MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 6/17/26
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @melodicnoisemedia
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alone-a “Six of Cups”
Noisy blasts on “Six of Cups” create an almost chaotic soundscape upon which, light, high vocals ebb and flow in whimsical fashion, repeating the line “We were children.” The contrast between the harmonious, repetitive chant and its choppy background is not unwelcome - instead, the way they bind together is complimentary in generating a mysteriously appealing experimental product that feels witchlike. The song’s title, of course, lends itself to that conclusion too, citing the tarot card. alone-a released this track in April 2026 on album a veil, a prism. Notably, this project is composed by Alana Horton processing and re-processing her own voice with producer Christian Erickson, using soft synths (per the album’s credits on Bandcamp: “Max/MSP instrument created in collaboration with Patrick Marschke and Paul Christian”) to create the instrumentals.
The Thirsty Giants “Nice Urn”
The Thirsty Giants jam out a snappy tune with “Nice Urn,” released as track six of thirteen on LP Escape the Junkyard in May 2026. Punk rock vocals stagger out the lyrics in small shouts, letting small sections of the exposition hang, punctuated by themselves. A lively rock beat and grimy guitar riffs keep things pushing. Simple and frisky, “Nice Urn” serves as a pleasant halfway point for the record.
Oister Boy “Smile More”
Oister Boy’s “Smile More” released as a single in March 2026. This is an ode to the annoying (at best) or threatening (at worst) interactions with men who belittle femmes via tired and true microaggressions, unabashedly signaling to us that our worth is in our submission, the frequency of our use of signposts of niceness (“How many times you gonna tell me to smile more? / When did I stop getting to decide what I / Smile for?”) Perfectly summarizing the wretched exhaustion that surfaces in response to the everyday cases of misogyny, bassist/vocalist Daisy delivers a really powerful performance with praise-worthy vocal clarity and breath control. Her full-bodied voice is the star of the show here, ‘though the rest of the track soars with well-tuned experience and skill, indulging us in a woozy, almost hypnotic psych-rock sway led by a grungy toned electric guitar which later sings out in a sparkling rock solo. The melodies rise and fall deliciously throughout, demarcated by peppery drum fills and underscored by a nice, dense bassline.
BZ3 Organ Trio “Pickled Herring”
Released in February 2026, BZ3 Organ Trio’s “Pickled Herring” is a fast-paced, snazzy instrumental track utilizing the band’s tools and talents to their fullest potential. Rip-roaring riffs take turns in the spotlight, sharing the stage with the excellence of classically trained, flying fingers on the iconic B3 organ. Every lick is hammered out with well-delivered precision; the drumming joining the lot is sharp and skillfully consistent. The combined groove is showy, approaching frenetic, and extremely playful.
Monarch “Dying Out Loud”
I have a fondness for large bands as, when I joined Standing By in Omaha, I became its sixth member in that era’s configuration. Monarch are themselves a six-piece and use their numbers to build up to a gentle swell of intensity by the end of “Dying Out Loud.” It’s their latest release, an alt-rock single that dropped on April 17th. The closing sonic fullness they achieve is a perfect resolution to the more easy-going nature of the rest of the song — you are rewarded for leaning in to its earlier restraint. The vocals are brighter, at times airy and other times gently pushing out a little more power, giving this a real indie, pop-adjacent feel over the soaring electric guitar melodies.
Andy Hanson “Gravity”
“Gravity” by Andy Hanson, released in January 2026, is an expression of a certain kind of surrender — to gravity, “towards infinity, towards the undertow. / Toward the universe, towards this earth I know.” Hanson sings low over the folk composition, spruced up suitably with lap-steel guitar that adds that well-known romantic twang to the storytelling.
