Attack the Sound's "Love is War: Packed" EP is... a thing. A Chi-Pop thing, specifically. Chicago's own ATS is back, celebrating five years since the original "Love is War" single dropped, and they've decided to, well, pack it. Like a suitcase full of emotional baggage you're not sure you want to unpack. https://open.spotify.com/album/1d92wk2RdBsZy409vEXiM8?si=IDZjOJKYQ5G_JsIX49vl_g The central theme, in case the title didn't bludgeon you with it, is...

Alright, this one settled in differently. Not with a bang, but like noticing the colour drain slowly from a favourite rug. Michellar's "LOVE EARTH" wraps its stark message in this comfortable cloak of indie rock softness, a bit of alt-country dust on its boots. The female vocal leads, clear and steady, piloting through a landscape that feels increasingly precarious. https://open.spotify.com/track/1nBGREag5AUevozyCepKWv?si=32662ddcf35c497d The subject matter – environmental crisis,...