Mount Eerie – Night Palace
“During one of the few quiet moments of Night Palace, Phil Elverum softly asks: “what if no one ever finds this notebook?” This is a slightly ironic opening to one of the most cacophonous, poetic, and vulnerable records of the year, but is deeply insightful to the ethos behind it. Elverum shifts between helplessness and guilt while struggling to find his role in the colonialism, inequality, and doom he sees on his doorstep. Enveloping sounds of fog horns, rushing water, and bit crushed strings nearly drown out his subdued vocals, and even the songs that lean more towards indie rock tradition are arranged in a way that makes everything feel new. He pushes each idea so far, but they never break, and the result is a stunning listen from start to finish.”- Filip
Laura Marling – Patterns In Repeat
“This was a beautiful album. This somber, folky album stands out to me from a lot of other indie folk albums I have reviewed. Marling’s soft vocals are gorgeous and raw. The lyrics paint a vulnerable story of love and falling out of it. She sings about motherhood. The instrumentals are soaring, but do not overpower Marling’s story. This is an album that should set a standard in the genre – I listened to every single word and note that Marling played with anticipation. I added the majority of songs on this album, because I believe everyone deserves to hear them. That being said, my favorite tracks were easily 4 and 5 – both brought tears to my eyes.” – Emily
Abbey Blackwell – Big Big Motion
“I really loved this album. This folky album has a sound that transcends time–it reminded me of Simon and Garfunkel in that way. The simpler instrumentals allowed the vocals to shine, which was definitely the highlight of this album. While the instrumentals were subtle, it does not mean they were boring; electric guitar solos and strong bass accentuated Blackwell’s vocals nicely. Blackwell’s vocals are gorgeous: the harmonies blended nicely, and her vulnerable and well-written lyrics make her stand out from more lazily-written indie slop. This album had a pretty consistent gentle tone, with the exception of one song: A Note to Myself. Blackwell’s fear of loneliness twists the instrumentals into something darker and more distorted, making the song and its message shine all the more.” – Emily
All Feels – This Place is a Message
“With an indie-pop sound, this band subtly comments on the anxieties that run through our world today, as referenced by the title of the album, which alludes to a statement often written over places where radioactive waste is buried. This album features mellow but jangly guitar riffs that create an arc of their own throughout the ten tracks, and great lyricism.” – Adelaide
Reviews from our volunteers!