In the ever-churning world of independent music, where fresh sounds and polished production chase the next “big” thing, it’s a rare treat when a band like Northfield steps up with something that feels less like a debut and more like a long-lost mixtape rediscovered in your parents’ basement. The album Lost And Found fits like a warm flannel on a crisp fall evening—comforting, unpretentious, and holding the smells of hazy ’90s garage rock nights.
Frontman Jesse Perkins is the quiet architect here, a Connecticut native who’s been honing these songs since the grunge-tinted ’90s, only to shelve them for nearly two decades amid life’s detours (family, day jobs, the usual indie rock gauntlet). Now, with a tight-knit lineup of local collaborators in Mike Goldberg: lead guitar, keys, Ethan Sawyer: drums, percussion, and Greg Hughes: bass, Lost And Found emerges as a testament to persistence. Northfield is not reinventing the wheel, but damn if it doesn’t hit smoother than most overproduced efforts cluttering your current modern rock playlist.
Opener “With The Radio On” eases in with a piano lead coupled with Jesse Perkins gravelly vocals. As the distorted guitars we get a hint of what’s to come. Mellow yet a tinge of grunge sneaking in to hook us softly. The sound pulls a little harder on lead single “It’s Too Easy” with its alt-country tinge meshing with an Americana Grunge. Bringing back flashbacks but also hitting fresh notes to keep it new. The melancholy lyrics hit right in that mid 90’s rock ethos.
The record meanders deeper into alt-country territory on “Time Will Tell,” where twangy guitars and a steady beat pair with a vocal delivery that could fit in front of a grungy Seattle coffeehouse or a dusty bar in Oklahoma. (Some more nice guitar work is included here as well). A song that offers a road-weary redemption arc leaving it up to time to fill out the rest of the story. This tone continues on “Some Days” with its thoughts about regret and the fleeting nature of happiness.
Let Northfield ‘Take Me Out’
A power shift from Northfield comes on “Take Me Out” hits with its punchy garage stomp that could slot right into a ’90s Sub Pop compilation—fuzzy basslines collide with Perkins’ lived-in vocals, evoking the raw urgency of bands like Buffalo Tom and Dinosaur Jr. It’s the kind of track that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. Snarling hooks, big guitar riffs, and a chorus that begs for communal swaying bodies at a dimly lit dive bar.
“The Sun Keeps Coming Up” acts as the setting sun with its somewhat calming tone. Don’t get me wrong, there is still plenty of energy here in the mesh of guitars, organs, and pounding drum beats. But they come together effortlessly letting our minds come to that ease that we all need. Memories abound and a smile may creep across the edge of your mouth. At over 7 minutes long we get all the time we need.
Production-wise, the album strikes that sweet indie spot: warm analog hum without lo-fi pretension. It’s rough around the edges in the best way—think a ’70s roadhouse record dusted off and given a gentle remaster—letting the imperfections breathe life into every chord. Sure, it wears its influences on its sleeve (a dash of Wilco here, a pinch of Dinosaur Jr. there), and at times the pacing blurs tracks into a nostalgic haze. But that’s the charm: in an era of algorithmic sameness, Northfield delivers something lived-in, a record that rewards repeat spins like an old favorite cassette.
