Washington D.C. based quartet My French Roommate creates bedroom pop that draws inspiration from 70’s euro disco, 80’s synth pop, dance punk, and tech noir (among other genres). On their debut EP MFR (streaming), they combine three singles into one 13 minute long track. The record's sound progresses from upbeat and relatively pop (“CTRL”) to dark and psychedelic (“REPLICA”). Last track “LUV DG” even has clear garage rock influences at one point (with lyrics “love me like a dog” and “I wanna be your dog” drawing a connection to Iggy Pop and the Stooges), blended in or rather juxtaposed to an EDM bass line reminiscent of Daft Punk. The band will be releasing their new self-titled EP on June 8th at DC9 alongside Marc Monet and Furniteur. - Lilly Milman

From the moment the beat drops on the opening track, it's clear that the style of Fly Anakin and Koncept Jack$on's Chapel Road is influenced more by pathos, anger, and crunchy weed than the plush leather sounds of blemish free top 40.  With a voice that seems uncannily similar to that of Brooklyn rapper AZ, Fly Anakin gives the opener a straight ahead, circa 1994 flow that dwells more on mental instability and a desperate need for catharsis than an auto-tuned worship of yachts and Bentleys.

Carrying the flow of Fly Anakin and Koncept Jack$on are the strong use of lo-fi backing tracks and minor harmonies on songs like “''03 steve harvey remix” and “swanton bomb”. Although there are some tracks which seem superfluous, in general this album is superb, start to finish.

-Written by Michael Dranove

Those talented rockers from Baltimore are back with a couple demo tracks in advance of an unannounced EP. The Milestones released "City of Soul" and "Have It All," working to hone the in-studio sound and tame the oft-wild and varied live versions. It's definitely working: the quartet's signature is to shift abruptly yet seamlessly from spacey, soothing melodies into hard licks that get audiences everywhere dancing. Both songs are richly layered with well-produced vocals, energetic drumming, and consistently dynamic guitar riffs, mind-blowing when taken holistically for the variety. Get excited for that EP to come out in the hopefully near future and catch them headlining at the 8x10 on 7/1, $12, with Luna June, Pocket Bells, The Fun Boys, and Far Future. -Jonathan Goodwin

Drewsif Stalin's sophomore album “Anhedonia” sets its tone from the get-go with a spine tingling rage that seems like a pretty good interpretation of what anhedonia—the inability to feel pleasure—might sound like sonically. Behind a downright creepy vocal delivery of line “inching closer and closer” comes a snarling guitar lick which fits beautifully in the pocket of the groove. Just when the groove seems to get a little repetitive, Drewsif Stalin pulls out a new trick from his bag, transitioning first to a more energetic drum beat, then to a vocal section in a new register, and then even to an ambient dreamscape breakdown. In the end what carries both of the teaser tracks is the outstanding musicianship and very well thought out songwriting.

Check out Drewsif Stalin's “Andhedonia”, dropping tomorrow, June 1st.

  -Written by Michael Dranove

Bobmoekill's “All Good Things” starts out with a very promising introduction. The harmony builds wonderfully with the drum tracks tastefully added underneath. Gradually, the textures fill out, and at about 1 minute the buildup pays off with the tasteful drums turning into a deep groove.

The opening title track is a pretty good barometer of the bobmoekill style, which seems to alternate between R&B, pop electronica, ambient electronic.  Although sometimes the tracks felt a little derivative (boo synth horns), this is a great first release, and there is every indication that there are more good things to come from the duo.

-Written by Michael Dranove