On this week's episode of Celebration Rock I invited Pitchfork senior editor (and now friend of the podcast) Stacey Anderson to discuss this month's most notable indie-rock albums. Our discussion began with Pinegrove, who's latest album Skylight is an affecting alt-country-leaning album that's a worthy follow-up to the band's 2016 breakout Cardinal. But much of the discussion of this band — or conspicuous lack of discussion — stems from the charges of sexual coercion levied against frontman Evan Stephens Hall that prompted Hall to voluntarily push back the album's release and reschedule tour dates. Stacey and I explored whether it's possible to set that baggage aside when listening to the music — or whether it's even right to do that.
In the second half of the episode, we talked about two of the most reliable legacy artists in indie rock. Chan Marshall, who has put out records since the mid-'90s as Cat Power, returned in early October with her first album in six years, Wanderer, which ranks among her very best. As for Kurt Vile, he's been putting out consistently strong albums on a regular basis for a decade now. While his latest Bottle It In doesn't radically reinvent his formula of languid and meditative guitar jams, it suggests that his craftsmanship and lyrical insight are only growing richer with time.
Finally, Stacey and I share some recent recommendations: Robyn's pop confessional Honey for her, and Colter Wall's country throwback Songs of the Plains for me.
Season 2 Special Episode: RIP Tom Petty
Season 2 Episode 26: Dan Bejar of Destroyer Loves '80s Dylan and The Doors
Season 2 Episode 25: Are The Killers Good Or Terrible?
Season 2 Episode 25: Mike Gordon of Phish Is A Nice Guy
Season 2 Episode 24: The National Is Back With "Sleep Well Beast"
Season 2 Episode 23: The Rise and Fall and Rise Of LCD Soundsystem
Season 2 Episode 22: How The War On Drugs Became The War On Drugs
Season 2 Episode 21: A Short History of Queens Of The Stone Age
Season 2 Episode 20: 1987 Is One Of Rock's Best Years
Season 2 Episode 19: Top 10 Best Live Albums Ever
Season 2 Episode 18: The New Arcade Fire LP is one of 2017's Biggest Disappointments
Season 2 Episode 17: How Does Mitski Write Such Great Songs?
Season 2 Episode 16: Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra Was A Teenaged Rock Star
Season 2 Episode 15: Have I Finally Come Around On Nü-Metal?
Season 2, Episode 14: Radiohead's "OK Computer" Is The Best LP Of The Last 20 Years ... Or Not
Season 2 Episode 13: The Return Of '00s Indie Rock in 2017
Season 2 Episode 12:Har Mar Superstar Was Julian Casablancas' Bodyguard
Season 2 Episode 11: The Best Albums Of 2017 So Far
Season 2 Episode 10: The Grateful Dead Are Alive!
Season 2 Episode 9: The National's "Boxer" Just Turned 10
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