Posted: 9th August, 2021 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.
Jail Socks – “Peace of Mind”
Jail Socks’ release of “Peace of Mind” this week coincided with the announcement of their debut full-length on Counter Intuitive Records. If “Peace of Mind” is any indication, Coming Down is going to be one hell of an album. The track has echoes of the Menzingers (but with more noodly riffs and a little bit faster), TRL-era pop punk vibes, and an explosive singalong chorus that make it instantly gripping and a whole lot of fun. I think I preordered the record about ten seconds into the song.
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
Slow Crush – “Hush”
It’s been a long three years since Slow Crush dropped their Aurora LP. “Hush” is a welcome return for the band, a thick and gloomy slice of shoegaze that immediately acts as a reminder that the Belgian four-piece is one of the best at what they do.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Charlotte Cornfield – “Headlines”
Canadian songwriter Charlotte Cornfield’s latest track comes with a backing band, adding a layer of warm instrumentation that builds on her more bare bones (and stunning) 2019 record The Shape of Your Name. The band compliments her casual, but strong, vocal delivery and relatable lyrics that dwell in the mundane activities of life — scrolling through headlines on your phone, climbing three flights of stairs to your apartment, making coffee and toast — to express the feelings of isolation and anxiety brought on by “the state of affairs,” as Cornfield sings in the opening line. The song’s theme is driven home by a catchy chorus that captures the chaotic effect modern life has on so many of our minds.
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
Frontierer – “Glacial Plasma”
Frontierer’s new single “Glacial Plasma” is one of the heaviest songs of the year, a song so claustrophobic and punishing it sounds like a drawn-out panic attack.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Mumble Tide – “Good 4 Me”
Bristol duo Mumble Tide’s new single is perfect for the beginning of the end of summer. Sun dipped and hazy, “Good 4 Me” sounds like a dream you might have after falling asleep at the pool one last time. The self-directed video includes the lyrics (fantastic) and a cameo by their mascot, a Furby named Furb (double fantastic). Hopefully by the time their album comes out on December 3rd, Furb will have his own fan club.
Jami Fowler | @audiocurio
Grayscale – “Babylon (Say It to My Face)”
Grayscale’s pivot away from pop-punk on their sophomore LP Nella Vita was certainly unexpected, but they pulled it off with aplomb; there are maybe even more bands playing 1975-inspired throwback pop these days than pop-punk, but few who pull it off as gracefully as Grayscale. “Babylon (Say It to My Face)” is another cut in that vein, and another absolute homerun.
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.
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