New Music Reviews (7/21)

Each week, Music Director Chris Sanley and Associate Music Director Alex Ruder share brief insights on new and upcoming releases for KEXP's rotation. These reviews help our DJs decide on what they want to play. See what we added this week below (and on our Charts page), including new releases from Alex G, Coral Grief, Acapulco Lips, and more. 

Alex G - Headlights (RCA)
The tenth studio album from Philadelphia-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Alex G is a masterclass in restraint. Marking his major label debut, ‘Headlights’ is a focused effort that highlights his impeccable songwriting, signature guitar work, and fluid command of diverse sonic styles. Moving freely from hushed, folk-inflected reflections to ornate rockers, the layered strings, piano, and guitars elevate his soul-baring lyricism. This stunning collection reaffirms that Alex G stands in a class of his own. –CS

Coral Grief - Air Between Us (Suicide Squeeze)
The debut full-length album from Seattle trio Coral Grief is a beautiful tightrope walk between hazy and meticulous, lush and sparse, atmospheric and melodic. This dynamic balance results in a spellbinding fusion of indie rock, dream pop, and shoegaze, built on sharp guitar lines, moody keys and bass, intricate percussion, and Lena Farr-Morrissey’s ethereal vocals. ‘Air Between Us’ is a total knockout, showcasing a focused band with impeccable songwriting and a confident point of view. –CS

Acapulco Lips - Now (Killroom Records)
The latest from Seattle’s Acapulco Lips is a warm, fuzzy, retro-tinged fusion of garage, psych, and surf. With sugary vocals, captivating guitar lines, propulsive drums, and bright keys, ‘Now’ delivers ‘60s girl group melodies and infectious hooks, offering the perfect soundtrack for a Pacific Northwest summer. –CS

Jarv Dee X Bad Colours - BLAKHOUSE 2: TRIAL BY FIRE (Moor Colours)
Seattle rapper, singer, and sonic chameleon Jarv Dee teams up once again with Brooklyn-based DJ/producer Bad Colours for their second ‘BLAKHOUSE’ outing that confidently showcases their infectious, groovy, unstoppable hip-house sound. A stalwart of Seattle’s hip-hop scene keeping the creative vibes that permeated the 206 in the early 2010s (Moor Gang, Kingdom Crumbs, Black Constellation, etc.) alive & well in 2025, Jarv Dee brings along a handful of Seattle artists – Jay Park (!), Dave B., Gifted Gab, LIVt, Shelby Swims – as well as Brooklyn’s KAS along for the high-energy ride. –AR

Jim Legxacy - black british music (2025) (XL Recordings)
The latest mixtape from British rapper/singer/producer Jim Legxacy is another wildly inventive and frequently thrilling set of R&B/grime with a distinctive, omnivorous, genre-blurring vision. His soaring melodies and elastic vocal range, a heartfelt falsetto that sneaks into commanding rap flows, continues to lyrically reflect upon his resilience through struggles – including his sister’s death months after the success of his 2023 album ‘homeless n**** pop music’ – over masterful, hyperactive, commanding beats that fuse elements of pop-punk, Afrobeats, acoustic pop, psychedelic art-pop and more through his adventurous sonic prism. Much like its predecessor, ‘black british music (2025)’ is a bold, brilliant, breakout statement from a “rapper with intensity, a vocalist with passion and a producer who harnesses nostalgia to command the future.” It’s billed as a mixtape, but this is one of the best albums of the year (in my book). –AR

M.O.S.S. - Youth Loser (Den Tapes)
The debut album from this Seattle four-piece band is a stellar set of quintessential PNW indie rock that they perfectly describe as “twangy sludgy country slacker doom pop.” Roaming around a terrain speckled with garage rock, slacker rock, classic grunge, gritty country, and shape-shifting post-rock, and featuring wonderful vocal interplay between Ryan Mortensen and Emma McGraw and fierce instrumental outbursts, ‘Youth Loser’ is yet another ace find from Den Tapes. –AR

RIO KOSTA - Unicorn (Verdigris)
The debut album from this LA-based duo composed of Kosta Galanopoulos and Mike Del Rio is a sweet set of groovy, communal, starry-eyed, psych-tinted soul music reminiscent at times of SAULT, Jungle, and Khruangbin. Both artists have deep individual resumés (Kosta has collaborated with Cassandra Jenkins, Brijean, Rubblebucket, Slauson Malone, and Cornelia Murr; Mike’s largely navigated major-label territory over the past decade as one-half of POWERS and collaborations with the likes of Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera, and Kylie Minogue) that serves as a testament to their expansive, flexible talents, and with RIO KOSTA they’re leaning into a collaborative-focused desire to create “a genre-fluid space where rhythm reigns and the inner child runs wild.” –AR

Chanpan - endlessly (EQT Recordings)
Chanpan are a NYC-based Asian-American trio fronted by Myanmar-born, Louisiana-raised singer/actress Grace Dumdaw and joined by multi-instrumentalist identical twin brothers Lance and Matthew Tran. Their official debut EP is a cool set of adventurous, kinetic, hybrid pop that “blends the dance pop of PinkPantheress, jazzy soul of Hiatus Kaiyote, and superstar spunk of NewJeans into a brand new sound.” The title track is a perfect entry point into their exciting, cutting-edge, genre-blurring pop sound, while The Spirit of New Orleans Gospel Choir makes the lone credited guest appearance on the soulful standout “gaia.”. –AR

Chicarica - Invierno en la playa (self-released)
The second full-length album from this Santiago-based Chilean trio is a sweet set of seductive synth-pop and dreamy dance-pop that sways between uptempo house rhythms and pillowy downtempo beats with frontwoman Lorena Pulgar’s ethereal vocals floating beautifully throughout. –AR

