As the 1989 era comes to a close, a new dawn is upon us. After more than three years, Taylor Swift has released her sixth studio album, reputation. Taylor has come along way from riding shotgun with her hair undone and dancing in a storm in her best dress, fearless. reputation sheds a whole new light on Swift’s most intimate moments and shows a side of her that we’ve only caught glimpses of before.

The Maine have been a band for over 10 years, and like a fine wine, they seem to be getting better with age. Their sixth studio album, Lovely Little Lonely is different from any of their previous releases but has elements in each track that compliment their old albums and their unique sound.

GOAT's Requiem will conjure a smile upon your face within its first few bars, and the feeling of whimsical pleasure will stand by your side throughout the entirety of the album. The album seems to ease the listener into its wonderful world at first by having the lead vocalist seduce the audience with her capturing solo, which is layered over sounds of nature. After luring the audience into its spell, the group dives head first into a recorder-lead refrain that will brighten anyone’s day.

When a band plays together for a long period of time, a few things occur. Some continue to develop and acquire a vast knowledge for the relationships amongst music. Sadly, and more commonly, instead of reinventing themselves over the years, many groups get stuck in a musical rut and continue to produce the exact same content. Luckily, while although The Magic is Deerhoof’s tenth album, the LP consists of material that surges with creativity and originality.

You can say what you want about Blink 182. Say that they sold out 10 or 15 years ago or that they’re nothing more than a band that reminds you of high school. You can say that they keep putting out the same, average material. But isn’t something better than nothing? It’s one of those questions a music fan has to ask themselves, and it’s a difficult one. Would we rather have our favourite bands just stop making music altogether, or risk them putting out monotonous records in formulaic fashion?

While Weaves may be the first time full LP that we’ve received from Weaves, hopefully it is the first of many albums to come. The self-titled album blurs the constricting restraints of designated genres, and sails across a mixture of styles such as punk, pop, and hints of grunge rock. Perfectly weird, and as approachable as old friends, Weaves encapsulates all of the qualities required for making a solid debut album.

The newest release from Melbourne’s King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard definitely packs a punch. Nonagon Infinity is a relentless album that rarely allows room for recuperation.  The album's pacing is so extreme at times that it can be exhausting. Without a doubt, Nonagon Infinity is the fastest and most energetic album that Under The Rockies has reviewed this year so far. Stuffed with everlasting guitar riffs from a multitude of performers, styles and sounds, along with a non-stop, full throttled rhythm section, Nonagon Infinity never lets up.

It has been four years since The Lumineers released their debut album. Their self-titled record captured the hearts of indie and folk lovers everywhere within its first few bars. Carrying the runaway hit “Ho Hey”, along with other fan favorites such as “Dead Sea” and “Stubborn Love”, the group left excellent first impressions on the indie/folk community. After the album was dropped, fans were left waiting in four long years of silence, deprived of even the slightest taste of a follow up track. Now that their latest album Cleopatra has been released, it is clear that the wait was well worth it. The acoustic trio has produced another album of soulful storytelling, and simplistic melodies. By releasing Cleopatra, The Lumineers have proved that when it comes to music, they prioritize quality over quantity. 

The world needs to hear this album simply because of the creative efforts and investment that was bled into it. This is dedication to the art of music, and taking the expressive liberty in creating an album that screams familiarity, but with a refreshing lyrical and musical take on things. The 1975 know the sound of their hearts - and that is what makes them stand out.

After listening to the first few bars of Side Pony’s opening track “God-awful Things”, it is incredibly difficult not to be hooked onto Lake Street Dive. The full sound flows with a positively energetic aura throughout the song. Rachael Price’s smooth and powerful voice empowers the audience, while drummer Mike Calabrese relentlessly pounds away and provides an exciting rhythm in the process. Side Pony was a wonderful experience to start the New Year with. It beautifully blends aspects of gospel rock, blues-rock and funk. Filled to the brim with blaring horns, animalistic drums, groovy organs and blazing bass lines, Lake Street Dive’s Side Pony is Under The Rockies' first “Must Buy” of 2016.

Field Music’s Commontime is not another typical indie album. While it does have higher toned vocals and a production value lower than a Billboard chart topper, that’s where the similarities with other typical albums end. Commontime is not an album of a just a man and his guitar, nor is it one that layers every instrument known to man into its songs to distract from their mediocrity. Field Music’s unique album tries its hand at a variety of styles and techniques, and then adds a twist of its own to make it fresh. The strong and erratic drumming in Commontime carries the album to its success. Powerful and creative, the albums funky rhythms are never quite in your face, but they make their presence known just the same.

