Review: From indie rock to country, these albums don’t fail to excite

Perfume Genius is a unique indie pop project masterminded by openly gay artist Mike Hadreas. His recently-released fourth album, “No Shape,” is his most musically intricate, thematically optimistic, and sonically magical yet. After a lifetime of battling discrimination, self-doubt, and physical ailments caused by Crohn's disease, Hadreas seems to have finally found himself, and his newfound...

Lo-fi indie-rock artist Mac DeMarco is both loved and hated for his sloppy clothing style, unpretentious personality, and tendency to create onstage antics, such as performing U2 covers nude with a drumstick tucked up his behind. DeMarco’s aloof, easy-going, and sometimes drugged-out personality comes through on his latest album, “This Old Dog,” taking listeners with similar personality t...

I’ve always been of the opinion that country music was one thing best left in the South, far away from me up here in the Northeast. Don’t get me wrong; I can fully enjoy some aspects of Southern culture, like good barbeque food and a cool pair of overalls, but as soon as I hear country music start to play, you can bet I’ll be running to my comfort zone in the ice-covered hills. Needless to say, I an...

I’d like to preface this review by admitting my bias. The truth is, the Mountain Goats are one of my all time favorite musical acts. I’m of the opinion that the mastermind behind the band, John Darnielle, is one of the most fantastic storytellers in the music industry. His raw, passionate sound and moving lyrics make the Mountain Goats’ music simultaneously calming and exciting. But Da...

Girlpool is a Los Angeles-based group masterminded by best friends Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad. Together, the duo creates eerie, dynamic music and haunting harmonies. Their sophomore album, “Powerplant,” showcases the girls’ simultaneously sweet and powerful voices, and their dynamic songwriting abilities through aggressive, emo-tinged folk punk. Sonically, “Powerplant” embodies the wel...

After a line-up and name change in 1994, beloved dream-pop band Slowdive seemed to disappear off the face of the earth for a substantial amount of time time; but here we are in 2017, and after 22 years of anticipation, Slowdive has finally put out new music on their recently-released self-titled album, “Slowdive.” Unfortunately, the album is not quite worth the wait. I think the fourth track, �...