Welcome to Keepin’ Score, a monthly column that dives into a wide range of musical musings. Some recent and others a bit more aged, it’s all about keeping score of our monthly musings and appreciating the artists we know and love.

This month we’ll be discussing three new records, two new singles, and an album that continues to age like fine wine.

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Nomad by Clairo

Last we’d heard of Clairo, prior to the Charm roll out, she’d just tapped into a new and stripped down sound. While Sling was not what her listeners were expecting from the songstress, it didn’t take long for its 70s leaning sound to grow onto them - and eventually become a signature attribute of her soundscape.

‍Charm, Clairo’s third studio album, not only revisits the seeds planted on her last album, but manages to expand its grounds, allowing for her to explore every nook and cranny of this new soundscape. The result, a warm and sonically adventurous album filled with wonderful surprises (and killer bridges).

A couple of my favorites tracks are, “Juna,” “Terrapin,” and “Glory of the Snow”(which coincidently reminds me of Sufjan Stevens’ track, “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!...”)

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Kansas Anymore by ROLE MODEL

As ROLE MODEL announced during his latest appearance on Therapuss, Kansas Anymore summer is officially in full swing. A record that sees the young artist sort through the ruble of a past relationship, and managing to process said experiences into beautiful tracks. Stating it all with the twangy cautionary tale of an opener (“Writing’s on the Wall”) Kansas Anymore reaches beyond the petty hard feelings and captures the nuances of grieving a meaningful relationship. From initial feelings of loss, and the disappointing state of the modern dating sphere, to the attempted state of  resolution found at the end of the road, ROLE MODEL presents  a 360 view of his journey - and his best work to date.

A couple of my favorites tracks include, “Writing’s on the Wall,” “So Far Gone,” and “Frances.”

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Not Real People by Oreglo

Not to pivot too hard to the left, but the last project featured this month is none other than Oreglo’s debut EP, Not Real People.

Brain child of the London based collective c-sé, Linus Barry, Nico Rocco and Teigan Hastings, Not Real People showcases the broad strokes that make up Oreglo’s musical palette. The second track, which also operates as a theme song to the band and the project, is concise overview of their sound so far. Groovy with flairs of jazz, rock, and reggae influence. Featuring tracks like “Peck,” a song that encapsulates the emotional charge of a budding romance finds itself wedged between being a casual ride and tangibly flammable bliss, and “levels,” which gained some traction as a single, Not Real People is a debut worth checking out by a budding, but nonetheless undeniably talented, quartet.

My favorite tracks: “levels,” “J.A.C.K,” and “Peck”

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"The World Above" by Alice Pheobe Lou

This time last year I was most like driving around and blissfully sweating to “lately” off of Alice Phoebe Lou’s critically acclaim LP Shelter. This time around not much has changed other than the fact that I’ve been enjoying Lou’s latest single “The World Above.”

Celebrating and recognizing  the effort it takes to pick oneself up from the depths, “The World Above” sees Phoebe come to grips with the present, and more importantly herself, as she finds the strength to break the surface. Simple yet incredibly clear and almost iridescent, “The World Above” feels like the perfect interlude. An opportunity to check in before we fall back into the, at times off kilter, beat of life.

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“Full” by hemlock

 Earlier this year hemlock, released a project titled Amen!. A collection of discreetly emotive indie folk gems, tracks like “good wing” and “eleanor.” While this approach completely charmed me, I am growing fond of the sound which will appear on hemlock’s upcoming project, 444.

 “Full,” the third single released following “Drive & Drive” and “Hyde Park,” presents hemlock in all her swampy, emotive, and rough glory. Balancing subtle storytelling and epic instrumental breaks, I’d recommend “Full” to any fans of acts like Wednesday, lomelda, and any big feeling music.

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Extra Extra read all about it!

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Song For Our Daughter -  Laura Marling

 Released in 2020, Song For Our Daughter, contains some of Laura Marling’s best narrative work. Interwoven by the concept of one women passing down her knowledge trough various anecdotes, with little to no filter it’s not hard not to get caught up her story.

 Starting with the opener, “Alexandra” Marling's presents the heroine and centrepiece of the album. From this track forward her world flourishes into a palpable journey that may feel familiar to some listeners. Exploring abandonment (“held down”), the gloriously awkward and slightly relentless experience of young womanhood ( “strange girl”), warm cautionary tales (“ Song For Our Daughter”) and much more, back dropped by a strain of 70s folk flare, Song For Our Daughter is a 21st century woman’s odyssey you won’t forget.

Here are some of my favorite tracks: “Strange girl,” “Hope We Meet Again,” and “Held Down.”