Imagine a 'War on Drugs' for librarians,". That wrote HYMNs Pontus Flodin about the Brooklyn band Wild Pink in connection with their album release in 2018. Six years have passed since then, and librarians are still listening to this with great enjoyment. "Dulling The Horns" also has such a strong scent of Bruce Springsteen that no middle-aged hips can remain still. Heartland rock and indie rock in its finest combination
East My Love is the album one wishes Bright Eyes had made in 2024. With a trembling voice, dynamic arrangements, and wearing his heart on his sleeve, he delivers 12 solid tracks, each one dreamier than the next, for those of us who enjoy folk-inspired indie rock.
Like a stripped-down Slowdive, or a somewhat more commercial Grouper, Madeline Johnston with her Midwife project positions herself as one of the leading figures in the slowcore genre at the moment. In the dreamy soundscape, there are so many sublime layers that surface if you just listen carefully. With a background in post-metal, there comes a natural darkness, but the nods to ambient make the album feel peaceful and almost meditative to listen to.