A veteran band like MercyMe (who are now well into their third decade together) can be a bit like a wacky uncle that you look forward to seeing at Christmastime. You may have heard all of his jokes and funny stories many times over the years, but there is still an excitement and anticipation of seeing him again. Like that beloved uncle, MercyMe is unlikely to have a dramatically different approach to what they do year in and year out, but they still do it well and with all their heart...

Last year, Velvet Blue Music dropped a bomb on us: we were getting new Neon Horse! Just when you thought you’d seen it all, they hit us with one more: we’re getting new Crash Rickshaw, too! 17 years after their sophomore release, An Unknown Clarity (good luck finding a copy!), the fourpiece post-punk project is back with four brand new tracks, collectively titled Big Sir.

In case you were wondering, yes, Rickshaw’s original line-up is all present and accounted for: Joby Harris on vocals, Randy Torres on guitar, Steve Dail on bass, and Alex Albert on drums. And not only are they back in full force, but they’ve even upped their game. No shade to their previous albums at all, but this is arguably their best sounding material. It’s also likely their most accessible; while “Newports” certainly...

In the past, Anchor & Braille has always seemed to serve as a creative outlet for Stephen Christian to explore ideas that wouldn't fit the sound of Anberlin. With the longtime frontman taking a step back, questions arise whether New Mexico would continue the contemplative, synth-heavy sound present on previous Anchor & Braille releases, or would explore even more new territory? It is decidedly the second, with the album filled with loud alternative rock tracks. Repeated lyrical and sonic motifs throughout New Mexico evoke the deserts of the American Southwest, with a nostalgia for a past filled with cowboys, campfires, and Route 66...