To say we've been waiting for this one for a long time would be an understatement. niiice.  is finally back with their first new single since 2019's Never Better , the stellar EP that launched the trio into the national DIY spotlight. "shlonkey kong" is the appetizer to the band's forthcoming second LP, Internet Friends . The band has boiled all the quintessential elements of the NCU (niiice. Cinematic Universe) into one pure song - so potent it'll get you high in a single hit. Guitarist/vocalist Roddie Gadeberg is an absolute master at writing songs that people can scream along to while still detailing incapacitating anxiety and its many side-effects. Their are weed references galore (would it be a niiice. song if there weren't?), but Gadeberg tells us why  he's smoking so much too. As great as weed is, it's still a coping mechanism to deal with self-doubt, back pain, and other problems. Never Better  was perfect proof of the musical synthe...

  This is a bit of a bittersweet write-up, as this might the Fragile Canyon 's final release.  For those who don't happen to be in the loop, Fragile Canyons is an indie rock quartet whose name (and memes) usually precede the music they make. Earlier this month, it was announced that the band would be going on an indefinite hiatus because vocalist and guitarist Andy Engstrom is moving to Switzerland for the next three years. While the future of the band stays up in the air, they decided to grace us with one final release, Lavender . The release lulls you in with a false sense of security during its title track. "Lavender" feels like how we wanted the summer of 2020 to go. The track's twinkly guitars play with jam band grooves to create a free and easy love song. A midpoint solo is tight but still meandering, keeping everything light. Just as you settle in for a relaxing listening experience, the band switches things up.  Opening with a dissonant clang, Fragile Cany...

  There's nothing more potent than a well-placed "woo" in an emo song. "Serenity," the latest single from Minneapolis' Fox Theory proves this  On the surface, "Serenity" is a glowing ode to the sun-kissed freedom of summer. Singer/guitarist Jack Daily's chorus puts it in simple terms: "serenity," "wonder and peace." A prototypical day of cheap beer and driving around with friends - what more could one ask for? Quite a lot. "Serenity" is Fox Theory's most direct song to date. Gone is the strange mysticism of prior releases like  River Kids  and even " New Beginning ." Daily, Harris Worthman (drums), and Nathaniel Rozinka (bass) have settled into an essential groove that allows them to toy with the sounds of Midwest emo while still making what is ultimately a pop song. The trio revels in the sound they're creating, playing to their strengths instead of overcomplicating the song. The woozy lyrics em...

  (Cover art by Keegan Burckhard ) At its best, Bobby Rethwish 's music transports you to a technicolor dimension outside of time, taking in bits and pieces of a multitude of sounds and eras. His second single in two months, "THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN MEANING," does just that. In just around two minutes, Rethwish crams in a generation's worth of ideas. Chipmunk soul samples are thrown in alongside hypnagogic synths and 80s drum machines. In a testament to the strength of the songwriting and production, you could show "THERE'S MORE TO LIFE" to people from at least four decades and it would be guaranteed to get them dancing (or at least bopping their heads). Nostalgia is used to push the song's sound forward rather than as a crutch. Just like "MOONFACE," Rethwish is speaking directly to an unknown individual. His voice (even with all the effects) is that of a friend, disarming with its humor and genuine in its desire for their improvement...

(Cover art by Grover Hogan ) Following their smoldering June track "Taste," Minneapolis' premier funky, sexy trio Static Panic is back with single, "Spice Rack."  Ro Lorenzen's breathy opening vocals pull you close in a single motion before you can think, "Wait, this song isn't about cooking!" A bouncing synth bassline propels everything forward while Ro reads from her list of epicurean delights. The song indulges heavily in the band's electronic side to create a pulsing bop of breakbeats and additional percussion that keeps you from wanting to stand still. It continues to builds to climax before pulling back from the edge. Ro's playful vocals get turned up to eleven during the breakdown. "Did I hear you correctly when you said you want your baby back" is asked with a goosebump raising giggle. "Well, this roast is one roast you can't set and forget, alright?" is spoken with a knowing wink and nod before building...