Amoeba Music

Sometimes you just need some good and gritty rock 'n' roll. That's where The Hives come in. The Swedish garage rockers are back with another bigger-than-life, brilliant, and brash record, The Hives Forever Forever The Hives . Over the course of its short-but-oh-so-sweet 33 minute run time, the album sneers and rages, stomps and celebrates. There's a song for every occasion here...as long as that occasion is powered by a full-throttle, punk rock excess. With some of the most irresistible hooks in the band's career, this new record hits the spot. More

Tift Merritt's Time and Patience is an intimate, warm, lovely album. Recorded as a companion piece for her Grammy-nominated album Tambourine's twentieth anniversary, the tracks on Time and Patience consist of re-recordings and new songs taken from the same era. Some songs are previously unheard, others take things straight to the heart with spartan home versions consisting of just voice and acoustic instruments. "My dreams have come to me with patience and time," Merritt says, in relation to the album's title. And that's the underlying message of these sweetly harmonious, rootsy songs. An album to treasure. More

Jehnny Beth's fantastic You Heartbreaker, You is an adrenaline rush in album form. On her sophomore solo album, the Savages vocalist channels rage, fear, lust, and frustration into these tightly-wound, frenetic, noisy tracks. Finding the pleasure in pain, or at least exorcising it in these scorching songs, the new album sits nicely with the more abrasive, unpredictable works of Nine Inch Nails, Tricky, and PJ Harvey. “We’re living in a dark time, full of drama, and barbarous tragedy. It became clear to me that, in these times, we either learn how to scream really well, or we learn how to whisper,” Jehnny Beth has said — and that's a pretty good synopsis for this abrasive and ultimately cathartic album. More

Twenty years ago, Minus the Bear released Menos El Oso ...and it sounds just as fresh, emotionally gripping, and innovative as it did back then. The 20th Anniversary deluxe pink vinyl takes the original genre-bending tracks and throws in demo versions of four album tracks, “I’m Totally Not Down With Rob’s Alien” from the They Make Beer Commercials Like This EP showcase, a side D etching, photo booklet, and updated artwork in a gatefold jacket. This is an album worth rediscovering, or discovering for the first time. A wistful, simmering fusion of math rock, indie, and electronic, Menos El Oso is a record of melancholic beauty. More

Hot Mulligan's The Sound a Body Makes When It's Still will hit the sweet spot for fans of emo and pop-punk. Blistering yet tongue-in-cheek, these tracks are a ferocious and sometimes oddly beautiful exploration of the problems we go through life with — and how our worst challenges are often self-inflicted. The intensity and anguish here serves as a natural counterpoint for the wry observations and melodic choruses. The Sound a Body Makes is one of those albums that's painfully relatable; listening to these songs feels like reuniting with an old friend, albeit one who's not afraid to dish up some tough love. More

Maiya Blaney's A Room With A Door That Closes is experimental, eclectic, and riveting. The ethos is pure punk rock while the sound moves from furious noise rock to skittering drum 'n bass to languid trip-hop. Blaney says the album is “a love letter to her blue,” a state of being that is "a kinetic, intense, and dark energy that needs to be expressed as soon as it is felt.” It's a fierce, dreamy, romantic album that's a pure pleasure to listen to, whether Blaney's rage or yearning takes the forefront of the track. An exciting, expressive album that feels like a real discovery. More

The Mighty Rootsmen is an exciting supergroup of reggae legends Toots Hibbert, Gregory Isaacs, Luciano, Mykal Rose, and Sly & Robbie. Their self-titled debut album was recorded in 2009, but is finally getting the release it deserves. The Mighty Rootsmen present vibrant reggae versions of rock classics by artists like Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, The Eagles, and The Steve Miller Band. Kicking off with a joyful take on Petty's "I Won't Back Down," this is a feel-good album with depth and soul. Other highlights include a heartfelt version of "Peace Train" (Cat Stevens) and a lively "Love The One You're With" (Stephen Stills). It's the perfect soundtrack for the summer. More

The inimitable Alison Goldfrapp is back with Flux . With production by Richard X, Stefan Storm, and Goldfrapp herself, these songs are effervescent, seductive, euphoric electro-pop. At times, the songwriting gets vulnerable and raw, adding a deep emotional undertow to these glittering tracks. Your new favorite dance anthem could be any one of the dizzying, delightful tracks on Flux . More

Evidence gets introspective on the incredible Unlearning Vol. 2 . The followup to 2021's Unlearning Vol. 1 , the tracks are deceptively easy-going, with a rawness and an unpredictable experimental approach just beneath the surface. The production is lush, hypnotic, and often just straight up lovely. Featuring guest appearances from Domo Genesis, Larry June, Theravada, and The Alchemist, Unlearning Vol. 2 is a must-hear for fans of smart, timeless hip-hop. More

Live At The Warfield – February 28th 1991 documents the Jerry Garcia Band's first night of a three-night run at the iconic Warfield. (Live recordings for the other two nights will follow later this year.) An epic and immersive listening experience, this live recording is jam-packed with fan favorites. Get ready for lively, grooved-out versions of "The Way You Do The Things You Do,” “You Never Can Tell,” “My Sisters and Brothers,” “Deal," and many other classics. Featuring the band's 1986 to 1993 lineup, with guitarist/vocalist Jerry Garcia (yes), Melvin Seals (keys), John Kahn (bass), David Kemper (percussion), and Jaclyn LaBranch and Gloria Jones (backing vocalists). More

