After experiencing his childhood in Holland and Suriname, DJ Sun’s (real name Andre Sam-Sin) family relocated to Houston, where he lived the rest of his teenage years. Later on, DJ Sun occupied himself by starting up an acid jazz radio show, which had a clear influence on his music.…

Sessions From The 17th Ward is a live album, but don’t let that scare you off. This private show, recorded at St. Elias Church in Brooklyn, transfers very well to audio-only format. It’s a tight set-up—songwriter Amber Rubarth provides vocals and guitar, backed by cello (Dave Eggar), violin (Tim…

Julian Fulton is a recent New Jersey export making his debut with the restless style-swapping of EP Heart & Arms. It’s a collection of five songs that drop in scattershot across the contemporary indie map, furnished by Fulton and accompanying Zombie Gospel with a closet full of instruments and…

True North is the 16th studio album by California punk band Bad Religion. Founded in the early ‘80s, the group still succeeds with their up-tempo speed, three-part harmonies, and lyrics reflective of society. The album begins with their title-track, one of six songs under two minutes on the album. The…

The Bronx’s first non-mariachi release in five years, The Bronx (IV), starts off with the raw, power-punching song “The Unholy Hand.” The brash chorus and slick guitar solo adds an overwhelming amount of badassery to the 12-track album right from the start. As the disc rages on, one thing…

NUTLEY, NJ—For a band like My Ticket Home, playing shows appears to be second nature. Headlining on Feb. 7 at Radiant, they showed their appreciation for the more intimate venue, located in northeastern New Jersey, through a passionate and high-energy performance. The band was extremely animated throughout the set…

Samantha Crain is an Oklahoma-hailing purveyor of literate folk tunes who caught me by surprise. A first listen to her new LP, Kid Face, might feel lukewarm if you’re hoping to hear something stylistically-exciting. That is exactly what it isn’t. Yet, before I could file this under “more folk”…

It’s entirely possible that I’m the wrong person to review this record. Matt Pond has been churning out music since the ’90s, and I could never fully devote myself to it, but you know—I liked that Neutral Milk Hotel cover. Didn’t everyone? Pond’s albums may not have rearranged my…

Northeastern band Golden Bloom have a subtle pop flare to their indie rock roots and sound as a constant. These traits shine through on the first number, “Flying Mountain,” off of their five-track EP, No Day Like Today. This song begins with all of the bells and whistles (mostly…

Aimee Bobruk’s /ba.’brook/ is a collection of moving, sad, whimsical numbers that are dynamic, fresh, and leave the listener begging for more. The release starts off with a summery narrative with child-like traits. “A Day In The Life” brightens up the release and gives just a taste for Bobruk’s…