English indie-pop act BANNERS (a.k.a. Michael Joseph Nelson) is known for his effervescent melodies and immensely relatable lyrics about the human condition. With Nelson’s latest full-length, All Back to Mine (Nettwerk), out March 29th, it’s safe to say he owns a market share in feel-good anthems streamlined to soundtrack your best life.   “Someone to You,” his soaring track about simply being “seen,” has nearly 750 million streams on Spotify. The single proved so unforgettable, BANNERS performed it on Season 16 of American Idol. Previous to that, his hit singles could be heard all over television, among them: “Ghosts” on Suits and Teen Wolf, ”Half Light” on The Royals and New Amsterdam, and “Got It in You” on The Good Doctor and America’s Got Talent.    Written and recorded over nine months, primarily in Liverpool and on the breathtaking Scottish isle of Lewis, the title, All Back to Mine, refers to an exuberant, long-awaited return to his hometown of Liverpool after spending seven years in Canada to get his career going. Rich in romance and optimism, it’s as positively infectious as you’d expect.   “I put my heartstrings all over this album,” Nelson says. “You want to fill your life with experiences, don't you? And the more of them, the better. I can't judge what's good and what isn't anymore. All I can do is try to make something that matters.”

The debut album from Culture Wars arrives ready to connect with a generation starved for authenticity and provocation in their rock bands. The young group’s energizing and unapologetically moving if not now, when? is a breath of fresh air full of ambition and pure intentions.   As the band’s name implies, seemingly disparate passions battle within the songs, somehow beautifully making peace. Alex Dugan, David Grayson, Dillon Randolph, Caleb Contreras, and Joshua Stirm share a collective chemistry and integrity.   They composed the album remotely, with Dugan in Sydney, Australia, and Contreras in Los Angeles (except for one song, “Lips,” written at the Wynn Casino). It was essential to all of them, and Contreras (who also produced) in particular, that each composition work as a vocal and acoustic guitar melody or a vocal and piano bit first. As a result, everything on the album sounds fresh, organic, real, and yet highly modern.   Recording for if not now, when? took place at Sonic Ranch Recording Studio, on a massive pecan farm 30 minutes outside El Paso, Texas, on the Mexican border; Hollywood’s United Recording (Sinatra, Radiohead); and Sunset Sound (Prince, The Doors).   The resulting album from those sessions and beyond is a stunning debut full-length delivering on the promise of the group’s early EPs and then some. The appropriately titled if not now, when? combines the past, present, and future with bold swagger.   “Heaven” is a straight-up rock song juxtaposed through the lens of the R&B/pop style production beloved by Contreras (whose credits include THEY and Kacey Musgraves). “Wasting My Time” incorporates electronic elements with a driving pulse reminiscent of surf rock. “Miley” pays homage to the romantic pop of the ‘80s, while “Slowly” would’ve sounded right at home on MTV’s 120 Minutes. Elsewhere on the album, Culture Wars conjures bits of classic country, owing much to the band’s collective Texan upbringing.   All the songs share a postmodern sensibility that anchors them to the present moment.   Culture Wars initially built a following through word-of-mouth and energetic live performances. Manny Marroquin (Rihanna, The Weeknd) mixed their 2021 EP, teche. Songs like “Faith” and “Lose Money” blew up on streaming services, contributing to the group’s widening audience. “Leave Me Alone,” featured on the GRAMMY-nominated Bill & Ted Face the Music soundtrack, enjoyed an organic boost from mega-influencers and became Culture Wars’ first Top 30 Alternative Rock hit.   Culture Wars’ breathtaking debut LP is a satisfying full-circle moment. It blends everything they love and emphasizes the importance of actual guitars, bass, drums, and synth. “We’re reinvigorated with a sound we’d aimed toward for a long time,” Alex says.   “Some songs sound similar to each other in genre, some are a little bit different, but as a whole, when you put it together, that’s Culture Wars,” David notes. “We’ve always done that. There’s a taste of everything in there, and we love it this way.”