As the Philadelphia region thaws from its deep freeze, I feel like it’s safe to declare this to be ‘stay indoors with new albums weather.’ Born out of immeasurable personal tragedy, veteran indie duo Sleater-Kinney express grief, fury, and resilience on their 11th LP, Little Rope. Songwriter Lizzie No likens the narrative of her latest, Halfsies, to a multi-level video game whose final boss stands in the way of American freedom. Modern punk vets Green Day pack a wallop on Saviors; the album arrives on the respective 20th and 30th anniversaries of the East Bay trio’s twin breakthroughs, American Idiot and Dookie.
On My Stupid Life, her full-length debut, rising country star (and Free at Noon guest) Brittney Spencer pays tribute to her inspirations while forging her own path with wit and charm. LA-via-North Carolina singer Eliza McLamb worked with producer Sarah Tudzin (illuminati hotties, boygenius) to give Going Through It a delicate texture inspired by Big Thief’s U.F.O.F.. Vida is the first album in a decade from Chilean-French vocalist Ana Tijoux; it’s a collection of empowering anthems set atop inspired rhythms.
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