Album Artwork

Britta released the Striking Out EP in June & I listened to it for the first time in my car in line at the drive thru CVS pharmacy -- then 2 more times on the way home. It's catchy, it's fun, and it's easy to listen to. The lyric "for a second I forgot to miss you" on benchwarmer catches the all-encompassing 24/7 task of fresh heartbreak. Throughout the EP, Raci introduces grueling emotional scenes & a guy you'd very much like to fight with through a bright and sparkly pop package.

Britta makes fun songs, if you like fun, and you like songs, you should listen to Britta Raci. These recordings feel shiny to me. You should come to a live show, there’s an element of vocal improvisation and a level of intensity in the live performances that really makes Britta stand out.

Matt’s full length release of The Problems With Me blends and layers 10+ years of recordings in with new creating a natural mix of lo-fi textures in the tracks. The moments where you catch the vocals shift between current and old recordings feel like a tiny window to past Sturgises. This self produced album is almost entirely Matt solo on all instruments with the exception of a few features. In classic Sturgis style, found audio samples frame certain tracks and add texture. ‘Fox’ shares space with vocals from Sarah Sturgis for lovely melancholy harmony. This album is one of my overall favorites this year and will stay in the rotation. For live shows, Matt Sturgis is in more bands than I can keep track of and probably has a show every weekend, but a Sturgis solo show is a rare and not-to-be-missed experience.

The valley’s own Alex Andre released 3 singles in 2024, collaborating with a handful of skilled artists along the way. “she picked me up and put me in her pocket” weaves shimmery electronic instrumentals with Shalfi’s signature guitar melody and VI6NNA & Alex Andre’s vocals. It’s an earnest love song that stays bright and upbeat through to the end. Follow Alex Andre/Redacted Collective to be in the know for more shows than you can count.

Shalfi released Olympics this year, an EP of four songs for four sports. This has been my go-to music for when I’m opening up my computer to get some admin or RT done all year long. This is a solo guitar EP with a very clean sound and subtle use of effects. The way the notes seem to roll over each other at the head of Archer is so pretty and feels like when you’re trying to wake up but the bed is still so cozy. One of my favorite parts of every Shalfi live performance is seeing a first time listener’s reaction: there’s a sense of wonder that is so beautiful to see fresh. It almost seems impossible for all those notes to be coming from just the one guitar, but it’s real, and it's right there in front of you.

IE legend porkboii released two singles on streaming this year: “send tweet” and “WJ”. send tweet's stripped back recording feels like receiving a voice memo from your friend who's dating that guy who's the sole reason you put “no plus ones” on the invite. It's a classic porkboii acoustic track, emotionally open and wry in the same breath. Then in March, the song that fans have been asking about for years: if WJ the man is an ‘LA 7’, WJ the song is an LA 10. This recording is clean, with clear layered vocals and framing choral measures.

Synthetic Chew released Hahaue in May. Warm toned piano backs smooth vocals on this 3-song collection. Along with the rest of the band composed of bass, sax & drums these tracks feel fully produced but still intimate like you’re hearing them play a small room.

These are so pretty. Take a 10 minute break today to listen to them in some soft, low lighting and stop thinking about all the other stuff you have to do today.