Pinegrove
Marigold 
Rough Trade Records
11 song vinyl LP

Pinegrove is one of those bands that I find hard to wrap my head around. They seem to be able to fuse together the best elements of Americana/alt country with the best elements of indie pop, but not always on a consistent basis. At times they remind me of R.E.M., especially in the twangy way they come across in certain songs. At other times, they seem as far removed from that comparison as possible. And, for this reason, it troubles me to some degree - I'm not sure why. It's an uncomfortable feeling that tends to rear its head during certain passages.

With that being said, it seems to work more often than not. I like their music, and this particular album appears to be more consistent than their previous efforts, at least on the surface. I love the pop dreariness of Dotted Line and the anxiousness of Moment. On the other hand, I quickly grow weary of the meandering drone of the title track and the whiny singsong of The Alarmist. I really think what they're doing has amazing potential, even though I've not totally bought into them wholeheartedly. I'm going to keep watching and listening, because these guys are likely to pull of a classic sooner or later.
MISH MASH Mandate: Pining Away    

Tennis 

Swimmer
Mutually Detrimental Records
9 Song Vinyl LP


This unassuming husband-and-wife pop duo made a huge splash back in 2017 with their fourth album "Yours Conditionally," a self-released indie album sensation that rode a wave of success that set the standard for vinyl releases in the age of streaming.

Now they are back, refining even further their knack for infectious pop that transcends time and space. They still have the sweet pop hooks (think of early Madonna if she was a modern day hipster), but they've managed to darken the mood a little more, giving their songs an angst that is almost palpable in this new release. There are tinges of Carole King to go along with the 80s-era pop phrasings, elevating their already amazing songwriting chops to new heights.

It's the kind of album that grows on you over repeated listenings, revealing layer after layer of sounds and melodies that seem to creep into your psyche without your full awareness. It remains to be seen if they have reached their pinnacle, or if they've got even more tricks up their sleeve. Can't wait to find out.
  MISH MASH Mandate: I Feel The Earth Move