SOUND BITES

I've done variations on this theme several times in the past, usually after a long period of time during which I abandon my responsibilities around here and allow unreviewed releases to pile up high. Now that my "reviews" are shorter and without much deep thought involved, I kind of figured we wouldn't get to this point again so soon; and yet, here we are. Anyway, here are some albums I've checked out over the summer but not yet shared my opinions on; I could have done haiku just as easily as dropping one or two sentences as I have below, but it turns out I'm too lazy to even arrange this shit into the proper lines and syllables. Shrug. MONDO COZMO New Medicine June 12, 2020 • Last Gang Highlights Black Cadillac • Upside Down • Come On For his second album as Mondo Cozmo, Josh Ostrander got help from some heavy hitters; Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's Peter Hayes features heavily, both as a guest guitarist and co-producer, and previous single Come On was co...

Following her 2014 critical breakout Burn Your Fire For No Witnesses , Angel Olsen sets out to shed labels on her third album. Throughout its eleven tracks, My Woman dabbles in shimmering modern synth pop, '90s alt-tinged muscular power pop, expansive cinematic rock and even neon-kissed old time rock n' roll. It's a record that calls to mind as much Superchunk and Nirvana as it does Cowboy Junkies and Neil Young. What ties all of these styles and feelings together are the raw emotion of Olsen's voice and the high level of talent she brings to her songwriting. My Woman is a transformative album that is by times thrilling, mesmerizing, heartbreaking, life affirming and exhausting. It's also a brilliant turn by an artist who defies whatever box we'd put her in and, perhaps above all, an album that subverts expectations only to exceed them. September 2, 2016 • Jagjaguwar Highlights Shut Up Kiss Me • Heart Shaped Face • Sister