Dream, Ivory - When You Come Back I Have So Much To Tell You (AWAL Recordings)
The sophomore album from the LA-based duo of brothers Christian and Louie Baello is an immersive set of maximalist dreamgaze. With Christian handling production and Louie on lead vocals, ‘When You Come Back I Have So Much To Tell You’ features dense walls of sound built from layered guitars, synths, drum patterns, and hazy vocals as the brothers delve into themes of love, addiction, and self-reflection. –CS

Felly - Ambroxyde (everwonder)
Felly is the ever-evolving project of Connecticut-born, LA-based artist Christian Felner. Originally emerging in the mid-2010s as an indie rapper/producer, his latest full-length album is a transformational set of sweeping indie rock, melodic indie folk, and melancholic singer-songwriter fare with a late dip into classic psychedelic territory on album closer “Cool River.” Written all across the world with stops at Floki Studios in Iceland, the Greek island of Hydra, and the Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and produced by Gianluca Buccellati (aka Bien et Toi, producer for Arlo Parks, Lana Del Rey, Tei Shi, Hazel English, NoSo, and more), ‘Ambroxyde’ carries a vast, intimate, windswept touch. –AR

Forth Wanderers - The Longer This Goes On (Sub Pop)
Following the band’s split, Forth Wanderers return with their first album in over seven years. Although the future of the project remains uncertain, these ten new tracks are a treasure, even if they end up being the band’s final release. Their warm, intricately layered indie rock soundscapes highlight Ava Trilling’s dreamy vocals and raw lyricism, blending elements of bedroom pop, shoegaze, and grunge to create a memorable, hook-filled collection. –CS

Goon - Dream 3 (Born Losers Records)
On their third studio album, LA outfit Goon delivers a delightfully hazy blend of art rock, dream pop, psych, punk, and experimental soundscapes. Densely layered guitars, percussion, and synths propel frontman Kenny Becker’s airy vocals as ‘Dream 3’ shifts effortlessly from dreamy and reflective to chaotic and cathartic, showcasing the band’s distinct sound. –CS

Jessica Winter - My First Album (Lucky Number)
Following a string of impressive EPs, London-based singer, songwriter, and producer Jessica Winter delivers her first album and it’s a supremely eclectic set of adventurous alt-pop. From the sitar-infused art-pop of epic opener “Nirvana” to the closing piano ballad “To Know Her,” Jessica showcases her sharp pop instincts across a wide spectrum of styles, with a couple standout dips into delightful, euphoric disco-pop on “L.O.V.E.” and Kyle Minogue dead ringer “Aftersun.” –AR

Madeline Kenney - Kiss From the Balcony (Carpark)
Madeline Kenney’s new collaborative album with Ben Sloan and Stephen Patota is a mesmerizing exploration of moody art pop with shimmering keys, electronic production, and warm guitars. Guided by Kenney’s expressive vocals and impressive range, the trio crafts lush, adventurous arrangements that carry her tender, intimate lyricism as she reflects on love, identity, and resilience. –CS

Natalie Bergman - My Home Is Not In This World (Third Man Records)
The sophomore solo album from Chicago-born, LA-based singer-songwriter Natalie Bergman is a rich, psych-tinged fusion of soul, folk, gospel and ‘60s pop. Exploring deeply isolating themes of not belonging, her gripping vocals, timeless arrangements, and lush soundscapes draw listeners in, offering a sense of home within each song.  –CS

Panic Shack - Panic Shack (Brace Yourself Records)
The self-titled debut album from Cardiff outfit Panic Shack is a playful, vibrant set of indie punk with a pop sensibility. With razor-sharp, tongue-in-cheek lyricism and buoyant arrangements featuring ripping guitars, explosive drums, and ferocious vocals, this five-piece doesn’t arrive quietly, and you won’t want to miss what they have to offer. –CS

Reginald Omas Mamode IV - Rivière Noire (Melting Pot Music)
The fifth solo album from this London-based Anglo-Mauritian vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer is another excellent set of warm, woozy, wonderful soul music infused with a conscious hip-hop foundation. With a mission to “evoke feelings of universal love and compassion” through his music, Reginald’s mantra-like lyrics preach themes of community, kindness, positivity, and growth over an array of organic electro-acoustic beats. –AR

SHIRAN & BAKAL - Electro Baghdad (Batov)
The debut collaborative album between vocalist SHIRAN and producer BAKAL is a thrilling set of pulsating Arabic synth-pop that finds the artists – both born to half-Yemeni, half-Iraqi parents in Israel – reinterpreting traditional Iraqi songs with the help of contemporary electronic/club beats. SHIRAN’s magnetic voice and lyrics sung in Iraqi Arabic soar and glide brilliantly over BAKAL’s groovy rhythms, booming basslines, and classic analog synths, yielding a colorful, refreshing sound that also pays tribute to their Iraqi roots. –AR

Slick Rick - VICTORY (Mass Appeal)
The influential, singular, hip-hop royalty and London-born rapper Slick Rick quietly returns with his fourth full-length album, surprisingly his first since 1999’s low-key classic ‘The Art of Storytelling.’ While it comes off as a quickly-executed effort, Slick Rick’s unmistakable voice, iconic delivery, and playful persona still lives on, and there’s a few highlights – hip-house throwback “Come On Let’s Go” included – amidst this middling ‘VICTORY’ lap, with the album’s lone guest appearances coming from Giggs and Nas, a reflection of Slick Rick’s inspirational legacy on both sides of the Atlantic. –AR