Top Albums of 2021

Honestly, I’m pretty over lists at this point. They’re arbitrary and don’t really reflect anything but someone’s tastes, except here where they reflect the tastes of three individuals…because that’s how we roll. So, take this list with a grain of salt. These are the records we thought were the best, which mostly just means these are the ones we listened to on repeat throughout the year! Feel free to leave a comment on what you think we missed, or why we’re dumb; we love good comment trolls.

Also, because this list is really about crediting the art that made us happy, we wanted it to make you happy too, so we included purchasing links where we could. Read more

Meatbodies Share The Hero

Chad Ubovich seems to have been a constant in the indie scene for some time, be that in Fuzz or playing with Ty Segall and Mikal Cronin…but the bread and butter is his own Meatbodies outfit. The band are set to meet Satan halfway with 333, and in preparing us, they drop this psychedelic seance, more of a spiritual musical journey than anything else. Strangely, this song was written after Ubovich got sober, recovering from years and years of playing music on the road; his music has this new clarity that fills the whole of 333. If you dig what you hear, the whole LP is out on September 3rd via In the Red Records.

New Ty Segall Tune

I feel like Ty Segall has earned the right to sort of carry his own torch, play by his own rules, so it seems like his new album First Tastes will have him taking some artistic liberties. For instance, this latest single is almost entirely just a vocal performance, but even in that, Segall still has the ability to captivate. According to Ty, this track was a fevered reflection on his childhood, which enabled him to work with his newest band member, Shannon Lay (a wonderful force in her own right). I appreciate Ty’s willingness to step into some new territory, so we’ll see how it all fits in with the new LP when it drops on August 2nd via Drag City.

New Ty Segall and White Fence Single

Sometimes I think Ty Segall is too prolific for his own good, but when he’s joining up with Tim Presley aka White Fence, I can definitely get behind that. This track almost sounds like it’s acoustic punk filled with furious strumming, but you can hear the influence of Presley, particularly in the very post-punk yelps and the delivery of the first chorus. Don’t worry, you get a Ty-esque solo in the last seconds of the song, just to whet your appetite. Together, Ty Segall and White Fence will release Joy on July 20th via Drag City.

New White Fence and Ty Segall LP Coming

It’s been some time since we’ve had a Ty Segall/White Fence collaboration actually hit the studio for a release, but it looks like the two friends have reunited for a new effort, Joy. Our first listen to new music gives us precisely what you’d expect from a band consisting of Ty and Tim Presley; there’s hints of glam, psych and garage…but it’s spun in this ornate manner Presley seems to have perfected with his other project Drinks. It’s like a weird journey down a kaleidoscope of influences; it sounds an awful lot like our friends in Colourmusic in their early days. Joy is being released by Drag City on July 20th.

Here Comes a New Wand Album

Long ago, for some reason, Wand got lumped in with the Ty Segall crowd; that’s fair, considering songwriter Cory has played with Ty in various projects. But, as we’ve seen over the last two releases, Wand is entirely an act on their own territory. This latest single finds the band walking the territory between bouncier elements of Spoon and the lingering melodies of Radiohead. Maybe this is what California’s version of Spiritualized sounds like? Whatever it is, there’s no heavy riffs needed anymore, just the creative process and the perfect execution. Look for the band’s new album this September via Drag City…surely we’ll be hearing much more leading up to its release.

Dasher Sign to Jagjaguwar

Honestly, and this is a stretch for some of you, I know, but I feel like Ty Segall‘s gotten sort of safe, almost calm. But, for those of you who cherish is heavy, unabashed style…now you have Dasher. Drums open the track, pounding as chords knife their way through the distance, setting the scene for Kylee Kimbrough to scare you out of your seat (in the best way possible). This song seems furious to a certain degree, but the central chorus definitely has an accessible hook, which should endear the group to fans just on the cusp of heavy tunes. The group just announced they’ve signed to Jagjaguwar, so we should expect to hear more from them real real soon!

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CFM Churns Out More Tunes

Charles Moothart is one busy ass guy right? He spends time recording and performing with Mikal Cronin,Ty Segall and all of their many projects. Somehow he finds time between all those projects to churn out tons of quality hits via his solo project CFM. It seems like only a few short months ago he dropped an EP on our ears, and now he’s offering up more songs to preview his upcoming full release. The new track is called “Voyeurs” and is one big long jam full of guitar noodling, trippy electric guitar, and many other small nuances you might find interesting. Check it out.

Dichotomy Desaturated is coming on April 7th via In the Red Records.

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New Earth Girl Helen Brown Music

Now that the Sandwitches have called it a day, it’s time for Earth Girl Helen Brown (Heidi Alexander) to shine. She just announced a seasonal series, Mercury, to celebrate our celestial friends, calling in help from friends such as Ty Segall and Sonny Smith to flesh out the release. Our first listen is a pretty stellar one, with equal parts playful bounce and soulful harmonies. You’ll be tapping your toes while horns and gang vocals back up Alexander’s voice; it’s hard not to fall in love with this tune from the moment it kicks in. Empty Cellar Records will release Mercury on April 14th with proceeds going to various charities aimed at preserving the Earth.

Brand New Tunes from The Cairo Gang

Drag City has one of the most diverse stables of bands, offering up quiet folk, experimental tunes and, of course, heavy tinged guitar acts like Ty Segall. This new track from The Cairo Gang seems to fall in the latter category, though only in spirit. While you could see these riffs being amplified, they’re pulled back in the studio mix, bringing in a more classic glam sound that carries more of a heavy stomp than a head bang. It all brings a steady groove, casually rocking listeners rather than beating them over the head…which is great for those of us who don’t want to blast the cones on our speakers.The new album Untouchable will be available via DC’s God? Imprint on March 24th.

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