MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 6/10/26
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @melodicnoisemedia
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Buckbee “Lilacs”
Acoustic and warm, Buckbee’s brand of indie folk keeps things close to home on “Lilacs,” a single which feels raw and organically sweet. Released in May 2026, this song has a gentle, swaying presence as it compares the discovery of love, and the ways it changes us for the better, to the blooming of lilacs and rolling images of nature. Its stripped back composition is charming, while soft backup vocals add emphasis to the choruses.
Stella and the Lawless “star traveler”
“star traveler” is the opening track for the Stella and the Lawless’ for things too hard to swallow LP. A sexily haunting vibe has been cultivated on this one — sauntering melodies are matched to smoky vocals, notably with jazzy electronic organ keys underpinning the whole thing, adding a really fun dimension. A roguish, flangy quality sustains throughout which supports the lyricism, where languid relationships form in intense pockets of desire.
Joy Still “What You Call Delusion, I Call Prophecy”
I felt a strong callback to my Panic! at the Disco listening days listening to “What You Call Delusion, I Call Prophecy.” As track one of seven on Second by Second, released in March 2026, it opens the album in such a way that it alerts us to their potential influences, the likes of P!ATD and Fall Out Boy. Self-described “midwest alternative,” these locals fit right into that bracket of nostalgic, slightly glamorous pop rock, where the vignette effect of “alternative” - the hazy edges of suggested grit or emo tendencies - hovers over them. The vocals have an intentional tremor at moments of well placed pizazz as the instrumentals thrash out a fun, danceable tempo.
Wren + Wilde “Chasing Time”
Tender Americana lands on our ears with Wren + Wilde’s “Chasing Time,” the duo’s latest single. Their vocals flow together in total harmony throughout, partnered perfectly over plucky banjo and relaxed drum beats. Released in January 2026, “Chasing Time” reflects on the feeling of wanting your time back from relationships and situations that haven’t panned out, knowing you have to move forward regardless (“Come to find there ain’t no use / Time keeps tickin’, sun keeps settin’ / Though I keep regretting…”)
Safety Knife "you should see the other guy!"
As the project’s name suggests, Safety Knife’s edge or potential viciousness stays in a SFW package, veering away from exploding on this single into fast paced rage or becoming a rougher, heavier product. Lyrics like “I got in a fight / I punched him in the nose / I got blood all over my clothes” are sung playfully over a jaunty rock beat, keeping things on a lighter hearted side despite all the distortion. Describing playground wars and getting in trouble with the principal, “you should see the other guy!” (released in April 2026) is a reflection on the boisterousness, or the natural punk spirit, of children.
Zaq Baker “peonies”
Zaq Baker’s latest single, “peonies,” released in May 2026. Baker leans into whispery vocals and expansive sound production without losing sight of grounded instrumentation, mixing piano and acoustic guitar with interesting, space-filling synth and digital chops. Vulnerable and assumedly autobiographical, this song is a heart-wrenching retelling of a romantic separation. Close to the mic, he recounts in poetic detail the conversations had and the scenes in which the separation became real, when artifacts and memories became souvenirs. Tackling the loss in a brutally honest way (lyrics like “Our cat wouldn’t stop crying / With his face pressed against the screen / He couldn’t understand why he could hear my voice but I couldn’t come in” and “Spent this morning with my family / But I’ve seldom felt more alone … I wept in the upstairs guest room / While my breakfast plate grew cold” devastated me), Baker pulls no punches in exposing his grief, turning the pain into a gorgeous piece of art.
