Crucial Releases for February 14
New releases for the week ending February 14th, including Bartees Strange, venturing, Horsegirl, Kestrels, and Frog.
Quite a week for new music! I took a look at a bunch of new albums, but I quickly narrowed things down to five releases I found interesting...and from there I ended up picking two for this week's feature.
First up is Horror by Bartees Strange (Listen), his third full length release and second for his current label 4AD. Strange combines an eclectic range of music genres (from indie rock, bedroom pop, and classic rock; to hip-hop, country, and dance music) into something that sounds familiar, yet totally original and new.
Maybe it's the cinematic album cover influencing my opinion, but I think the songs and flow of the album almost has a soundtrack feel to it...with "Backseat Banton" being almost a euphoric, plot-resolution-into-credits vibe (in a good way). I've enjoyed his previous albums to some degree, but I think Horror is his best to date.
Favorite tracks: "Too Much", "Lie 95", "Loop Defenders", "Norf Gun", "Backseat Banton"
The second release I became enamored with this week is Ghostholding by venturing (Listen), the indie rock side project of Jane Remover. I wasn't familiar with Remover prior to this release, as they tend to exist in the hyperpop/EDM world, which I have very little clue about!
Regardless, I am happy to have found venturing as this album is superb, combining midwest emo with shoegaze and a touch of mk.gee. The result is soulful, emo tinged songs about love and loss (both in terms of place and being)... and well done. Highly recommended.
Favorite tracks: "Play My Guitar", "Believe", "Recoil", "Dead Forever", "Famous Girl"
Honorable Mentions
Phonetics On and On by Horsegirl (Listen)
This album was so close to making the featured section. The sophomore followup to their 2022 debut, Versions of Modern Performance (Listen), which they created as high school students. Whereas their debut was more in the Sonic Youth/Breeders/90s alt rock world, the new album is more of a stripped down, jangly sound in the vein of The Velvet Underground and a little Belle & Sebastian.
1000 Variations on the Same Song by Frog (Listen)
Another high quality release from this week. 1000 Variations... almost made it to my featured section, with its groovy, acoustic oddities that are so damn catchy and addictive. This record is my first exposure to the band, even with four other full-length releases, and they've certainly earned a fan.
Better Wonder by Kestrels (Listen)
The first two songs on this album had me sold, but unfortunately they didn't keep that same intensity for the entire 12 songs. Not that the other ten are bad or anything, just not the same. Any band that sounds like Swervedriver and Dinosaur Jr. (or better yet, combined) will have my ears.
Enjoy!
