There are things that are so easily missed

Happy release day, Bicycle Inn! Yes, I’m still talking about Bicycle Inn because you should be listening to Bicycle Inn so I won’t stop talking about Bicycle Inn until you check out Bicycle Inn. Here are some words about four other great recent releases, and then it’s time to talk once again about BICYCLE INN.

Future Teens - Deliberately Alive EP

Another great release from the Teens last week. That’s all they do. This one has four new tracks plus another killer cover. You loved “All-Star,” now here’s their take on Cher’s “Believe.” I am still upset that their April 2020 tour with Spanish Love Songs was cancelled. I had this amazing AirBnb lined up for Philly, and another cool one for Brooklyn. It would have been one for the ages. So many friends, so many drinks, so many hugs, so many tears of happiness, so many tears of sadness. I hope that can happen sometime in the future because I love them both so much.

Harmony Woods - GRACEFUL RAGE

I enjoyed 2019’s Make Yourself at Home and this new record finds the band sounding bigger and better. The band is showing off their great songwriting chops while processing grief with snarl and a sneer. Fans of everyone from Julien Baker to Camp Cope to Fiona Apple will find something to love. The record was produced by Bartees Strange, who is just cool as hell. And we can all relate to the line “yeah, everything’s fucked / good luck.”

Really From - S/T

Another Boston band, formerly known as People Like You. Emo with a heavy jazz influence? Yes, yes, and yes please. This is intricate and pleasant and pleasantly unexpected. “I understand why people compare us to American Football, but I can’t tell you the name of another song besides ‘Never Meant,’” says vocalist-guitarist Chris Lee-Rodriguez over a Zoom call, a note of protest in his voice. “When music writers compare us to them, I always feel like it’s lazy because you hear some clean guitars and a trumpet and some, like, sad vocals.” Sure, it might be lazy, but if being a fan of AF/emo is the reason you get into this, that works for me and I’m sure for them as well.

Wild Pink - A Billion Little Lights

Yeah I just told you last week to listen to this and I will say it again. There should be a law that says if you’ve ever been asked “what genre do you listen to?” and you said “haha… uhhh… haha… fuckin… I don’t know, dude… indie rock?” you have to listen to this record. (Here’s what I said last week: “It’s big, it’s lush, it’s gorgeous, it’s catchy, it’s a beating heart slice of Americana. The instrumentation and production is top notch. It features backing vocals from Julia Steiner of Ratboys, a band you’ve heard on previous Crit Lists. A Billion Little Lights feels like an indie rock supernova right at the beginning of the explosion. Get into it.”)

Bicycle Inn - THIS TIME AND PLACE IS ALL I’LL EVER KNOW

This is the third straight time I’m telling you to listen to this band. LISTEN TO THIS BAND. I will continue to remind you to listen to this band, so you might as well get on the bandwagon (bandbandwagon?) now, because if you don’t you’ll just end up joining later and feeling like a real freakin’ goofball for sleeping on them for so long. It’s your life, don’t fuck it up.

Me, last week: “These three bands [Bicycle Inn, Camp Trash, Snacking] feel like they go well together. I’d love to attend a show (remember live performances?) with all three on the bill. One day.”

Bicycle Inn, the next day:

Gonna go ahead and take credit for this thing that has not even happened yet. You’re welcome.