Staff Picks

Avalon Emerson's "Don't Be Seen with Me" Is a Ravey Daydream
Exclaim! Staff Picks
PUBLISHED Feb 18, 2025
A couple years ago, my wife and I were obsessed with Avalon Emerson's dream pop album '& the Charm,' so we bought tickets to her Toronto...
Mereba's 'The Breeze Grew a Fire' Is a Breath of Fresh Air
Exclaim! Staff Picks
PUBLISHED Feb 18, 2025
Singer-songwriter, producer and rapper Mereba's idiosyncratic, vibe-y songs often have a breezy quality to them, so it's quite fitting that...
Art d'Ecco's 'Serene Demon' Is a Masterclass in Juxtaposition
Exclaim! Staff Picks
PUBLISHED Feb 14, 2025
For someone with a vision as strong as Art d'Ecco's, any stray from form can be seen as somewhat of a departure. This feels true of...
'Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory' Proves Itself
Exclaim! Staff Picks
PUBLISHED Feb 11, 2025
When a longtime solo songwriter suddenly starts gives their backing band co-billing, it doesn't usually fill me with confidence about their...
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's 'Perfect Right Now' Is a Wistful Postcard from the Past
Exclaim! Staff Picks
PUBLISHED Feb 7, 2025
Of all the different eras of music I've been around to witness, the lo-fi blog pop era of 2008–2012 was the time when it felt like music was...
Georgia Harmer Is Timeless on "Can We Be Still"
Exclaim! Staff Picks
PUBLISHED Feb 6, 2025
For as long as I can remember, I've valued friendship above most things. I was the kind of kid who would give all of their worldly...
Waxahatchee Digs Deep into Her Roots on "Mud"
Exclaim! Staff Picks
PUBLISHED Feb 4, 2025
Waxahatchee's 2024 and 2020 AOTY contenders, 'Tigers Blood' and 'Saint Cloud,' respectively, cemented Katie Crutchfield firmly in her...
Doechii Takes a Well-Deserved Victory Lap on "Nosebleeds"
Exclaim! Staff Picks
PUBLISHED Feb 3, 2025
The Grammys seldom get it right — but as last night proved, it might be a new era for the Academy. This tone was set early on in the...