Album reviews for those of us who can Netflix binge like a boss, but get elevated levels of stress when we can’t beat a yellow light.

Album reviews for those of us who can Netflix binge like a boss, but get elevated levels of stress when we can’t beat a yellow light. Have an album submission? Email it to us at Contact@TheRooster.com

LOCAL

Rossonian // The Late Kids EP

Per the band’s bio, the new “Late Kids EP” is about “straddling this dichotomy expressing (Rossonian’s) playful frustrations and wrestling with the living ghosts of their Middle American, suburban upbringing.” Relatable to anyone else out there, much? The 5-track collection would be a great companion on a summer roadtrip to just about anywhere. It’s heavy enough to consider a spot in the alt-rock genre, but is able to switch gears down-tempo a bit to lend an escape with its subtle electronic backends.

Signs and Signals // Human Again

Signs and Signals is what we in the industry call RFAF … or … Radio Friendly As Fuck. With most albums there’s that one suitable song fit for a college-station jerkaround, and then it proceeds to waste time with filler. Not so with “Human Again” — all 7 tracks could easily be a breakout for the indie-alt-rock-pop-wave-whatever quintet. Throw our favorite of the album, “Human Again” on loud and don’t blame us if a ripping air-guitar solo ensues.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Gangstagrass // American Music

Huh … um … wow. If anyone had come to us in the past and said there’d be an up and coming band fusing bluegrass and hip-hop — and doing it well — we’d have thought they were nuts beyond help. It’s tricky, these are two wildly different genres, with entirely different followings. But Gangstagrass does it, and blends the unthinkable with panache, pulling hip-hop beats atop banjo lines with accompanying vocal rhyme structure spit by two great emcees. It works!

Beautiful Bodies // Battles

Coming in hot with loud “Oh Oh Ohs” on its debut album, Beautiful Bodies energetically proclaims a spot amongst the popiest and punkiest of them all with “Battles.” Reminiscent of The Sounds or a young Paramore, the trio manages to ride a thin, delicate line between catchy hooks and drowning, hyped-up saturation. As a full riding band on this year’s Vans Warped Tour, the act has most definitely catered its songs to the younger crowd — but that’s not always terrible.