Neko Case is back with her gothic Americana. Brooklyn’s Geese are perhaps the most discussed indie band of 2025, while Melbourne’s King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard recently released their 27th album since their 2011 debut. Read on!
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Phantom Island
2025, 8/10
A six-piece band based in Melbourne, Australia, King Gizzard… have released 27 albums since their 2011 debut. They’ve recently quit Spotify, instead offering their albums for a pay-what-you-want price on Bandcamp. On Phantom Island, they work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
“We thought, ‘Well, if we’re going to do one show, we may as well do a tour. And if we’re going to do a tour, we may as well make a new album'”
Stu Mackenzie, ABC
It sounds a little like 1960s chamber pop, but it’s energetic and bluesy at the same time. They often deal with fantasy themes – one of their most beloved albums is titled PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation. But here there’s more realism and emotional heft than usual – on ‘Spacesick’, Stu Mackenzie sings “How did the little one sleep?/Did you make it to the zoo?/….I miss her, and you.”
After so much recording and touring, they’re great players – the title track benefits from its claustrophobic arrangement, while ‘Dead Stick’ is elevated by melodic instrumental lines. ‘Sea of Doubt’ is a favourite, with muscle behind the pretty Beach Boys harmonies.
I haven’t spent much time with this band’s enormous discography, but based on Phantom Island, I need to dig deeper.
Neko Case
Neon Grey Midnight Green
2025, 7/10
As well as singing with the New Pornographers, Case has a solo career, where she delivers succinct Gothic Americana. Her ninth album might not live up to past triumphs like Fox Confessor Brings the Flood and Middle Cyclone, but it’s worth your time.
Case recently released an autobiography, which reveals that she’s into engine maintenance.
“I wanted to see what my brain could do in these realms that had been so softly but still unmistakably cordoned off as forbidden to my ‘female’ hands. I wanted to unknot my chromosomes and rebraid them into something else; something not wholly ‘male’ but not ‘female,’ either.”
Neko Case, Rolling Stone
She’s a little more experimental than she’s been in the past – abrasive tracks like ‘Tomboy Gold’ and the title track sound surprisingly like Patti Smith. But Case is still delivering pretty acoustic tunes like ‘Wreck’ and ‘Louise’
I’d check in with her older classics first, but Neon Grey Midnight Green is a worthy effort.
Geese
Getting Killed
2025, 7/10
Brooklyn band Geese have been the indie it-band of 2025, polarising music fans. Frontman Cameron Winter’s vocal approach is an acquired taste. It changes from a tender falsetto to a vibrato-laden yelp, then to a full-throated Elvis Presley-style baritone. The band formed in 2016, taking their name from guitarist Emily Green’s nickname. Getting Killed is their fourth album, following Winter’s acclaimed 2024 solo album.
The band worked with producer Kenny Beats, better known for his work with bands like slowthai. They recorded Getting Killed in January 2025, during the Southern California wildfires.
There’s an attention-grabbing opening, as the brief, screamy ‘Trinidad’ segues into the moody ‘Cobra’. ‘Half Real’ constantly threatens to break into ‘Ode to Joy’. The band’s twisted version of pop music on ‘Bow Down’ is surprisingly satisfying, while the balladry of ‘Au Pays du Cocaine’ is also effective.
There’s something interesting here, but I find this polarising album kind of middling.
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King Gizzard whose album “Phantom Island” I also covered when it came out and Neko Case are my favorites here. I recall looking at the latter, but “Midnight Green” came out during a pretty busy week, which also included new albums by The Marcus King Band, Jeff Tweedy and Robert Plant I ended up prioritizing. I only know a few of Case’s songs. One I’ve always loved is “People Got a Lotta Nerve,” off “Middle Cyclone.”
Middle Cyclone is great – I found a copy in a cutout bin years ago and loved it.
I should revisit to listen to the entire album.
I’ve liked some of King Gizzard’s music but, given its enormity, I feel I’ve barely touched the surface. I hate to admit I haven’t listened to much music by The New Pornographers or Neko Case, but I really like “Wreck” and the other songs I’ve heard from “Neon Grey Midnight Green”. I also haven’t heard any music by Geese, so now remedying that situation by streaming “Getting Killed”. Though I can’t say I love it, it’s certainly a fascinating listen with lots to like.
Me too with King Gizzard – there’s so much to keep up with.
I noticed that you covered Goose recently – quite confusing to have two similarly named bands kicking around.
Yes, especially given they’re both so popular and putting out new music simultaneously.
Thanks for an interesting (and manageable) trio, G.
Thanks for reading. Are you from Melbourne, like King Gizzard?
Indeed. Haven’t seen them live, however. Do have 3 or 4 LPs (which, given their output, is pretty pathetic!).
I’ve been grabbing a few albums from pay-what-you want Bandcamp recently.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard…27 albums since 2011…that is beyond prolific. I love this live cut a lot…very melodic…this is good.
My son told me not long ago…check out Geese…so I’m more familiar with them than the others…but I do like it. I do like his voice because it’s different…not that any different voice is good…but it must have grown on me…because I really like this.
Geese are the breakout indie band of 2025. I didn’t love it, but there’s something there – maybe I should try the previous one, or Winter’s solo record.
I’ve been listening to them for a little bit now…just spot listening…it was cool to read your review on someone new and know them a little.