Sweet Megg - Massive Negroni

Sweet Megg (Meaghan Farrell) is a country/blues/jazz singer/guitarist who got her start playing shows around Brooklyn.  At 22 she moved to Paris to study jazz vocals, while also playing gigs across the city before coming back to New York.  Soon after she released her debut jazz album 'Under the Moonlight' in 2020, leading to a record deal based in Paris, after which she relocated to Nashville and released her first original album, 'Christine's Daughter' in 2022 (the majority of her work seems to be re-imaginings of older jazz/country/swing songs and standards, often swapping their respective genres around).  This led to two more albums in Nashville, and eventually to her touring globally with viral sensation Postmodern Jukebox from 2021-2023 (if you were on Youtube it's likely you saw one of their covers, eventually featuring a revolving door of featured musicians either doing renditions of old songs or turning modern songs into genre mashups).

Her (quartet) latest album, 'Massive Negroni' from May 2026 starts and ends with two original songs, "Right or Wrong pt.1&2", and the rest of it is covers ("re-imagining" might be more apt), such as Tom Waits, The Ink Spots, Duke Ellington, to deeper cuts like Kansas Joe McCoy.


Admittedly I'm a fairly opinionated person when it comes to covers for multiple reasons, both positively and negatively, but as this album was the introduction to her music (slight air quotes), I think it weighed more on the positive side, both by not attempting one-to-one covers and just the overall refinement of her band and voice.  Also because I'm a sucker for old timey tunes and jazz vocalists keeping that spirit alive in the "modern" era.  Without seemingly patronizing this any more than I am, probably the biggest praise I can give this album is that it has me excited to check out her original music.  I believe 4 of her 7 full length albums feature original songs (she's also done lots of compilations), so I'm excited to check those out, as well as more of her interpretations and renditions with her fellow musicians.

Bandcamp

 

Sparta - Cut A Silhouette

This.is.Sparta 

Sparta is from El Paso, Texas.  The band formed in 2001 after its three founding members (Jim Ward/guitar/vocals, Paul Hinojos/guitar, and Tony Hajjar/drums) split from post-hardcore group At the Drive-In, while Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López returned to their side-project De Facto, and shortly after formed The Mars Volta.  While many fans and members drew initial lines in the sand (*Cedric recently 'liked' an Instragram post of Jim's on the release of the new album, which was nice to see), I was always a fan of both/all projects.  As my blog title would suggest, TMV had a far bigger impact on me, but I was always rooting for Jim Ward and Sparta, who released back to back amazing albums with 'Wiretap Scars' and 'Porcelain' in 2002/2004.  While those are my favorites (also their only 2 albums including all 3 founding members), I would confidently say I think the band has been consistent in the quality of their albums -- including Ward's solo releases (which proliferated during an off/on Sparta hiatus beginning 2008 following their 3rd album, 'Threes', the last album Tony Hajjar contributed drums).

The band in its current iteration is a three-piece, with the newest addition being drummer Neil Hennessy in 2025 for the recently released new album, 'Cut A Silhouette', alongside Jim Ward (guitar/vocals) and Matt Miller (bass/backing vocals since 2001 following the brief tenure of bassist Erick Sanger and a constant contributor/member throughout).  

"Mouthbreather" is probably my standout favorite on the album, but the entire album is solid from front to back, and the ten tracks clocking in at 33 minutes will likely inspire repeat listens to fans new or old.

Bandcamp

H E X - II

Latest release from H E X (August 2025), the follow up to their debut album in 2018 after a 7 year gap.  This new-ish release clearly escaped my orbit, but regardless I'm happy to see more material from them.  The sound is similar but in some different directions, namely with the inclusion (& I believe replacement) of two new members: Léa Martinez (vocals) and Wladislas Marian (bass).  The album is up on Bandcamp for name-your-price featuring 4 songs (as is/was their debut), but definitely show them some love if you like what you hear (*I certainly will after I sort out my new CC).

Vinyl is available at their label Humus Records.  

You can also check out another Switzerland band featuring H E X synth player Vincent Devaud, who also contributes synth & vocals in 'Loveress', for a completely different vibe switch.

Bandcamp

Point of No Return - The Language Of Refusal

 

Point of No Return is a straight edge hardcore band from São Paulo, Brazil.  The group made waves with their debut album, 'Centelha' in 2000, followed by their 2nd full length, 'Liberdade Imposta, Liberdade Conquistada' in 2002 following a 7 month hiatus.  The band often meshes vocals in both English and Portuguese (their entire 2nd album is in Portuguese), with a prominent aspect of the band being their unique blending of three distinct singers, sometimes merging together in familiar hardcore gang vocals.  

The band played their "final" show in 2006, but has re-emerged in 2024 with their latest full-length album, 'The Language Of Refusal', a collection of songs written from 2002-2024.  They also released a new live album, 'Ao Vivo na Verdurada' in October of the same year.  The band lineup is largely the same, while adding a new vocalist & bass player in 2024 (six current members and six past members, two of which were only active during their inception in 1996).

This release was a definite unexpected surprise for me (discovering it recently), and also a good starting point for anyone looking for an oldschool hardcore itch to scratch from some very pissed off vegans.  I believe this is also the first release from them to ever be available on vinyl.

