Some new bands I like

    For a while recently I'd been digging back in time to see what older bands I'd overlooked. e.g. it turns out Big Star really resonates with me, and in the last post on this blog I listed a bunch of 90s bands that I thought deserved your attention.

    But, now I'm performing with a few bands, so my attention naturally returned to the cool stuff that bands in my area and around my country are doing. I'm excited that everyone seems to listen to everything: even the shoegaze kids listen to Orchid, and a good few punks have a favorite Pinegrove song.

    Here's a couple bands with new albums that I've really enjoyed.

Abel - 'Dizzy Spell' (2024)

    From Ohio is Abel. Here you'll hear the fuzzy shoegaze guitar, with vocals that waver between a detached slacker rock sound and a more punchy emo sound. The production is layered very nicely.

Cosmoline - 'Inventions' (2024)

    Cosmoline is a band from New Jersey that knows how to rock. The energy and the tempo hardly relent on this album that falls just short of 30 minutes. There's some modulations that remind me of bands like Pia Fraus, and upbeat thrashing reminding me of fellow noise-rocker Kraus. If you're looking to jam out, this is the one. It's been a long time since I was so excited about an album on first listen.

Dagwood - 'Pollyanna Visions' (2024)

    This band from Connecticut was on my radar when I was in high school, but I never did see them live. Somehow I stumbled upon them again recently, and their recent music is fun, thoughtful power pop. Their live set is extremely tight, you can tell how long they've played together. I'm glad to have finally seen them after the release of this great EP.

22º Halo - '22º Halo' (2019)

    Alright, it's not a new album, and they're probably the most popular band on this list, but I'm still happy there's a band out there that sounds like Idaho. (Although, Idaho is still around with a new album of their own!) This album has any 90s alternative rock sound you could think of, the folky slowcore, the heavy shoegaze, yet maintains an impressive cohesion. Hoping to catch them next month.