all catalog features misc premiere roster tour video
Every post we've ever made going back to 2006 has been meticulously tagged and archived here for you. Use the 'by artist' dropdown or the filters to show posts that're more specific to what you're looking for, or just scroll down to peruse things chronologically. Thanks for reading!
 
 
an illustration by Madeline Dowd, showing whimsical people enjoying music in various ways i illustration by Madeline Dowd of Crisman.

premiere posts:

Elephant Gym release "Live in THE WORLD - South America"

read more →
Elephant Gym
 

Subsonic Eye aim to take a breather on their new single "Being Productive"

read more →
Subsonic Eye
 

Subsonic Eye feel the highs and lows of digital life on new single "My iPhone Screen"

Subsonic Eye

On their latest single "My iPhone Screen", quick-paced drumming bounces off of singer Nur Wahidah's cuttingly sweet melody, "philosophizing on my iPhone screen / screaming please delete / it's not part of what I am", she sings with a determined spirit, eventually shifting into a more relaxed rhythm in the songs final minute. Watch the live video and listen to the new Singapore Dreaming single: read more →

 

Singapore indie-rock quintet Subsonic Eye announce new album Singapore Dreaming with "Aku Cemas"

Subsonic Eye

Subsonic Eye are back with a new album! Singapore Dreaming's lead single "Aku Cemas" picks apart feelings of anxious inadequacy inspired by our capitalist setting before balancing the scale with a reverent climax in which singer Nur Wahidah proclaims "come get a hold of yourself / the world's not ending / you're not dying." Watch / listen: read more →

 

Washington D.C. post-punks Ekko Astral release "pink balloons: popped"

Ekko Astral

To commemorate the first anniversary of the album, Ekko Astral and Topshelf are releasing pink balloons: popped, a deluxe CD version featuring the original release's 11-song tracklist along with five bonus tracks read more →

 

Thanya Iyer glides through an animated wonderland in her new video for "What can we grow that we can't see from here?"

Thanya Iyer

Iyer's signature post-genre pontifications are in full bloom on her latest single "What can we grow that we can't see from here?" in which she reminds us that the groundwork for new, radical futures can be laid by our own hands. Such prescient lessons are a prominent fixture of Iyer's work—current and past—this time delivered with a thumping, controlled pop sensibility that says even when things feel stagnant and unclear, there is a way through. Watch the accompanying music video and catch her on her upcoming tour: read more →

 

Montreal's Thanya Iyer announces new album TIDE/TIED with the syncopated pop gem "Low Tides"

Thanya Iyer

On her third full length TIDE/TIED, Montreal artist Thanya Iyer expands on the future-folk designs of sophomore album KIND with washes of jazz-infected pop and ensemble ambience. While Iyer explored a more personal journey of self-love on KIND, she, her band, and a cohort of guest musicians embark on a new way of moving on TIDE/TIED, prizing collective care and communal healing as antidotes to the dissonances of living in a colonial, capitalistic world. read more →

 

Peel Dream Magazine explore a world of natural wonder in their new video for "Wish You Well"

Peel Dream Magazine

Set to the backdrop of New York City and its towering landmarks -- The American Museum of Natural History, Grand Central Station, and the like -- songwriter Joseph Stevens weaves personal stories into the wider fabric of the natural world, touching on themes of instinct, animality, and evolution. On their latest single "Wish You Well", the band leans into its pop rock sensibilities with a lingering feeling of catharsis hanging above. Listen to "wish You Well" and check out the band's upcoming tour schedule. read more →

 

Introducing: Bruiser and Bicycle

Bruiser and Bicycle

Please welcome Bruiser and Bicycle to our roster! Their album Holy Red Wagon is out April 5. The first single "1000 Engines" is out now. read more →

 

Thanya Iyer // announcing the new EP 'rest' 🛋

Bruiser and Bicycle

Thanya Iyer invites us to examine our relationship with rest, step outside our comfort zones, and explore the art of mindful intention in her new EP. rest is out August 24 ~ you can hear the first single “leave the room and face the waves” now! read more →

 

Zenizen // New single "Aja" + album announcement!

