The Land is Inhospitable And So Are We by Mitski

Mitski’s latest release, The Land is Inhospitable And So Are We, is a raw, heartfelt project. Sonically, The Land is Inhospitable And So Are We ranges from large, resounding ballads, to light, folk-inspired tracks, each more complex and beautiful than the last. During her last tour, rumors sparked that Mitski had plans to retire from music, and for no unjust reason. Mitski has been open about how the pressures of touring, holding up parasocial expectations from fans, and existing in the public eye have weighed on her, and by the end of 2022, many thought that she would not return to music. This album serves as Mitski’s welcome return, marked by warm, echoing sounds and strikingly honest lyricism.. Though the themes of this album don’t stray far from other projects of hers, they are delivered in vastly different ways than ever before. Mitski’s voice, both in terms of sound and message, is central to her work, and could not be more clear on this project. Welcome back, Mitski, thank you for sharing your art with the world.

Good Time DAIISTAR

DAIISTAR’s debut album, Good Time, present’s the band’s vision in a bold, striking manner. The Texas four-piece implements modern electronic technologies in combination with the witty charm of psychedelia. This project is not hesitant to play around with genre, flows every way around winding, at times looming guitar riffs, to dreamy melodies, to heavy, noise rock-influenced production. The last track particularly stands out, as DAIISTAR closes their debut with an ambient-influenced track, slowing down after the rushing pace of the rest of the album. In every track, the details of this album are evident, a fantastic debut.

Everything Is Alive by Slowdive

Delusions by Kibi James

This debut album from Kibi James takes the grungy fuzz of shoegaze and meshes it with the lush, lo-fi charm of bedroom pop. Kibi James is a three-piece group out of Atlanta, Georgia that bends genres and whisks listeners away into the fantasy of their music, all while switching between singing in English and Spanish in the most effortless manner. Not only does Delusions capture the dreaminess of love–both romantic and platonic, it does so in a way that conjures such specific, warm feelings: truly embracing delusion in the sweetest sense. The members of Kibi James have been friends for longer than they’ve been a band, and it’s evident with the love that’s felt in these tracks. The emotions that this album creates can only be done by people who know each other deeply, which is what makes Delusions such a special project.

STRUGGLER by Genesis Owusu

The highly anticipated sophomore album, STRUGGLER, from Genesis Owusu is phenomenal in both sound and lyricism. From the opening track, Leaving The Light, Owusu crafts a narrative of “The Roach” as a societal outsider, trying to make his way through the world, as he is punished for simply existing. Through this artful metaphor, Owusu describes his experience as an immigrant, painting a picture of unjust struggle for innocent people. Owusu’s concept of being a “Roach” translates into a vast range of experiences, as shown throughout the album. Specifically, he cites the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as environmental struggles that impacted his country of residence, Australia as examples of community perseverance. This album goes beyond individual struggle, and alludes to whole community struggles, with the end goal of perseverance and community survival, something Owusu highlights in interviews, as well as through his music. On top of lyricism, STRUGGLER also excels in terms of musicality; mixing multigenre sounds into one, cohesive, direct album that speaks to all.

All Frogs Go To Heaven by Worry Club

Worry Club’s latest EP, “All Frogs Go To Heaven” is an exploration of grief and emotional suffocation, expanding upon their typical indie-rock sound with a hint of punk. Based in Chicago, Worry Club is a project started by frontman Chase Walsh and graphic designer Zack Zagula. To combine strong visuals with compelling lyricism in such a way is quite a task, but Worry Club successfully navigates the project. One can hear the Midwest influence in these tracks, especially with the confessional-style, emotional lyrics.