Come Closer
We Died With Print
Independent (2022)
Members of Come Closer have played in Dan Padilla, Pinback, Tiltwheel, and more. While that background is helpful for setting the tone, though, it’s not really essential. They are a new-ish group and We Died With Print is their second album. J. Wang is the ringleader of the band, which is rooted in DIY basement punk but expands their sound well beyond those three chords. You’ll find elements of ‘90s alternative, indie rock, folk, even some subtle country tinges if you look for them. It’s world weary music with heart: a band of working class folks who aren’t afraid to show their soft side. I think The Replacements are a good place to start in referencing what Come Closer is doing on this record because, while they have slowed things down, it still feels raw, personal and deceptively simple. That’s a pretentious way of say the band sticks to their roots and it works to great effect. They don’t reinvent rock ‘n’ roll but it’s heartfelt and it clicks, whether it’s the punkier vocals of “Harsh Meadows,” or the fuzzy alt-rock guitars of “Blue Eyes,” or the soft and somber “Tecate and Lime.” At the end, “Talk About It” merges … Read more
Paint It Black
Famine
Revelation (2023)
Paint It Black kind of burst back onto the scene the last two years. It had been 15 years since … Read more
The Manikins
Swedish Woods
Lövely (2023)
The Manikins previous album, 2019s Bad Times, was my encounter with The Manikins. We started off a bit weird, as … Read more
Niecy Blues
Exit Simulation
Kranky (2023)
The allure of ambient music and its applications in pop structures has always been an important topic for Niecy Blues. … Read more
Aisha Devi
Death Is Home
Houndstooth (2023)
The talent and quality of Aisha Devi have been apparent since the release of her first EP, Aura For Everyone … Read more
Aesop Rock
Integrated Tech Solutions
Rhymesayers (2023)
Aesop Rock seems to be the rare artist who gets better with age. I enjoyed his early work with Blockhead, … Read more
