In emo-adjacent circles, few names carry as much weight as “Kinsella.” Mike, Tim, and Nate Kinsella have had a hand in about a half dozen seminal projects— among them, Cap’n Jazz, Joan of Arc, Owls, Owen, and American Football. Their output has spanned the gamut from chaotic noise rock to gentle indie balladry and almost everything in between.
But despite this variety, none of the Kinsellas’ projects have shown much interest in standard pop music. That is, until Lies, the new project from Mike and Nate. While there’s plenty of Mike Kinsella-ness here to keep fans of Owen and American Football happy, there’s also plenty of nods to new wave, synthpop, and Top 40 that makes for an oddly captivating listen.
As much as I devoured every video, track, and alternate version of Lykke Li’s early career, I didn’t give her sophomore release much attention until a few months ago. At first listen, Wounded Rhymes felt sleek and generic in comparison to the playful DIY pop of 
I’ve never been that attracted to conventional pop music. But when I first saw Swedish pop singer Lykke Li, I was instantly entranced.
I don’t know a whole lot about Hop Along. I know that they’re on Saddle Creek—home of bands like