Lav's Music Corner

Review by Lavender:  caroline are a British 8-piece post-rock outfit who, despite denying its influence, seems to blend the sentimental flavors of Midwest emo with their winding instrumental passages and compositional flexibility. Back in 2022, I called their first album caroline  , one of my favorite debut records of the year , and I was really looking forward to what the band had in store. Now, 3 years later, they're rapidly becoming critical darlings as praise and attention for this record has begun to pour in. Though I don't love the record quite as much as some, I still think it's both an improvement on their debut and a very strong statement.  caroline 2 led off with one of the best singles I've heard anywhere this year, “Total euphoria.” It introduces the album's signature combination of fluttering emo-influenced motifs with vibrant post-rock instrumentation, and the cooed-out vocals have been stuck in my head for months. It's an entrancing combination t...

Review by Lavender: Deafheaven are a once-divisive black metal band who made a huge splash in the first half of the 2010s by delivering a style of the notoriously insular genre that heavily incorporated elements of shoegaze and post-rock. That netted them tons and tons of critical acclaim, primarily centered around their 2013 masterpiece Sunbather, but also found them hit with some ultimately overblown backlash for their genre-bending approach to black metal. In the years since, they've spread those ambitions out even further with their previous album, 2021's Infinite Granite , shedding metal off almost entirely and focusing on dreamier indie rock and shoegaze. A year later, frontman George Clarke made heavy contributions to Alto Arc, an extremely experimental side project with a bizarre Mad Libs-style roster of contributors that I enjoyed a genuinely shocking amount. But now the band is back in full force, combining throttling black metal with expansive post-rock and dreamy la...

Review by Lavender: Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a band that really needs no introduction. They're one of the most legendary figures in the world of post rock for classic albums like Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven  and F#A# ∞. After an extended hiatus through much of the 2000s they returned in 2012 and have since released even more classic material like Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!  and G_d's Pee AT STATE's END! . Last month, the band announced their return 3 years after STATE'S END  with this uncompromisingly titled 8th album, whose only teaser was its closing track.  Godspeed You! Black Emperor is one of my favorite bands of all time and I've never been one to hide it. The band has dropped two albums in my time blogging and I liked them both more than the general consensus. But I won't mince words here, Despite my love for both records, NO TITLE  is better. In fact, it's their best album since at least 2012's Allelujah  and mayb...

Mogwai are a veteran post-rock band out of Scotland who have been putting out numerous studio albums and soundtracks full of expansive instrumental rock music since the late 90's. With classic albums like Mogwai Young Team , Mr Beast  and Come On Die Young  in their catalog the band is worth paying attention to whenever they release new material. Despite being quite prolific in recent years this is their first proper studio album since 2017's Every Country's Sun .  Review By Lav: I'm a big fan of Mogwai's classic, particularly their groundbreaking debut Mogwai Young Team  as well as their modern post-rock classic, 2011's Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will . While I haven't reviewed any of the bands non studio album material over the last few years I have definitely been paying attention to any of the soundtracks, compilations or live projects they release which all came together to make me excited for this project. While I wasn't head over heels for a...

Have A Nice Life is a Connecticut based experimental rock band who arose from the underground in 2008 when their debut record Deathconsciousness  became an internet sensation and developed it's reputation as a modern masterpiece through online word of mouth. It was a long time before the band released their second studio album The Unnatural World  in 2014, which was met with positive reviews from many, but not nearly to the level of the groups first record. After another long absence the duo is back and after a release of some varied singles are have dropped the already legendary bands third release. Review By Lavender: If you've never heard Deathconsciousness  before, it is as good as everyone has always told you. The record blended so many different experimental rock genres together into an absolutely monstrous and mentally crushing record that is an experience everyone should have. I even enjoyed their follow-up record The Unnatural World  quite a bit as we...