 Your first song: “Seabird”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Distracted by Thundercat

• 💿 Released: 3 April on Brainfeeder
• 🤘 FFO: jazz
• 🎧 Your first song: “No More Lies”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Streetsweeper by John Andrews & The Yawns

• 💿 Released: 3 April on Earth Libraries
• 🤘 FFO: Cut Worms, Bonny Doon
• 🎧 Your first song: “Something to Be Said”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

The Secret to Good Living by Hiding Places

• 💿 Released: 3 April on Keeled Scales
• 🤘 FFO: Colin Miller, villagerrr, hemlock, Lily Seabird, female fronted slacker alt-rock
• 🎧 Your first song: “Holy Roller”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Cruel World by Holly Humberstone

• 💿 Released: 10 April on Polydor Records
• 🤘 FFO: pop, Gracie Abrams, Billie Eilish
• 🎧 Your first song: “To Love Somebody”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

Biting Heels by Lucky

• 💿 Released: 10 April on Community Music
• 🤘 FFO: Beach Bunny, Wishy
• 🎧 Your first song: “Adored”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

THE HORROR SHOW by I Am The Avalanche

• 💿 Released: 10 April on Equal Vision Records
• 🤘 FFO: The Movielife, melodic hardcore/punk
• 🎧 Your first song: “The Horror Show”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Squish by Gretel

• 💿 Released: 10 April on Breadcrumb Records
• 🤘 FFO: goth inspired indie rock, SPRINTS, Sonic Youth, English Teacher, Heartworms
• 🎧 Your first song: “Fire blooming trees”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

Maybe Not Tonight by Lime Garden

• 💿 Released: 10 April on So Young Records
• 🤘 FFO: dance punk, post punk, Courting, English Teacher, Gretel, mary in the junkyard
• 🎧 Your first song: “All Bad Parts”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Forever Ends Someday by Wesley Joseph

• 💿 Released: 10 April on Secretly Canadian
• 🤘 FFO: Brent Faiyaz, J Cole, Jorja Smith, Don Toliver
• 🎧 Your first song: “Distant Man”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

• Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit
• The New Pornographers - The Former Site Of
• Snail Mail - Ricochet

What a week. SO many good releases to check out. It was difficult, not only in sheer quantity, but the quality was good as well. With that said, I’ve got THREE featured albums for you this week and 8 honorable mentions. Something for most everyone too: indie rock, jazz, hardcore, emo, singer-songwriter/folk, some twee pop… even Scottish Indie Rock. Which is of course it’s own thing.

You’ll notice a theme with these featured albums: all three are from super consistent and talented songwriters/bands that may not wow you with a standout track, but consistently deliver high quality albums with no filler. Courtney Barnett with Creature of Habit, The New Pornographers with The Former Site Of and Snail Mail with Ricochet. All worth your time.

Get to listening! Your ears will thank you.

Honorable Mentions

Honora by Flea

• 💿 Released: 27 March on Nonesuch Records
• 🤘 FFO: improv jazz
• 🎧 Your first song: “A Plea”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Nothing to You by Start Today

• 💿 Released: 27 March on Rebirth Records
• 🤘 FFO: hardcore, Youth of Today, Mouthpiece, Gorilla Biscuits
• 🎧 Your first song: “What About Now”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Blinking as the Starlight Burns Out by Paula Kelley

• 💿 Released: 27 March on Wharf Cat Records
• 🤘 FFO: Drop Nineteens, Boy Wonder, Hot Rod, orchestral twee pop X shoegaze
• 🎧 Your first song: “Party Line”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Moments Before the Wind by Free Throw

• 💿 Released: 27 March on Wax Bodega
• 🤘 FFO: emo, Hot Mulligan, oso oso, Joyce Manor, The Hotelier, Tigers Jaw
• 🎧 Your first song: “MissingNo.”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

takeaways by Medium Build

• 💿 Released: 27 March on Island Records
• 🤘 FFO: Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan
• 🎧 Your first song: “R3verse”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

