Stuff Under The Radar Likes

Since apparently I’m returning to Music criticism with that vast expurgation on Captain Beefheart, I thought I’d warm up a nice snark listicle, of the kind that I used to do at the old Music blog. So I moseyed over to Under the Radar, scoped their current music reviews, listened to a few on Spotify, and opened up a can of spleen. This, apparently, is what the Kids Are Listening To on their Eight-Track Players…

Buck Meeks, Haunted Mountain – Sounds like someone filtering his voice through a squeezebox while tying up alt.country in a burlap sack and tossing it into the Autotune River.
The Handsome Family, Hollow – I’d like to slap them for the name alone, which becomes even more boring as you contemplate its irony. That said, the songs are fine. I don’t hate it.
Jeff Rosenstock, HELLMODE – Is this asshole taking the piss? The juxtaposition of his bland nom de plume (punk permits and welcomes the use of pseudonyms, so there’s no excuse for using your CPA-sounding government name, like duh) with ALLCAPS lettering not just for the album, but all the track names suggests yes. But then, when you’re trying to meld power-pop and screamo, I suppose such things are to be expected.
Coach Party, KILLJOY – Again with the ALLCAPS. Do Zoomers think this shit is funny? Anyway, debut album from a four-piece band that actually does aggressive power-punk. Not quite Sleater-Kinney, but who is?
The Armed, Perfect Saviors – They sound like The Men, so … okay.
Slowdive, everything is alive – We find the opposite of ALLCAPS, the e.e. cummings-esque nocaps. That’s less annoying but only just. Synth-rock is perfectly fine. Did these guys really break up for 22 years, and then get back together? Huh.