Carousel’s 2013 EP is an indie pop/rock record full of fantastic chill vibes throughout. Carousel consists of duo Jackson Phillips and Kevin Friedman, who are currently based in Oakland, CA. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out on Palms include the songs, “Close Your Eyes,” “Another Day,” and “Wolf’s Awake.” You can purchase Carousel’s Palms on iTunes, as well as listen to the record on their Soundcloud and Spotify accounts. This album is perfect for anyone in the mood for listening to something much more laid back and filled with subtlety. Carousel – Palms Track List Not EnoughAnother DayClose Your EyesWolf’s AwakeBefore You Article written by: Raymond Kandal

Hellogoodbye’s sophomore record from 2010 is an indie rock adventure full of fantastic layering and catchy melodies, as well as plenty of variety to allow the record to continue feeling unique and exciting throughout. Probably most well-known for their songs “Here in My Arms” and “Baby it’s Fact,” Would it Kill You? manages to expand on the band’s sound, while at the same time being independently released and self-produced by the group’s lead singer and musician, Forrest Kline. Hellogoodbye’s Would it Kill You? earns the honor of being my longest and most listened to album since its release. Although I could easily recommend every song, some of my favorite tracks worth checking out include, “When We First Kissed,” “The Thoughts That Give Me the Creeps,”

Jet Black Alley Cat, an upcoming band from Nashville, Tennessee, has just recently released their debut full-length record simply entitled, Part One. I personally hope that this is only part one of many due to the extreme catchiness of their rock inspired music with a vintage twist. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out include the songs, “Golden,” “Roxy,” and “Electric Raazors.” You can purchase Jet Black Alley Cat’s record on iTunes or their website at www.jetblackalleycat.com, as well as listen to the record on their Spotify and Soundcloud accounts. I would also highly recommend checking out their music videos on their YouTube channel, as the videos are highly professional and entertaining beyond the music itself. Jet Black Alley Cat - Part

Joe Brooks’ debut full-length record from 2010 is an acoustic-driven album that mixes uplifting lyrics, various instrument embellishments, and fantastic singing to enlighten and delight a variety of different listener types. Originally, from Southampton, England, Brooks continues to independently create music and tour internationally throughout the world with much success. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out on Constellation Me include the songs, “Superman,” “Rules of Attraction,” and “Apple.” You can purchase Joe Brooks’ Constellation Me on iTunes and Amazon, as well as listen to the record on his Spotify account. I would also recommend checking out Joe Brooks’ music videos on YouTube, especially the music video for “Superman,” due to the fact that his videos are incredibly well done, and often add an extra

Nekokat’s 2015 EP is an upbeat indie rock record complete with a delicate mix of high energy and more subdued moments. Nekokat is one of today’s largely overlooked super groups consisting of The Ready Set’s Jordan Witzigreuter, The Summer Set’s Jess Bowen, and Weatherstar’s Cameron Walker. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out on Communication II include the songs, “Best Year Ever,” “What I Said,” and “Cut My Teeth.” You can purchase Nekokat’s Communication II on iTunes, as well as listen to the record on their Soundcloud and Spotify accounts. Nekokat has also just released two new singles “Bella Goodbye” and “Haunted” this year, which are available to check out on all the platforms just mentioned as well. Nekokat – Communication II Track List Best Year

Panic! At the Disco’s full-length record from 2016 is an alternative-centered album that manages to fantastically blend various different genres, such as pop, rock, and even jazz into its eleven track runtime in order to hold interest the entire way through the record. Although a bit of a departure from the band’s widely recognized sound, the most impressive aspect of the record is the fact that not only is lead singer Brendan Urie the single remaining member here, but that Urie also played most of the instruments, wrote all of the songs, and co-produced the record, in addition to providing the vocals. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out on Death of a Bachelor include the songs, “Golden Days,” “Death of a Bachelor,”

Relient K’s 2009 record provides a dose of high energy throughout, as well as reflective and catchy vocals that are sure to appeal to a variety of different listener types. Despite getting close to being 10 years old, this record manages to still sound current and fresh in the context of today’s music scene. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out on Forget and Not Slow Down include the songs, “Candlelight,” “I Don’t Need a Soul,” and “Forget and Not Slow Down.” You can purchase Relient K’s Forget and Not Slow Down on iTunes and Amazon, as well as listen to the record on their Spotify account. Relient K – Forget and Not Slow Down Track List Forget and Not Slow DownI Don’t Need a SoulCandlelightFlarePart of

*Repeat Repeat’s most recent record from 2017 blends a vintage 60’s rock sound with modern alternative elements in a unique and wonderful way. Beyond this, the band has fantastic vocal tradeoffs between its two singers to provide continued interest throughout the entire record. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, *Repeat Repeat continues to differentiate itself as a group amongst a highly competitive music scene from the asterisk in the band’s name to the group’s distinctive style. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out on Floral Canyon include the songs, “Everybody’s Falling in Love,” “Girlfriend,” and “Hooks.” You can purchase *Repeat Repeat’s Floral Canyon on iTunes and Amazon, as well as listen to the record on their Spotify and Soundcloud accounts. I would also highly recommend getting a

Steven Fiore’s full-length record from 2013 is an acoustic-driven and folk-inspired journey that never feels stale or boring. The North Carolina based Steven Fiore utilizes various layers that provide a contemporary vibe to already pleasing acoustic guitar hooks. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out include the songs, “Spend a Little Time,” “Flicker and Fade,” and “Hourglass.” You can purchase Steven Fiore’s Youth and Magic on iTunes and CD Baby, as well as listen to the record on his Bandcamp and Spotify accounts. I would also highly recommend checking out some of Fiore’s live acoustic renditions of his songs on YouTube due to the fact that they provide a different, yet still gratifying listening experience. Steven Fiore – Youth and Magic Track List White

Sum 41’s full-length record from 2007 is an alternative album that marks a slight departure in the band’s more punk-oriented sound, and instead into a sound that is quite diverse within various aspects of the musical spectrum. Perhaps most recognized for their hits “Fat Lip” and “In too Deep,” the band continues to be successful today in both touring and recording endeavors. Some of my favorite tracks worth checking out on Underclass Hero include the songs, “March of the Dogs,” “Dear Father,” and “Walking Disaster.” You can purchase Sum 41’s Underclass Hero on iTunes and Amazon, as well as listen to the record on their Spotify account. I would highly recommend this album due to the fact that it continues to hold up, and is,