Lost On You by Tigers Jaw

• 💿 Released: 27 March on Hopeless Records
• 🤘 FFO: emo, Joyce Manor, Free Throw, Turnover, Modern Baseball
• 🎧 Your first song: “Primary Colors”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

IT’S THE LONG GOODBYE by The Twilight Sad

• 💿 Released: 27 March on Rock Action Records
• 🤘 FFO: Scottish indie rock, Frightened Rabbit, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Arab Strap, The Cure
• 🎧 Your first song: “WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Against the Dying of the Light by Jose Gonzalez

• 💿 Released: 27 March on Mute Records
• 🤘 FFO: Iron & Wine, Damien Rice, Nick Drake, Red House Painters, Fleet Foxes,
• 🎧 Your first song: “You & We”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

• Gladie - No Need To Be Lonely
• Neurosis - An Undying Love for a Burning World

I’ve got two superb albums for you this week, in addition to 8 honorable mentions. A jam packed week that leads into another jam packed week: the March 27th release day is STACKED, so stay tuned for that… it might take me awhile, though.

But first, the featured albums: No Need to Be Lonely by Gladie and An Undying Love for a Burning World by Neurosis are both very much worth your time. Gladie if you are into pop punk influenced indie rock with earnest, personal lyrics… and Neurosis, if you are a metal or heavy music fan, though you most likely already know the name Neurosis if you are… you may be as surprised by the album release as I was, however! I had no idea they were still around, much less on the verge of releasing new music.

There is good (genre) variety in the Honorable Mention section too, so get to work!

Honorable Mentions

Girlfriend by Grace Ives

• 💿 Released: 20 March on Capitol Records
• 🤘 FFO: Lorde, Charli xcx, Nilufer Yanya, Sudan Archives
• 🎧 Your first song: “Avalanche”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

another cycle in the cosmic wash by Ringing

• 💿 Released: 20 March on Julia’s War, Signal//Noise Records
• 🤘 FFO: TAGABOW, heavy shoegaze X emo
• 🎧 Your first song: “incandescent”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Clipping by Special Friend

• 💿 Released: 20 March on Skep Wax Records
• 🤘 FFO: lo-fi indie noise pop, Yo La Tengo, The Reds Pinks and Purples, Ducks Ltd.
• 🎧 Your first song: “Paints a Picture”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Butterfly by Witch Post

• 💿 Released: 20 March on Partisan Records
• 🤘 FFO: haunting 90s indie rock
• 🎧 Your first song: “Changeling”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

U by underscores

• 💿 Released: 20 March on Mom + Pop Music
• 🤘 FFO: 100 gecs, Jane Remover, hyperpop
• 🎧 Your first song: “Tell Me (U Want It)”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Cityfolk by Son Little

• 💿 Released: 20 March on Anti-
• 🤘 FFO: blues X soul X hip hop, Leon Bridges, Frank Ocean, Daniel Caesar
• 🎧 Your first song: “Whip the Wind”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Never Sleep by Continuals

• 💿 Released: 20 March on Bright Future
• 🤘 FFO: Soccer Team, Beauty Pill, Versus, The Spinanes
• 🎧 Your first song: “Structure & Agency”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Brink by Girl Scout

• 💿 Released: 20 March on Human Garbage Records
• 🤘 FFO: Snail Mail, Alvvays, Rocket, Blondshell, Soccer Mommy, Momma
• 🎧 Your first song: “Same Kids”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

• Natalie Jane Hill - Hopeful Woman
• The Notwist - News From Planet Zombie

To start off this week, I wanted to point out two records: one the new Surfbort, which I totally missed last week, so I’ve included that in the Honorable Mention section below…

The second record is another from last week that I didn’t necessarily miss, but it kind of did just enough to hang around for a few more listens this week… and it ended up being a sneaky good record I didn’t appreciate enough on my first listen. So this week you have Hopeful Woman by Natalie Jane Hill as a featured album. Be sure to check that one out (especially if you like Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen and the like), it’s super good from start to finish.

That brings us to this week’s new releases and the seven honorable mentions below… more alt folk, alt country, bedroom indie pop, underground hip hop, and Kim Gordon (however you want to classify her art), who’s pushing boundaries again on her latest solo album. Lots to listen to and like!

