Ducktails – St. Catherine
On his latest solo album as Ducktails, Matt Modanile of Real Estate fame returns with the jangly, summer guitar pop that we have all come to love. While decidedly unadventurous, St. Catherine is Modanile’s most cohesive and mature album yet, featuring tasteful production flourishes from the likes of James Ferraro and Elliot Smith producer Rob Schnapf. Matt Modanile seems to be on a quest to write an album that perfectly captures the feeling of driving by your ex highschool girlfriend’s house on a hazy summer day. And while St. Catherine isn’t that album, it still comes pretty close.
Top Tracks: Headbanging in the Mirror, Heaven’s Room, Reprise
RIYL: Kurt Vile, Real Estate, Mac DeMarco
Hinds – The Very Best of Hinds
I’m not entirely sure if it’s fair to create an album of only the singles you’ve released and call it the “Very Best”. Luckily, I’m willing to forgive Hinds since their songs are actually pretty great. They combine the “lofi California punk rock” that’s so prevalent nowadays with a more acousticy sound and somewhat nonsensical lyrics. Overall, this six song best of is fun to listen to, and the lyrics are simple and catchy enough that you’ll soon be singing along with your friends.
RIYL: Mac Demarco, Ty Segall, Together Pangea, Juan Wauter, any kinda retro sounding band
Tracks: Bamboo, Davy Crockett, Trippy
T. Hardy Morris & The Hardknocks – Drownin’ on a Mountain
The best southern garage music of recent memory. That might sound like a small praise, but goddamn this is good. The reassuring sadness of the country of yore before it became a popped out bogus genre. This is the real McCoy, twangy, fuzzy, and somber.
RIYL: Neil Young, Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker, the Districts
Top Tracks: Young Assumption, Shit in the Wind, Quieter (When I Leave Town)
Mac Demarco – Another One
Another One turns out to be an extremely appropriate for Mac Demarco’s latest venture. In other words, it’s pretty much the same thing he’s churned out for the last three years, with only minor differences such as the inclusion of more synth and a slightly more relaxed approach to music that’s already as relaxed as can be. Fortunately, if you’re a fan of 2 or Salad Days, you’re gonna love the familiar twangly guitars and Demarco’s soothing slacker voice. Despite the lack of maturation in sound, Another One is still pretty good, but if you’re expecting anything drastically different, look somewhere else.
RIYL: Ariel Pink, Ducktails, Calvin Love, Alex Calder & Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Tracks: Another One, I’ve Waiting For Her, Without Me
Westkust –Last Forever
The sound of infinite fireworks. Songs jump to a high level of energy and keep you there in a strangle hold of 80s pop nostalgia, only noisier. Dual lead vocals kick butt. Feels like it could last forever, and you’ll wish it would. 2 pieces of Makthaverskan lead the band in a familiar, but still oh so new direction. It seems Swedish noise pop is here to stay.
RIYL: Makthaverskan, No Age, Blondie
Top Tracks: Swirl, Dishwasher, 0700