MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 11/12/2025
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @melodicnoisemedia
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Planer "Satisfied"
Planer craft a woozy shoegaze environment with “Satisfied” in which, repetitive riffs that subtly shift upwards make beautiful space for waves of crashing percussion and emotive vocals. Noisy without exploding into clamor, this was released as the final song on Planer’s three track, debut EP The End in August 2025. “Satisfied” begs the question of when a life can feel fulfilled in contemporary space - “Satisfy your mind at the store / Satisfy your mind in the kitchen” … “Falsify your mind with computers / Falsify your mind with email.” The conclusion reached is “After all is said and done /At least we had some fun,” though the poignant tone asks the listener to consider that perhaps, we should strive for more — more of the fun, to not settle for a satisfaction that has us “[spending] [our] night caught in [our] pride,” ‘though if that helps us survive, survive we must.
Owen Trelstad "Upside Down"
Owen Trelstad’s signature vocals have an incredibly pleasant, characteristic huskiness, softly delivering a message of overwhelm and insecurity (“Oh god, my life’s a mess … / … Maybe I’ll be someone else instead”) over folksy melodies. I’m able to relate to his woes, of feeling unsure of your own identity and not recognizing yourself in the times of strife that inevitably change you. “Upside Down” released as track two of four on Trelstad’s EP, 17, in September 2025.
KYM and the Kick Either "No Promise (I'll be Fine)"
From the album The Gift of Feeling, released in May 2025, “No Promise (I’ll be Fine)” from KYM and the Kick sounds luxuriously sweet while reflecting a dark reality. Its upbeat tone contrasts its message delightfully, moving the track’s energy into refreshingly bittersweet territory. Describing a relatable, recurring mental breakdown, this song explores negative mental health with beautiful metaphors of drowning: “The water consumes me / I know there’s a buoy / Somewhere out here in the mess of this body / Sand bags on my feet / Are just too damn heavy.” KYM and the Kick have a charming way of lifting pop music traits away from having hollow innards, instead injecting them with instrumental intrigue and meaningful, autobiographical poetry.
Lawnchair Dads "Cope"
Alt-rock with a dance-friendly leaning, “Cope” from the eclectic duo Lawnchair Dads flows in and out of genre-defying instrumentals. A textured and surprising ricocheting of musical focus from electronic beats to slappy basslines, with metal inspired percussion that is unafraid to soften totally here, set a dynamic stage. The vocals atop are reminiscent of more decidedly indie/emo projects. The blend of all these elements crafts an unexpectedly funky sound which the band themselves have labeled “tasteful lawnmower dreamo power metal.” Regardless of which boxes we try to fold up our Lawnchair Dads within for storage, I am a big fan of their sprawl. This track was released as a single in February 2025.
Johnny Peso "Wreckless"
“Wreckless” is a folk rock single from Johnny Peso, where love prevails after “throwing caution to the wind.” Of course, when we meet who is right for us, we find they “make the best of [us.]” Sweetly and with a warm, optimistic tone over atmospheric strings, Peso celebrates their lover, declaring “You could take it all away / When nothing else remains, I’ve still got you.” “Wreckless” is a reminder to take chances and express your love fully when it begs to be felt.
Yam Haus “Misery Island”
Yam Haus embodies the quintessential indie rock vibe with a certain brightness and mellow pop character that weaves in and out of rock-centric tendencies. “Misery Island,” released by the band in May 2025, is smooth and well produced, each part of its composition perfectly placed. The single makes play out of pessimism, its metaphor welcoming the muse – perhaps themselves in reflection, or the listener – to “Misery Island,” the place where “if you're feeling down, well, you're in luck” and “Your reservation is timeless / Once you’re on, it’s so hard to get off.” That latter lyric conjured for me a parallel to Eagles’ “Hotel California” – “You can check out any time you like / But you can never leave.” Similarly, there is a likeness between the metaphorical destinations of “Hotel California” and “Misery Island” as places where distress is actualized and given a physical character. “Misery Island” dabbles less in the gothic imagery of spirits and beasts and instead roots itself in spoiled luxuries, emotional tourism ruined by an omnipotent misery – the champagne is warm, and all that’s there to catch your fall is the ground (“Come right in / Just collapse on the floor.”)