The big feature this week is the new album from The Notwist – their first album in five years and their first studio album since 1995’s 12 that the entire band recorded together in the studio. The record is a return to form in many ways to their 2008 album, The Devil, You + Me, with more of a straightforward alt rock sound (emphasis on “more”) than their electronic/EDM influenced albums from 2009 through 2021. If you like bands like Broken Social Scene, Boards of Canada, Arcade Fire, and The Sea and Cake, you will like this record a lot.

Enjoy!

Honorable Mentions

First off, another missed record from last week:

Reality Star by Surfbort

• 💿 Released: 6 March on TODO
• 🤘 FFO: Hole, Bikini Kill, L7, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys
• 🎧 Your first song: “Lucky”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It by Morgan Nagler

• 💿 Released: 13 March on Little Operation Records
• 🤘 FFO: Merce Lemon, Snocaps, Sea Lemon, Indigo de Souza
• 🎧 Your first song: “Cradle the Pain”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

I Guess U Had To Be There by ELUCID

• 💿 Released: 13 March on BackwoodzStudioz
• 🤘 FFO: Aesop Rock,
• 🎧 Your first song: “Make Me Wise”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Hard Hearted Woman by Ora Cogan

• 💿 Released: 13 March on Sacred Bones Records
• 🤘 FFO: darkwave alt-folk, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Jessica Pratt
• 🎧 Your first song: “The Smoke”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Transmitter by Cut Worms

• 💿 Released: 13 March on Jagjaguwar
• 🤘 FFO: Wilco, Bonny Doon, Bright Eyes, Fruit Bats
• 🎧 Your first song: “Long Weekend”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

You’re Free to Go by Anjimile

• 💿 Released: 13 March on 4AD
• 🤘 FFO: Nick Drake, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens
• 🎧 Your first song: “Like You Really Mean It”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

PLAY ME by Kim Gordon

• 💿 Released: 13 March on Matador Records
• 🤘 FFO: trap Sonic Youth, Kathleen Hanna
• 🎧 Your first song: “NOT TODAY”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Irreversible by Brigitte Calls Me Baby

• 💿 Released: 13 March on ATO
• 🤘 FFO: Morrissey without the sleepy drama
• 🎧 Your first song: “I Can Take the Sun Out of the Sky”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

• Bitter Branches - Let's Give the Land Back to the Animals

I didn’t have high expectations for this week, as there weren’t many albums on my watchlist for March 6th (especially after last week was stacked), but the one I did know of met my high expectations. Then, as always, there were a couple surprises AND a couple of surprise benefit album announcements. So, it ended up being a pretty good week after all.

This week’s featured album is Let’s Give the Land Back to the Animals by Bitter Branches. Bitter Branches is a veritable 90’s hardcore supergroup, with members of Calvary, Deadguy, Lifetime, Lighten Up, Kiss It Goodbye, No Escape, Paint It Black, and Walleye.

Bitter Branches may have the 90’s hardcore background, but their sound is squarely in the Black Flag crossed with The Jesus Lizard realm of hardcore and post-hardcore. The lyrics are everything you’d expect from Tim Singer writing about our current world. It’s a powerful combination.

Anyway, head over to the full review for more.

Benefit Albums

This week was also a really good one in terms of high quality benefit albums: one a compilation and one a legendary abandoned recording session from a legendary band and producer… both releases benefiting some very worthwhile charities, so please be generous!

HELP(2) from War Child Records

→ Purchase on Bandcamp

From War Child Records:

HELP(2) is a brand new collaborative album, inspired by the landmark 1995 release ‘HELP’, which brings music lovers together in support of War Child’s vital work delivering immediate aid, education, specialist mental health support, and protection to children affected by conflict around the world.

All proceeds from album sales support War Child UK to protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of children living through conflict around the world.

HELP(2) features music by Anna Calvi, Arctic Monkeys, Arlo Parks, Arooj Aftab, Bat For Lashes, Beabadoobee, Beck, Beth Gibbons, Big Thief, Black Country, New Road, Cameron Winter, Damon Albarn, Depeche Mode, Dove Ellis, Ellie Rowsell, English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Foals, Fontaines D.C., Graham Coxon, Greentea Peng, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest, King Krule, Nilüfer Yanya, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, Sampha, The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg, and Young Fathers.

