I like listening to music, and I like writing about music. It just so happens that I get sent LOTS of music by publicists and bands in hopes of getting a review. I also enjoy reading reviews written by people I respect and admire. So, I usually have a deep backlog of albums that deserve my attention. With this monthly series, I’ll tell you about the artists that jumped out of my headphones and grabbed my attention.

What a weird month.

There’s been plenty of music, but only the really good stuff cut through the noise. Which, I guess, is as it should be, but I feel like I’ve missed some stuff. It would be inconvenient to blame my distractedness on the consistent crush of local global geopolitics, but it is a factor. Then again, I can’t listen to music all day. It would be irresponsible of me to avoid the demands of real life. Not only do I have my day job, but I have my family, my reading, my projects, my sleep, and the occasional batch of Star Trek reruns to cleanse my media palate.

That being said, I still found plenty of stellar music to share with you this month. I have to hold up my end of the bargain!

Sunn O))) – Sunn O)))

Surprise! Another artist I’ve known about but never really investigated with any rigor. Then again, that’s been the intended point of this leadoff spot each month. I’ve always described music reviewing as “listening to the future,” so I like making the time for this sort of historiography. I also like exploring “new to me” bands

Sunn O))) is famously a two-guitar drone band. Formed in 1998 by Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson, the duo creates dense walls of feedback that threaten to pummel the listener with an indomitable rigor. To the untrained ear, it sounds like relentless noise devoid of traditional songcraft, as if someone strummed an overdriven guitar a few times and let the chord ring loudly into infinity. However, once you gain some familiarity with the genre and the band, you can appreciate the deep nuances in guitar tone, amplifier volume, and dynamic variance.

While I readily admit that the band won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, this new album – the twosome’s first for Sub Pop – might be the closest thing to accessible in their history. As a self-titled record, it serves as a tremendous statement of intent. Working without any external collaborators for the first time in years, Sunn O))) delivers its familiar sonic assault with aplomb but does so using a hearty respect for drone minimalism. If this was the product of an electronic producer, we’d be talking about the interlocking layers of processors, patches, and precision. With this impeccable act, I encourage newcomers to sit back, relax, and let the sounds wash over you to create a meditative mood.

For more, I recommend Black One (2005), Altar (with Boris) (2006), Monoliths & Dimensions (2009), and Life Metal (2019).

Angelo De Augustine – Angel in Plainclothes

Post-Sufjan dreamy indie-folk. This talented singer-songwriter employs a gentle, aching falsetto to maximum effect. He pairs that haunting voice with restrained accompaniment, mostly guitar with some strings, to create remarkable soundscapes and inviting music. The album sails above sound-alike competitors by relying on thoughtful lyrics that encourage connection, not disaffection, resulting in a springlike warmth instead of autumnal chill.

Carla dal Forno – Confession

Spaced-out electro-folk with ambient textures mixing claire rousay with Hannah Frances. This artist uses nearly the exact same instrumentation as our previous recommendation but to wildly different outcomes. She fuses laconic alto with sparsely plucked guitar melodies and minimalist electronic beats to achieve an eclectic sound worthy of deeper investigation. Her music invites you to begin your day with a long walk in the morning and end with some quiet meditation.

Eve Maret – Diamond Cutter EP

Nothing beats delicious synth-pop with bouncing beats and cooing vocals. This collection of six non-stop bangers is slinky, sexy, and downright fun. Eve Maret combines her post-midnight bops with reflections on her deeply religious upbringing, which makes for quite an engaging juxtaposition. She fuses Detroit and Chicago house with flirty confidence, as each track beckons you to the dance floor for a night of fun.

Miss Grit – Under My Umbrella

Sly and dour electro-pop, like Romy of The xx collaborating with Charli XCX. If the previous selection propels you onto a brightly lit dance floor so that you can shake off your troubles, this one invites you to explore a darker, more mysterious venue. Both locations welcome you to set aside your inhibitions, but this album asks you to embrace the gloom. Through kinetic grooves, minor-key arrangements, and precise production, this artist doesn’t hide from the emotional impact of negative situations and beckons you to do the same.

Stunt Drummer – Warm Up, Tiger

Gritty, no-frills punk will always hold a special place in my heart. This powerful quartet eschews any sort of pop formatting, while still possessing heaps of hooks. The arty elements of Polvo merge with the noisy post-punk of Mission of Burma to showcase furious songcraft and sociopolitical lyricism. But when the band folds in some Sonic Youth and Converge, the post-hardcore hits a new level of fist-pumping aggression. Come for the snarling guitars but stay for the ripping grooves.

Other Stuff I Enjoyed Listening to This Month

• Chantal Michelle – All Things Must Spill
• Friko – Something Worth Waiting For (my Bearded Gentlemen Music review)
• Jessie Ware – Superbloom (my Treble Zine review)
• Kayla Painter – Tectonic Particles
• Midori Hirano – OTONOMA  
• Thundercat – Distracted