Fall Into The Sun, the new album from Swearin’, officially arrives on Friday, October 5 via Merge. However, thanks to NPR’s First Listen, in a way, it’s already here. Reflective introspection and a gritty, melodic pulse create a deeply personal yet accessible return. As thought processes are revealed and given the perspective, afforded by time, the album has the ability to sit in the moment yet move freely in energetic motion. Catch Swearin’ with Empath on Wednesday, October 10 at the First Unitarian Church!

Below is a new composition, "Something I’ve been meaning to tell you," from Philly instrumental collective Hour, which is made up of Abi Reimold, Peter Gill (Friendship, Free Cake For Every Creature, Florry), Michael Cormier (Friendship, Russel The Leaf), Jason Calhoun (naps), Evangeline Krajewski (Friendship), and Matt Fox. The lead single from their forthcoming sophomore LP premiered earlier this morning via Stereogum. Anemone Red, whose title was plucked from the Greek myth of Aphrodite and Adonis, was co-produced by the band and Francis Lyons (Free Cake For Every Creature). The title for their latest track was also inspired by a book of short stories, which was authored by Alice Munro. The record is scheduled to come out on November 11 via Lily Tapes, and they’ll be celebrating its arrival on Thursday, November 8 at Beacon Church. (Photo by Dan Wriggins)

Krust Toons: "Stupid Kavanaugh" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.

Berks County native Shannen Moser’s I’ll Sing (Lame-O Records) is an unexpected yet melodic balm. A timely follow-up to 2017’s Oh, My Heart, her sophomore release reveals not only her depth as a singer-songwriter but her strength as a storyteller. From start to finish, it’s an immersive homage to coming of age, framed by delicate chords, earnest vocals, and truth-laden lyricism.

Beginning with “47th Street,” I’ll Sing’s emotion is unabashed, even in its earliest moments. The track opens with a stripped-down subtlety that builds into a fuller soundscape and further crystallizes lines like “I don’t cry anymore” and "It’s just a feeling, that’s what feeling is for.” When Moser sings, “If I could feel something good, I would share with you, you know I would,” listeners will believe her without a shred of doubt. A noteworthy anthem about desire and the way the past can shape a person, “47th Street” is the flawless start to a deeply personal LP.

In a similar fashion, “Haircut Song” centers around a memory and an intimate request that becomes a two-fold remembrance of how caring for another person can reveal the beauty and damage that go hand-in-hand with human closeness and the unreliable nature of a broken heart. Amplified by steady strums of acoustic guitar and the hiss of snare, Moser’s song manages to be sincere without resorting to melodrama. The album’s third offering, “Joanna,” brings to mind Chan Marshall’s earliest cuts and the heartfelt harmony of First Aid Kit’s The Big Black and the Blue. Here, Moser turns a plea into a praise song of yearning and transformation. It’s a stunning example of songwriter’s ability to turn even the most ordinary of moments into a vivid melody. Through her voice, the personal becomes universal.

“Everytown” continues to showcase I’ll Sing’s emotive relatability through the swoon-worthy swell of guitar and Moser’s steady diction. When she sings, “It’s easier to feel in love when it’s warm,” and insists that “in every town there’s someone just like me missing someone like you,” the tune feels like the biography of anyone whose life has been shaped by friendship and romance. It’s an ode to small towns and the transformative power of kindness and intimacy. “Baby Blue” is like a contemporary riff on country classics like Loretta Lynn’s “Color of the Blues” and  Skeeter Davis’ Here’s the Answer, while “Arizona (I Wanna Be Your Man)” brings to mind the unforgettable passion of cuts by Lucy Dacus and the equally affecting Julien Baker.

“Hallelujah” possesses an instantaneous warmth that amplifies its disillusioned honesty. A ballad for modern cynics and believers alike, Moser’s hymn appears most holy when it captures the duality of the world that surrounds us. As she sings, "Hallelujah the world is all broken and bad, Hallelujah for love and caring for this land," it is difficult not to experience a sense of revival from the searing truth of her chorus. “Blacktop Mountain” and “The Ballad of Freddie Jones” are audibly haunting and bound to bring to mind the instrumentive progression of old favorites by The New Amsterdams and the confessional candidness of Lissie’s “Shroud” or Jenny Lewis’ quintessential Rabbit Fur Coat.