An impressive collection of musicians and from a couple listens, a charity album that’s worth your purchase and support.

Highlights for me include:

• “Strangers” by Black Country, New Road
• Beth Gibbons covering “Sunday Morning” by The Velvet Underground
• “Parasite” by English Teacher
• beabadoobee covering “Say Yes” by Elliott Smith
• “Obvious” by Wet Leg
• Olivia Rodrigo covering “The Book of Love” by The Magnetic Fields

Albini Sessions by Fugazi

→ Purchase on Bandcamp

Next up is Fugazi’s recording of In On The Killtaker with Steve Albini. From the band:

In the fall of 1992, the members of Fugazi were deep in the process of finishing up the songs that would eventually come out as the “In On The Killtaker” album the following year. The band had been working on the songs for a couple of years and had gotten as far as recording a few of them at Inner Ear as well as making numerous practice recordings, but by late October they seemed to have hit a bit of a wall. In an attempt to shake things up, it was decided that they would take up Steve Albini’s standing invitation to do a free recording at his Electrical Audio Studio, which at the time was located in the basement of his house on North Francisco in Chicago.

The band only planned to record a couple songs with Albini, but everything – from hanging out to the recording process – went so well, they ended up doing all of the songs.

Initial playbacks were positive, but the band (and Albini) continued to listen after the session ended and ultimately came to the same conclusion: the songs felt flat.

Fugazi ultimately went back to Inner Ear Studio to record the official In On The Killtaker with producer Ted Nicely, which was released by Dischord in June 1993.

The band on releasing the recordings now:

To honor Steve, who died in 2024, and to support the work that he and his wife, Heather Whinna, have done with the non-profit Letters Charity organization, Fugazi has decided to make Steve’s entire original mix officially available for the first time in transfers pulled directly from the master tapes.

This is a digital-only release and the band is donating its share of the proceeds to Letters Charity – a nonprofit organization on a mission to use Art as a conduit to transform passive compassion into immediate assistance through the distribution of money given, without expectation or judgment, directly to families experiencing poverty.

Honorable Mentions

HELLHOUND by VIAL

• 💿 Released: 6 March on CandyShop Recordings
• 🤘 FFO: grunge X punk, Mannequin Pussy, Hole, Nirvana, Pinkshift, Destroy Boys
• 🎧 Your first song: “IDLE HANDS”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Strictly 4 The Scythe by Denzel Curry

• 💿 Released: 6 March on Loma Vista Recordings
• 🤘 FFO: southern hip hop
• 🎧 Your first song: “THE SCYTHE (feat TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Tough Touch by Scout Gillett

• 💿 Released: 6 March on Slouch Records
• 🤘 FFO: alt country x indie rock; Bully x Lucinda Williams x Japanese Breakfast
• 🎧 Your first song: “Song Name”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

• Buck Meek - The Mirror
• Mitski - Nothing's About to Happen to Me

I’m slowly catching up on all the new music from February after re-launching the Crucial Tracks blog here on the main domain.

This week’s releases were quite stellar. I saw February 27th on the New Music Watch calendar and knew it was going to be a good one, with Mitski and Buck Meek, not to mention Iron & Wine, Nothing, and all of the other new albums that fly under the radar. (Including a very late entry courtesy of friend of Crucial Tracks, and a web zine you should be following: foofaraw)

I’m happy to report all of these albums live up to expectations, with Mitski and Buck Meek meeting my criteria for Featured status. Both are very good. Links to the full reviews can be found above!

Don’t miss the Honorable Mentions below, there are seven solid albums for you to check out!

