A pillar of jangle pop and the NZ rock sound, The Clean is one of my favorite guitar pop bands in any genre. They’re remarkably consistent and I don’t know if they have a “best album” but I revisit this one often. It’s certainly their most […]
Among the many collabs between Tatsuya Yoshida and Uchiashi Kazuhisa (Altered States, Ground-Zero,…), this is a particularly overlooked one released in 2022 where Yoshida plays a drum set with four snares. Definitely my favorite live recording from recent years. The whole thing is available as audio […]
This is an intense but fun album from a band that’s fast becoming essential listening for all you acid punks out there. I find it groovy and heavy in equal measure. It recalls UK psych monoliths GNOD but in a tighter more classically punk package. I […]
There’s so much character and creativity in this record by Winged Wheel. I have been enjoying it more than most of their experimental/kraut contemporaries and find it better than their (excellent) first record. Unlike their first record, 2022s No Island, their sophomore album Big Hotel was […]
Two excellent and immersive works from the Brazilian songwriter. No Reinon Dos Afetos is translated as “in the realm of affections” and these records sound like they’ve come from a amorous dream. Recorded over 7ish years with old friend and fellow Alagoas musician Batata Boy they […]
A demolishing record with an insane guitar wall of sound and driving drums. 40 minutes of sonic overdrive which gets intense as hell pretty quickly. And of course it’s from Japan. Check it out on YouTube
I live in a beautiful time and place for heavy psych. It’s clear that the genre, and specifically several trios/quartets that are active right now, will be the immediate future of psych rock in a major way. Of all those bands I think Kanaan may be […]
This is an intricate and uplifting album of psych pop that sparkles and bubbles with electroacoustic detail- laid out on top of stellar songwriting. It’s the UK groups first record since 2016 and their fifth for the inimitable Drag City Records, so there’s the first good […]
These are 50+ of my favorite studio records of 2023. I highly recommend all of these. There’s something here for everyone and they’re all eye opening and mind expanding in some way. It’s not comprehensive and I’ve forgotten loads of favorites but we’re all here to […]
Amazing psychedelic afro funk from Senegal. Even just the cover art tells you it rules. Definitely my new favorite afrofunk record, plus some of the greatest guitar playing I’ve ever listened to.