Zenizen

New Zenizen is here, and new Zenizen is coming. I’m extremely excited to tell you that Zenizen is releasing a new album! It’s called P.O.C (Proof of Concept) and it’s out July 27! Today, we have a new single off the upcoming album to listen to. read more →

 

cool original // announcing the new album + lead single!

cool original

we’re releasing a new cool original album! it’s called outtakes from “bad summer” and it’s out on may 18! there’s a single and music video for you to get into right now. read more →

 

Sweet Pill // new song "High Hopes" + music video !

Sweet Pill

The second Sweet Pill single is here! It's called "High Hopes" and it's a scorcher, I must say. Along with the release, the band also dropped a music video to accompany the song. read more →

 

Bellows // "Next of Kin" is out now! + new video for "My Best Friend"

Bellows

Next of Kin is officially out in the world, and I’m so excited for you all to finally hear it in full! It’s an honest record about loss – loss of family, beloved dogs, friendships, romantic love, loss of selfhood – but it’s whimsical, imaginative, and such a damn joy to listen to. read more →

 

Introducing: Sweet Pill

Sweet Pill

We’re ridiculously excited to announce the newest addition to the Topshelf family and roster, Sweet Pill! read more →

 

supernowhere // new single "The Hand" + music video

supernowhere

Pulled along by some unknown force, Kurt’s dreamself, unencumbered by lucidity or agency, soared over grassy green hills peppered with strange brick-red homes. read more →

 

Introducing: Mal Devisa

Mal Devisa

A partnership a long time in the making, we’re thrilled to work with Mal Devisa to release her full catalog across all streaming services for the first time! read more →

 

Introducing: supernowhere

supernowhere

"supernowhere grabbed the attention of every person behind this label, and we are thrilled to get to partner with them in re-introducing their debut album Gestalt to the wider world, now available to stream on all platforms for the first time." read more →

 

toe // DOKU-EN-KAI

toe

toe have announced a new feature-length live release, DOKU-EN-KAI, to be livestreamed in full via Bandcamp on March 5. read more →

 

Del Paxton // "Bedtime" video & BTS photos

We premiere the new video for "Bedtime" from Del Paxton, and give you a behind the scenes look including film photos & lots and lots of s'mores read more →

 

Gregory Uhlmann // "Santa Fe", new single featuring Meg Duffy

Gregory Uhlmann

​Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) joins Gregory Uhlmann on the ambient reverie "Santa Fe," taken from the upcoming Neighborhood Watch, out July 24​ read more →

 

Gregory Uhlmann // Lead Single "Spice Girls"

Gregory Uhlmann

“Neighborhood Watch is a cozy portrait of grains of sand, cats, ants, getting colds, letting loose, feeling shy, watching movies, and being in love.” read more →

 

Crisman // "Surprise" Music Video Premiere

Crisman

Crisman premieres their music video for "Surprise", from their debut self-titled album. Link to accompanying interview with The Alternative <3 read more →

 

Thanya Iyer // Visual Album "KIND"

Thanya Iyer

"KIND", the captivating visual album exploring healing, cultural identity, disability, and much more, is available now from Thanya Iyer read more →

 

standards // lead single "Special Berry" out now

standards

Join Marcos Mena for a quarantine-approved bedroom play through of "Special Berry", the lead single from standards' full-length debut, with accompaniment from an assortment of colorful comrades read more →

 

addy // "Eclipse", the title track from anticipated, forthcoming LP out now

addy

We're happy to share the title track from the forthcoming addy record "Eclipse" out March 6. read more →

 

Crisman // second single "Cya" premiere & tour dates with Bellows announced

Crisman

~ Crisman & Bellows ~ we love when our artists tour together, if you're in the NE this is the place to be! read more →

 

Ratboys // New single "Anj" and support shows announced with Wilco

read more →
Ratboys
 

addy // new single "Easier" +plus+ curated artist playlist

addy

Today we're happy to share "Easier", the second single from addy's forthcoming record "Eclipse", due out March 6th read more →

 

Crisman // "Surprise"

Crisman

The Denton slowcore group share the first single from their debut studio record read more →