Useless Bars
All Useless Bars Go to Heaven
(Iodine Recordings)
March 21
For a sure crowd, the phrase pop punk typically conjures up imagery of white dudes with frosted ideas singing by their nostril about how all women suck. However Useless Bars aren’t like that. That was 2006. At present’s pop punk is completely different—it’s not plasticized misogyny, it’s optimistic. It’s punk with a pep in its step, not as a result of the whole lot is nice, however as a result of the whole lot is horrible, and no less than we’ve got one another. On their new album, All Useless Bars Go to Heaven, the band’s vocalist John Maiello delivers earnest lyrics about discovering neighborhood in music (“Your favourite singers are in your facet / let the riffs come alive”) and visiting useless associates by his information (“I wanna be a ghost tonight / I wanna get together with my associates on the opposite facet”). That each one could sound just a little too saccharine on paper, however the band’s buoyant, melodic punk riffs and rough-and-tumble percussion provides sufficient of an edge to allow you to really feel such as you’re nonetheless a badass even whereas sitting in your emotions. (Useless Bars’ album launch present is April 26 on the Sundown) MEGAN SELING
Fragrance Genius
Glory
(Matador Data)
March 28
Within the phrases of a YouTube remark I learn at 2 a.m. on the music video for the Fragrance Genius single “It’s a Mirror”: “We’re about to witness the slay of the century.” YES. Give me an enormous temper, large music, large artwork route; by all means, take up area on the power of an album cowl alone. An uncannily strawberry blond Mike Hadreas, in a crop high and low-rise denims, strewn throughout the ground of a mysterious cabin? We would have liked this. For his seventh album, Glory, Hadreas and firm swerve in the direction of a fuller, extra driving rock sound, whereas holding it very bizarre and really queer. The sweaty, fever-dreamlike movies for each singles, “It’s a Mirror” (that includes a leather-clad Hadreas driving a motorbike, getting a full facial of gasoline in a discipline, and a lot extra) and “No Entrance Tooth” (that includes Aldous Harding in a psychotic waffle-making-and-eating scene, and a lot extra) have been made by Cody Critcheloe, whose warped aesthetic, as at all times, units the entire thing off. (Fragrance Genius play the Showbox June 26) EMILY NOKES
Swamp Spouse
Your Love Is All I Know
(LACE Data)
April 4
Sifting by present listings final 12 months, I didn’t anticipate finding a particular band. I knew I had once I heard “Your Flip,” a determined howl concerning the final brief finish of a relationship, on the level you’re able to ask somebody in the event that they nonetheless love you, and to point out you ways. If Your Love Is All I Know is like Swamp Spouse’s self-titled first EP, it will likely be emotionally forthright and play sensible with large, brittle guitars. Swamp Spouse doesn’t play loud for the sake of it—they play for the chums they wrote the music with. The primary single from Your Love Is All I Know, “Cadmium Pink Mild,” launched Valentine’s Day, oozes Chastity Belt, Pixies, and Pixies offshoot the Amps. The band performs like a single darkish, mechanical instrument. Singer Abby Wrath stands alone in its murk. As if illuminated in intense crimson mild, Wrath whispers, yells, and stretches every phrase till it breaks. (Swamp Spouse’s EP launch present is April 11 at Black Lodge April 11) VIVIAN MCCALL
Adrian Younge
One thing About April III
(Linear Labs Data)
April 18
Self-taught musician, composer, producer, and orchestrater Adrian Younge is understood for his work with large names like Kendrick Lamar, Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah, the Delfonics, and Snoop Dogg. Nevertheless, the multi-talented artist has additionally launched numerous albums and soundtracks on his personal. In 2011, Younge launched the primary installment of his One thing about April trilogy—a pseudo-soundtrack collection of darkish psychedelic soul and cinematic instrumentals. After the album was sampled by hiphop heavies Timbaland and Jay-Z, Younge went on to launch half two in 2016, and One thing About April III can be launched April 18. Don’t miss Younge as he stops by the Tractor Tavern with tracks from the trilogy along with his 10-piece orchestra. I simply have one query… how will that many musicians match onto the Tractor’s little stage? (Adrian Younge performs Tractor Tavern on March 26) AUDREY VANN
Suzzallo
The Quiet Yr
(Thirty One thing Data)
Could 5
The time period supergroup has been overused to the purpose of which means nothing in any respect, however please consider me and put some respect on that phrase once I inform you Suzzallo is essentially the most thrilling supergroup to come back from Seattle in fairly a while. The band got here collectively in 2022 after vocalist/guitarist Rocky Votolato’s little one unexpectedly died in a automobile accident. Music and family members being the balm that they’re, Votolato channeled his grief into performing hovering, guitar-driven rock songs with previous associates, together with his Waxwing bandmate Rudy Gajadhar, Steve Bonnell of Schoolyard Heroes, and, for a couple of songs, Ben Gibbard of Dying Cab for Cutie. You possibly can nearly hear the guts therapeutic—or, no less than, discovering a sustainable stability of affection and grief—inside the melodies. If you happen to’re new to city and all these names imply nothing to you, know this: Seattle and the world are so enthusiastic about this document that Suzzallo raised greater than $100K in presales by way of Kickstarter to make it occur. (Suzzallo’s album launch present is Could 17 at Madame Lou’s) MEGAN SELING
Even Extra Albums to Look Out For
February 28
Max Nordile
Crystal Rescue Flux Code cassette
(Music For Folks)
March 7
Kinski
Stumbledown Terrace
(Comedy Minus One)
March 7
Lake
Bucolic Gone
(Don Giovanni)
March 8
Tennis Professional
Mismatch
(self-released)
March 21
Dying Spa
Ewwwphoria
(self-released)
March 28
Nice Grandpa
Persistence, Moonbeam
(Run for Cowl)
April 18
Melvins
Thunderball
(Ipecac)
Could 30
The Minus 5
Oar On, Penelope!
(Yep Roc)
June 13
Informal Hex
Zig Zag Woman Phantasm II
(Youth Riot Data)
June 13
Sea Lemon
Diving For a Prize
(Luminelle Recordings)
