Check out Local Spins’ takes on several new releases by Michigan artists, from psych-rock to country to indie-pop and more — and listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
The Cosmoknights: Featured in the 2025 Local Spins Calendars and in today’s album-review roundup. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
On Thanksgiving Eve, it’s time to show gratitude for the multitude of 2024 releases by Michigan artists — many of them reviewed previously at Local Spins.
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Today, we profile another batch of multifarious musical projects by local and regional artists, from psychedelic rock to country to indie-pop.
Check out our writers’ takes on these releases and listen to tracks from each recording. Concert photos of Grand Rapids’ Ficus and The Cosmoknights, by the way, are two of more than three dozen Michigan bands featured in the Local Spins 2025 Calendars. Get yours online here.
Ficus
“Pollinator”
What Stands Out: Grand Rapids psychedelic rock band Ficus immerses listeners in an otherworldly journey right from the start of their debut full-length album. Each track on “Pollinator” finds its groove within a certain riff or motif and then proceeds to build onto that central element with layers of fuzzy guitar, distorted effects and heavily layered vocals. This method keeps even the longest tracks grounded and focused on a destination without ever becoming muddy or lost in instrumental jam sessions. Reverb-heavy vocals lend themselves to many of the tracks as an additional instrument to build atmosphere rather than taking center stage.
Digging Deeper: “Humble Jam,” a track in which funky flute melodies and solos take the lead, stands out as the most unique track on “Pollinator.” The cinematic vibe of the whole album is another standout element. If an action-packed high fantasy movie had a psych-rock soundtrack, I imagine it would sound something like this. Being that this is a debut album, it feels as if “Pollinator” is building a world that will act as a foundation for future Ficus projects. “Tortoise Shell” in particular showcases the band’s skill as each instrumentalist shifts effortlessly into new time signatures and variations on the song’s core melody throughout the eight-minute track. The sheer magnitude of these tracks and the conviction with which they are delivered are likely some of the characteristics that have earned Ficus a dedicated fan base so quickly after its formation in 2019.
Perfect For: Those who would like to leave the real world behind for about 45 minutes and escape to the magical world of Ficus. – Holly Holtzclaw
Website: https://ficustheband.bandcamp.com
Upcoming Show: 8 p.m. ronight (Nov. 27) at Elevation (The Intersection) in Grand Rapids with Desmond Jones and Hannah Laine
Listen: “Humble Jam”
The Cosmoknights
“Monster & Machine”
What Stands Out: The Cosmoknights have arrived on earth in their intergalactic mission to keep the groove constant and audiences uplifted. Their latest album, Monster & Machine, is born from the collaborative spirit around funk-fueled dance pop rock that features a flamboyant, theatrical flare from song to stage. Audiences were recently hailed by this interstellar transmission at The Pyramid Scheme earlier this month for their album release show. Listeners can expect electrified pop rock colored with captivating performing energy and commitment to the planetary characters they all embody, solidifying their stand out personas among the different rock outfits in West Michigan.
Digging Deeper: This group’s commitment to their sound and presentation is palpable throughout the record. Earworms burrow into your brain as your body is compelled to dance, all the while bombarding your spirit with positive vibes nestled in the groove. To reiterate a quote I gave that was recently published on their Instagram, “The Cosmoknights are as delightfully colorful with their music as the uniforms they don to inject a dose of whimsy hypercharged by catchy, dance-fueled songwriting. These knights of the well rounded table come together to create something that shines in the realm of pop rock electrified with psychedelia and palpable theatrics that beg for a club show humming with positive energy.”
Perfect For: Anyone hailing a galactic traveler to dance the night away in your truest form. – Dutcher Snedeker
Website: https://www.instagram.com/the_cosmoknights
Listen: “High Class”
Whiskey Hunter
“Mosaic”
What Stands Out: Grand Rapids rock band Whiskey Hunter channels ’70s country-rock sounds amid effortless vocal harmonies and easygoing guitar riffs with just the right amount of twang. The group doesn’t limit itself to just one genre though. A strong ’90s alternative rock influence comes through with the vocal stylings and heavier instrumentals in the track “Start Again.” Meanwhile, the smooth, bluesy vibe of “Whiskey & Wine” makes it one of the standout tracks on “Mosaic.”
Digging Deeper: The band’s songwriting skills shine on ballads such as “Mosaic” and “So Much More” with genuine lyrics about love, heartbreak and everything in between. “Mosaic” in particular paints a vivid metaphor of picking up the broken pieces of one’s past and creating something new, which makes it an excellent choice for the title-track of an album that does just that. However, the majority of the ballads and slowed-down tracks are placed in the latter half of the album, causing it to lose steam and feel a bit weighed down after the energy of the first half. A few of the later tracks could benefit from a more uptempo groove while still retaining their emotional qualities. Whiskey Hunter worked with Michael Crittenden at Mackinaw Harvest Studios in the band’s hometown of Grand Rapids, making its first full-length album a truly homegrown effort in every sense.
Perfect For: Those in search of a laid-back album that encompasses the feel of a Michigan summer spent at bonfires and beaches with friends. – Holly Holtzclaw
Website: https://www.facebook.com/whiskeyhunterband/
Listen: “Mosaic”
Kylee Phillips
“The Good Parts”
What Stands Out: Southeast Michigan pop singer-songwriter Kylee Phillips shares her mantras and methods for staying ground and finding the positives in life on her latest EP. Phillips’ may have branded her music as “sad girl pop,” but the optimistic spin and uplifting pop production she brings to “The Good Parts” is a breath of fresh air. Phillips’ personal anecdotes and introspective lyrics have become signature elements across her projects and this EP builds on these as Phillips’ storytelling becomes even more candid.
Digging Deeper: “The Good Parts” examines the progression from past, present and future. In “31” Phillips seems to address her younger self and give the advice she wishes she could have heard then. There are several moments where Phillips addresses that she still faces anxieties and insecurities, but assures the listener that those things cannot stop her from growing and finding her happiness. The final track, “Beautiful Still,” implies that there is still a version of Phillips in the future that she has yet to meet who is even further along on her healing journey than she is presently. In the opening track Phillips sings, “I’ve been trying to take a look in the mirror, but most days I’d rather look away” and by the end of the EP, she begins to form a new outlook on self-worth and wonders if, “Maybe the mirror won’t only reflect what I’m trying to be this morning, maybe I’ll know what I’d rather see.”
Perfect For: Fans of outspoken female pop artists with excellent storytelling skills; Maggie Rogers fans in particular. – Holly Holtzclaw
Website: https://www.kyleephillips.com
Upcoming Show: Dec. 17 at Alpino Detroit with Chris DuPont
Listen: “Beautiful Still”
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