@prismreviews.bsky.social
"It’s a thinker of an album, political without being preachy, morbid without being gratuitous, and overall, an attempt to bring joy through music and story, a joy that is not without a conscience or concern." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/22/c...
CATSCAN!, EVERYTHING IS NORMAL
“People say / you’re in the fray / you’ve lost your way / but it’s OK,” DC’s indie weird band Catscan!, who take influences from quirky bands like Primus and They Might Be Giants, sing on their lat…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:01 PM
"It’s a thinker of an album, political without being preachy, morbid without being gratuitous, and overall, an attempt to bring joy through music and story, a joy that is not without a conscience or concern." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/22/c...
"Catherine has blossomed into something like a jazzy Weyes Blood, looking at the mythology of America and, like Jack Kerouac, penning her own bohemian On The Road." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/21/c...
CATHERINE SAVAGE, YOUR AMERICAN SHORE
“Now I’m scattered coast to coast / Trying to find relief / And I’ve forgotten how to be myself,” Baltimore’s Catherine Savage sings on her new album of baroque indie pop songs, called Your America…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
"Catherine has blossomed into something like a jazzy Weyes Blood, looking at the mythology of America and, like Jack Kerouac, penning her own bohemian On The Road." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/21/c...
"It’s his raw and relatable poetry which makes me think that Paul and Vein Rays could make a run against up-and-coming bands like Geese and Cameron Winter." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/v...
VEIN RAYS, SMILING WITH TEETH
“You take a drink and we both get drunk,” Paul Smirl of New Jersey’s Vein Rays sings on his album of gritty, howling hardcore folk songs called Smiling With Teeth. They are all character stud…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:55 AM
"It’s his raw and relatable poetry which makes me think that Paul and Vein Rays could make a run against up-and-coming bands like Geese and Cameron Winter." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/v...
"This is one of my favorite albums of the year, so far, and channels and builds upon Sufjan’s’ The Ascension period, with all its heart-moving electronic sounds." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/12/j...
JORDAN KLASSEN, SPARROW
“Reaching for a dove that’s in a cage / make a fist and I can’t pull away” Vancouver’s Jordan Klassen sings on his electronic chamber pop latest release, a seven-song EP called Sparrows. Doves and …
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:09 AM
"This is one of my favorite albums of the year, so far, and channels and builds upon Sufjan’s’ The Ascension period, with all its heart-moving electronic sounds." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/12/j...
"Overall, it is a solid first offering. The singer songwritery stories are satisfyingly laid on top of some of the best instrumental music being created right now." @mfaaband.bsky.social prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/m...
MAKING FRIENDS AS ADULTS, NEW ROAD
“It was us against the world, looks like the world won,” Baltimore’s mathy emo meets 90s’ female rock band, Making Friends As Adults, sing on their debut record, New Road. As it says in their…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
"Overall, it is a solid first offering. The singer songwritery stories are satisfyingly laid on top of some of the best instrumental music being created right now." @mfaaband.bsky.social prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/m...
“The album is expertly composed and presents a mature songwriter, who takes his craft extra seriously.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/f...
FORMER RUINS, IN YOUR FIELD
“But of all the good things / I’ve ever resisted / The best has always been grace,” Levi Sikes of the Indiana alt-folk project, Former Ruins, sings on his latest 10-song offering called, In Your Fi…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:02 AM
“The album is expertly composed and presents a mature songwriter, who takes his craft extra seriously.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/f...
“But it is situated solidly in the best of the folk, singer songwriter genre, a testament to Tomo’s ability to write and to sing a song.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/t...
TOMO NAKAYAMA, OCEAN
I was introduced to Seatle’s Tomo Nakayama back near 2017 when he toured the East Coast, opening for Jeremy Enigk on the Ghosts tour. Tomo’s a humble fellow, of Japanese decent, with a voice that i…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:52 AM
“But it is situated solidly in the best of the folk, singer songwriter genre, a testament to Tomo’s ability to write and to sing a song.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/t...
"The album comes from the famous phrase, 'The life you save just might be your own,' but Wasner admits that she doesn’t just want to make it out alive and on top, she wants to bring her struggling loved ones along with her."
@flockofdimes.bsky.social prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/f...
@flockofdimes.bsky.social prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/f...
FLOCK OF DIMES, THE LIFE YOU SAVE
“I did not enter this world afraid / And I refuse to leave it this way,” the inimitable Jenn Wasner of 80s-influenced, woman’s indie rock, Flock of Dimes, starts her latest album, The Life You Save…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:11 AM
"The album comes from the famous phrase, 'The life you save just might be your own,' but Wasner admits that she doesn’t just want to make it out alive and on top, she wants to bring her struggling loved ones along with her."
