4 New Albums From Alternative Artists That I’m Currently Loving

A lot of great new albums came out on February 14, but here are just four from alternative bands that I’ve had in my rotation since Friday. With a couple of sophomore albums that subvert the slump, a dreamy debut, and the return of The Wombats, here are the albums I’ve been loving lately.

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A Million Knives — The Velveteers

The process of making their second album A Million Knives may have been like pulling teeth for The Velveteers, but the result is nothing short of alternative brilliance. The dual-drum kit trio initially struggled to record the album, reworking and re-recording many of the songs, but in the end they succeeded in creating a sense of spontaneity and youth. The end result is an album that keeps a running thread of heaviness while also dabbling in other styles. A Million Knives was a labor of love for The Velveteers and they’ve created an album that simultaneously explores the rough edges of youth and jaded adulthood.

Vacation — New Translations

Nashville-based New Translations have released their debut album Vacation, which features a dreamy, alt-pop sound on songs like “Post-Hang,” but leans heavy on tracks like “Rat People” and “Coldest Century.” It’s a unique blend of styles that works well to create a sense of escapism and mental vacation. Vacation sounds like stepping away from real life for a moment and finding yourself in an eerily similar dream world. As a debut, it works well to introduce the band’s interesting sound, seemingly a blend of upbeat shoegaze, alternative, and whatever else they feel like dabbling in.

Oh! The Ocean — The Wombats

If, like me, you were introduced to The Wombats with their 2007 song “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and then didn’t keep up with them much after that, you’ll be excited to see that they’re still making great music. Oh! The Ocean is their most recent offering that feels removed from the youthful, over-the-top energy of their early work, but in a really good way. They’ve matured and their sound has matured with them, but they haven’t lost the whimsy that made them interesting in the first place. Oh! The Ocean is sonically sophisticated, adventurous, and represents older, wiser, but still fun Wombats.

Phonetics On and On — Horsegirl

Chicago trio Horsegirl have stepped into new sonic territory for their second album, Phonetics On and On. They’ve stripped back the indie-rock sound to its basic components, leaving room for more bruising simplicity. Their lyrics are now more poignant portraits of isolation, loneliness, and desperation. Horsegirl has created a minimalist masterpiece of alt-pop that rattles through your bones and lingers. Fast tempo changes, austerity, and lyrical emphasis make Phonetics On and On a great listen overall.

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