The Lacking Details

Guitars, synths, great production, and pop hooks a-plenty.

More modern Afrobeat, connected to the source via drummer Tony Allen. A wild collection of Chicago talents united for a smoothly entrancing session of shorter (for Afrobeat) songs.

An honest tribute to stupidity, full of hooks, snappy lyrics, and gorgeous choruses

The line between a riff and a throbbing structures of pitched rhythm is pretty thin, as these Canadians show. METZ is punishing without being abusive. A Steve Albini recording.

Dreamgaze shoepop from this Seattle foursome that takes harmonies and production very seriously.

Cyril Jordan and Chris Wilson reunite to bring back the sound that made the Flamin’ Groovies famous 40 years ago with “Shake Some Action”. A solid return to form.

Garage rock like it’s meant to be, full of barely-controlled fuzz, raging vocals, warbling organs, and four-on-the-floor drums.

Classic LA hardcore served up in a blaze. An aggressive release from an aggressive band.

The person behind Vampire Weekend’s production and half of Islands’ distinctive sound shows more of his unique sonic signature on a full album of gentle songs awash in analog and digital abstractions and heavenly choruses

The Sonic Youth guitarist’s solo effort is not as discordant as you might expect, and features collaborations with Sharon Van Etten, Nels Cline, and Jonathan Lethem (on some lyrics)