albums you need to listen to, at this moment!

As a certified “music geek”, it is literally my job to be on the lookout for new bands to introduce to my customers and help them find something that perks up their ears. Most of the time it’s a new album from an old favorite, but I savor the moments when a customer asks for something they’ve never heard before. I can usually tell what a person listens to the moment they walk in the door, just by what section they walk to in our store first. So, this request allows me to flex my music knowledge muscle and help them find something brand new. 

A lot of these artists already have a steady fan base behind them, but they’ve still yet to break into the full mainstream and become household names. With this series, I hope to bring light to these bands who are almost there and hopefully introduce you, the reader, to a new favorite. 

The best part about this list? They’re all available at Clarizio Music Center or on our web store at clariziomusic.com

Cuts and Bruises- Inhaler

Listen if you like: U2, New Wave, alt-rock, Sam Fender, The Smiths

There is a good chance that if you ever come into our store while I’m working, I will either be listening to Inhaler, or I will tell you to listen to them. I went into this album completely blind, not listening to any of the singles, and I am thrilled to report that it may be the best album I’ve listened to so far this year. Now, obviously, this band sounds very similar to U2 and other bands of that time (Eli Hewson, lead singer, is Bono’s son, after all), and that works in their favor. Many of their fans have a history with U2 and bands of that nature, so hearing the same kind of music from people my age is a refreshing thing. Oh, and while you’re at it, check out their first album. You won’t regret it. 

Fever Dream- Palaye Royale

Listen if you like: Emo, glam rock, My Chemical Romance, Iggy Pop

I’ve been following this band since 2018, and they’ve only gotten better with time. Both Boom Boom Room releases were fantastic, but this release builds upon the lore and musical ideas in those albums. A trio of brothers, they’re intertwined in the music wholly, both on record and live. They have a fantastically retro glam-rock vibe to them that makes them totally different from anyone else while staying familiar for fans of days gone by. 

Girlfriend- The Driver Era

Listen if you like: Summer music, alternative pop, Declan McKenna, COIN

Most people will see this band and immediately recognize my generation’s heartthrob, Ross Lynch, from their Disney and Sabrina the Teenage Witch nostalgia. What they will find out, however, is how he and his brother, Rocky, can make a solid album while still having fun. “A Kiss” is as danceable as they come, “Heaven Angel” does indeed sound like it came from heaven, and “Heart of Mine” has an odd glow to it that only the duo can produce. 

Wet Leg- Wet Leg

Listen if you like: Indie Rock, femme rock, Wolf Alice, Bratmobile, TV Girl

It’s truly mind-blowing how much this band has blown up recently, but it still feels like they aren’t getting all the recognition they deserve. Some will say that a lot of the time they aren’t truly singing, but that’s the charm. The messy and carefree feel of this album makes it feel airy while still having an amazing intensity, especially on the smash hit “Chaise Lounge”. This is probably the most fun I’ve had listening to a whole album in a long time. 

Gemini Rights- Steve Lacy

Listen if you like: Thundercat, Current Joys, Tyler, The Creator, R&B, Lofi Hip-Hop

Alright, I feel like everyone my age knows who Steve Lacy is, but for those who don’t, he’s the “Bad Habit” guy. He’s funky, he’s loud, he’s unapologetic, and he’s got a killer fashion taste. Lacys worked with people in the industry such as Vampire Weekend and Tyler, The Creator, so when it came time for him to release solo music, the entire music industry accepted and devoured it. With R&B roots, Gemini Rights has introduced a generation to new and experimental styles of music, all while adding Lacy’s touch of magic to it. 

Dirty Honey- Dirty Honey 

Listen if you like: Greta Van Fleet, southern rock, Mammoth WVH, blues rock.

This album honestly feels like it got ripped out of 1978. With gritty guitars, thumping bass drums, ripping bass parts, and vocals that only a few people can sing correctly, this quartet from Los Angeles is truly going places. They’ve opened for Guns N’ Roses, The Who, and Altar Bridge, and it shows. They have a perfect sense of rhythm, and their songs are absolutely nasty (in the best way possible). “California Dreamin'” is a perfect example. If you’re going to trust me on anything in this article, please, let it be this album. 

This is Why- Paramore

Listen if you like:  Indie rock, pop-punk, dance punk, After Laughter by Paramore

I understand that it’s odd to put a nearly 15-year-old band on this list full of mostly newer bands, but this does feel like a new band. After a 6.5-year hiatus, the band is finally back with an album that feels like two sides of a coin. The first half is the danceable songs you’d expect to hear on After Laughter, while the second half slows down and becomes more emotional and retrospective. However, it oddly works, feeling like a cohesive album that sums up the emotions and events that many of us have experienced in the last three years. 

Rush- Måneskin

Listen if you like: 00s rock, Palaye Royale, Arctic Monkeys, Aerosmith

The band that nearly broke the internet in 2021 after winning Eurovision, Italian-based rock group Måneskin gave us their third studio album this year to rave reviews (they were even nominated for the Grammy for Best New Artist). They even collaborated with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello on the single “GOSSIP”, which happens to be my favorite song by the group. The album is truly a “Rush”, as it’s pretty petal to the metal for most of its run time. Even the slower tracks keep up the intensity, giving the listener a pretty good idea of how their lives have been flipped upside down over the past two years. There’s more to come from this band, and I’m sure it’ll be bigger than it has been (if that’s even possible).

Riley Kindler is currently a student at Brick Memorial High School who hopes to use her passion for both writing and music in her future career. Beginning to play guitar at age 5, she now plays drums, bass, and guitar in multiple projects in school and her community. She works with her family at Clarizio Music Center in Point Pleasant Boro, New Jersey, as part of the Record Department. The Record Department partners with the main store to help expose their community to the joys of both listening to and playing music. Many of their in-store selections are available for purchase online through their website. For more information,  please go to www.Clariziomusic.com or contact us at clariziomusic@gmail.com or (732) 295-6644