Jumping seamlessly from style to style and interweaving elements from garage rock, ’60s girl groups, and cabaret, the music of Austin-based duo Agent Ribbons is hard to classify. On Let Them Talk, the band takes a lighter turn than on its past two full-lengths and embraces the whimsical side of its twisted-fairytale style. Opener “Family Haircut” begins with ethereal “oohs” sung over ominous drums, but soon ... Read More

  If you enjoyed the cacophonous hooks of Micachu and the Shapes’ 2009 debut Jewellery, you’ll be happy to hear much of the same on the band’s second studio album Never. The LP may seem languid upon first listen, but it packs a punch. Although she’s classically trained, frontwoman Mica Levi finds merriment in the use of nontraditional instruments and household objects on Never—therein lies its uniqueness. ... Read More

  N.Y.C.’s MNDR serves up a rough-cut gem with its first full-length, Feed Me Diamonds. Comprised of duo Amanda Warner and Peter Wade, the band’s ’80s-inspired, electro sound doesn’t go down as easily as straight-up pop music because the beats and synths are unrefined, raw, and gritty. Werner often wavers between hitting and not hitting her notes, which adds tension to the already deliciously strained music. The ... Read More

  With an emphatic nod to the ’80s, Omaha-based trio Icky Blossoms’ eponymous debut is a super danceable affair that’ll have you caking on the blue eye shadow and hiking up your acid-washed jeans. Extroverted songs dominate the album, with explosions of cosmic synthesizers and drum-machine claps (this band loves clapping) that recall a poppier New Order. “Sex to the Devil” showcases frontwoman Sarah ... Read More

  The name Family Band evokes a large, cheery ensemble, but this duo’s music tends toward foreboding melodies and dark, disillusioned lyrics. Comprised of married couple Kim Krans (an illustrator) and Jonny Ollsin (a one-time heavy metal guitarist), Family Band’s sophomore effort Grace & Lies is full of mystery, terror, and the excavation of painful memories. Opener “Night Song” establishes the album’s ... Read More