From fast-paced to slow jams, Missouri punk rock brothers Radkey deliver fans a variety songs in new album, No Strange Cats...P.A.W. The 7-track album starts off with three traditional punk rock songs, “P.A.W”,  “Spiders”, and “Rock & Roll Homeschool.” With hard thrashing guitars and loud, yelling vocals, Rakey starts with a lot of energy and punk rock rawness—especially in “Spiders.” The album mellows out throughout and give fans a little more insight to the band’s interests,  like Japanese anime, as well as their history, such as growing up being homeschooled. I remember seeing this band live a few years ago at the Cobra Lounge, and that same energy and personality still reside within the trio and on their new album. It definitely shows off how they continue being who they are.

-NBL

Radkey will be at the RocHaus in West Dundee, IL on April 5th. Tickets range from $15-$33 and can be bought here.

There’s nothing like a breakout record and Swedish shoegaze standouts Westkust’s self titled album is a definite candidate for breakout of the year. This is quality noise pop at it’s best, catchy and infectious this quartet is up for a standout 2019.

We expect this to change but so far they have no Stateside dates.

South African transgender performer Angel-Ho has produced her best work yet with Death Becomes Her. A funky, eltro jam fest that never lets up the intensity over forty minutes of challenging art.

Angel-Ho has no tour dates planned.

The solo project of London based Amber Bain, The Japanese House blends dream pop and electronica into a potent mix of gorgeous hooky beats and her appealing, affecting lyrics. Good At Falling is a standout debut that promises big things.

She is coming to Bottom Lounge on April 29th which is Sold Out!

Icelandic electro pop trio Vök have plenty of influences showing through on sophomore full length In The Dark, but they combine them all to come up with something purely their own.

They currently don’t have any U.S. dates but we could easily see them in Grant Park at Lolla this summer.

Five years in the making Potty Mouth’s sophomore effort SNAFU sees the L.A. based, by way of New England, pop punk trio hitting it with everything they have. It’s a quality effort that deserves way more attention than it will likely receive.

They are playing multiple SXSW showcases but no love for Chicago anytime soon.

Pop group Marianas Trench release fifth album Phantoms, an album filled with upbeat pop and dance melodies alongside the vocal ranges of the four members.  The ten-track album talks about loss and a haunting of past loves, brings beats influenced from the ‘80s, and even has an acapella track.  This album has a very fun melody for such a haunting theme.

-NBL

Marianas Trench will be playing at the House of Blues on May 24. Tickets range from 28-30 and sold here.

This collab between emcee Blu and producer Oh No captures the epitome of West Coast rap. A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night is the perfect album for those upcoming spring days. Bouncing down the Boulevard, windows down, bumping this number at full volume.  

They have no upcoming tour dates.

Vocalist/producer Alyssa Midcalf is Primer. The California native now resides in Detroit and her debut Novelty is a smooth and lucious electro dream.

We couldn’t find any tour dates for her.

A one woman musical wrecking ball, Marian Mereba is a producer, singer, songwriter, rapper, guitarist who produces genre less wonders that stick in your head and won’t let go. Her sophomore effort The Jungle Is The Only Way Out is a wonder of a record that leaves you thinking about it for hours after.

No Chicago dates yet in support of this one.

A gorgeously effective record from the Winnipeg indie rockers. Softer Faces just shines as Living Hour produces their best work yet.

They just played The Hideout last weekend, but with the traction this one is getting we think they will return soon.

This New York electo pop sister group composed of Teeny, Lizzie, and Katherine Lieberson have been around for years. Vibrant and catchy, Good Fruit is some on TEEN’s best work.  

TEEN is dropping by The Hidout on March 27th. Tix are $10.

Montreal based musician Jean-Sebastien Audet has been many things over the course of his career, including performing as Un Blonde. His latest project Yves Jarvis is affecting indie R&B at its best. The Same But By Different Means is a strange and gorgeous journey into Audet’s inner being.

He is opening for HOMESHAKE at The Metro on March 29th. Tix are $16.

Australian “sunshine-psych” veterans Pond return with the excellent Tasmania. Just take our word for it and give it a spin.

They don’t have any tour dates in the U.S. any time soon.

Dark and brooding post-rock out of Copenhagen, this quartet’s debut blew us away. Cartographs is everything we want from an angry, no holds barred, music machine. Wilt & Blossom will stay on repeat for weeks to come.

It doesn’t look like they are traveling outside Denmark at the moment.

This L.A. based quartet’s Run It Again may be the most straight ahead rock record we featured this issue. Criminal Hygiene plays simple, structured guitar rock, which sometimes is just what the doctor ordered.

They are opening for Failure and Swervedriver at House of Blues on April 5th. Tix are $30.

The first solo record in ten years from The Stone Roses frontman is a rather easy breezy rocking affair, with some weighty subject matter. Ian Brown just needed to let us all know what he thinks about current affairs on the rather excellent Ripples.

He currently has no tour plans, but we expect this to change soon.

Over the years Mark Kozelek has used Sun Kil Moon to vent his personal news and opinions. Ever since the critically acclaimed Benji in 2014, he has released seven records, each one getting more rambling and incoherent. However, it is impossible to look away from his insightful poetic observances. I Also Want to Die in New Orleans is not for the faint of attention. Seven tracks, spanning an hour and half of Kozelek’s real life experiences could be as fascinating to some as it is drool to others.

He has no plans to visit Chicago at the moment.

The multi instrumentalist and songwriter's debut is as strange as it is delightful. Just give it a spin, we think you’ll agree. Jonny Kosmo is gloriously infectious.

No Chicago dates on his horizon.

The Scottish piper Brighde Chaimbeul debut record The Reeling is a phenomenal achievement considering she is one of the few female professional bagpipers. The prodigy has been winning competitions since the age of seven and now at twenty has released a phenomenal album. The Reeling is  is sure to impress any one who takes a listen.

We’re hoping for a stateside tour soon, that is sure to bring her to Old Town.

The former No-Man member has had quite the solo career, and his latest Flowers At The Scene is not exception. Tim Bowness just has a way of drawing in the listener before building to a huge payoff.

The Englishman currently has no tour plans that will bring him stateside.