The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is back — poppier and catchier than ever with the release of its third record Days of Abandon. A three-year absence has been beneficial for the group, the upbeat instrumentation and falsetto melodies combining for arguably its best album yet.
Chapel Hill group North Elementary has been around for over a decade now, crafting pleasing rock records every couple of years. Now comes Honcho Poncho, roughly four years since the band’s last full release, a consistent and light record that will satisfy longtime fans.
The presence of Mac DeMarco in the slacker rock scene has been steadily growing since his last release 2, thanks to spirited live performances and a boisterous personality. Now, becoming darker and more introspective over the past year, DeMarco’s newest album Salad Days is a grand success, complete with his trademark humor and interesting ventures into psychedelic rock and folk.
A little over 40 years have passed since the release of the debut self-titled record from Lavender Country, widely considered to be the first openly gay country album.
