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.

Hannah Frances, Nestled in Tangles

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Life’s Work”, “Falling From Further and Further”, “The Space Between”

GENRE: Avant-Folk 

RIYL: Joni Mitchell, Adrienne Lenker, Hemlock

Nestled in Tangles is a beautiful combination of incredible folk songwriting and expansive composition. Hannah Frances is able to lean into her Joni Mitchell-esque vocals and melodic lines but takes them to new musical spaces. It’s clear that she has a gigantic amount of respect for and understanding of the tradition of American folk music. She is able to fully embody that while still utilizing classical composition techniques, elements of progressive rock, and avant-guard music to take the listener on a journey. The two collaborations with Daniel Rossen, “Life’s Work” and “The Space Between”, mark points in the record that really come together and culminate in a rewarding break from more ethereal and instrumental music that makes up a good portion of the album. This is truly the definition of a concept album, executed very well, with stand alone tracks that shine brighter amongst a beautiful entanglement of sounds and poetry.

— Nolan Tomesh

forty winks, Love Is a Dog from Hell

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “liadfh”, “commie bf”, “Spurs” 

GENRE: Noise Rock, Indie Punk, Grungegaze, Bubblegrunge

RIYL: they are gutting a body of water, Rocket, Wet Leg, Veruca Salt

Love Is a Dog from Hell delivers a punchy but danceable, approachable but nuanced eleven minute introduction to forty winks, a Pennsylvania-based four-piece. Opening with “liadfh,” an abbreviation of the album’s title, a familiar shoegaze wall of noise through which the bittersweet honey voice of Cilia Catello, the band’s lead vocalist, welcomes you to the raw ruminations on the pains of love that the album thematically focuses on. Punk riffs shatter the sonic melancholy of the first track on “commie bf,” imploring you to thrash in this brightness as Catello monotonously recounts a not so favorable date. On “Spurs,” Catello passes the mic to her bandmate, Connor McGee, whose gentle voice blends into the electronically distorted guitars, very reminiscent of the grungegaze of another Pennsylvania-based band, they are gutting a body of water. The abstract, collapsing instrumental track “Faith” precedes the final track, “noise,” that embraces full indie punk joy which invites listeners to bob their head along with Catello’s rhythmic verses and math rock riffs with 80s flare. forty winks’s brightness, catchiness, and unrelenting noise hooks your attention and makes you thirst for more than just eleven minutes of brilliant grungy fun.

— Dasha Berezhanskiy

Rocket, R is for Rocket

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “The Choice”, “One Million”, “R is for Rocket”

GENRE: Alt Rock, Indie Rock

RIYL: Snail Mail, NewDad, The Smashing Pumpkins

Rocket’s debut album, R is for Rocket, is an outstanding album reminiscent of 90’s alternative rock, while also bringing a new and special aspect to the sound. From LA, Rocket began as a group of musically talented and connected friends, who formed a band in 2021. Since then, they’ve been putting out amazing music and have been very successful. They opened for The Smashing Pumpkins on their tour this fall, and are about to go on their own tour for this album. Every song has a great feel with solid lyrics that are guaranteed to become ear-worms, each one building strongly and contributing to such an atmosphere for the album. There are a lot of great guitar highlights and sick melodies within every moment of this record. A favorite of mine already; this album is definitely a great one to add to your fall rotation.

— Julia Klima

Al Nicol, Only Hoping

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS:  “You and Me(feat. Erin Rae)”, “Father Time”,

GENRE: Indie Folk, Folk 

RIYL: John Denver, Caamp, America

A folksy and calm album, Al Nicol’s Only Hoping is a great album for a fall road trip. This album is calm yet still upbeat, fun, and whimsical. Al’s voice is easygoing and soft, like he’s just singing a little tune to himself with no expectations. This album made me feel like I was going to spend some time outside with an old friend. It’s a genuine and heartfelt album and is very down to earth. Al Nicol’s newest album is definitely worth a listen if you’re looking for some new calm and folky tunes!

— Christine VanDen Heuvel