Latest Posts

Tristan Armstrong – “Queen of Diamonds”

February 20, 2025

Tristan Armstrong, pulling triple duty as composer, main artist, and producer, shows off his latest single “Queen of Diamonds” to us, the great unwashed masses. Much like a playing card, the track has two sides to it – literally playing cards in someone’s apartment and the more abstract; specifically, committing to someone romantically. This is unabashedly a rock ‘n roll track with more guitar than you can shake a stick at (including a brief solo, something that gets forgotten about a lot in modern music imo).   You can hear “Queen of Diamonds” below from YouTube as well as over on Spotify. If you’re a fan of 60’s and 70’s music with a dash of pop, or acts like Father John Misty who venture into a similar feel, you’ll find a lot to enjoy with this track and the rest of Armstrong’s catalogue.  

Frog – “WHERE DO I SIGN VAR. III”

February 20, 2025

Following up from the beginning of the month (here), we have a new track from indie duo Frog. “WHERE DO I SIGN VAR. III” is the latest single off their album 1000 Variations on the Same Song. I favorably compared their prior single, “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI” to your (my) friend Ron’s bachelor apartment of yesteryear: “complete with incense from his roommate and some obtuse dinnerware; never rising to ostentatious… but you’re still kinda jealous of that dinnerware.”   If “HIPS” was the tasteful dinnerware, this is assuredly the reliably delicious water that comes from their ancient Brita. Sliding into a Midwest emo vibe, the brothers Bateman mix tight (and light) drums with acoustic guitar and a tiny smattering of keys sprinkled throughout. Somewhere between American Football and Bon Iver, fans of both will find this track a great starting point before diving into the album (though you[...]

SOZI – “The Brink”

February 11, 2025

“The Brink” is a place I’m sure many people have been brought to through various circumstances, but in this case, we’re talking about SOZI’s latest single. Drum machines and synth underpin an ethereal romp that feels like partway between a dream and waking; just as time is starting to slow down to a crawl. Speaking to the track, SOZI had this to say:   “This one’s all about that electrifying moment between breaking and breakthrough: the tension, the uncertainty, the push to keep going when everything feels like it’s about to collapse.”   Fans of Florence and the Machine and Clairo would find a lot to enjoy here, as well as aficionados of LORDE/Randy Marsh.   You can hear “The Brink” below from YouTube. You can check out her personal site with a link to lots of stuff (more vids, socials, etc.). Including, apparently, SOZI tokens.        

MacGregor Burns – “Put It All On Me”

February 11, 2025

MacGregor Burns, a true artist’s artist and a renaissance man, brings us his latest single: “Put It All On Me.” We previously covered Burns and producer/collaborator Luke Temple back in August for the lead single, “She Never Took a Chance On Me” off the upcoming album (coming this fall). Burns flexes his goth cred with a lightly haunting but not oppressive track; calling to mind a modern-day version of Joy Division or Robert Smith on a sunny day.   The bass & synth on “PIAOM” contrast nicely with the acoustic guitar of the prior “SNTaCOM;” seeing artists dip into different styles while still maintaining a signature feel is always a fine treat. Both tracks come straight from the soul lyrically while going in interesting directions musically.   You can hear “Put It All On Me” below from YouTube or add it to your synth-y playlist over on Spotify.    [...]

Crack! Bang! Pow! – “Hey”

February 9, 2025

Crack! Bang! Pow! (hitherto known as CBP!) brings us their latest single with “Hey.” Other than figuring out the song was written by Bradley Peterson I….couldn’t figure out a lot here. Big lout energy is abound here with a punk aesthetic that clashes wonderfully into a glam rock vibe. Guitar aficionados will be satiated here and there’s nothing you can do about that.   You can hear “Hey” below courtesy of YouTube as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Fans of chanty/responsorial flavored punk rock would find a lot to enjoy here (minus the religion; sorry, just a recovering Catholic here). If you’ve ever gone into a mosh without showering or think that the British are the pinnacle of punk, you’ll be right at home here.   Crack! Bang! Pow! · Hey (SELF-RELEASE)

Rainbow City Park – “Fruitless”

February 9, 2025

“Fruitless” is the latest single from the Fruitless EP; Rainbow City Park’s latest release as of 2/4/25. Blistering guitars and drums assault the senses while lyricist Danielle Blankenship keeps us hooked with a perfect blanket of vocals. Inspired by the shoegaze greats – namely MBV and DIIV – “Fruitless” is a lovely addition to the overarching shoegaze canon, layered thick with emo-esque melodies that help it to go down just a bit smoother than its spikier contemporaries.   You can check out the track below on YouTube or add it to your Spotify playlist here. Be sure to check out the rest of the EP; well worth the twenty minute time investment. Anyone who enjoys a solid guitar solo that does some (but not all) of the heavy lifting will be in heaven.    

Frog – “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI”

February 4, 2025

“JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI” is the latest from Frog off of their upcoming album 1000 Variations on the Same Song due out Valentines Day (February 14). Based out of New York, brothers Daniel and Steve Bateman have come back together for a rousing yet subdued indie album for the first part of the year.   Going with a dandy of a piano medley paired with drums, they play it close to the chest. It just exudes artistry, like your friend Ron’s bachelor apartment of yesteryear – complete with incense from his roommate and some obtuse dinnerware; never rising to ostentatious… but you’re still kinda jealous of that dinnerware. Fans of Bon Iver or Sufjan Stevens would find a lot to enjoy here. Why? Just because. You know I’m right.   You can hear “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI” below from Soundcloud. The prior single “MIXTAPE LINER NOTES VAR.[...]

