Mountains EP
Self-Released, 2026
9/10
This first solo effort from the Minneapolis artist Joe Finstrom uses modern Americana and ‘90s rock to his advantage, where the 5 tracks surround life changes and resiliency.
The folk rock spirit of “Do You Know Me?” opens with Finstrom’s honest voice alongside warm acoustic guitar and thumping drums, and “I Love It Anyway” follows with both beauty and grit entering a light buzzing and no lack melody.
In the middle, “Long Time” benefits from Shannon Frid-Rubin’s graceful violin alongside fluid guitar and light drums the embraces atmosphere, while “Love Is A Simple Thing” is a scrappy moment that uses rootsy flavor amid the indie-rock template. “When Did You Get In?” exits, and radiates intimacy via the heartfelt storytelling and gentle instrumentation.
Finstrom wrote, recorded, produced and performed everything here but the violin, and his extensive work in other previous bands sure does help make this record on his own authentic, relatable and highly memorable.
Travels well with: Turn Turn Turn- All Hat No Cattle; Seven Crows- Power Of Observation