OPM: Time Enough to Rock

Convair – Lived Ever After

An excellent and engaging blend of post rock, noise rock, ambient, and shoegaze elements into a compelling whole. Oh, and a bit of soundscape/field recording, to fill in the gaps between tracks. From powerful, almost anthemic moments to quiet, meandering explorations of timbre and vibe, each track delivers its own unique set of charms. 

I suppose this might be frustrating if you really prefer one of these approaches to the exclusion of others; I found it invigorating to discover what new surprises each track offered. Top it off with a borderline glitchy, digital lo-fi production aesthetic, and you have a delightful set of tunes that argue strongly that rock isn’t dead, it’s just real weird these days. 

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Grandma Mousey – Some New American Crusade

Americana-infused rock that leans heavily into punk and early garage rock vibes. Rough and ready arrangements, straightforward and mostly unadorned production, and a bunch of heartfelt (and occasionally sneering) tunes. This is the kind of record that could have come out in 1978, 1998, or 2028 – some things go in and out style, but persist all the same. 

Timeless is a term that gets thrown around a bit, but this kind of music truly is. If you’re someone who lives for these rock and roll gems, jump in and see if this one speaks to you. If you’re somehow unfamiliar with these kind of records… well, give it a shot, maybe you’ll join the club. 

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Dgar – Pronounced Jar

Fun-loving and freewheeling set of groovy post-punk indie rock/pop with some catchy tunes and clever flourishes. Buzzy and fuzzy guitars chug along and occasionally go angular; no-nonsense vocals offer up some occasionally silly, always suitable lyrics. Hooks abound, solos are short or nonexistent, and the overall production is solid and stays out of the way. 

The songwriting is strong and clever bits abound, like the classic Cars-sound synth solo in a song about a car… This is the kind of fun, lightweight but enduring indie pop/rock that’s been in short supply since the late ‘90s. 

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Subordinate Clause – The Relief of Sleep

Intricate and deep electronica, rooted in techno but ranging well into IDM, electro, breakbeat, and film music. That varied DNA means these won’t likely find a home on any but the most adventurous dancefloor, but they work very well for couch listening. Each track offers a new set of surprises – classic sounds and chill rhythms here, intricate programming and weird ass noises there. 

More often than not, the tracks switch focus multiple times before it’s all over. Tight production and a good sense of flow mean it all goes down easy from beginning to end, and chances are good you’ll want to restart it almost as soon as it’s over. 

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Mike Honcho – Day to Day

An eclectic and engaging album of IDM interlaced with tendrils of techno, chillwave, ambient and more. There’s a viscous, gooey sonic aesthetic here that really serves to glue these tunes together and gives them a lovely physicality. That is supported and enabled by some smart rhythm programming and knack for interesting harmonic movement. 

Track to track, there’s a fair amount of variation but everything is connected by the aforementioned aesthetic and an excellent grasp of dynamics and sequencing. The end result is a tight, distinctive album of contemporary IDM that respects the past but maintains its own identity.

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