The Libertines - Anthems For Doomed Youth: When I was in middle school, my older brother started giving me music to listen to and I'm pretty sure it's the reason that I am the tiny tiny percentage of cool I am today. The first two CDs he ever gave me were The Strokes' Is This It? and The Libertines' Up The Bracket (pretty good brother right?), so when I heard the Libertines were releasing their first album in 11 years this week, I was pretty stoked to reconnect with my inner angsty, 8th grade self. These London rockers have been goin hard and wildin out since before I even knew what those things meant. At least guitarist, vocalist, and illustrious public figure Pete Doherty has been doing so enough for all four of these guys. Though his drug addictions have put a strain on band member relationships and held them back in a lot of ways, his past is also the overarching theme of their new album. Anthems For Doomed Youth, as evidenced by its name, is very much a reflection on a sex, drugs, and rock & roll filled past. Since their last album these guys have grown up, gotten sober, and been able to get along for long enough to record AFDY. The point of the album is that these guys are past their youth, which is good in a lot of ways - not smoking crack or shooting up heroine is always a great thing and time has given these guys a sense of perspective. At the same time, though, there are moments when the album feels a bit dated, but I feel like that's really just a result of the fact that garage/indie/punk rock is a young man's game and it just feels kind of weird and sad coming from men who have already lived past the high. But again, that kind of seems like the point. I'm not middle school me and The Libertines aren't 2004 them, but AFDY proves they can still crank out a solid rock album. My biggest critique is that track 7, "Iceman," really reminds me of this. CAROLINE

RIYL: The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys

Recommended Tracks: Gunga Din (2), Barbarians (1), Belly of the Beast (6), Heart of the Matter (8)

Yung - These Thoughts Are Like Mandatory Chores: Story time? Story time... I have an identity crisis almost every autumn before my birthday, which is not even until December, but I am neurotic (as you all know), so I start freaking out about my aging right about now. Admittedly, 21 is not old; this is a birthday most people over-eagerly await. Cool. Rock on. Good For you. My problem with turning 21 this December, however, is not the fear of feeling falsely geriatric in some ridiculous way – rather, a self-induced pressure to accomplish something significant overwhelms me. Why? Because I am unnecessarily, illogically competitive, and I cannot stand being “outdone” by anyone. [I mean, shit, my parents got married at 21, and I only just landed my first boyfriend.] I feel as though I am losing a cosmic contest – a malady that Yung only exacerbates. Led by front man Mikkel Holm Silkjær (who is, you guessed it, fucking 21 years old), Yung may not have an expansive catalog – in fact, this is only a 6-song EP – but the band’s music is impressive nonetheless. Carefully combining the melodic guitar-driven sounds of indie rock with the feedback and distortion associated with shoegaze, featuring vocals that range from smooth and airy to a scratchy post-punk style, and including songs that alternate between contemplative and vivacious moods, These Thoughts Are Like Mandatory Chores exemplifies the talent of the Danish band. Beyond this mastery of style, the EP also achieves a skillful balance between consistency and variety: the album flows cohesively, yet each song is distinct. Oh, and by the way, Silkjær not only sings, but he also writes and produces the songs and maintains a majority of the control over the band’s art direction. (YOU WIN.) ASHLEY

RIYL: Beach Fossils, WU LYF, Eagulls

Recommended Tracks: “Blue Uniform” (1), “Offshore” (5), “Not A Shelter” (4)

Homeshake - Midnight Snack: In case you didn’t know, Homeshake is Mac DeMarco’s old guitarist who branched off to do his own even more indie thing. I like Mac DeMarco but if I want to hear the Mac DeMarco sound I’m gonna put on some Mac DeMarco. I’m not interested in any other bands giving me additional Mac DeMarco. That’s why I’m really pleased with Midnight Snack, a true testament to Homeshake’s capacity for original music. Definitely further indie-pop than indie-rock, this record likes to really slow it down and explore different kinds of trippy sounds. My only complaint is that it can get a bit cliche at times but that’s just gonna happen I guess. CHRISTIAN

RIYL: Timber Timbre, Mac Demarco, Empire of the Sun

Recommended Tracks: Heat (2), He’s Heating Up (3), Faded (5)

Hibou - Hibou:
Hibou is the bedroom, dream pop recording project of Peter Michel, former drummer for the band Craft Spells. Well, Peter Michel definitely draws his roots from this band he took off on tour with at the age of 17. Playing all the instruments, he presents his very happy interpretation of dream pop, which I find sometimes way too washed out and airy. His vocals are mixed very clear, although they hold the same time of delay and heavy reverb found in these dreamy rock tunes. I really appreciate it, because compared to his father band Craft Spells or a band like DIIV, it sounds much more refined and crisp. I think his song writing is very good as well; he finds a way to present very catchy and driving tunes yet still presenting immersive airy atmospheres. If you like those type of bands, I highly recommend Hibou. DYLAN

RIYL: Craft Spells, DIIV, Lower Dens

Recommended Tracks: Dissolve, Valium, Eleanor, Shutter Song

Battles - La Di Da Di: Battles third LP, La Di Da Di, is an instrumental experimental rock explosion that continues to keep things interesting. I am not someone that usually goes out of my way to listen to instrumental rock but I found this album highly enjoyable. The band reminds me a bit of Rage Against the Machine because of their hard rock sound, but it grooves and never gets too heavy. What really separates their music from being a generic hard rock instrumental band is their use of the synthesizer. Throughout the entire album experimental synth melodies lay over the driving band. Their first single and first track, “The Yabba” captures what most of the album is about. It is almost a lengthy 7 minutes but is still an interesting listen. What keeps things moving is that the band does not let the same grove settle in for too long. They are always developing their songs and continue to surprise what direction they go in. La Di Da Di would definitely be fun to see in concert and would make good moshing music. Overall, it is definitely a good addition to their catalogue. HARRY

RIYL: Liars, Ratatat, and HEALTH

Recommended Tracks: "The Yabba," "Summer Simmer," "Dot Com," "FF Bada"

New Adds: The Libertines, Yung, Homeshake, and more!