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.

Wow. Is this what normal feels like?

I mean, America is an absolute shit show, complete with multiple food products giving people diarrhea and other intestinal complications. Also, my family moved to Virginia to get away from the terrible political leadership in charge of Texas, including the passage of legislation compelling teachers to read the Christian Bible in classrooms. Additionally, let’s not forget the ongoing trade war with Iran over the Gulf of Hormuz, much less the awkward on-again, off-again tariffs that America levies against its political enemies. Oh, and there’s the ever-growing AI bubble that threatens to collapse the global economy as everyone has decided to invest in a bunch of companies that don’t make anything in hopes that the various prediction machines that steal intellectual property from all manner of artists might someday help people.

I’m simply talking about the fact that my August felt much more run-of-the-mill than the last several months before. Maybe it’s because my family has unpacked 90% of the boxes from our move. Maybe it’s because we have fallen in love with our new city. Or maybe it’s because our world hasn’t been consumed with the minutiae of planning for our move. It’s probably all those things – and the fact that I like clear routines, which have been missing from my life because of the relocation.

So, let’s talk about music.

Papangu – Celestial

I had never heard of this band until I read the review for this album on Treble Zine earlier in the month. Holy shit, did I fall in love quickly. It’s prog meets funk meets Brazilian samba meets fun. Imagine Rush creating music with Jorge Ben and Mastodon to develop sweet, ass-shaking grooves. Celestial sent me diving deep into Papangu’s prior two albums, and I was in awe of their musical growth. Where 2021’s Holocene felt more metal and 2024’s Lampiao Rei was more prog, this 2026 album fused their influences into a rich and joyful stew that will put a smile on your face. I defy you to listen to “Colosso,” “Taxedermia,” or “Calado (de Ohlo)” and not start dancing around the room.

Alex Dupree – Talking to the Dog

Splendid county-folk balladry. There’s just something about Central Texas that cultivates some of the most talented troubadours in the world. Maybe Austin, TX hasn’t totally been coopted by tech bros, or maybe it’s because the wider Texas Hill Country has some of the best venues and fans for heartfelt singer-songwriters in the country. Because Alex Dupree consistently delivers the goods. His unique blend of John Prine, Ryan Bingham, and Kacey Musgraves brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye, especially when he gives his wry sense of humor some room to play. Led by stunners like “I Could’ve Been Anyone,” “You’re a Dog, Don’t Talk to Me,” and “Voyager Blues,” Talking to the Dog is a perfect sonic complement to an afternoon driving down backcountry highways under sunny skies or sitting on your back porch under thick cloud cover.

Black Marble – Life in Small Spaces

Whimsical ‘80s art-pop. The shoulder pads, playful bass lines, and neon absolutely leap out of the speakers, but not in a Duran Duran way. This delightful album is more Talking Heads chatting with The Cure while Oingo Boingo tries to keep things light. Life in Small Spaces is synth-first and synth-heavy, but it never sounds like a cheap pastiche or reject from a generic ‘80s playlist. Instead, the angular guitars provide a crucial edge that enhances the laconic vocals delivery and brokenhearted lyrics. And what makes cuts like “Jim Carol New Year,” “Guess,” and “Picture When” so charming is that Black Marble projects a low-key confidence I find extra appealing.

Blums – Sunk Cost Fantasy

Creative art-pop. Don’t let that cover art fool you. This is not some blown-out, maximalist hyper-pop. Sunk Cost Fantasy is instead the debut album from a talented artisan who combines chilled-out beats with quirked-out folky R&B. The result is a darkly reflective record that pulses with sensuality while also employing clear restraint. It absolutely reminds me of Fiona Apple’s Tidal run through a trip-hop filter under the influence of Nilufur Yanya and Kelela. Blums has an expressive alto that comes across more yearning than sexual, which allows top songs like “Sinking/Soaring,” “Cashout,” and “Judy” to avoid cheap tropes and hit their artistic mark.

Elizabeth Cook – Great Television

Sassy country-pop. This album soars with upbeat, earnest energy. Elizabeth Cook has the sort of crooning alto that’s been popular in country circles for decades, but she wraps it in a welcome weariness that showcases her deep experience. Great Television instantly reminds me of the late, great Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette, not just in the embrace of emotional heft but the love of discussing everyday dramas atop rollicking tunes. Terrific tunes like “Sunset Promenade,” “Girls of Atomic City,” “The Easy Kind (feat. Wynonna),” and “19^th Nervous Breakdown” present a woman wholly in charge of her world, and she isn’t afraid of baring her soul for all to hear.

Slow Fiction – dollhouse

Sharp indie rock. Or is this simply vintage alt-rock. I hear Garbage, Slowdive, Alvvays, and more all swirling around this excellent album. Maybe that’s the understated genius of Slow Fiction in that they reference readily familiar touchstones without sounding like generic copycats. The fuzzed-out guitars have thick texture with just enough definition, while the shambling drumming gives the entirety of dollhouse a loose, garage-y ambiance without feeling cheap or egregiously lo-fi. While “junior year” and “ninetynine” kick off things with aplomb, I really love the passion that comes across in “satellite” and “turning down flowers” as they close out the record.

Westside Cowboy – It Goes On

Post-punk post-revivalism. It is wild to hear a band young enough to be influenced by their parents’ record collections. It Goes On reminds me directly of all the ‘00s indie rock I listened to right after college, channeling The Strokes and Interpol with ease. But Westside Cowboy elevates those elements with a practiced ease that reveals they have their own artistic ideas about how nervy guitar rock should sound. I especially enjoy how the British quartet plays with tempos and dynamics in ways that belie their relative youth. Check out “Paperchains,” “Pin Up Boys,” and “Patchwork” if you don’t believe me.

Other Stuff I Enjoyed Listening to This Month

• Alan Elettronico – Odyssey  
• Eartheater – Heavenly Body  
• Hana Stretton – tiarn  
• Ostraca – Thread  
• Russian Circles – Nine (my Bearded Gentlemen Music review)
• Yard Act – You’re Gonna Need a Little Music