I was hoping to have something a little more polished and thought out with long thoughts / mini-reviews for quite a few albums, but I just never got around to it and now new music is already out...

Part of that is laziness, part of it is there were so many damn good releases this week that trying to listen and re-listen to each one was just a bit overwhelming.

Either way, I hope you dig this new version of Sonic Vibrations—or at least what it will eventually become.

Moving forward I'm going to aim to have these out by Wednesday's at the latest and will be putting everything but the Release of the Week behind the [+] paywall...

💽 Release of the Week

✈️ Flight b741 by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

This is by far one of King Gizzard's best albums in recent history (relatively speaking of course, ~26 albums since 2011). It's also one of their most mainstream sounding albums that I think might actually have a chance to break through a bit, at least compared to some of their more recent and weird offerings. It's really just a solid indie rock alternative record with a lot of fun sounds, as is typical for KGLW.

🏃 Runner-ups

🦴 life till bones by Oso Oso

Throughout the week, the more I listened to the album, the further it moved up the rankings. I even started to consider whether this would be the release of the week for me—it's definitely deserving. Ultimately I just had too much fun with KGLW finding a way to be a bit more mainstream with their alternative sound while still, seemingly, staying true to their roots, but if you love alternative/indie rock, you'll love this album.

Oso Oso: Life Till Bones

Read Ian Cohen’s review of the album.

PitchforkCondé Nast

🦪 Oyster Cuts by Quivers

A multi-vocalist band, which we are big fans of around here. I feel like they found a way to use it to their advantage here as they alternate between heavier, fuzzier tracks, to softer, more atmospheric tracks.

https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/oyster_cuts_quivers

👨‍💻 Beta by Peter Cat Recording Co.

This one came out of nowhere for me. It starts out with Indian sitar sounding music before melding into alternative rock with vocals that are reminiscent of the Rat Pack.

Peter Cat Recording Co. In ‘BETA’ Mode: How The Elusive Indian Band Melds Sounds & Sincerity | GRAMMY.com

With an album title chosen by a child, Peter Cat Recording Co.’s latest album, ‘BETA,’ is a study in growth — both sonically and in life. Ahead of a 77-date international tour, including dates with Khruangbin, members of the band discuss their aural evolution.

Recording Academy

🧯 More Good Stuffs

🧭 Easy Company by Futurebirds

This was really great. Alternative country is probably the best way to describe it. It has some of those southern rock vibes coming through along with the country and even folkish instrumentation that makes more a fun album. It just never tipped over into great for me.

Albums Of The Week: Futurebirds | Easy Company - Tinnitist

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “I’m movin’ on,” Daniel Womack sings during the first minute of Easy Company, an album that finds Futurebirds — once the best-kept secret of Athens, GA’s music scene, now a beloved act on a national scale — back in the driver’s seat, speeding together toward some new horizon. Momentum. Evolution. Expansion. […]

TinnitistDarryl Sterdan

🐝 Buzz by NIKI

There were three female indie pop vocalists with new albums today and this one was my favorite of the bunch. Similar to what we saw with the new album from Quivers, NIKI is able to her indie pop that comes right up to the edge of alternative rock.

NIKI – ‘Buzz’ review: heartbreak and healing

On ‘Buzz’ – her finest work to date – NIKI swings between cool coquetry and emotional devastation. Read the NME album review

NMERhian Daly

⏭️ This Is How Tomorrow Moves by beabadoobee

I could see this being some peoples pick of the week—I really dug it, but it leaned a little too soft and sappy at times for me when I just wasn't in the modd for that kind of thing.

Beabadoobee: This Is How Tomorrow Moves

Read Ashley Bardhan’s review of the album.

PitchforkCondé Nast

🌞 Better Days by Hembree

This started off feeling like it was going to be a really fun upbeat album that would at least make it a runner-up, but it leaned a little bit into some pop-punk sounds at times and overall just lacked the memorable songs to make it a great album.

Money Time Love: On the eve of their breakthrough album release, Hembree is primed for Better Days

Catching up with the five band members of Hembree, prior to the release of their newest album, Better Days.

The PitchAustin Woods

📝 And Some Others for Good Measure!

😩 Sunday Sadness by Amy Shark

Amy Shark ‘Sunday Sadness’: Album Review

The singer-songwriter, who has the ability to write global-sounding hits without following a formulaic structure, has made her best album yet

Rolling Stone Australiajames.jennings

🐙 SORCS 80 by Thee Oh Sees

Osees: Sorcs 80

Read Stephen Thomas Erlewine’s review of the album.

PitchforkCondé Nast

🫠 Meltdown by Twin Atlantic

https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/twin-atlantic-meltdown/#:~:text=It's%20sweeping%2C%20expansive%2C%20engaging%20and,and%20sweeps%20you%20away%20irresistibly.

And finally, some chill stuff to close out:

• The Los Angeles League of Musicians by LA LOM
• nothing by Jules Buckley, Louis Cole, Metropole Orkest
• Perak by Thee Marloes
• Midnight Zoo by DICE