Honorable Mentions

My Days of 58 by Bill Callahan

• 💿 Released: 27 February on Drag City Records
• 🤘 FFO: folk, lo-fi, Smog, Bonnie Prince Billy, Kevin Morby, Silver Jews
• 🎧 Your first song: “Pathol O.G.”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

The Mountain by Gorillaz

• 💿 Released: 27 February on Kong
• 🤘 FFO: Blur X Tyler
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Hen’s Teeth by Iron & Wine

• 💿 Released: 27 February on Sub Pop Records
• 🤘 FFO: folk, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Jose Gonzalez, Fleet Foxes, CSNY
• 🎧 Your first song: “In Your Ocean”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

a short history of decay by Nothing

• 💿 Released: 27 February on Run for Cover Records
• 🤘 FFO: My Bloody Valentine, Cloakroom, heavier shoegaze
• 🎧 Your first song: “never come never morning”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Amaro by Bibi Club

• 💿 Released: 27 February on Secret City Records
• 🤘 FFO: darkwave x avant pop
• 🎧 Your first song: “Amaro”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Highway to Heavenly by Heavenly

• 💿 Released: 27 February on Skep Wax Records
• 🤘 FFO: jangle pop, indie pop, twee, Belle & Sebastian, The Smiths, The Modern Lovers, Velocity Girl
• 🎧 Your first song: “Excuse Me”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

And the Voice Said by Tōth

• 💿 Released: 27 February on Egghunt Records
• 🤘 FFO: Rubblebucket, indie / bedroom pop, psych pop, chamber folk, Brian Wilson, Alex G
• 🎧 Your first song: “Spiraling”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

• Worry Club - I'm Freaking Out

The February 20th release week didn’t have any particular album I was looking forward to, but (as always) I found a few projects I found interesting, including I’m Freaking Out by Worry Club, which I am really enjoying. Head over to the full review, linked above.

In terms of Honorable Mentions, I’ve got 5 albums for you… everything from folk and shoegaze to hip hop, R&B, and jazzy art pop. A little something for most folks who follow this blog!

Enjoy!

Honorable Mentions

Dedication by Mirah

• 💿 Released: 20 February on Double Double Whammy
• 🤘 FFO: Thao, Cat Power, Mitski, indie pop X folk X jazz X soul
• 🎧 Your first song: “After the Rain”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Ca$ino by Baby Keem

• 💿 Released: 20 February on Columbia Records
• 🤘 FFO: Kendrick, JID, Tyler, Vince Staples
• 🎧 Your first song: “Good Flirts”

All Monsters by MX Lonely

• 💿 Released: 20 February on Julia’s War Recordings
• 🤘 FFO: TAGABOW, Prize Horse, heavy shoegaze
• 🎧 Your first song: “All Monsters Go To Heaven”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Petal Rock Black by Willow

• 💿 Released: 20 February on Three Six Zero Recordings
• 🤘 FFO: Dirty Projectors, Joni Mitchell, Alice Coltrane, Saya Gray, art pop X jazz
• 🎧 Your first song: “vegetation”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Heaven Ain’t Sold by Choker

• 💿 Released: 20 February on Jet Fuzz
• 🤘 FFO: Frank Ocean, Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, psychedelic soul/R&B
• 🎧 Your first song: “Proof”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

• PONY - Clearly Cursed
• Converge - Love Is Not Enough

What a fun week for new music! I’ve got a handful of new releases I think you should pay attention to… and I don’t think you could possibly pick two featured albums as different from each other as these two records.

Featured Picks

First up is the new PONY record, Clearly Cursed, out on Take This To Heart Records. Clearly Cursed is their third full length record, following up 2023’s Velveteen and their 2021 debut, TV Baby. Fans of indie pop like Beach Bunny, Velocity Girl, and Charly Bliss will love this record.

The second featured record is Love Is Not Enough from metalcore/mathcore legends Converge. Their 11th (!!!) full length record since 1994, it’s my favorite from them in over a decade and definitely a top 5 record in terms of their entire discography. If you love the genre, you most definitely know Converge… but don’t sleep on this release regardless.

