By: Music Journalism Club

Every week, our Music Director, Allison, chooses new releases to add to our music library. Here are some recent highlights, presented to you by WSUM’s Music Journalism Club.

Emily Hines, These Days

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “All of Our Friends”, “Callin Ya”

GENRE: Indie Folk 

RIYL: Adrienne Lenker, Sister, Case Oats 

Written on her front porch in Nashville and soaked in charm, Emily Hines’ debut album These Days is a seven-track soundscape wandering through memory, identity and spiritual reckoning. The Ohio-born singer-songwriter recorded vocals and guitar on a 1986 Tascam four-track cassette recorder, creating a lush, organic atmosphere reminiscent of a Midwestern autumn. The album opens with “My Own Way,” a melancholic, guitar-driven track that eases listeners into an album teetering on the edge of confessional and quietly defiant. “Cold Case” follows, a haunting exploration of unresolved emotions. Hines guides us through her unraveling mind, asking “What if he’s a cold case? / A vision that I cannot shake.” Hines’ spiral continues in “All of Our Friends,” an Adrienne Lenker-esque track that perfectly captures the mess and vulnerability amid falling in love. It all comes crashing down in “Cowgirl Suit,” a slow-burning reflection on manipulative love and Hines’ disillusionment with American evangelicalism. Written at the crossroad between discovering self-discovery and unrealistic expectations, the emotional tension in the track is palpable, an intimate confession that wraps around the listener. Track five, “Callin Ya,” manages to break down your walls even further as Hines’ confronts the passage of time and fading connections: “It’s crazy how things keep changing / and I thought that you and I could stay the same.” On “UFO,” Hines’ spiritual skepticism turns satirical as she sings “Jesus will come riding in on a UFO / Jesus will come crashing in with his alien buddies.” The pre-released self-proclaimed “satirical worship song” balances the absurdity of divine intervention with the longing for something bigger. These Days closes with “Cedar on the River,” a gentle, touching reminder to let go. Hines’ lyricism is her final word as she paints herself as a sturdy cedar among a drifting river, vulnerable yet resilient. It’s a fitting final word from an artist stuck between letting go and staying anchored. 

— Avery Chheda

Jay Som, Belong

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Float”, “Past Lives”, “D.H.”, “Want It All”  

GENRE: Indie Rock

RIYL: Hayley Williams, boygenius

Crafting a bold path in the indie rock scene today, California-based artist Jay Som brings out striking vocals and guitar on Belong, her fifth studio album. Belong opens with “Cards On The Table”, a track juxtaposing softer vocals with louder synth and bass, followed by “Float”, featuring lead guitarist and vocalist of Jimmy Eat World, Jim Adkins. “Float” creates an impactful release in the form of an explosive chorus with an addicting guitar backing. Other notable features in the album appear with Hayley William’s contribution on the track “Past Lives”, which shows off some of Jay Som’s best vocals and simple, yet impactful lyricism.  Belong later slows down the unique double-track of “Meander/Sprouting Wings” and the soft and lovely “A Million Reasons Why”.  The album closes with a hard-hitting, ambitious track titled “Want It All”. When I listened to this one, I instantly remembered how much it struck me seeing it with Jay Som opening for Lucy Dacus this summer. The bass lines and low guitar gradually build into an all-too-satisfying and emotional conclusion to the record. 

— Catalina DeSua

dust, Sky Is Falling

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Drawbacks”, “Restless”, “Aside”, “In Reverie”

GENRE: Post-Punk, Alternative

RIYL: Fontaines D.C., Been Stellar

If you took Fontaines D.C. and shipped them down under, you’d get dust, the next batter up in the post-punk revival. Combining an upbeat tempo, desperate lyrics, and a tasteful amount of horn, dust’s debut album Sky is Falling is an encouraging start for the Newcastle upstarts. The lead singer’s gravelly vocals echo that of his UK and Ireland counterparts, working with thoughtful lyrics to develop themes of longing and existential dread. On that front, “Drawbacks”, “Aside”, and “Restless” tell a particularly interesting story. Also intriguing is the Australian group’s restrained venture into the world of spoken word with their final track, “In Reverie”. I’d love to see more of this experimentation on future albums, as dust continues to define and differentiate themselves in the crowded post-punk space.

— Joely Emerson

Wilby, Center of Affection

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Experiments”, “I Think You’re Beautiful”

GENRE: Alternative, Indie-Rock 

RIYL: Miya Folick, Soccer Mommy

From deepcut lyrics to calming instrumentals, Wilby’s Center of Affection has everything you’ll need for these chilly fall nights. Each track on this album has something new to offer. My personal favorite is “Hard to Be Loved”, which I think truly lets Wilby’s folky, almost hauntingly beautiful vocals shine. Despite being one of the more stripped-back songs featured, I think it’ll definitely be worth your listen. If you’re looking for something a little more upbeat and Nashville-inspired, “Body” will be right up your alley. Listening to these songs will take you to your first love, your worst breakup, and your hometown’s rundown dirt roads all at once. 

— Astrid McDonough

Babygirl, Stay Here Where It’s Warm 

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “You’re the Difference” , “Give it up With Me” 

GENRE: Indie-Pop, Alternative 

RIYL: Samia, Dizzy

Babygirl, a two-person girl group from Toronto, released their debut album, Stay Here Where It’s Warm last week. Made with hints of Clairo and Men I Trust, Babygirl perfectly combines delicate vocals with beautiful guitar melodies. The record acknowledges the difficult concept of rewiring our thinking patterns, including how to think about love following a heartbreak. For instance, in “You’re the Difference”, Babygirl sings about the relatable feeling of holding a resistant shield due to past experiences, while courageously being open to meeting new people. From the album’s fuzzy mood, to its creative lyrics, Stay Here Where It’s Warm is a perfect addition to any fall playlist or fresh find. 

— Lillian Hescheles