By: Music Journalism Club

Every week WSUM’s Music Director, Allison, chooses the best new releases to add to our music library. Here are the first part of September’s highlights, presented to you by the station’s Music Journalism Club.

September 9th, 2025 ADDS

Big Thief, Double Infinity

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “All Night All Day”, “Incomprehensible”, “Los Angeles”

GENRE: Alternative/Indie, Psychedelic, Folk

RIYL: Townes Van Zandt, Boygenius

Alternative band Big Thief released their sixth studio album, Double Infinity, on September 5th, 2025. The group is comprised of vocalist-guitarist Adrianne Lenker, guitarist Buck Meek, and drummer James Krivchenia. Double Infinity leans into a psychedelic folk concept, reflecting sounds of Fleetwood Mac tracks like the intro to “Everywhere.” Adrienne Lenker’s distinctive voice and songwriting anchor the album, which explores themes of love, grief, memory, and aging. Lenker’s vocals also lend an oddly comforting feel to the song’s slightly eerie psychedelic edge. It’s just a little off-kilter in the best way. I feel like this album solidifies Big Thief’s place as contemplative experts (if that makes sense?). This album feels like a circumstantial listen for me, but it’s great nonetheless. If you come to this album with openness, it will reward you deeply.

— Ethan West

Jaywood, Leo Negro

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “BIG TINGS”, “ASK 4 HELP”, “UNTITLED (Swirl)”

GENRE: Neo-soul, Hip-Hop, Alt-Pop

RIYL: Steve Lacy, Nourished by Time 

The Canadian musician, JayWood, recently released his newest album, “Leo Negro.” A tracklist that breaks past many boundaries, JayWood has created songs that are suitable for any music-listener, whether they enjoy soulful or alternative music. While the bouncy drums and psychedelic layering fits flawlessly into any pair of headphones, hearing Jaywood’s dulcet vocals which appear in “ASK 4 HELP” and “PALMA WISE” is just as confounding. In the song “BIG TINGS,” the musician sings, “You’re just a lonely man, scared to be good to you,” showing JayWood’s daring vulnerability that any listener can relate to. As he explores various themes, such as mental illness and love, JayWood’s blending of genre intentions are a unique bonus. 

— Lillian Hescheles

Acopia, Blush Response

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Falter”, “Let Down”, “Chase Me”

GENRE: Dream pop

RIYL: Beach House, she’s green, snuggle

Melbourne, Australia’s Acopia conjures hypnotic dreamscapes and otherworldly visions in their latest full-length, Blush Response. The trio’s new record is a quick 25 minutes of beautiful dream pop, ranging everywhere from borderline ambient to loud, electronically-infused shoegaze. Solid from back to front, Blush Response is a great listen for anyone interested in the greater spheres of dream pop and/or shoegaze and a personal favorite of the year thus far.

— Cole Smith

Flyte, Between You and Me

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Cold Side of the Pillow”, “Everybody Says I Love You”, “I’m Not There”

GENRE: Alternative/Indie, Folk

RIYL: Fleet Foxes, The Staves, Fionn Regan, Laura Marling

Will Taylor and Nick Hill from Flyte released their fourth studio album, Between You and Me, on August 29th, 2025. The album carries a delicate weight with a bare presentation of intimate feelings. Will Taylor impressively captures the sound of the early Beatles, sometimes sneaking in tinges of Bob Dylan’s distinctive nasal timbre, yet remaining soft and inviting. Several songs on the album made me feel introspective, but “Cold Side of the Pillow” stood out because it channels an Elliott Smith-esque sense of deep melancholy. Its lyrics and tone evoke feelings of longing and emotional distance, making it perfect for the fall weather we’re still waiting to receive. Between You and Me is an album to be savored slowly and thoroughly.

