Tiny Empire by Chatterton

For fans of… Wilco, Eiafuawn, Big Thief  

Genre… #shoegaze #jazz #folk-rock #dream-pop

Chatterton’s latest EP, Tiny Empire sonically distills a moment of quiet contemplation and the transformative revelation that follows. This California two-piece band fuses the delicate melodies of a flute, glockenspiel and marimba to represent an idyllic love, only to reveal a grungier reality exemplified by raw guitar distortions and heavy drums.

Review by Brianna Woods

I Can See the Future by Leith Ross

For fans of… Searows, Big Thief, Lizzy McAlpine, Faye Webster 

Genre… #folk #bedroom-pop #singer-songwriter

Leith Ross’s I Can See the Future stays true to their roots in folk music while also experimenting with other genres beyond their well-known style of stripped-back, melancholy lullabies. Ross explores a wide range of emotions native to the human condition—grief, hope, longing and that constant voice in your head that asks, “what if?”—with an honesty rare enough to make listeners do a double take. With soft vocals and jazzy, coffee shop instrumentals on “What Are You Thinking About” and a surprise feature from Dijon on the R&B-inspired “Stay,” Ross cements themself as an artist who knows how to navigate many avenues, not just the delicate indie-folk tracks that have made listeners fall in love with their music. In I Can See the Future, Ross expands the frame from what we have seen before in To Learn and Motherwell without abandoning the clarity and tenderness with which they approach love and nostalgia. A raw, yearning album that perfectly encapsulates the beauty in the mundane, Leith Ross reminds us of the importance of the little things and holding onto optimism in the face of uncertainty. 

Review by Rebecca Wilson

The Dream by The Favors

For fans of… Simon & Garfunkel, Olivia Dean, Daisy Jones & The Six 

Genre… #pop #singer-songwriter, #indie-rock  

From beginning to end, the record radiates warmth, chemistry and intentionality, drawing on a nostalgic sound reminiscent of classic male-female duos like Carly Simon and James Taylor or the fictional Daisy Jones & The Six. The songwriting is cinematic, rooted in traditional storytelling and vivid imagery while showcasing both FINNEAS and Ashe’s distinct yet complementary voices. Standout tracks include “The Hudson,” “Necessary Evils,” “Lake George,” and “Moonshine.”

Review by Isabella Montero

Jos mä oisin rehellinen by emma & matilda

For fans of… Malcom Todd, Chezlie, Men I Trust, wave to earth

Genre… #bedroom-pop #jazz #folk-rock #dream-pop

emma & matilda’s newest album is the perfect combination of catchy beats and soft-spoken melodies, of electronic and indie-pop. Within the relatively short run-time of 30 minutes, the record immediately hooks listeners, each song impactfully building from whispering starts to to bass-booming ends. Each song’s unique identity allows audiences to be engaged throughout the entire record; even leaving them wanting more.

Review by Carlos Rojo

conditions of an orphan// by KennyHoopla

For fans of… chokecherry, Chloe Slater, Vienna Vienna

Genre… #dance-punk #new-wave #indie-rock

Conditions of an ORPHAN is a compilation of raw, vulnerable and unapologetic emotions. The album details the artist’s struggles with grief for lost loved ones and dead childhood dreams. KennyHoopla draws inspiration from 2000s dance and new wave while also embedding his own signature indie-rock style into his instrumental solos. The album strongly evokes nostalgia and a sense of hope, as seen in the lyrics to “monalisa, we miss you//.” The EP is a testament to resilience and love so beautiful that listeners can’t help but dance. 

Review by Renee Ho

Bleeds by Wednesday

For fans of… MJ Lenderman, Geese, Slow Pulp  

Genre… #alternative-country #grunge #shoegaze

Wednesday’s Bleeds mixes overdriven guitars with the soft sounds of folk and country ballades, exploring themes of grief, nostalgia and small-town life. The contrast between high energy jam tracks “Pick Up That Knife” and “Wasp” and introspective tracks “The Way Love Goes,” and “California Murder Suicide” mimic the confusing back-and-forth feelings of reminiscing amidst heartbreak. Overall, the album vibrantly illuminates the bittersweet and the ordinary of life.

Review by Lila Noack

Shooting Star by Golden Apples

For fans of… Teethe, Sword II, Stereolab, Built To Spill, The Beach Boys

Genre… #folk-rock #psychedelic-rock #indie-rock

Shooting Star is one of 2025’s best folk-rock records. Soft-spoken, often psychedelic and emphatically experimental, this Philidelphian record underlies four-on-the-floor beats, disjunct and fuzzed-out guitar riffs and carefree croons with warm, electronic drone. There’s this luscious narrative arc within the album reminiscent of The Beach Boys’ standout Smiley Smile (1967), which gives Golden Apples record a timelessness and seasoned tone. From the whispering vocal tremolo in “Another Grand Offering For the Swine” to the clear twang of guitars and unfettered joy on “Freeeee,” to the delightful minimalism of hammered dulcimer-like on “How Long Must I Stay In This Place,” Shooting Star is pure, blissful and authentic.

Review by Scotty Mihm

The Beastiary by Castle Rat

For fans of… Pentagram, Witchcraft, Green Lung

Genre… #doom-metal

The Bestiary is what listeners expect from doom music, while still maintaining Castle Rat’s recognizably singular voice. The album has perfect balance: fuzzy riffs mesh perfectly with the Rat Queen’s haunting vocals, where mellow interludes end, intense solos begin. The Beastiary takes the listener on a theatrical journey across its cultivated fantastical “The Realm.” Though the album isn’t as heavy as other entries in the genre, it’s unique and accessible to new listeners while staying true to doom.

Review by Matthew Carpenter

God Made the Highway by Lawn

For fans of… Public Image Ltd., Car Seat Headrest, Ovlov

Genre… #indie-rock #post-punk #punk

God Made the Highway successfully embodies two disparate genres within an album, making Lawn stand out in the New Orleans scene. While the album overall can be classified within the indie-rock sphere, songs like “Lonely River Blues” and “Sports Gun,” take on a post-punk affect. Other pieces such as “Davie” and “Pressure” stand out with playful, 90s-nostalgia sounds. With eleven songs ranging from surf anthems to punky jams, there’s a song for everyone regardless of personal taste.  

Review by Lora McPhail