“It’s me, baby, you”, Jackie West sings on the opening track of her new record, Silent Century. Like a hall of mirrors, West’s sophomore record unfolds like a playful conversation between the Brooklyn/Hudson Valley-based artist and herself. What emerges is a remarkable portrait of femininity and fluidity, of violence and forgiveness, of our capacity to heal. The power of Silent Century resides in West’s ability to make small moments ring out and resonate just as much as loud ones. On the title track, she investigates the objectification of our bodies—who owns them, and at what price? Small details (“plastic underwear", “nightmare of dismantled pleasure”) illuminate centuries of gendered silencing. As West embraces her multitudes, whether choosing to speak up or listen quietly, she now claims sovereignty for herself.
 

classic singer-songwriter shit that gets weird. a bit maniacal but warm.

“Puddle” evokes shades of both indie rock and Raybody’s orchestral inspirations, building atop stately guitar chords with lush and meticulously crafted arrangements. She gradually fills the mix with swirls of woodwinds, strings, and layered vocal harmonies, incorporating hints of jazzy dissonance alongside sprawling full-band crescendos. The results shine with the warm orchestral beauty of Raybody’s previous work but they also brim with a newfound energy, moving effortlessly between jazzy grooves, cinematic drama, and airy folk confessionals.

- Under the Radar, Caleb Campbell


Since 2016, James Keegan’s buzzing musical project, Kitchen, has steadily carved out a distinct space in Rochester with its consistent output of introspective lo-fi folk. Now, Kitchen delivers its most substantial chapter yet with the arrival of Blue Heeler in Ugly Snowlight, Grey on Gray on Gray on White, the recording project’s sixth full-length album, comfortably venturing into double album territory across 20 diverse tracks. The sprawling and remarkably cohesive collection explores the corners of Keegan’s sonic range and unique songwriting styles.