Album Review: Here and There by Organ Mug

In a lot of musical contexts, ‘ethereal’ might mean ‘good for going to sleep to’. But this artist takes beauty and makes it sort of strange and great. We love ‘A Somewhere Place’ and we can’t wait to hear the rest of the album. (Featured on our #29 podcast, How to Get the Fans to Sing.)

Album Review: Fondue by Appetizer Cheesecake

We adore this band. Especially that gravelly-voice singer. Most of this album is very art-rock, but our favorite is their cheesecaky single, ‘Bicycle.’ (Featured on our #29 podcast, How to Get the Fans to Sing.)

Album Review: Rock Nacional with Come Madness First

Big, heavy blues riffs mixed together with aching ballads. This sweet-voiced and angry girl can really write songs. Our favorite: I Let You Down. (Featured on our #28 podcast, Hampton Inn Hallway.)

Album Review: Skeleton House by Crooked Ghost

Humongous-sounding music — this band sounds like an orchestra — with a talented singer whose tone is exactly between hopeful and despairing. This band will go far. Our favorite song: Sleepwalker. (Featured on our #28 podcast, Hampton Inn Hallway.)

Album Review: Headache Time by Beach Bugs

Cheerful harmonies and self-deprecating songs from Limoges, France. This band would be really fun to see live, and if you can’t manage that, they’re fun to listen to. Our favorite song: Loser. (Featured on our #28 podcast, Hampton Inn Hallway.)

Album Review: Lunatic by George Wilding

These are some long, thoughtful lines of music and George Wilding sings them with everything he’s got. Hats off too to the band of five brothers who did the totally interesting production. Our favorite song: One More Time for Me Sweetheart. (Featured on our #28 podcast, Hampton Inn Hallway.)

Album Review: Chimera Camera by Love Port

Eighties pop, seventies harmonies, nineties rock, and a mix of external sounds that sounds very right now. Experimentally-listenable music from Albany, New York. Our favorite song: In My Dreams. (Featured on our #28 podcast, Hampton Inn Hallway.)

EP Review: EP S/T by Secret Shame

If you’re in the mood for songs about blood and death and lovers being torn from each other in the dark of night, Secret Shame is in the mood for you. The singer alone will kill you to death. Our favorite song: Revolution. (Reviewed on our our #27 podcast, We Fry on a Guitar with Your Mother, Son.)

Album Review: Maharishi Worship by Car Parts


One man from Belgium and Kyle the robot drummer bring you super-short homages to the Replacements (and other ideas). Our favorite song: Replacements Song. (Reviewed on our our #27 podcast, We Fry on a Guitar with Your Mother, Son.)