Sonja Midtune, courtesy. There was so much great music this week, it was agonizing to narrow it down! We’ve got psych-alt-country from Bret Koontz & Truancy Club, indie pop from Sonja Midtune, gospel-folk from Ruthie Foster, ’90s emo from Pohgoh, folk-punk from Sunny War and power pop from King Tuff.…

Death Cab For Cutie performs at House of Blues Anaheim on Oct. 18, 2022. Chas Alm/STAFF. ANAHEIM — Nearing the tail end of its tour supporting a new album, Death Cab for Cutie sold out House of Blues Tuesday night. Death Cab for Cutie Yo La Tengo Fox Theater in Oakland…

Tegan and Sara, “Crybaby.” It’s hard to believe Tegan and Sara are on their 10th album. The twin Quin sisters broke out of Vancouver largely on the strength of their fourth album, 2004’s So Jealous, and have since gone platinum and won multiple awards. Their new album, Crybaby, was spawned…

Ocean Alley performs at House of Blues Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 11, 2022. Chas Alm/STAFF. Australian band Ocean Alley just arrived in the U.S. for a string of West Coast shows in support of its new album, Low Altitude Living. Beloved back home, the psychedelic surf rock…

Broken Bells, “Into the Blue.” It’s been quite a while since Broken Bells released an album. The output of the musical partnership of James Mercer (The Shins) and Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) has been erratic since 2014’s After the Disco. There have been some singles in the intervening years, notably…

Sam Williams, courtesy. This week, we bring you jangle-pop Americana from Taylor Young Band, a banjo campfire singalong by Handsome Ghost, the new generation’s outlaw country from Sam Williams, acoustic balladry by Indigo Sparke, power-pop by Late Cambrian and spiky Irish rock by The Clockworks. Taylor Young Band, “Belong…

Red Rum Club, courtesy. We’ve got Canadian pop from Dan Mangan, alt-country gone minimalist from Rhett Miller of Old 97’s, folk from Hand Habits, a synth-pop lullaby from mmeadows, bruk revival from WheelUP and Kaidi Tatham, trumpet-flavored rock from Red Rum Club, shoegaze dream-pop from Bolinas and folk-pop harmonies…

Coma Girls perform at The Echoplex in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2022. Chas Alm/STAFF. LOS ANGELES — Coma Girls played at the Echoplex Sunday night as part of its Grand Ole Echo series, and also as an album release celebration for No Umbrella for Star Flower. It was their first…

Death Cab for Cutie, “Asphalt Meadows.” Ben Gibbard has been singing songs of anxiety and despair for 25 years with Death Cab for Cutie. That’s a long time, but those who love his doom-and-gloom rock needn’t worry; time hasn’t made him any more chipper. Their 10th album, Asphalt Meadows,…

Coma Girls, courtesy Gabriela Gonzalez. Chris Spino, who records and performs as Coma Girls, loves a well-crafted pop song. He’s played everything from doo-wop to jazz fusion and metal. No Umbrella for Star Flower Coma Girls Baby Robot, Sept. 2 However, “the thing that’s always stayed really central with…