Cut Copy had always been a fun but polarizing group of electro-rockers. Over the years, the group consistently besieged ears with a sugar-coated pop sound that many continue to dismiss for its simplicity. Even now, pretentious cynics still undervalue Cut Copy as mere Nu Romantic counterfeits from the ‘80s. Those listeners…

For those unfamiliar with English post-punk collective The Horrors, comparisons with any iconic post-punk act, namely Joy Division are inevitable. This applies to any band that brandishes thick bass and reverb-heavy baritone vocals. The Horrors are sometimes written off as paper-mache imitations of the genre’s pioneers. These comparisons are feeble and…

At some point, Canadian post-rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor will realize their creative scope is finite, right? Wrong! Luciferian Towers Godspeed You! Black Emperor Sept. 22 Once again, the nine-piece collective that never ceases to amaze, lulls listeners with a record exceptionally postured by the band’s unique instrumental punch. Its seventh…

There is a certain recklessness about Ariel Pink that has prompted a large following; unfortunately, there are times where it has led him into trouble as well. The lo-fi pioneer rides the fine line between cheekiness and plain brashness without the worry of overstepping boundaries along the way. Dedicated…

While the self-titled debut of jangle-pop quintet Alvvays emulated a stunning aura, it needed to pry its way through the hearts of listeners. Nevertheless, their 2014 effort was missing something; it needed a bit of noise, just a hint of mayhem to juxtapose the general sweetness of Molly Rankin‘s…

One may find it difficult to find a band or artist as prolific as the Melbourne, Australia-based King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. With 11 albums already to their name, it’s most appropriate to describe King Gizzard as a collective of relentlessly hard-working mad men unhinged by their eclectic…

Progressive electronic artist Oneohtrix Point Never (Daniel Lopatin) has always seemed destined to score a film of pulsating ultraviolence. Lopatin’s preeminent ability to weave together vivid soundscapes has made visualizing perfectly choreographed action scenes or adrenaline-pumping car chases possible. Good Time OST Oneohtrix Point Never Aug. 11 Nevertheless, Lopatin,…

Annie Hart’s solo debut, Impossible Accomplice, is a subtle stroke of ethereal genius. Fresh off appearing twice on David Lynch’s Twin Peaks reboot with her New York dream-pop band Au Revoir Simone, Hart solidifies herself as a singular talent with her first solo album. Impossible Accomplice Annie Hart July…

With recent attempts to needlessly alter an image that has already been cemented as wholly unique, neo-psychedelic rockers Animal Collective found themselves in a slight downward spiral with 2015’s clumsy Painting With and two subpar EPs. Eucalyptus Avey Tare July 21 Leave it to Animal Collective key cog Avey…

Brief, sugared and lustrous, yet heartrendingly mournful, Michelle Zauner’s Psychopomp — a tribute to her late mother, was a surprisingly sublime debut. Under the moniker Japanese Breakfast, Zauner follows up her 2016 sleeper success with a more experimental project, Soft Sounds From Another Planet. Soft Sounds From Another Planet Japanese Breakfast…