Bandcamp

Neurosis - An Undying Love For A Burning World

Neurosis have re-emerged with their first new album in 10 years, after their parting with longtime vocalist/guitarist Scott Kelly.  Some speculated (such as myself) that the band would end altogether, but instead they have shadow-dropped a new album, 'An Undying Love For A Burning World' on March 20th.  Aaron Turner (ISIS, Sumac, etc.) has filled the absence of Scott Kelly on both vocals and guitar, and the pairing not only makes sense but has expectedly delivered well (understandably as Aaron Turner has cited Neurosis as a huge influence on his music); also considering three other members contribute vocals the overall sound is much of the staple people would expect.  The album is currently in digital-only release, with physical releases slated later (May 8th for CD/Cassette and June 5th for Vinyl).

The band in its new iteration will perform live for the first time at the Fire in the Mountains festival in Montana (a non-profit on Blackfeet Nation lands dedicated to reducing youth suicide) in July.  Notably the festival is co-headlined with a reunion performance by 16 Horsepower (former band of David Eugene Edwards before Wovenhand), among an overall packed lineup.  Neurosis is known for being a great live band, and while I haven't seen them personally I can attest that ISIS put on one of the best live shows I've ever seen/heard, so I imagine they will be right as rain with the inclusion of Aaron Turner.

As for the album itself, I won't yap too much aside to say I enjoyed it, with probably the biggest takeaway being I didn't fully realize how much Steve Von Till's vocals mirrored or resembled Scott Kelly's, and overall while his presence is missed, of all the people I can think of to fill that void they found the most agreeable and obvious in Aaron Turner, both vocally and on guitar and more fundamentally his song-writing ability.  The near 17 minute closing track "Last Light" might highlight his most direct influence and possible direction of any releases in the future.

Bandcamp

 

Shintaro Sakamoto - Yoo-hoo

 

When I posted 'On-Gaku: Our Sound' in January, in a moment of synchronicity/oversight I came to realize Shintaro Sakamoto also released his newest album the same month.  'Yoo-hoo' is Shintaro's 5th full-length solo album, following 21 years of fronting Yura Yura Teikoku.

His former band had a more prevalent psych/rock aspect propelled by his guitar/singing, but much like his solo work exists a common thread of dreamy/dreary unconventional pop/surf that he continues to explore and refine.

This album sounds like lounge music in the coolest lounge in town, complete with sporadic traditional horn/wind/percussion instruments and outlier inclusions Shintaro's style is known for (e.g. whatever that little instrument is on "Is There A Place For You There?").  I won't bother dissecting this track to track, as fans of his past work will probably be onboard regardless, but for everyone else I would give it my rubber stamp of endorsement of being my favorite solo album he's released.  'Yoo-hoo' is maybe not his most experimental album, but likewise a reminder that you're always in for a surprise.  Ultimately the dreamy+dreary/surf-psych ventricle throughout much of his sound is (in my opinion) beating better than ever on 'Yoo-hoo'.

Can check out the three singles released below.  Bandcamp for prior releases (hasn't made its way there yet) and direct purchase link through his label.

Bandcamp

Purchase

Converge - Love Is Not Enough

Converge released their new album, 'Love Is Not Enough' today; vinyl is already sold out (on Bandcamp) but I'm sure more will be coming.  The album feels relatively short but it definitely checks all the "this-Converge-album-is-great" boxes.  Just one of the best bands to do it, and still excellent 30+ years into their discography.  Also recommend checking out their recent Audiotree performance.

Bandcamp

On-Gaku: Our Sound

I've been trying to commit to posting at least once per month in my spare time; being sick the past week or so and not having any albums recently that have blown my socks off, I figured I would switch it up and post a movie recommendation that is music-adjacent.

'On-Gaku: Our Sound' by Kenji Iwaisawa came out in 2019, based on the 2005 manga 'Ongaku' ("Music") by Hiroyuki Oohashi.  This movie has particular relevance to me/this blog, because one of the main characters, "Kenji" (center above), is voiced by Shintaro Sakamoto (singer/guitarist of Yura Yura Teikoku, now solo), the first I believe of his voice-acting credits.  Some of the voice cast is also handled by other venerated Japanese musicians.

I won't give a movie review/film essay aside to say it is a very visually (and auditorily, with Shintaro also contributing to the soundtrack) appealing anime featuring rotoscoping with hand-drawn emphasis, centered around three teenage delinquents who decide to start a band together -- with none of them having any musical background.  As you'd imagine, the hijinks and roadblocks that follow make for an entertaining and inspiring film.  The plot builds to them performing live for the first time, and the result is indeed the "climax" in all senses of the film.

Just thought I would shout this out, sans an awkward scene (you'll know when you see it), it's a very enjoyable movie with slightly more deadpan comedy than drama, but overall a lot of heart; no doubt resonating with anyone who has jammed in a room with bandmates, especially for the first time.

I don't think any "regular" streaming services currently have this available (possibly Amazon for purchase?), so you might have to get creative or do extra digging to find it.  But physical copies can be bought from Amazon or wherever.