In “Your Window Seat,” the necessity of communication and connection comes through with each line Moser breathes, undoubtedly reminding her audience of the people in their own lives who they turn to, whether it be in times of need or joy. An understated hint of vibrant sorrow echoes throughout “West Texas Blues,” making the track memorable in a satisfyingly unshakable way. The vibrating strings and striking lines of “One for Mama” are similarly gripping, proving that although Moser is still in her twenties, she is aware of the way the world can weather a person. “Trouble” and “Pleasantville” feel urgent yet timeless, while “I’ll Sing,” the LP’s title track, leaves listeners transfixed by the artist’s wisdom and her dedication to sharing her songs with those who are willing to listen.

Unarguably stirring and profound, I’ll Sing should be considered required listening for anyone with a heartbeat. It will transform you for the better.  – Dianca London

A beautifully twisted portmanteau of candescent pop and arrhythmic flux, Pulgas’ Simon Martinez and Zane Shields return with More Like Us (Astro Nautico). Released as a companion EP to an album coming in the spring, More Like Us takes the listener through four concise yet dense tracks that display a growth in their craftsmanship from previous recordings. Their sense of dynamism in musicianship is fiercely on display, while the production and quality of the recordings are vibrant and smooth. If you’re a fan of DIY-pop aficionados in the vein of Ryan Power or Jake Tobin, the new Pulgas EP will be a welcome addition to your musical wheelhouse. – Josh Kelly

When local artists and businesses throughout a music scene unite as a community in celebration and support of each other, good things are the result. Philly Music Fest serves as an opportune event. What began yesterday at Johnny Brenda’s with Pissed Jeans and Soul Glo continues for the next two days at World Cafe Live. Tonight, the elegant hypnotically galvanizing pop of Vita and the Woolf, the endless boogie of Low Cut Connie, the raw and ragged, sweat-saturated, surf-infused, garage rock of The Whips, and the earnest, scene-transporting, songwriting force of Waxahatchee are among those that shape its sonic surroundings. And tomorrow, Palm cultivates an experimental push-pull, hovering between tranquil waves and frenetic, unconventional changes in direction. The melodic, eruptive, dynamic swings of The Districts, the tenacious, cosmic-rocking, riff-combusting charge of Ruby the Hatchet, and the soothing, introspective vulnerability of powerpop trio Hurry are also slated for Saturday. Come take part in this locals only weekend! – Michael Colavita

Other places where locals will be this weekend…

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Philly Music Fest: The Whips, The Mysteries, Secret American, DJ Royale/Vita and the Woolf, Waxahatchee, Low Cut Connie, SAT Philly Music Fest: Great Time, Levee Drivers, Orion Sun, Kingsley Ibeneche, Hurry, Man About A Horse/End of America, Hardwork Movement, Ruby The Hatchet, Palm, The Districts

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Worriers, Harmony Woods, Earth Telephone, SAT It’s The Year 2008: DJ Emynd, Bo Bliz 

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Beru Power Trio, SUN Storks

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI CatBite/DJSC, SAT Automatic Colors, Thank You Thank You, Tapes & Tubes/DJ Lean Wit It, SUN Brother Martin, Jane Carver

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SUN Drums Like Machine Guns

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Dice Raw, SAT DJ Sylo, Joshua Lang, SUN Lyve Harmon, Tray Verse

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) Tony Season Show, Shawn King, SAT Steal Your Face, SUN Sean Taylor, Folk Fugitive, Andrew Montoya

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SUN New Sound Brass Band

North Seventh (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT DJ Robert Drake, SUN Philly Bluegrass Revival: Midnight Flyer

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Craig Lynch’s 30th Birthday Party

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Matt Cappy, SUN Derrick Hodge’s Philly State of Mind, Treway & the Now Generation

