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.

Bon Iver, SABLE fABLE

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Everything Is Peaceful Love”, “If Only I Could Wait (feat. Danielle Haim)”

GENRE: Alternative

RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes

In a surprising change of pace, Justin Vernon is… happy? The Wisconsin native who made a name for himself producing introspective, heart-wrenching musical poetry from his cabin in the woods seems to have turned a corner. The sound on this new album is soulful, experimental, even a bit poppy. Whatever you thought you knew about Bon Iver, this album begs you to reconsider. In an interview with the New Yorker, Vernon explained this shift as a reflection of his own improving mental health. “Can I feel another way?” Vernon asks himself on the eighth track, “There’s A Rhythmn”. The answer looks optimistic. 

— Joely Emerson

Tapeworms, Grand Voyage

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Junk Jumble”, “Pitch Pop”

GENRE: Glitch Pop, Indietronica, Bitpop

RIYL: Sweet Trip, Björk, Candy Claws, Imogen Heap, FKA Twigs

Tokyo-based French trio Tapeworms wastes no time pulling listeners into a digital, dreamy soundscape with their second record, Grand Voyage. The album is highlighted by its indie-pop inspired, upbeat glitchy instrumentals; lush, stilted vocals; and playful melodies reminiscent of Candy Claws’ Ceres & Calypso in the Deep Time. Track one, “Opening”, along with the later interlude “Missed Connection”, immediately evoke the record’s title–you feel as though you’ve been awoken and launched into the clouds on an airtime adventure. This journey continues with tracks two and three, “Window Seat” and “IRL”, where surreality takes full control of the soundscape with jittery indietronica beats and glitched textures throughout. Songs like “Pitch Pop” and “Puzzle” echo the electropop energy of j-pop group Perfume’s 2009 record ⊿ (Triangle); with four-on-the-floor grooves, infectious electronic melodies, and bouncy bass lines transporting you deeper into this fun, atmospheric world. For fans of indietronica, or anything playful and electronic I highly recommend Tapeworms’ Grand Voyage.

— Ryan Mercer

Panchiko, Ginkgo

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Florida”, “Honeycomb”

GENRE: Indie Rock, Alternative, Indie-Pop

RIYL: Radiohead, Wilco, Asian Glow, Weatherday

Panchiko’s newest album, Ginkgo, features a variety of fun and unique tunes. The album uses many different sound effects that make each song unique and interesting. These sound effects make for some dreamy moments, like in the song “Chapel of Salt”, however, the track takes a turn and picks up intensity. When listening, I thought that these songs could be from the soundtrack to a coming of age movie, filled with fun and upbeat songs but also a few slower and more melancholy songs that balance it all out. This album offers an array of emotions and sounds, making for a very fun listen! You will definitely want to add these songs to your summer playlist.

— Christine VanDen Heuvel

Nell Smith, Anxious 

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Anxious”, “The Worst Best Drug”, “Split In The Sky”

GENRE: Indie-Pop, Alternative 

RIYL: The Flaming Lips, Soccer Mommy

Starting with the first syllable off her album, Nell Smith’s young talent is clear. A vibrant, fun, and honest record, each track encapsulates the ups and downs of being a teenage girl. Moreso, the instrumental elements are different throughout each song. From old video tapes, percussion patterns, and windy turbines, the album has a level of messiness that feels exactly the same as growing up. While Smith tragically passed away in a car accident at age seventeen, Anxious is all about what it means to be alive. From “Anxious” with its upbeat drums and trumpets, to “Split in the Sky,” with its dreamy feel, Smith’s lyricism and outlook on the world truly brings the entirety of Anxious together. There are not many front-to-back albums that speak a language like Anxious does, but Smith captured this skill effortlessly. 

— Lillian Hescheles

Steel Wool, Steel Wool 

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Fading”, “Heaven or La Brea”, “Tired Movements” 

GENRE: Indie, Shoegaze

RIYL: DIIV, Blue Smiley, The Radio Dept.

Los Angeles-based band Steel Wool released their debut self-titled EP, showing off a versatile and dreamy sound in a promising five tracks. Starting off with their previous single, the track “Fading” deserves a title as a shoegaze classic. It begins with rich, deep vocals accompanied by a wall of layered guitar sound, and then shifts in and out of a powerful, heavy chorus, before eventually pulling back for the outro. Following this, “Another Sunday” takes a more upbeat tone, and incorporates other enticing instrumental elements. Closing track “Tired Movements” begins slow, but ends in a gorgeous serenade of bass, guitar strumming, and dreamy vocals. Steel Wool captures a perfect kind of dense, abstract sound in their music, sure to give the listener an ethereal experience.

— Catalina DeSua

Kills Birds, Crave

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: Behind, Pyre, Trace

GENRE: Grunge, Indie Rock, Noise Rock

RIYL: Fleshwater, Flyleaf, Momma, Alvvays

Los Angeles-based quartet Kills Birds kicks off 2025 with Crave, their first release since the 2021 LP Married. The five-track collection delivers polished, heavy-hitting grunge that marks a confident return and clear evolution in the band’s sound. The songs on this EP are dramatic, driven by tense, slow-building instrumentals that explode into some of the heaviest choruses I’ve heard this year–particularly in the opening track, “Behind” and track three, “Madison”. Lead vocalist Nina Ljeti pulls no punches in her raw, visceral delivery, matched by guitaring that is both powerful and unexpectedly tender throughout the record. Kills Birds’ Crave is a tight, impactful listen that I’d recommend to anyone exploring new grunge, alt-rock, or the underground scene in general.

— Ryan Mercer