Carlo Thomas

Web Exclusive Singin’ to an Empty Chair, the latest album from Ratboys, is a testament to reaching out to others who may not necessarily want to reach back. Lead singer Julia Steiner knows this all too well: the album is the first since she started therapy. The album gets its title from a thought exercise as a way to play out a challenging conversation with someone not there.

Web Exclusive Raspberry Moon, the latest album from Hotline TNT, was a collaborative effort. Will Anderson had originally intended to make this album in the same way as its predecessor, Cartwheel; with him and a producer, building the songs how he wanted. Yet, despite his initial reservations, the band joined Anderson in the studio. Eventually, producer Amos Pitsch was asked to contribute where he saw fit. So how has this shift affected Raspberry Moon?

Web Exclusive The success of Patience, Moonbeam rests on a foundation of collaborative spirit. It’s an album resulting from an “open door policy” that gave Great Grandpa’s five members space to contribute to writing the album’s 12 songs (previously, songwriting duties were helmed by Pat Goodwin). The result isn’t a collage of ideas but a cohesive and ambitious leap forward that pulls from graceful folk rock, darker experimentations, and so much in between.