By: Music Journalism Club

Every Tuesday, 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.

Paris Texas, They Left Me With The Sword

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Red Eyes & Blue Hearts”, “Holy Spinal Fluid”, “El Camino”

GENRE: HipHop/Rap, Alt Rock

RIYL: Injury Reserve, JPEGMAFIA, Brockhampton, Tyler, the Creator

Following their 2023 Album “Mid Air”, abrasive hip hop duo Paris Texas released the EP “They Left Me With The Sword” while on the Chromakopia World Tour. Fitting, as with heavy influences from early projects from Tyler, the Creator in energy and especially lyrical delivery, the duo crashes back onto the scene, exercising their various sonic personalities. “Tantrum” and “Holy Spinal Fluid” stand out for their sometimes nihilistic, often brashly funny bars and menacing production. Slower, less intense tracks like “Red Eyes & Blue Hearts” and outro “El Camino” display a more emotional and self reflective attitude, with instrumentals reminiscent of their earlier work laced with alternative rock influences. A well rounded record, Paris Texas continue to innovate on their unique, genre-fluid sound. If the short 19 minute run time leaves more to be desired, their followup EP “They Left Me With A Gun” is sure to satisfy. 

— Ryan King

Monde UFO, Flamingo Tower

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Sunset Entertainment 3”, “Samba 9”, “Ave Tascam (Psalm 0)”

GENRE: Neo-Psychedelia, Hauntology

RIYL: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, The Caretaker, Alex G

A loose and, at times, haunting record, Flamingo Tower showcases the instrumental flair of your favorite experimental rock, jazz and psychedelia groups while maintaining a sleek yet antique feel. Monde UFO, an LA-based duo of Ray Monde and Kris Chau creates off-putting environments–whether it’s through the high energy, skittering drums and trilled electric guitar of “119”, or with the delayed, and vast tropical soundscape in “Solitaire”. Other tracks such as “Gambled House We’re Wiping Fire (Psalm -1)” and “Ave Tascam (Psalm 0)” leave you shell-shocked through their varied use of epic yet equally unsettling instrumental compositions, lo-fi vocal effects, and vintage recordings. I highly recommend this album to those seeking out a truly melancholic albeit unique listening experience.    

— Ryan Mercer

SASAMI, Blood On The Silver Screen

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Lose it All”, “Love Makes You Do Crazy Things”

GENRE: Indie Rock, Pop

RIYL: Nilüfer Yanya, Miya Folick

Rising artist, SASAMI, frames patterns of love, heartbreak, and angst in her newest project, Blood on the Silver Screen. With reminders of Lana Del Rey and Clairo, SASAMI inhabits a uniquely heavy, deep voice that’s carried with her throughout erupting choruses and impactful bridges. Moreso, SASAMI curates relatable ballads alongside drums, electric guitar, and various sound effects. The record occupies a great array of artistic variation, with “Lose It All” having an upbeat, freeing tone and “Love Makes You Do Crazy Things” leading with the presence of feeling angry in a highschool bedroom. A queer, korean artist, SASAMI holds the ability to create change and inspire through her music. 

— Lillian Hescheles

Vundabar, Surgery and Pleasure 

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “I Got Cracked”, “Feels Like Forever” “I Need You”

GENRE: Indie Rock, Alternative

RIYL: Voxtrot, the Strokes, Surf Curse, Together Pangea

The most recent album from Vundabar, Surgery and Pleasure is nothing short of amazing. What stood out to me the most was the guitar and bass which made for some lower toned, and angsty at times, songs. The album has some faster and some slower songs as well, which I feel kept me on the edge of my seat. This variety made each song feel distinct from the others, each one unique, offering something for a variety of people. If you’re a fan of indie rock and are looking for something to listen to when you’re feeling a bit angsty then this album is for you, I feel it does a great job of encapsulating those muddy emotions. Definitely give it a listen!

— Christine VanDen Heuvel

Annie DiRusso, Super Pedestrian

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Ovid”, “Derek Jeter”, “Hungry”

GENRE: Indie Rock

RIYL: The Beths, Cheekface, Brennan Wedl

We are kind of living in the peak of people feeling free to let everything go in their music and I kind of like that. The newest effort from Nashville musician Annie DiRusso honestly is quite normal when you look at the grand scheme of music that has been coming out. It is a very welcome addition though as it is just simple, straightforward awesome indie rock with some great synth parts in it. There are some songs which are a lot more synth heavy like “Legs’ but then you get some more straightforward Indie Rock cuts like “I Am The Deer”. She also collaborates with Ruston Kelly for quite a pleasant acoustic Indie rock cut towards the middle of the project. The highlight for me is ‘Derek Jeter’. Look, I am a baseball fan so maybe I am biased but, the guitar tone on this song is awesome and the touch of having Annie’s father talk about the New York Yankees legend through the phone. It’s an interlude but an absolute highlight. 

— Aniruddh Nambudiri

Housewife, Girl Of The Hour

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “I Lied”, “Life of the Party”, “Wasn’t You”

GENRE: Indie Pop, Rock

RIYL: Clairo, Beabadoobee, The Killers, Rex Orange County

This EP is full of emotional lyrics and tells a story of tragic romance (mainly bisexual experiences with romance), especially tracks 1, 5, and 6. There are also hints of social issues in Track 3, “Life of the Party” where she describes having issues answering questions and talking to people ‘correctly’. With Track 4, “Matilda”, it describes the story of Fry losing her bike and wanting to ride it again. This is noticeable with the lyric “I want to push my body till it breaks, but I’m stuck here stationary.” Track 2, “Work Song”, is a different story with struggles of mental health and getting through the day.

— Jai Crespo