BY: JOEY REAMS
On Fridays, the world is blessed with new music from a handful of artists. To help you find your next favorite album, we’ve discovered what new alternative and indie albums have been released. This week’s notable artists include Bachelor and Teenage Joans. Check out the list below:
Bachelor – Doomin’ Sun
Los-Angeles based dream-pop singer Melina Mae Deterte, professionally known as Jay, Som has teamed up with Palehound, otherwise known as musician Ellen Kempner to form Bachelor and release Doomin’ Sun via Lucky Number Music. This is the duo’s first album together, but they’ve released several albums individually. You can buy the album here.
“You could say the friendship began in 2017 when Duterte and Kempner first met in a Sacramento green room and experienced love at first sight,” reads the official statement. “Having been mutual fans of each other for years at that point, putting each other’s songs on playlists and scouring YouTube for live videos, they both remember starting that night as nervous wrecks intent on making a good impression. That proved extremely easy, and their anxious facades quickly faded into geeky fandom as they unabashedly yell-sang lyrics from the crowd during each other’s sets.”
Sports Team – Plant Test
London-based alternative band Sports Team has released their sophomore album, Plant Test. This is a highly anticipated second album for the English band, whose debut album peaked at number two in the UK charts. The band has released two EPs before the debut album, 2018’s “Winter Nets,” followed by 2019’s Keep Walking! Before releasing this album, the band released a single-pressing 12″ vinyl of rarities, b-sides, and unmastered new material at indie retailers only. You can buy the album here.
“Morning shoppers!” The group said on Instagram. “Hell is real and made of low-grade plastic. As further punishment for you all, we are releasing a single-pressing 12” vinyl of rarities, b-sides, and unmastered new material. Available exclusively from indie retailers. No restocks. No represses. Get it before Alex goes solo.”
Sweet Trip – A Tiny House, In Secret Speeches, Polar Equals
American experimental rock duo from San Francisco has released their fourth studio album, A Tiny House, In Secret Speeches, Polar Equals, via Darla Records. Although this band may not sound like it would fit on our page, the duo often blends alternative rock with intelligent dance music. This is the band’s first album in 12 years, with You Will Never Know Why released in 2009. Their debut album, Halica, was released in 1998. You can buy the album here.
“A Tiny House, In Secret Speeches, Polar Equals marks the return of Sweet Trip, 12 years after the release of their third album, You Will Never Know Why,” reads the band’s statement. “In usual Sweet Trip fashion, “Secret Speeches” was created out of the blue; nothing planned, not even a sense of direction. Instead, songs poured out with strong emotions and pure love, which dictated every note, every beat, every wash of sounds that adorns this new work.”
Teenage Joans – Taste of Me
Australian alternative rock newcomers Teenage Joans have released their debut independent album, Taste of Me. This band consists of drummer Tahlia Borg and Guitarist Cahil Blakers, who both sing. Their first singles, “By the Way” and “Three Leaf Clover,” got the attention of many critics. The latter won Triple J’s 2020 Enearth High competition and ranked at 87 in their ‘Hottest 100 of 2020’ list. Three songs from this album have already been released. The duo just recently announced a headline tour with BUGS and Amy Shark opening.
“This EP is super special to us, it’s like our little baby!” Borg said of the release in a press statement. “We’ve been sitting on these songs for so long and have worked so hard during our practices and live performances to get them where they are now. A few of the songs are some of the first songs we ever wrote together and we are so excited for them to be out in the world!”