Essential Tracks

eli winter review

Gunn-Truscinski Duo’s “For Eddie Hazel” is a transcendent guitar celebration

The new psychedelic sound piece from ‘Soundkeeper’ is breathtaking guitar wizardry.

Faye Webster better distractions essential track

Faye Webster’s “Better Distractions” is a feel-good banger about feeling bad

Faye Webster‘s everyday “woeness” is generally not the type of jam I dig. Sure, life…

Boris new album NO

Boris deliver explosive noise rock on “Loveless”

The first single from ‘NO’ is an absolute ripper.

Folie essential track

Folie’s “cortisol” sounds like colorful darkness

The New York musician captures a specific, cathartic absurdity in her music.

Khruangbin essential track

Khruangbin’s “Time (You and I)” is on point and in the pocket

The first single from the band’s upcoming Mordechai is all groove.

Tengger new album Nomad

Tengger find stillness in momentum on “Eurasia”

Definitely interesting, by no means ignorable.

Irreversible Entanglements new album Who Sent You

Irreversible Entanglements’ “Bread Out of Stone” is a meditative jazz hypnosis

A standout moment of jazz poetry from the Philadelphia group’s upcoming album.

ONO I Dream of Sodomy essential track

ONO give up a chaotic funk on “I Dream of Sodomy”

The Chicago noise band hits a hard groove in the face of historical violence.

best songs of 2020 P.E.

P.E. deliver a perfect post-punk summer jam with “Pink Shiver”

A pre-summer summer jam from members of Pill and Eaters.

Yves Tumor Gospel essential track

Yves Tumor’s “Gospel for a New Century” is pop with an added dose of kickass

The enigmatic singer/producer goes for broke in his massive new single.

Thundercat Dragonball Durag essential track

Thundercat’s “Dragonball Durag” is light-hearted genius

The bass maestro balances his instrumental prowess with a penchant for self-deprecating humor.

best albums of 2020 Hilary Woods

Hilary Woods finds serenity in violence on “Tongues of Wild Boar”

A gently destructive dirge from the Irish singer/songwriter.

Algiers new album There Is No Year

Algiers’ “Chaka” is a masterclass in tension and release

A Blade Runner synth jam interspersed with destructive noise sax.

best The Flenser albums - Mamaleek

Mamaleek’s “Eating Unblessed Meat” offers more strange, artful twists on metal

An artful, technologically enhanced and unpredictable direction for metal from the Bay Area band.

la luz review

Khruangbin and Leon Bridges’ “C-Side” is road trip euphoria

A dub-influenced highlight from the two artists’ new collaborative EP.

Thundercat new album It is what it is

Thundercat’s “Black Qualls” has more bounce to the ounce

The funky new single features Slave’s Steve Arrington and The Internet’s Steve Lacy.

The Men new album Mercy

The Men evolve into seedy synth-rock on “Children All Over the World”

The Brooklyn shape-shifters find another new, exciting mutant form.

P.E. Top Ticket Essential Track

P.E.’s “Top Ticket” is urgent, unnerving, abrasive and dark

The new outfit from Veronica Torres (ex-Pill) dials up the intensity.