GOODBYE JUNE, DEEP IN TROUBLE

"You Know, you put a Les Paul through an old Marshall and you crank it up and you get the sound that doesn't go stale." 

Tyler Baker, lead guitarist, Goodbye June

A classic rock revival is well underway over the past few years and Goodbye June is definitely helping lead the way. Fans of nasty, dirty rock 'n'roll, the band has said that they set out to take a lot of changes and swings on their fourth album, Deep In Trouble. And boy did they. This is a highly charged album with loud guitars and a hard hitting rhythm section to match. And it just plain rocks.

THE DECEMBERISTS, AS IT EVER WAS, SO IT WILL BE AGAIN

For over 20 years now, The Decemberists have been making their own unique and distinct brand of folk-rock. It can be quirky, idiosyncratic, thought provoking, poignant, and always downright good. Their latest album and first in six years, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, is the longest album that the band has ever made. It is also a particular standout. I think it is in part because it's more accessible than some of their others....this is surprising given that the band describes the album's 13 songs as semaphores (I had to look up this word) of mutual recognition for our fraught times and faint hope. Not since The Crane Wife have I been this satisfied with A Decemberists' album. So glad that they keep making music.

CINDY LEE, DIAMOND JUBILEE

Listening to Cindy Lee's Diamond Jubilee is a journey—32 tracks spanning two hours and two minutes of immersive music. It’s a commitment, but one that rewards you with a timeless and otherworldly experience. Cindy Lee, the moniker of Patrick Flegel, brings together their diverse influences into a cohesive yet ever-shifting creation.

Flegel, formerly of the band Women, draws on a rich musical heritage shaped by AM radio and family jam sessions in their Saskatchewan upbringing. Their sound evolved from '90s rock icons like Beck and Nirvana to harsher, noisier textures, expressing raw emotion and resourcefulness. They humorously describe some of their earlier work as "fuck you, dad" music, marking their growth as an artist.

Drag and gender fluidity became integral to Flegel’s artistry after their mid-20s move to Vancouver. Influences like Japanese performer Akihiro Maruyama and Karen Carpenter inform their unique aesthetic, which also incorporates No Wave xerox art and Japanese pop designs. The result is a blend of noise, lo-fi aesthetics, '60s pop, and expressive visuals that feel deeply personal and genre-defying.

Diamond Jubilee embodies Flegel’s artistic evolution, creating an album that shifts effortlessly between styles while maintaining an irresistible flow. It’s a fascinating, wholly satisfying listen that leaves you curious for what’s next, even as you savor the moment. 

Diamond Jubilee cannot be streamed on any major platform. Flegel has rejected the streaming era's demands to create something entirely their own. You can listen to the album and purchase it on their Bandcamp site.