Aster Tracks

Madison, WI's Kat and The Hurricane have released debut album Got it Out independently on the day you're reading this. This is an all-queer band who has built a strong community following playing shows over the last seven years. I myself don't have a pre-existing relationship with Kat and The Hurricane but I'm always looking forward to absorbing new queer art. The three piece understand the assignment they've set for themselves here in terms of sonics. Opening track "Therapy" starts on a low-key synth and vocal piece immediately repeated with the full band treatment. While there is a nice blend there is an equal distinction and when they go all in, it's is all in . "Caffeine & Alcohol" sees vocalist Kat Rhapsody really go in on the classic synthpop melodies and does some vocoder riffing where the love of the genre really comes through. While I do think Kat and The Hurricane certainly know what they aim to sound like it would be dishonest

Penny Bored - I'M BORED (Open Your Ears) For the past few years I've had my eyes on Penny Bored, a pop rock act from Dallas, TX. While I've always admired this artists presence and some tracks here and there, I haven't felt like there was a strong release to point listeners to. This changes on I'M BORED! a sort of re-debut under Open Your Ears records. On I'M BORED , Penny Bored has finally made good on the influences they only began tapping in on with previous releases. Songs like "on hold" work because you've heard this brand of pop rock before, but you haven't heard them with this author's stories or pain. We get a little more specific on "think of me" as well as "gossip. On these tracks they are very clearly aimed at someone specific, but both are catchy enough to the point of not mattering. "Think of me" is a special track on this EP as it sees some hip hop influenced vocal melodies and a piano charged rock ho