I wrote about the new Barely Civil album and the ways in which we talk about and engage with emo music. You can read that over at The Alternative:

Album Review: Barely Civil — “I’ll Figure This Out”

I wrote about Philadelphia musician Greg Mendez and his new music video for The Alternative. Check it out:

Video Premiere: Greg Mendez — “Long Division”

Laura Stevenson is one of my favorite songwriters. To celebrate the recent reissue of her 2011 album Sit Resist, I wrote about her ten best songs for The Alternative.

This Playlist Hurts: The 10 Best Laura Stevenson Songs

I wrote about Young Jesus, who continue to expand their breadth and interrogate the universe on their new Welcome to Conceptual Beach. Here it is, for The Alternative:

Album Review: Young Jesus — Welcome to Conceptual Beach

I heard that the nice folks in Buffalo emo band Del Paxton are avid runners, so I called them up to explain to me, a non-athlete, 1. what running is and 2. why they like it so much.

Oh, and we also talked about their very good new songs. Here it is, for The Alternative: 

Interview: Del Paxton Keeps on Running

Some words about Bright Eyes, who will return after nine years next week with Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, which picks up and carries on right where they left off. Check it out over on Slant: 

Review: Bright Eyes’s Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was

I wrote about Thanya Iyer‘s wonderful new album KIND, which carves out a unique, warm space for self-reflection and personal growth. Check it out:

Album Review: Thanya Iyer — “KIND” 

 

I wrote this essay about falling in love with tape collecting over the past few months. You can read it over at The Alternative.

Cassette Person: On Isolation and Falling in Love With Tapes

I recently did a quick Q+A with the excellent new Baltimore rock band Pinkshift. Pinkshift is the latest in a small group of bands who are picking up a style I thought might be dead (’00s scene-type stuff) and making it exciting again. I talked to them about how they came together, how their disparate influences coalesce in their music, and more. Check it out below.

Interview: Pinkshift Picks Up ’00s Pop-Punk Torch

I wrote a little essay about the latest Shamir track and how isolation can change the way we see love songs:

Track Review: Shamir—”I Wonder”