Beach Bunny's Tunnel Vision is the feel-good garage-meets-bedroom-pop album we all need right now. The lyrics are timely and bruising, delving into internet brainrot, anxiety, microplastics, climate change, social envy, and greed. The melodies, on the other hand, are pure sunshiney pastel punk, with '00s indie rock guitars, smart and hooky choruses, and the occasional retro synth. It's an interesting juxtaposition and one that really works. Tunnel Vision is filled with relatable, defiant, sugar rush bops that serve as the ideal soundtrack for navigating...whatever all this is. More

Anamanaguchi is back with Anyway , an ultra-analog album from the pioneering chip-tune indie rockers. Originally conceived as a record about rage, on their first studio album in half-a-decade, the band just found themselves having too much fun. Instead, they explore themes of boredom, loneliness, love, attraction, sadness, paranoia, and (yes) anger — often with a bit of humor and slice-of-life realism thrown in. Recorded on vintage gear with songwriter/guitarist Peter Berkman taking on the role of vocalist, the lively Anyway already feels like a classic indie rock album. More

Slowcore lives. Teethe's second album, Magic of the Sale , is an enticing blend of '90s indie rock with moody Low-like melodies, all with Denton, TX southern grit. Twangy guitars bring a lonesome air to delicate melodies with intertwining, devastatingly beautiful vocals. Punk rock meets power chords in irresistibly anthemic rock 'n' roll. It's an eclectic, electric album that should top many year end "best" lists. Via guest appearances, Xandy Chelmis of Wednesday and MJ Lenderman and Charlie Martin of Hovvdy lend their talents to these standout songs. More

$UICIDEBOY$ fans, your prayers have been answered. The duo's latest, Thy Kingdom Come , is a bristling, bleak, gritty must-hear. Highlights include collaboration with Bones on "Now and At The Hour of Our Death," and Night Lovell on "Carried Away," plus lo-fi banger "Self-Inflicted" and the amped-up menace of "Napoleon." Nobody does it like the $UICIDEBOY$ and this new album is exemplary. More

For fans, the reissue of Heatmiser's Mic City Sons is a holy grail moment. The cult favorite, gone-too-soon '90s indie rock act sounds better than ever on this special (nearly) 30th anniversary edition. Remastered, with a bounty of unreleased tracks and demos, the album is vital, electric, and inviting. Blending indie rock with Britpop, Mic City Sons showcased the band at its very best, injecting more pop-friendly elements into its sound to create an album that feels like an old friend. More

Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist join forces once more for Alfredo 2 . The original Alfredo , released back in 2020, garnered a Grammy nomination so anticipation is high for the latest savvy and stylish outing from the duo. The good news: Alfredo 2 is just as hot. Guest appearances from Anderson .Paak, Larry June, and JID add to the smart lyrical flows and sizzling production. A must-hear and a late contender for album of the summer. More

The Dirty Nil are pure rock 'n' roll. Their fifth album, The Lash , finds the band leaning into medieval-inspired imagery while churning out a headbangin' blend of power pop, punk, and hard rock. The lyrics range from the tongue-in-cheek ("Rock N' Roll Band," an account of joining a band for internet fame while making your loved ones worry) to the brutal and imaginative ("Gallop of the Hounds," a revenge track that sounds like it would fit into a horror movie). With pounding percussion, intense yet melodic choruses, and searing riffs, The Lash is a raucous good time. More

The original Alice Cooper band is back with their first album in fifty years. Yes, that's right. Not since 1973's Muscle of Love have the surviving members of the revolutionary rock 'n' roll band gotten together to write and record new material. The Revenge of Alice Cooper is a welcome return. With scorching guitars, relentless percussion, and defiantly cool lyrics, the album delivers everything you loved about the groundbreaking band. Turn this one up loud, roll down your windows, and enjoy a blast of metal mayhem. More

British folk-pop artist Billie Marten has released her fifth studio album, Dog Eared , chock full of summertime vibes and nostalgia for childhood. The mellow set features guest turns by artists like indie darling Sam Evian, Catalan singer/songwriter Núria Graham, and folk musician Maia Friedman (formerly of Dirty Projectors). "Feeling" is jangly and breezy, and "Clover" offers dreamy, wistful musings. "Swing" stands out for its livelier arrangement and singalong "ooooh's" in the chorus. This is a gentle set for quiet mornings over cups of coffee. More

Colin Hay presents a detailed retrospective of his career on the eclectic, wry, and entertaining Man at Work Volume 2 . The album is a sequel to his best-selling early '00s Man at Work album and includes new songs, highlights from his solo albums, and classic tracks from his essential '80s group Men at Work. From the very first track, “Into My Life,” featuring Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band) and Cecilia Noël, it's a wonderful showcase of Hay's skilled storytelling, ear for an infectious hook, and warm voice. On "Blue for You," he presents a reggae-tinged version of a 1983 Men at Work track, which is a pure joy. And there are even more standout moments to come as the album rolls along. An enjoyable celebration of an iconic artist, fans will be glad Volume 2 is here two decades after the first album hit stores. More