@flockofdimes.bsky.social prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/f...
@flockofdimes.bsky.social prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/f...
"But the beauty of this album, is that she gives a beautifully-rendered country melee... to these hardships, that acts much like a well-written musical, to soundtrack our hardest experiences." @rebeccaportermusic.bsky.social prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/r...
REBECCA PORTER, ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES
Virginia’s Rebecca Porter has put out an album of songs about the struggles of everyday life, whether it’s “Payday Loans” or “The Laundry Pile,” or run-ins with “The Devil” or abusive men, trying t…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:43 AM
"But the beauty of this album, is that she gives a beautifully-rendered country melee... to these hardships, that acts much like a well-written musical, to soundtrack our hardest experiences." @rebeccaportermusic.bsky.social prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/r...
"He’s been at the grindstone of this indie rock thing for a while, creating his own homegrown music that is appealing for its absolute originality and its kinship in sound to some of indie rock’s best." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/01/b...
BRYAN DUBAY, CALL YOUR MOTHER
“Cuz I do love you / and I do want to / buy you all the overpriced vegan food,” Bryan Dubay sings on his latest album of songs called, Call Your Mother. His subject matter is at once existential an…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:47 AM
"He’s been at the grindstone of this indie rock thing for a while, creating his own homegrown music that is appealing for its absolute originality and its kinship in sound to some of indie rock’s best." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/11/01/b...
“There is a childlike quality to Tweedy’s volcano-like creativity, but what erupts is usually some of the most mature and thought-provoking lyrics and sounds of our time.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/j...
JEFF TWEEDY, TWILIGHT OVERRIDE
In an interview with Stephen Colbert recently, Jeff Tweedy was asked by Colbert, “Why a triple album?” To which Jeff Tweedy quipped, “It’s part of my goal to keep people always wanting less.” It be…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:20 AM
“There is a childlike quality to Tweedy’s volcano-like creativity, but what erupts is usually some of the most mature and thought-provoking lyrics and sounds of our time.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/j...
"If you find yourself seeking personal truth and shared experience as if you’re a scientist, you might really like this deep and resounding work of art." @nathanielbellows.bsky.social
prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/n...
prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/n...
NATHANIEL BELLOWS, THE MOAT
“But then we’ll / dig the hole / and seal up the walls / and it feels just like / a home, a hull, a tomb,” New York’s Nathaniel Bellows starts on the rhythmic first number of his new jazzy, folky, …
prismreviews.wordpress.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:59 PM
"If you find yourself seeking personal truth and shared experience as if you’re a scientist, you might really like this deep and resounding work of art." @nathanielbellows.bsky.social
prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/n...
prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/n...
“And any band that can sound like both Manchester Orchestra and MJ Lenderman on one album—in one song, even—I had to check out.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/24/f...
FLYCATCHER, WRENCH
“I hold on like a wrench / I swing for every fence / But I play a losing game,” New Jersey’s emo alternative band with hints of country, Flycatcher, sing on their debut album, of the same name. “So…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:24 PM
“And any band that can sound like both Manchester Orchestra and MJ Lenderman on one album—in one song, even—I had to check out.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/24/f...
“The overwhelming feeling that I (and probably many people felt) was a thankfulness that we have a bold voice for ‘our’ generation, who’s willing to put in the work to put on a great show.”
prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/m...
prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/m...
MITSKI, MOVIE: THE LAND
“Nobody, nobody, nobody.” In Mitski’s latest artistic venture, a one- or two-day special release of a movie playing in theaters throughout the country, called Land, which is basically a highl…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:21 AM
“The overwhelming feeling that I (and probably many people felt) was a thankfulness that we have a bold voice for ‘our’ generation, who’s willing to put in the work to put on a great show.”
prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/m...
prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/m...
“She’s gotten much better through the years, I think, and her latest is perhaps my favorite sonically that I’ve heard.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/t...
TAYLOR SWIFT, THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL
When it comes to bigger artists who take the spotlight, there’s always the question of “street cred.” It’s not easy at the top—“heavy is the head that wears the crown,” as the saying goes. But Tayl…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:19 AM
“She’s gotten much better through the years, I think, and her latest is perhaps my favorite sonically that I’ve heard.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/t...
