Chasing Jonah
And the Clocks Moved
(self-released)
★★★★
Orlando singer Ashley Dudukovich is many things on her band Chasing Jonah's debut EP: heart-shattered, afraid of love and "walking down Mills Avenue" after some car trouble, "where early sunset leapt off and took flight." One thing she's not is a dummy. Although her front-and-center, delicately lilting voice rises and falls with seemingly every painful memory a lyric digs up – an undeniably voyeuristic pleasure – Chasing Jonah's tracks start slow, build to crescendos capably managed by her backing band and only realize their fullness at the peak pop moment, making this effort a demo sure to perk up the ears of the lovesick and licensing scouts alike. – Justin Strout
Mark your calendar: Chasing Jonah CD release party Wednesday Aug. 29 at the Social (thesocial.org) with Chris Burns and Essence d'Ame!
Mexican Institute of Sound
Politico
(Nacional Records)
★★★
No, the new M.I.S. record is not all that political. In fact, the title track may be one of the silliest songs to have the word "politic" anywhere near it. Camilo Lara (aka Mexican Institute of Sound, aka the president of EMI Mexico [!]) does, however, view M.I.S.'s role in the electronic-music world as a political – or at least, diplomatic – one. His loose-limbed, forward-looking and decidedly eclectic take on electro-pop is authentic and modern, and Politico's best tracks ("México," "Tipo Raro," "Especulando") bristle with a sense of vibrant, fun-loving experimentalism. – Jason Ferguson
Why?
Sod in the Seed
(Anticon)
★★★
The new Sod in the Seed EP is a teasing glimpse at an already-announced fifth LP due out this fall. To anyone curious about what new material they might hear at Why's lengthy and upcoming U.S. tour: percussive, confessional hip-hop. The main takeaway from Sod is that Yoni Wolf's foray into the maudlin indie rock that comprised Eskimo Snow was a one-off thing. He's back to the meandering, outré rap that he's known for. – Allie Conti
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