I listen to a lot of music. No, really. If I’m not catching up on what my dudes recommend with The Indie Inspection and Ska Punk & Other Junk, or doing homework for the Crushed Monocle Podcast, I’ve got my ear to the ground for what’s next. There’s just so much music out there it’s hard to keep a cohesive list. While the podcast is a great way to discuss a few records each month, I feel as if I’m undercutting some of the other records that got repeated spins. The remedy? This column! The Showcase.
Welcome to The Showcase for October 2024!
John Davis – Jinx
As one of the most prolific singer-songwriters in indie rock, John Davis has done it all. From the underappreciated Superdrag to the delicious noise of The Lees Of Memory. But it’s side projects and solo outings that put him shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Bob Mould and Bob Pollard. On his 3rd official solo record Jinx, Davis puts his entire history into a blender for a record that celebrates his past. But it also puts a giant question mark as to where he goes next. Despite being envisioned as a Superdrag in the early stages, (see Crushed Monocle Episode 27) Jinx could very well be the most personal record in his lore. If you like power-pop, fuzz, and maybe even a little bit of Midwestern emo, Davis has you covered!
Human Impact – Gone Dark
The supergroup comprised of members of Unsane, Cop Shoot Cop, Daughters, and Made Out Of Babies has returned with their sophomore record. And it’s every bit as intense as their debut. Gone Dark is a chaotic culmination of hardcore, industrial, and post-punk the feels like the soundtrack to the post-apocalypse. While the production features plenty of cinematic ambiance, Gone Dark feels more like a full band effort than the first album. Each member gets to bring something to the table and it sounds like a living and breathing machine.
For more information on the making of Gone Dark, check out Crushed Monocle Episode 39 where we were joined by Chris Spencer and Jim Coleman.
High Reeper – Renewed By Death
I reviewed this record earlier this month (you can read that here), but it was definitely on repeat for a minute!
Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere
By the time you read this, you’ve likely seen no less than 100 reviews about this album. I never would’ve expected such a wild trail of hype surrounding a death metal band, but here we are. As someone typically put off by that kind of hoopla, I can honestly tell you that the hype is real. Absolute Elsewhere is an assortment of prog, psychedelia, post-metal, synth-pop, new wave, and of course, death metal. All rolled into a tightly wound package of weirdness, it’s a quick listen that doesn’t overstay its welcome! It’s difficult to explain why or how it works, but it does. Just check it out for yourself.
Oranssi Pazuzu – Muuntautuja
I’ve already reviewed this release separately (you can read that here), but it’s worth sharing again because it’s so good.
Pack Rat – Life’s A Trap
Punk rock has a lot of baggage. It isn’t satisfying to throw your fists in the air and call out corporate oppression when you’re the ugliest person in the room. But it’s 2024, and we’re all very very tired. I hate Republicans, and Democrats are only a few notches better, so what are we really fighting about if the political spectrum is six of one thing and half a dozen of another?
Pack Rat is a punk record that feels like a breath of fresh air. Life’s A Trap has all the attitude and DIY ethos of the punk I grew up on, but there’s also wholesomeness about it. It’s the kind of posture I miss about punk. I love using my voice to call out the government’s injustice, but it’s nice to be able to sing along with songs about boredom, too. Pack Rat gets it.
The Black Dahlia Murder – Servitude
This is another one I’ve covered separately (you can read that here), but it hasn’t left my playlist this month either.
Green Jude – A Light Here
I always seem to stumble upon an artist I know nothing about, and their social media presence is almost nonexistent. I actually like that because the music has to stand on its own without any preconceived notions. A Light Here is a relatively short EP that seems to showcase what Green Jude can do. It sounds like a demo of what would happen if Hope Sandoval collaborated with Best Coast. The result is dreamy and romantic and, at other times sad and insecure. Maybe I just like it because it sounds like my social life.
Doom Gong – Doom Gong
I already covered it on its own. (Go read that review here.)
Class Tourists – Humanity Eats Itself
Formed in 2022, this British duo was raised on Dead Kennedys, Crass, GEL, and Negative Approach. Like any decent punk band, they set their crosshairs on the world’s authority figures. Humanity Eats Itself is quick and brutal like being punched in the stomach with a left and getting an uppercut with the right. Earlier in this article, I praised Pack Rat for tackling the mundane, but Class Tourists are the other side of the coin. I really love punk rock, and if you feel the same way, this EP will definitely scratch the itch until it’s infected.
Tess Parks – Pomegranate
Yep, you guessed it. I’ve covered this by itself (You can read that here), but I probably listened to this album more than anything else this month.