It’s Bandcamp Friday! Check out our latest playlist for ideas of artists to support #bandcampfriday
September 5, 2025 at 11:24 PM
It’s Bandcamp Friday! Check out our latest playlist for ideas of artists to support #bandcampfriday
New Prism playlist for artists reviewed between May and August! open.spotify.com/playlist/1lg...
PRISM REVIEWS - MAY TO AUGUST 2025
open.spotify.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:43 PM
New Prism playlist for artists reviewed between May and August! open.spotify.com/playlist/1lg...
"It’s always cause for celebration, when Chris Staples releases a new album, and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/08/05/c...
CHRIS STAPLES, DON’T WORRY
“I’m still making up for / the person that I wasn’t then / I still got a little time / to become what I could have been,” Richmond, Virginia’s Chris Staples sings off his newly released…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
August 6, 2025 at 12:49 AM
"It’s always cause for celebration, when Chris Staples releases a new album, and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint." prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/08/05/c...
It’s Bandcamp Friday! Check out Prism Reviews and support your new favorite artists #bandcampfriday #supportindieartists
August 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
It’s Bandcamp Friday! Check out Prism Reviews and support your new favorite artists #bandcampfriday #supportindieartists
“But really, who else would you want to be winning at this game, than someone who keeps it as real as Alex G does.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/28/a...
ALEX G, HEADLIGHTS
“I think that no matter what you choose now / you’re gonna have to lose, now,” Philadelphia’s Alex G sings on the last song off his new album of songs, Headlights, which is his first major la…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
July 29, 2025 at 3:25 AM
“But really, who else would you want to be winning at this game, than someone who keeps it as real as Alex G does.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/28/a...
“It is a fitting follow-up to a record that put him on the musical map with his memorable melody lines and the duo’s visceral alternative rock attack.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/28/a...
ASSERTION, BASKING IN THE GASLIGHT
Have you ever been so gaslit that you feel like you need a gas mask? On their stellar sophomore album, Basking in the Gaslight, Spartan Records’ Assertion, made up of multi-instrumentalist Justin T…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
July 28, 2025 at 6:50 PM
“It is a fitting follow-up to a record that put him on the musical map with his memorable melody lines and the duo’s visceral alternative rock attack.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/28/a...
“It is a pretty and pretty deep album, you should check out if you like pop artists who are deeply rooted in folk colorings.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/c...
CHRISSY JOHNSON, SHAKE WHERE YOU’RE STEADY
“And all the runaway love / on the loose in my brain / So much runaway love / on the loose in my brain” Chicago’s Chrissy Johnson sings on her album of folk pop songs called Shake When You’re…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
July 23, 2025 at 1:50 AM
“It is a pretty and pretty deep album, you should check out if you like pop artists who are deeply rooted in folk colorings.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/c...
“With all of the confusion and pain that comes with life, you’ve gotta take a chance on living a little, they offer to their listeners in songs that are measured on the scale of indie alternative rock mettle, and not found wanting.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/20/p...
PAINTDRY, KISS//CRY
“I’ll play a happy song to myself as a treat / Incongruence aside I like moving my feet / I like moving my feet,” Baltimore’s alternative indie band paintdry sings off the single “Huddy Bolly,” fro…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
July 21, 2025 at 2:07 AM
“With all of the confusion and pain that comes with life, you’ve gotta take a chance on living a little, they offer to their listeners in songs that are measured on the scale of indie alternative rock mettle, and not found wanting.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/20/p...
“If you like the appeal of a “fringe festival,” where each of the bands is just professional enough to make for quality entertainment, you might really enjoy Shakemore Au Go Go.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/18/s...
SHAKEMORE 2025, LIVE REVIEW
On the outskirts of Westminster, MD there is a fringe fest that happens every year (they even managed to record from home, during the pandemic) that is home to outsider bands and grassroots concert…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
July 19, 2025 at 3:39 AM
“If you like the appeal of a “fringe festival,” where each of the bands is just professional enough to make for quality entertainment, you might really enjoy Shakemore Au Go Go.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/18/s...
“Rachel’s voice is hypnotizing and the band, though they are adept at many different styles, have a funky, raucous style all their own.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/12/l...
LADY KING & THE ACES, S/T
“I know that I’m gold / With four aces in my pocket,” Rachel King of the Lancaster quintet Lady King and The Aces sings on the opening track of their debut self-titled album which released on Indep…
prismreviews.wordpress.com
July 12, 2025 at 10:50 PM
“Rachel’s voice is hypnotizing and the band, though they are adept at many different styles, have a funky, raucous style all their own.” prismreviews.wordpress.com/2025/07/12/l...