— Ethan West

September 16, 2025 ADDS

Frost Children, SISTER

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Position Famous”, “Falling”

GENRE: Electronic

RIYL: Porter Robinson, Snow Strippers, Kesha

Recession pop as it’s called has been on the comeback considering, well, the fact that a recession seems on the horizon. Frost Children have pretty consistently been on top of that revival with a brand that has been growing in size and popularity over the past few years. Last year was a major year for them especially with a massive collaboration with Danny Brown and a remix from Jane Remover. This album has a bit of the emotion that you would expect from the best of the late 2000s and early 2010s but the drops can get a bit crazy and you do see some of the hardstyle influences in the music. The screaming vocals also just add to pure hype, a touch that makes for some of their best and most consistent work. In the end though, this is maybe the group’s most accessible and fun album. One that could absolutely climb up charts with the right exposure and a pretty great throwback, and look into the future of pop music. Somehow both of these coexist at the same time. 

—  Aniruddh Nambudiri

Whitney K, Bubble

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Something Strange”, “TV Dreaming”, “Lately”

GENRE: Alternative/Indie, Folk 

RIYL: MJ Lenderman, Bill Callahan

Whitney K’s new album, Bubble, takes listeners on a striking, 13-song journey of cool vocals and resonant tracks. Whitney K is the project of Canadian singer Konner Whitney. Towards the beginning of the album, Something Strange struck me as very sweet upon the first listen. Jolene brings a new track to the classic genre of “songs with girls’ names as the title”, providing listeners with a pleasant ballad complete with twanging guitar. “TV Dreaming” starts softer and swells to a harder beat, ending with a satisfying one line promising to “turn the tv off”. “Beetlejuice”introduces a raw and lovely guitar riff over a folk ballad. “Morning After” and “Apocalypse Rock”have a soft, almost-nostalgic twang to them. Overall, Bubble is reminiscent of a thoughtful afternoon drive when your life is on the brink of change.

— Catalina DeSua

Laveda, Love, Darla

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Cellphone”, “Heaven”

GENRE: Alternative/Indie, Rock

RIYL: feeble little horse, Blonde Redhead

If you like alternative or indie music whatsoever, this album is for you. It mixes rock with the indie vibe you usually expect, with the first track getting straight into the guitar distortion and rift. The lyrics of each track are very descriptive and what you’d expect from a mix of old love and anger in the songs. The loudest songs are “Care” and “Bonehead” and the more relaxing ones being “Dig Me Out”, “Heaven”, “Highway Meditation”, and “Lullaby”. With how much the album contrasts in each song, it perfectly represents the feeling of being sad, angry, and nostalgic. The band, Laveda, put a lot of raw emotion and not a lot of thought into the album (in the nicest way possible), it is the pure feeling and it is shown with how messy and gritty each song feels. The album is a great collage of conflicting emotions, anger, and wishing for what was.

— Jai Crespo

In The Pines, Sunbeam Dream 

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “All This Noise”, “Oubliette”, “Time Shakes”

GENRE: Alternative, Shoegaze, Psychedelia

RIYL: Melody’s Echo Chamber, levitation room, Pond

If I had to describe this album, I’d say it feels like being inside one of those CSGO knife surfing videos. Hopefully that makes sense if you know. Cincinnati-based band In The Pines’ new release Sunbeam Dream throws you into chaotic psychedelic rock that makes you feel in motion, even if you’re stuck at a desk or lying in bed. If you’re into guitar- and synth-heavy albums, this one’s for you. The lyrics explore the mind, play with time, and consider otherworldly themes. The track “Sunbeam Dream” bursts out explosively, and most of the songs that follow carry that same energy. Fast-paced guitar with sudden pauses erupting into crashes of sound tie it all together. The last track (my favorite) of the LP, “All This Noise,” is an amalgamation of sonic, atmospheric sounds that make you take a journey elsewhere. The track uses layered guitar tracks, usually part of the shoegaze genre’s “wall of sound,” creating a pulsing or wavering texture. Wanna escape? Then ride the wave of this album.

— Ethan West