Welcome back to Weekly Gems at KCSU! I’m your host for this semester, KC Flanagan, and I’m excited to update you on what KCSU has been spinning! Let’s get started!
- The Gem by Julia Jacklin
Julia Jacklin released her new folk-indie record back in September, which received high praise and gained Jacklin some new fans. The record was even shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize for 2026. Throughout the album, she discusses issues with mental health and finding community. Many fans have expressed their love for Jacklin’s joyous vocals and happy sound in her music, even though the content is often mournful and downtrodden. Our featured track this week is “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)”.
- There Near by Dinosaur Jr.
There Near is an alternative, grunge rock album that is reminiscent of older classic rock. Dinosaur Jr released their sixth album back in August, and it maintains the energetic and eclectic rhythm section that the band is known for, while utilizing a retro sound in the guitars and vocals. Some tracks are slower ballads, like “Put It Down”, while others are high-energy and full. Our featured track this week, “Everything At Once”, expresses the band’s uniquely forward feel within the drums while 70s-sounding guitars play soaring melodies on top.
- New Avatar by Kelela
This album utilizes alternative and grunge feels over electronic R&B grooves, creating a unique, fresh sound. Kelela’s vocals are often soft and breathy, emphasizing the humanity of the album while singing emotional lyrics. Often, the electronics are used to hold up the grungey instrumentals, creating an alternative sound that lays perfectly under Kelela’s lyrics. The album flows seamlessly from track to track, expressing the artist’s emotions and conversations beautifully. Our featured track this week is “Against Me”.
- Helpless Love by Katherine Perkins
This alternative indie-pop album uses folk and pop sounds to back Perkins’ lovely vocals and lyrics. Throughout the album, she uses several horns such as saxophone, trumpet, and bass clarinet mixed into the rest of the ensemble, which give the album a grounded, human feel. This album was released back in September and has already made a splash at KCSU, getting featured on the Weekly Gems for the second time in October. Our featured track this week is “Ghost Town”.
- Pylon by Beabadoobee
Beabadoobee’s new album has a darker, grungy twist from her previous releases. With collaborations with Hayley Williams, Chino Moreno, and more, this album doesn’t hold back its deep and dark themes. While many fans have praised certain tracks such as “Nothing to Prove” feat. Hayley Williams and “Sun Has Set”, here at KCSU we’ve been spinning some underground gems off the record. Our featured track, “Switchblade”, is an angry, powerful track that reminds me of some rock ballads from the 90s.
- The Confuser by Robyn Hitchcock
Hitchcock’s 25th studio album maintains a weird and off-putting vibe throughout the entire record, which is exactly what the artist intended. Keeping up with energetic jangle-rock mixed with psychedelic grooves, The Confuser dances and twists from song to song. While previously, we’ve featured “Breathless”, this week I chose a more energetic and exciting track that showcases masterful editing and mixing, along with a fun, 60s-themed track. Our featured track this week is “Dead Astronaut”.
- Throw the Dice by Soft Loft
This folk-indie album takes inspiration from acoustic folk songs from the band’s home in Switzerland, as well as American folk music. This creates a welcoming, warm atmosphere for the listener where the band tells different emotionally releasing stories in each track. Influences such as Big Thief and Lizzy McAlpine become apparent in some of the lyric writing and prose, however, the band makes sure to center their sound around their core ambitions as a group. Our featured track this week is “Told”, the last track on the album, which expresses fear of abandonment and being left behind.
- Made It by Lucky Break
Made It was created from a collection of songs written between the ages of 19 and 23, hitting hard with our college audience, especially discussing breakups, post-grad uncertainty, and loss of childhood. Lucky Break has a 90s-inspired alternative sound, mixing grunge with 2020s pop influences, creating an appealing sound to many current college students. This album is one of the older records in rotation; however, the themes are perfect for a turbulent fall semester. Our featured track this week is “Big Swing”.
- Feels Like Destiny by Skinny Hightower
This album mixes jazz, electronics, and r&b to create a funky, grooving record. Almost entirely mixed, recorded, and produced by himself, Skinny Hightower showcases his incredible musicianship and prestige in his seventh studio album. With influences from gospel, r&b, smooth jazz, and funk music, Feels Like Destiny is an amalgamation of lots of popular genres of music within the jazz community, which makes it appealing and new for many musicians and listeners alike. Our featured track this week is “Hypnotic”.
- Lost Weekend by Phoebe Bridgers
Bridgers has been charting high at KCSU for several weeks now, and after performing at Ball Arena on Monday, the 19th, her popularity and intensely relatable music will likely maintain its place at the top of the charts. Her yearning, grieving lyrics are deeply relatable for many listeners, especially when discussing love and loss. Our featured track this week has been trending for its real and personal lyricism, as well as its raw vocals and powerful instrumentals. Here’s “Bobby” by Phoebe Bridgers.
Check back next week for more recaps of KCSU’s top 10 albums of the week!