Over the past nearly two decades, Pittsburgh-based singer/songwriter Emily Rodgers has put together a nice selection of recordings that are more focused and intense than might be expected from modern indie folk. Admittedly, this style of music is not really my usual cup of tea, but I appreciated the conviction of Rodgers’ music as well as its melancholic tone and interesting use of backup instrumentation.

This Friday, Rodgers is set to release her latest LP on the Shimmy-Disc label. She has this to say about the record, entitled I Will Be Gone:

“This album is my most authentic and vulnerable to date, centering on themes of trauma, illness, and loss; while my previous records have been thematically similar, I am open on this record in a way that I have not been on previous releases, especially as I focus on my brother’s illness and subsequent death by suicide 15 years ago. The record was written and recorded in my attic in just six days, utilizing lyrics I’d written over the course of the past five years, music by my partner Erik Cirelli, and arrangement and production by Kramer. Because the recording process was urgent and time-limited, there was simply no room for self-censorship or perfectionism and having Kramer involved in my writing process opened me up in ways I could not have predicted.”

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Maybe it’s not shocking given the surreal nature of the past year, but when I was approaching an album from mid-2020 called Transmitters, particularly one with song titles such as “Just Disbelievers” and “One Shot,” I envisioned something completely different from the one Houston punk band Steadfast created. Happily, I dare say that this polished and energetic album full of toe-tapping rhythms, sizzling guitar, and plenty of sing-along chorus parts is often even hopeful, a breath of fresh air in our troubling times.

Of the group’s debut offering, guitarist and vocalist Jason Bancroft explains:
“This album embodies our DIY ethics, self- determination, and a genuine passion to share & experience life together with our chosen family. It's honest with self-doubt and self-determination. It's patient but with a sense of urgency. It's peaceful yet angry. It's punk rock. It's ours to share.”

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