Aquarium Drunkard :: 2025 Midyear Review aquariumdrunkard.com/2025/06/30/aquarium-drunkard-2025-midyear-review As always, unruly and unranked. Let it blurb.

“Little Mazarn works in the intersection between nature and magic, bending quiet, lightly harmonized melodies into luminous shapes,” writes Jennifer Kelly. dustedmagazine.tumblr.com/post/7867940... @dearliferecs.bsky.social

New blog post! Wrote about a new compilation from The Feelies @barnonerecords.bsky.social, plus new records from Whitney's Playland @dandyboyrecords.bsky.social @meritoriorec.bsky.social, Michael Robert Chadwick @anxietyblanket.bsky.social, and Little Mazarn @dearliferecs.bsky.social:

Lovely review of Little Mazarn's 'Mustang Island' from @jenpkelly.bsky.social w/Dusted- out tomorrow on @dearliferecs.bsky.social!

Out this Friday 6/20! Austin trio Little Mazarn's beautiful new album 'Mustang Island' via @dearliferecs.bsky.social

Florry is "sounding bigger and better than ever, pushing the bygone giants of the genre...through a modern DIY perspective and coming out both perfectly ragged and more refined at the same time." @bensalmon.bsky.social @bandcamp.com @dearliferecs.bsky.social daily.bandcamp.com/best-country...

Florry "rips through a set of free-spirited barnstormers with such ease and joy that even its tales of raw feelings and perpetual malaise feel uplifting." 8/10 for 'Sounds Like..." ⚡️ @pitchfork.com pitchfork.com/reviews/albu... @dearliferecs.bsky.social

'Sounds Like...' "...is a glorious romp through lush Americana soundscapes." KEXP's @chris-sanley.bsky.social on Florry's latest album! Out now via @dearliferecs.bsky.social www.kexp.org/read/2025/5/...

terrific live set from @hourdayweek.bsky.social coming at ya next Saturday with Chris on @wfmu.bsky.social 📡 #folk #chamber #experimental #philly 👉 www.wfmu.org/playlists/C7

check out our latest "Out This Week" feature with @stereolabgroop.bsky.social, BRNDA, Florry (@dearliferecs.bsky.social), Moontype (@orindal.bsky.social), Ossuary, Science Man (@swimmingfaith.bsky.social), Boldy James + Your Boy Posca, and more! post-trash.com/news/2025/5/...

New blog post! Wrote about the deluxe reissue of Headphones' only album @suicidesqueeze.bsky.social @pedrothelion.bsky.social, plus new records from Florry @dearliferecs.bsky.social, Forty Winks @craftedsounds.bsky.social, and Wipes:

"'Sounds Like…' is a blissed out mess that showcases Medosch’s step forward as a songwriter, but with zero loss of energy" 8/10 @undertheradar.bsky.social on the new LP from Florry, out this Friday on @dearliferecs.bsky.social! www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/soun...

Florry's "Sounds Like..." reviewed by Myles Tiessen. Out this Friday, May 23rd, via @dearliferecs.bsky.social.

From two years ago: Wrote about records from Michael Cormier-O’Leary @milkocromlom.bsky.social @dearliferecs.bsky.social, Gueersh, BIKE, and Alien Eyelid @talltexanrecords.bsky.social:

Incredible review of Florry's upcoming new LP over at @aquariumdrunkard.com 🖤 (thanks @jenpkelly.bsky.social!) @dearliferecs.bsky.social

In her @rainbowrodeo.bsky.social interview, Medosch reveals the neuroses inherent in her songs' characters and the ways Florry approaches their commitment to live music: rainbowrodeomag.com/interview-fl... @dearliferecs.bsky.social @rachelcholst.bsky.social

"Irresistible slacker anthem from Philly’s Florry. “First it was a movie, then it was a book” explores a landscape similar to Kurt Vile & MJ Lenderman, with a hint of free-spirited Southern groove and endless late-night, country-rock jam spirit." @dearliferecs.bsky.social tidal.com/magazine/art...

Jumped into repping the ATX scene with Little Mazarn's expansive new tune for @dearliferecs.bsky.social austintownhall.com/2025/04/15/l...

From a year ago: Wrote about records from Mythical Motors @repeatingcloud.com @mythicalmotors.bsky.social, Bill Baird @perpetualdoom.bsky.social @blondebill.bsky.social, Hour @dearliferecs.bsky.social @hourdayweek.bsky.social, and Trummors @ejrc.bsky.social @trummors.bsky.social:

"First it was a movie, then it was a book" ..."surges along through waves of pedal-steel-fried Southern guitar rock, breaking away from the jam session occasionally for some revved-up Francie Medosch vocals." @stereogum.bsky.social shares the latest from Florry! @dearliferecs.bsky.social

Philadelphia alt-country band Florry are releasing a new album, "Sounds Like…," on May 23 on Dear Life (@dearliferecs.bsky.social). This week they have shared the album’s latest single, the expansive 7-minute long “First it was a movie, then it was a book.” www.undertheradarmag.com/news/florry_...

