merge records

Teenage Fanclub Discuss New LP ‘Endless Arcade’ and the Danger of Looking Backward

Teenage Fanclub Discuss New LP ‘Endless Arcade’ and the Danger of Looking Backward

Legendary Scottish indie-poppers Teenage Fanclub discuss their new LP Endless Arcade and why they look forward to their future as a band.

Fruit Bats’ ‘The Pet Parade’ Is a Cure for Winter’s Long Grayness

Fruit Bats’ ‘The Pet Parade’ Is a Cure for Winter’s Long Grayness

Fruit Bats bring in some effective collaborators (most notably Bonny Light Horseman buddy Josh Kaufman) for yet another strong album in The Pet Parade, well-timed for its false-spring release as a cure for the grayness of a long winter.

Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner Discusses Their New Covers EP and Pandemic Musical Life

Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner Discusses Their New Covers EP and Pandemic Musical Life

The frontman of "the most fucked-up country band in Nashville" returns Lambchop to their roots on TRIP. Each group member picked a classic song and was bandleader for a day, resulting in a record that reveals Lambchop's core influences in striking new light.

The Mountain Goats Find New Sonic Inspiration on ‘Getting Into Knives’

The Mountain Goats Find New Sonic Inspiration on ‘Getting Into Knives’

John Darnielle explores new sounds on his 19th studio album as the Mountain Goats—and creates his best record in years with Getting Into Knives.

Bob Mould Goes Back to the 1980s for the Sound of ‘Blue Hearts’

Bob Mould Goes Back to the 1980s for the Sound of ‘Blue Hearts’

This year looks a lot like 1984 to Bob Mould and he is most definitely, not happy. Not happy at all. His guitar sounds like it's on fire.

Arcade Fire’s Will Butler Personalizes History on ‘Generations’

Arcade Fire’s Will Butler Personalizes History on ‘Generations’

Arcade Fire's Will Butler creates bouncy, infectious rhythms and covers them with socially responsible, cerebral lyrics about American life past and present on Generations.

Sneaks’ ‘Happy Birthday’ Begs Us to Reconsider Musical Definitions

Sneaks’ ‘Happy Birthday’ Begs Us to Reconsider Musical Definitions

Sneaks' Happy Birthday is a worthwhile release for its insistence upon being categorized as music without a category.

H.C. McEntire Delivers Her Masterpiece with ‘Eno Axis’

H.C. McEntire Delivers Her Masterpiece with ‘Eno Axis’

Born in isolation not so much by outside mandate as by natural inspiration, H.C. McEntire's Eno Axis is a masterwork of deep, spiritual escapism.

Lou Barlow’s ‘EMOH’ Is Another Quiet Triumph in a Long History of Humble Genius

Lou Barlow’s ‘EMOH’ Is Another Quiet Triumph in a Long History of Humble Genius

Re-released on vinyl to celebrate its 15th anniversary, Lou Barlow's EMOH offers a wide array of indie rock charms.

Wye Oak Look Out at ‘No Horizon’

Wye Oak Look Out at ‘No Horizon’

Wye Oak's songs are haunted by the familiar as bits of old melodies, percussive beats, stray conversations, street sounds, and the natural world seem to float in and out of their compositions.

‘Switched-On Seeker’ Is an Imaginative Electronic Reimagining of Mikal Cronin’s Latest LP

‘Switched-On Seeker’ Is an Imaginative Electronic Reimagining of Mikal Cronin’s Latest LP

Listeners who prefer dense rock/pop timbres will no doubt prefer Mikal Cronin's 'Seeker'. However, 'Switched-On Seeker' will surely delight fans of smaller-scale electronic filters.

Jade Hairpins’ Eclectic Indie Pop/Rock Delivers a Stellar Debut with ‘Harmony Avenue’

Jade Hairpins’ Eclectic Indie Pop/Rock Delivers a Stellar Debut with ‘Harmony Avenue’

Jade Hairpins' Harmony Avenue exudes the free-spirited exuberance of a side project, jam-packed with ideas and vivid tone colors, and aimed for both the melodic and harmonic sweet tooth.