Better Strange James Supercave’s debut album after the release of their EP, The Afternoon. Catchy rhythms and sharp vocals certainly set a unique sound for the band. Better Strange experiments with a variety of different sounds and styles. Simply using a guitar and drum-kit one moment, the group will try its hand at a much more synthetic sound the next. With similar singing styles to alt-J and Foster The People’s techno-pop tendencies, Better Strange is a great album for those who are looking for a fresh new mix of music. Borrowing elements of both alternative rock and techno, James Supercave uses Better Strange as a way to test different types of music and entertain its audience in the process. 

Walter Martin’s Arts & Leisure is his second solo album released after The Walkmen announced a hiatus in 2013. Capturing a much softer and more comfortable sound than those produced by The Walkmen, Arts & Leisure is a delightful album for any quiet occasion. The albums simple acoustic strumming is complimented by his adorable vocals and heart melting lyrics. The way Walter sings about his childhood stories and adventures wraps the audience in a warm blanket of calmness and youthful nostalgia. A pleasantly played guitar humbly rests in the background of every song in Arts & Leisure. Lost beneath a variety of instruments at times, and being the lone sound at others, the acoustic guitar never leaves the recording studio once throughout the entire album.

The fourth album included in Cage The Elephant’s resume has a lot to live up to. The group’s worldwide success, and catalogue of chart topping hits from previous albums left many impressive expectations to fulfill. How was the band supposed to live up to the success of Melophobia? What album could the Kentucky boys possibly create that would satisfy both the lovers of their heavier sounds, and the cherishers of slower paced masterpieces such as “Cigarette Daydreams” and still hold a voice of its own? Their answer to the hype was Tell Me I’m Pretty.

On up-and-coming Montreal based act FOXTROTT’s new album A Taller Us, not every one of the songs was a favourite of mine. The supporting rhythms and effects did not always impress but one thing is certain, lead singer, Marie-Helene Delorme, has incredible talent. Strong yet subtle when needed, her voice supports the album in a way that wouldn’t quite work had a different person been in her shoes. The vocals are the perfect counter balance between the harsh loops and the funky keyboards and synthesizers, which compose the majority of A Taller Us. Muddled and suppressed at times, while being sharp and abrupt at others, Delorme’s smooth voice remains the relaxing constant. A Taller Us will delight any electro dancehall enthusiast with its hip-hop themes and emotionally raw vocal deliveries. 

I was chilled to the core. The unsettling chords that were played at seemingly random intervals did not complement the intense drumming pattern beneath them. Worried that I would have to write a bad review for the Montreal-based band, my anxious attitude was completely shifted once Erika Angell’s angelic voice broke out. Confident that I was going to be involved in something completely original, Thus Owls provided a new perspective on approaching music that thoroughly impressed me.

Dallas Green’s latest album is not one to disappoint. Starting off slow and mysterious, If I Should Go Before You blossoms into the gentle coffee house music we have come to love and expect from City and Colour. Supported by upbeat catchy songs such as “Wasted Love” which is sure to be a chart topper, If I Should Go Before You also brings tracks that embrace the audience and gently lower them into total relaxation. Fortunately, many tunes from the 11-track album contain both of these qualities. It is an excellent album for people who are just beginning to listen to City and Colour and the perfect present for those who have been fans for a while. 

The Sheepdogs latest album Future Nostalgia has left me at a loss for words, although I will do my best to deliver the praise it deserves. My previous experiences with The Sheepdogs’ music have been very minimal. Songs such as “Feeling Good” and “I Don’t Know” were the only ones performed by them I knew of. It only took one listening of Future Nostalgia for me to realize that I had been missing out from something great. The southern influence is heavily represented in all of the songs on the album, which is expected from the group. With perfectly placed guitar riffs and radically refreshing blues licks on the piano, Future Nostalgia brings excellent southern blues tracks that never let up. 

The Gates is the latest album from indie pop group Young Empires. Full of catchy synthesized beats and simple lyrics, The Gates is a groovy summer album released in the fall. I can easily see many of the songs from The Gates being played on dance playlists across the city. For those who are looking for brand new acoustic music from a talented street rat, this is not the album for you. If funky alternative pop is more of your cup of tea, The Gates is the album you’ve been looking for. 

For me, listening to Sweet Baboo’s The Boombox Ballads was like a breath of fresh air. At times it seemed that every song made me want to dance. Although it’s not very hard to convince me to bust a move, I still have respect for artists that have the ability to put a spring in my step. Stephen Black’s voice was a perfect match for every track on this album. Soft and gentle, it added a carefree tone, on the edge of innocence at times, to the upbeat songs that made up the majority of the album.