Lav's Music Corner

Maruja are an English post-punk outfit that I've been paying a lot of attention to recently. They represent the newest addition to an ever-growing string of recent acclaimed European post-punk acts and approach the sound with a raw fury and political edge that's unmatched by any of their contemporaries. Like those contemporaries, the band is also off to a red-hot start to their careers with a trio of EPs already under their belt. The first of which, Knocknarea , blew my mind a few years ago. Now the band is back to blow it all over again with a razor-sharp, righteous, and pummeling debut album.  The first half of Pain To Power sports two singles I loved, but not before the ripping opener “Bloodsport.” The track hits the ground running with explosive punky instrumentation and undeniably grimy lyrical themes. By the time the sizzling saxophone pops up on the hook, I'm already fully bought in. The other shorter cut on the first half of the record is the single “Saoirse.” It...

Sabrina Carpenter rapidly ascended to superstar status last year. After bubbling up as the bad guy in Olivia Rodrigo's debut album, she scored a few mid-level hits and then absolutely erupted on the back of "Espresso." But for me, her breakout was a pleasant surprise. Once her debut album arrived, it was easy to see on songs like "Juno" and "Taste" that she was a different caliber of talent than some of her contemporaries. But for a few reasons, I was a little bit suspicious going into this new record. Firstly, because it arrived so quickly after its predecessor. Secondly, because its lead single "Manchild" is good, but not great. And finally, because Jack Antonoff had a hand in production on almost the entire album. The result is exactly the drop in quality I expected, though how far is a matter of debate.  That's a negative way to start, so let me assure you, there are some GREAT fucking songs on this album. The second single, "Tea...

For the people who can tell the difference between all these genres, I'm sorry, and I promise I can to. But this was the best way to quickly talk about a bunch of records I wanted to comment on regardless in a rapid fire fashion. Enjoy <3 THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED - The Armed When The Armed broke through to a massive new audience on their 2021 album ULTRAPOP  they seemed to hit on something unique. They mixed the sounds and compositional styles from the indie rock umbrella into the pure ferocity of their screamo and hardcore demeanor. While I appreciated what the band did, I had an issue with the actual sound of the record. The production and mixing seemingly robbed the band of their most intense elements, with screams and churning guitars that felt like they never sounded as heavy as they were supposed to. Unfortunately, the EXACT same issue plagues this record.  The trio of singles for the album are the main reason I decided to cover it at al...

Pile are a long-running, Boston-based indie rock band who have crossed over into other genres like post-punk throughout a pretty versatile career. I've touched on the band occasionally but never in a full review, something I knew I would have to amend after hearing the excellent trio of singles that preceded  Sunshine And Balance Beams . Even though the full record wasn't quite everything I hoped it might be, it still sports some of the best songs of Pile's already long and storied career.  That trio of singles pops up in the record's middle section, and what a run it is. "Bouncing In Blue and "Uneasy" are a stunning back-to-back punch. "Blue" has a brooding and plodding introduction that contrasts wonderfully with the high register singing. Even though the composition wanders around a lot, it manages to keep up its momentum and pay everything off with a satisfying finale. "Uneasy" deploys one of many great lyrical moments on the album...