Words on modern post-punk and shoegaze
Squeezing in an EP at the end of 2019’s album release season, Guerilla Toss prove one of my favorite theories: contemporary post-punk is at its strongest when the band in question is not actively trying to make post-punk. Guerilla Toss have always danced around the frays of the formal post-punk genre— traditionally, they’ve been relegated …
Continue reading “Guerilla Toss, What Would The Odd Do? (Nov. 15)”
Although previous Have A Nice Life installments The Unnatural World and Deathconsciousness were ambitious attempts at post-punk/shoegaze fusion, both fell short: the former, just barely; the latter, by miles and miles. Sea of Worry, on the other hand, is a shockingly refreshing breath of fresh air. Bearing not unwelcome similarities to forebears A Place To …
Atlanta’s own Omni manage to pull together what could certainly be considered a competent third LP, if not much else. Nothing serves to distinguish Networker’s singles “Sincerely Yours” and “Delicacy” from any other skippable track that flounders around on Spotify’s Post-Punk 2K playlist for a few weeks before being shelved by the great algorithm. Other …
Sacred Bones synthpop darlings Black Marble return to grace post-punk with a surprisingly cohesive effort, after last year’s rather flat It’s Immaterial. Though Black Marble are one among many contemporary post-punk acts that could be (rightfully) criticized for mostly writing the same song over and over again, that one song is, admittedly, pretty good. “Grey …
FEET – What’s Inside is More Than Just Ham The concept of a Vicious Circle was first documented at the end of the 18th century, used to describe an argument which fed off of its own inherent premises, but this idea of a self-sufficient cycle is remembered more significantly for its political implications: it’s used …
Continue reading “FEET, What’s Inside Is More Than Just Ham (Oct. 4)”
Girl Band – The Talkies “No one in Girl Band actually looks like they want to be in Girl Band,” eloquently states Twitter user @dracuiamountain. It’s an apt assessment, even when addressing the music as opposed to the people: The Talkies turns the band’s signature misanthropy and discomfort up to eleven. Peripherally disaffectd indie darlings …
Squid – Town Centre (EP) Blindingly trendy and piping hot off the Speedy Wunderground presses, Squid’s Town Centre manages, surprisingly, to live up to its expectations and deliver an excellent twenty three minute cut of art punk. Opening with the no wave flavored instrumental track “Savage”, Town Centre swiftly verge into delicately composed dance-punk ditties …
The Futureheads – Powers There’s not much to say about late post-punk revival or landfill indie that hasn’t been thinkpieced to death and back already. I’m an admitted apologist for 2004’s The Futureheads, though not so much that I can’t recognize what a piece of half-hearted new wave garbage Powers is. It’s genuinely saddening to …
The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears Fresh on the heels of fellow Irish hype bands FONTAINES D.C. and Just Mustard, The Murder Capital, unfortunately disappoint with the hotly anticipated When I Have Fears. While The Murder Capital deliver perfectly adequate and even enjoyable guitarwork (especially on “Don’t Cling to Life” and “For Everything”), …
Continue reading “The Murder Capital, When I Have Fears (Aug. 16)”
Crushed Beaks – The Other Room This week, London duo Crushed Beaks surprise with an incredibly solid sophomore offering, sequel to 2015’s Scatter. With canon-heavy shoegaze moments (the reverb is turned to the max on “Sky Burial” and “Honesty Box”), The Other Room is a lovely blend of traditional indie rock, shoegaze, and post-punk. Standout …
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