Issue 105

Fans disappointed in the way Mumford & Sons shifted towards pop rock instead of following along with their banjo-influenced folk rock might find respite in the more traditional styles of Bear's Den. While the band still records big rock tunes, they often back them up with quieter, more reflective songs that embrace the roots of American rock, resulting in one of 2014's more enjoyable records. Read more.

Mal Blum's fifth record might be her best yet. The way she explores introspective themes and digs into the mundanity of life without ever losing her vulnerability. While most artists who try to write a record like this end off writing something clinically off-putting, like a musical documentary of boredom, Mal makes it sound like somebody's diary. Wonderful and moving stuff. Read more.

Royal Deluxe's debut leads the band into the room with a ton of swagger, offering a fantastic take on Rolling stones-style blues rock without sacrificing their edge. Instead of sounding like a mere re-tread, Royal Deluxe sounds like they're exploring new ideas — and they sound shockingly comfortable for a new artist. Read more.

Nils Frahm's experience as a composer and Ólafur Arnalds' electronic experimentations collide in this brief collection of ambient electronic tracks. The duo bears down on the simple building of patterns that Nils is good at, but Ólafur brings his own variety of tension and dub influence to the space. Together, they record something that Nils fans may be surprised by, but it's nonetheless an excellent EP. Read more.

Summer Twin's new LP Limbo is a fantastic garage record that's listenable and approachable even for fans of pop music thanks to an overt surf rock influence. Great production quality doesn't get in the way of the duet's quirky personality. Read more.