Honorable Mentions

The Refrigerator by Remember Sports

• 💿 Released: 13 February on Get Better Records
• 🤘 FFO: alt-country x indie rock, Ratboys, Adult Mom, Cayetana
• 🎧 Your first song: “Across the Line”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Icon by Brent Faiyaz

• 💿 Released: 13 February on ISO Supremacy
• 🤘 FFO: R&B/soul, Daniel Caesar, Frank Ocean
• 🎧 Your first song: “wrong faces.”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

Buckaroo by Katzin

• 💿 Released: 13 February on Mexican Summer
• 🤘 FFO: Sword II, Dirt Buyer, Cardinals, atmospheric indie rock
• 🎧 Your first song: “Wild Horses”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

• Ratboys - Singin' to an Empty Chair

This week was a special one, with the new Ratboys immediately hitting all the right chords. Not only do I think it’s got a really good chance to be a top 10 record for the year, it was an immediate purchase on this Bandcamp Friday. (And I got the limited edition signed version!)

Beyond that top notch release, we have some experimental indie rock with Ulrika Spacek, some emo/slowcore/lofi in Dirt Buyer, and two hip hop records for you to check out this week. Enjoy!

Honorable Mentions

This month also had a few good releases worth exploring. Stay tuned for more discoveries.

Expo by Ulrika Spacek

• 💿 Released: 6 February on Full Time Hobby
• 🤘 FFO: caroline, Squid, Omni, SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
• 🎧 Your first song: “Square Root of None”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Dirt Buyer III by Dirt Buyer

• 💿 Released: 6 February on Bayonet Records
• 🤘 FFO: slowcore, emo folk, indie rock, Current Joys, Surf Curse, Horse Jumper of Love
• 🎧 Your first song: “Bullshit Fuck”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

The Fall-Off by J. Cole

• 💿 Released: 6 February on Cole World / Dreamville
• 🤘 FFO: hip hop
• 🎧 Your first song: “The Villest”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

Piss in the Wind by Joji

• 💿 Released: 6 February on Palace Creek
• 🤘 FFO: Tyler the Creator, XXXTENTACION, Frank Ocean
• 🎧 Your first song: “PIXELATED KISSES”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Just Missed

First up I have a trio of records that just missed making it into the Featured section for this issue. I suspect all three will make it into the top 50 or 60 for the year, so don’t sleep on these releases if the teasers sound good.

Death in the Business of Whaling by Searows

• 💿 Released: 23 January on Last Recordings on Earth
• 🤘 FFO: alt folk, if Phoebe Bridgers fronted a post-rock band, Soccer Mommy, Ethel Cain, Lizzy McAlpine
• 🎧 Your first song: “Dearly Missed”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp | Listen Official Website

My Heart Is A Room With No Cameras In It by Victoryland

• 💿 Released: 23 January on Good English Records
• 🤘 FFO: Animal Collective, Pavement, experimental indie rock/pop
• 🎧 Your first song: “No Cameras”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp | Listen

e.t.d.s. A Mixtape by .idk

• 💿 Released: 22 January on broke records
• 🤘 FFO: Childish Gambino, Kendrick, JID, Vince Staples, Kanye, late 90s/early 2000s hip hop
• 🎧 Your first song: “DEVIL”
• 💰 Support: Listen

Honorable Mentions

Valentine by Courtney Maria Andrews

• 💿 Released: 16 January on Loose Future
• 🤘 FFO: alt-country, folk, Fleetwood Mac, Adrianne Lenker, Cassandra Jenkins
• 🎧 Your first song: “Keeper”
• 💰 Support: Official Shop | Listen | Bandcamp

Don’t Be Dumb by A$AP Rocky

• 💿 Released: 16 January on RCA Records
• 🤘 FFO: Experimental hip hop, psychedelic
• 🎧 Your first song: “Punk Rocky”
• 💰 Support: Official Site

self-titled by Jana Horn

• 💿 Released: 16 January on Cole World / Dreamville
• 🤘 FFO: alt-folk, Florist, Naima Bock
• 🎧 Your first song: “It’s alright”
• 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Also considered:

• Perfect by Immaterialize
• 656 by Roc Marciano
• Not Like Everybody Else by The Damned
• Visions by Alice Merton
• I Am by Lexa Gates
• The Demise of Planet X by Sleaford Mods
• Stand On My Shoulders by Ya Tseen