"This is everything I want rock music to sound like in 2025." @pastemagazine.bsky.social on the new single "First it was a movie, then it was a book" from @florrymusicband! @dearliferecs.bsky.social www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-n...

“The North Carolina-based Fust flexes its country rock muscles in this third full-length, its hangdog tales delivered in sweeping, twangy crescendos,” writes Jennifer Kelly. dustedmagazine.tumblr.com/post/7798180... @dearliferecs.bsky.social

Florry's "Hey Baby" included in this most excellent Viking's Choice mixtape from @totalvibration.bsky.social // @dearliferecs.bsky.social

"a splendid, gutsy tune" from Florry, "Hey Baby," is out now! @dearliferecs.bsky.social @ourculture.bsky.social

Lead by the parched but potent vocals of Francie Medosch and a rather blistering solo from John Murray, Florry picks right up where the sunburnt charms of The Holey Bible left off. Wrapped around regrets, the cut laments, but never leaves you wanting. @dearliferecs.bsky.social bit.ly/3Dm3j1p

Florry releases "rollicking first single “Hey Baby”"off their upcoming new album 'Sounds Like...', out 5/23 on @dearliferecs.bsky.social! @uproxx.bsky.social @joshkurp.bsky.social uproxx.com/indie/florry...

We spoke to the North Carolina-based alt-country band Fust about their new album, "Big Ugly," which is out today on Dear Life (@dearliferecs.bsky.social). www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/f...

Fust spoke with Post-Trash’s Giliann Karon about their new album “Big Ugly” (out today via @dearliferecs.bsky.social), evolving southern identity, adding nuance to existing musical themes, and jamming with your friends. post-trash.com/news/2025/3/...

Got to chat with Fust about their new record "Big Ugly" which is out tomorrow on @dearliferecs.bsky.social and absolutely rules. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

changed up the format of my weekly newsletter to allow talking to other folks - - today I just sent out a really nice conversation with Michael Cormier-O'Leary, a great songwriter, key part of the @dearliferecs.bsky.social constellation, and bandleader of the great DIY chamber ensemble Hour

Durham, North Carolina's Americana band Fust are releasing a new album, "Big Ugly," this Friday via Dear Life (@dearliferecs.bsky.social). Here's our review of it. Mark Moody writes that the band "comes up aces on a near dozen alt-country stunners." www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/big_...

‘Subminiature’ by @hourdayweek.bsky.social (via @dearliferecs.bsky.social) is a stark delight of neo-classical compositions both outwardly moving and inwardly subtle. Woodwinds glide along clean electric guitars and charmingly skittering percussion. A bold, inviting collection of live recordings.

@hourdayweek.bsky.social opens for @eikoishibashi.bsky.social on April 3rd in Philly!

thanks to @ingalls1969.bsky.social for the great Subminiature review!

Thanks to @thepitch.bsky.social for interviewing @hourdayweek.bsky.social ahead of True False film festival www.thepitchkc.com/philadelphia...

Thanks to Aly for writing about Subminiature by @hourdayweek.bsky.social

New blog post! Wrote about new records from Patches, Or Does It Explode @shawn-bass.bsky.social, Future Living @chafehensley.bsky.social @nmarkowski.bsky.social, and Hour @hourdayweek.bsky.social @dearliferecs.bsky.social:

3. Hour-"A the Bar Where You Literally Saved Me from Fatal Heartbreak"

Hallmark live from PhilaMOCA is available to listen to wherever you listen to music. Watch the entire live performance here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=_c6L... Hour tour starts two weeks from today. Check out the touring and go to a show near you

@hourdayweek.bsky.social and @jasoncalhoun.bsky.social both play True/False Film Fest this year

Watch MJ Lenderman's Tiny Desk Concert:

Don’t miss @hourdayweek.bsky.social on tour next month!

One of the finest examples of songwriting that I’ve heard over the last year is Anne Malin’s Strange Power! Tender, personal and oftentimes raw as life, this is a record that never stops impressing me: annemalin.bandcamp.com/album/strang... get it from @dearliferecs.bsky.social

our PICK OF THE DAY IS Fust's new track "Spangled" on @dearliferecs.bsky.social read our review/listen⬇️ www.smallalbums.com/pick-of-the-...

Thanks for listening!

Ease the Work included in this beautiful document. Buy it here: ko-fi.com/s/b633941ed8