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI S.T.O.P., High Reeper, SAT Jukebox Zeros, The Prisoners, Thorazine, SUN The Stone Eye

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Hootsie, Buddie/A Charity Benefit Show for United We Dream: The Stammer, Full Bush, Young Pilgrims, SUN Birthday Boy, 3weekoldroses

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) SAT Aleana

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI Fall Fest: DJ Beatstreet, SUN New Pony

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT DJ Shawn Ryan, SUN Forever 27: A Burlesque Tribute to the Artists of the 27 Club

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Montoj, Trap Rabbit

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT James Pace Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI The Lot

Century (1350 S 29^th St.) FRI Witching, Night Raids, SAT Violet Waves

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Rover, SAT The Strange Heat, Athensville(Cd Release), Parsnip Revolt, Scott McClatchey

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Echo Lad, Blueroom

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Puppy Angst, Rebecca Zimmerman, Heaven Man

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Bad Heaven Ltd, Susie Derkins, In Trouble

Last year, Japanese Breakfast recorded a couple of tracks using a Tascam recorder as part of Polyvinyl’s 4-Track Singles Series, which was previously only available on vinyl. You can now listen to "2042" and "Posing in Bondage" below via Spotify. The songs harken back to Michelle Zauner’s earlier lo-fi, solo demos, before she settled on releasing material under her current moniker. Japanese Breakfast will be doing a three-night run at Johnny Brenda’s to close out 2018, and for those who can’t wait that long and are willing to take a mini road trip, Zauner and friends have a free performance scheduled on Friday, November 16 at Dogfish Head’s 8th annual Analog-A-Go-Go festival in Milton, Delaware.

Below is the debut EP from the trio of Snowhore, featuring Veronica Isley, Kaytee Della Monica (No Thank You, Cheer Up) and Greg Mendez, titled Everything Tastes Bad. Shifts between mellow and exuberant, bedroom-pop melodies offer brief glimpses into affecting narratives. Quickly connecting, these songs leave a lasting imprint. You can find Snowhore tonight at The Pharmacy as part of a lineup that also includes Moment To Capitalize, EyeBawl, and Pinwheel.

Feels Unreal (Hits Direct Records), the new EP from SOLD, was produced/recorded by Kyle Pulley at Headroom Studios. A haunting, personal recollection is captured in the band’s darkwave, which is drenched in suspense. The immediacy of necessary movement creates an ominous yet free-flowing sound as the importance of the moment brings a heaviness; however, the precision of the music at that pressurized point stabilizes the situation. You can catch the trio at Boot & Saddle on Tuesday, October 23, in support of The Life and Times and Spotlights.

“Curse These Metal Hands” is featured on Sleep Debt, the debut album from the band Cheer Up, which consists of members from No Thank You, The Superweaks, and Thin Lips. The track captures a controlled, explosive, communally-emotive experience. Releasing the pressure in anthemic harmony, there’s a crisp, cathartic swell of feelings/thoughts. It’s a reminder that we’re all in this together. Sleep Debt is out now via Take This To Heart Records.

Accompanying the the third season of the More Perfect podcast, 27: The Most Perfect album consists of 27 original songs inspired by the Amendments. Suburban Living addresses the 26th Amendment; the warmth and sincerity of the vocals ride the smooth waves of clean guitar licks, synth and percussion. Meshing the coming of age innocence of youthful perspective with dire consequences of war, the track pushes the importance of making one’s voice heard via the voting process.  Suburban Living is slated to support Hellogoodbye and Family of Geniuses at a pair of sold-out shows at Boot & Saddle on October 15 & 17. (Photo by Kelly Kurteson)

An eerie, experimental familiarity invites one into Flower Crowns, the new EP from Garden Gate, a.k.a. Tim Meskers (Brown Recluse, White Candles). An enchanting, keys-driven, psych-pop daydream unfolds as the vocals hypnotically soothe. A bridge between baroque and the futuristically vivid, the songs create a world where one is simultaneously welcome to explore yet wary of. Let the music be your guide as you venture into a space where you’ve never been, but vaguely remember.