(Sandy) Alex G, Tomberlin, Slow Pulp
Recommended
There’s a song called “Southern Sky” on (Sandy) Alex G’s new album House of Sugar that ambles effortlessly along the borders of country, indie rock and lo-fi pop, just as there was a song called “Bobby” on his previous album Rocket that did the same thing. Both are achingly beautiful, and they’ll make you want more from this Philly wunderkind. But (Sandy) Alex G seems to have no interest in giving you what you want. Instead, on both Rocket and House of Sugar, he bounces all over the stylistic map, trying out gentle noise, weird jazz, electronic, and other far-out sounds. Which is his right, certainly! But here’s hoping that one day he gives us a full collection of the DIY twang-pop he does so well.
by Ben Salmon