It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking – all the best Alternative Rock music came from the 1990s. This statement has a ton of validity because the ’90s scene was pouring over with exceptional bands at the time, ranging from everything like Nirvana and Alice in Chains to Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage. It is a different era that, indeed, should be celebrated. Still, it also does not mean you have to shut off the possibility there are some pretty talented newer Alternative Rock bands out there like Momma.
Originally from Southern California but based out of Brooklyn, New York, Momma has roots that date back to 2015, when they first came together. A group of aspiring musicians were still trying to figure it out in their early twenties; Momma’s foundation is a bond between Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten. A friendship that developed in grade school, Friedman and Weingarten joined forces to create Momma and share the task of songwriting as a team. Also, sharing the guitar playing and lead vocals… Momma is unique.
As Momma released their debut EP, Thanks Come Again, in 2016, they released the full-length album Interloper in 2018, followed by Two of Me in 2020. Keeping busy and focusing on the music, Polyvinyl Records, seemingly out of nowhere, expressed interest in the band in early 2022. Excited for the opportunity, Friedman and Weingarten jumped on it, joined Polyvinyl, and released exceptional and highly praised Household Name in the summer of 2022. At this point, stirring up more interest worldwide, they would soon embark on bigger touring and live up to the title of their third album.
It is exciting to see, considering they offer a form of Alternative Rock with a classic ‘90s aesthetic but a very authentic sound; now, in 2025, Momma takes the next big step with Welcome to My Blue Sky. Released on April 4, 2025, through Polyvinyl Record Company/ Lucky Number, the band’s fourth album finds Friedman and Weingarten teaming with Aron Kobayashi Ritch on bass and Preston Fulk on drums. A proper quartet, the album also features production by Ritch and was reportedly recorded live in the studio with the full band at Studio G in Brooklyn. Far better than sharing sound files through emails and meeting via Zoom calls, not only does Momma’s songwriting truly shine with Welcome to My Blue Sky, but so does the sound.
Progressing, the twelve songs that makeup Welcome to My Blue Sky express the emotions of individuals growing as life follows them through. Maturing and comfortable in their skin as human beings and songwriters, the tracks are full of memorable melodies and infectious vocals. It is an album that includes the single “I Want You (Fever)” (which has peaked in both Adult Alternative Airplay and Alternative Airplay), but while it is good, this is only a tease for the remainder of the album.
Explaining this more deeply, Welcome to My Blue Sky has an undeniable energy, rawness, and emotion in each song. These factors are evident in other singles like “Rodeo” and “Bottle Blonde,” as well as “Last Kiss” and the outstanding “Ohio All The Time.”
Overall, you must check out Momma if you are looking for Alternative Rock with fuzzy guitars, catchy textures, and more than skin-deep lyrics. A bright spot that gives hope for the scene, Cryptic Rock gives Welcome to My Blue Sky 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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