Risley – “World Goes On”

February 4, 2025

Feline-christened four piece Risley brings us their latest downbeat jam with “World Goes On.” Portland based (of the PNW varietal), this four piece meanders at the perfect pace through the track but never leaves you wanting. Clocking in at just under four minutes, it feels like Bauhaus and Dinosaur Jr. had a lovechild with split custody. Bass guitar often gets overlooked for its flashier cousin, but does a lot of heavy lifting here by setting the mood. Don’t let the flashy guitar ruin the mood… Even though in all actuality, the lead guitar riff here is quite captivating.   You can hear “World Goes On” below from the band’s Soundcloud, as well as over on Spotify and YouTube. The rest of the album, Umbra Penumbra (January 24) is worth chomping into and would pair well with a pinot noir or a long drive home from work where you just keep[...]

The Feather – “All My Life”

February 2, 2025

Winning the award for one of the most wholesome songs you’ll hear this week, “All My Life” is not a Foo Fighters cover, but rather a song of sibling love by Belgian solo artist The Feather (aka Thomas Medard, of Dan San fame who are also worth a listen). This song is filled to the brim with vibrant synth and *impeccable* bass licks that will leave you in a puddle. Medard’s vocals along with the groovy effects (both electronic and visual in the video below) craft an impossibly catchy track.   You can see the music video for “All My Life” below from YouTube. You can add it to your synth heavy playlist(s) on Spotify. Keep your ears peeled for more after this and 2024’s “Invisible” album; you won’t be left wanting but you’ll certainly be hankerin’ for more.  

KOTE – “To Be Horrified”

February 1, 2025

“To Be Horrified” is the latest from mysterious musician (and possible time traveler and/or vampire/deity) Veronique Bertelle, better known as KOTE. Bertelle’s lyrics mesh well with the tight combo of drums, bass, and rhythm guitar and showcase a story of strength against the patriarchy. Speaking to their experiences, Bertelle had this to say:   “My name is Veronique Bertelle, but I am not me. I don’t live, nor have I ever lived, by your rules of space and time. I was born in the United Kingdom in the ’50s, in an era that already felt the first beats of a musical revolution. In 1984, I was reborn in Italy, a fracture in the timeline that redefined who I was. Until 1990, I lived between 1965 and 1975, moving between Los Angeles and El Cerrito. In those places, immersed in sound and experimentation, I walked alongside artists I intimately knew through[...]

quickly, quickly – “Enything”

January 28, 2025

Portland, Oregon based quickly, quickly is the brainchild of Graham Jonson, and “Enything” is their latest song. I was briefly disappointed as I thought this was going to be a celebration of Enya (jk), but was genuinely very impressed with the lo-fi bedroom pop mouthfeel. The cavalcade of instrumentals, both big and small, reminded me of a lovechild betwixt Elliot Smith and Sufjan Stevens; parts jazzy and folksy, but altogether a most satisfying endeavor. If you aren’t taken in by the music video below, you’ll at least be able to enjoy crescendos that come out of nowhere and fade back.   You can watch the music video for “Enything” below on YouTube. You also have your pick of  Bandcamp and Spotify so you can throw this on your bedroom pop playlist (of which you should have many from us, right?).  

Fright Years – “Do What You Wanna”

January 28, 2025

Edinburgh based Fright Years brings us their latest track with “Do What You Wanna.” The rare, bass-heavy track that celebrates the idea that we can find joy in expressing ourselves without fear or judgement. The intro reminded me of “I Am One” from Smashing Pumpkins first album, Gish, with the heavy emphasis on the bass and drums. The guitar comes in the help carry us through the rest of track just before a minute has elapsed, but, in all honesty, I could listen to this chunky bass riff allllll day long.   You can hear “Do You Wanna” below from YouTube or add it to your punky/psychedelic-adjacent playlist on Spotify. The single also includes “Aftersun” and “Stars” and are also worth your time, showing the true range of the band.  

georgia, georgia – “friends”

January 28, 2025

It’s been a minute since we last heard from Italy-based musician georgia, georgia. We last covered her here back in October and, much like then, we’re quite stoked to hear her latest offering “friends” (back then it was “things you do”).   Other than thumbing her nose at capitalizing, Giorgia Piva has crafted an impeccably catchy dream pop track where the guitar and synth play second fiddle to her vocals. She makes the entire affair sound effortless even with her wispy-yet-strong vocals. Fans of Phoebe Bridgers or Clairo would find a lot to enjoy here, as would anyone who enjoys a well crafted song from start to finish (… so, probably everyone).   You can hear “friends” below from bandcamp or add it to your Spotify playlist of perfect pop songs delivered in a whisper song voice.   friends by georgia, georgia

Label Mou – “Sparkling Lights”

January 28, 2025

Label Mou, Italy-born and based in Germany, brings us her latest track “Sparkling Lights.” Mou’s vocals deftly weave through the house beats that underpin the track. The song was released as a message of support to people impacted by the Los Angeles fires (of 2025). Lyrically, “Sparkling Lights” is “an imaginary story of a devastating natural disaster, inspired by the strength found in love and the transformative power of reconnection, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.” While at first glance this may seem a little on the nose, the track itself was written a few years ago and was purposefully and thoughtfully released.   You can hear “Sparkling Lights” below from YouTube and can throw it on your “chill house around the house” mix on Spotify. I found a few other tracks she was featured on, as well has her past project Might at Night, but this was the[...]

honeygaze – “Heartthrob”

January 28, 2025

“Heartthrob” is the latest single from Philadelphia hyperpop band honeygaze. A combination of EDM, pop, punk, and then some, that comes together better than the sum of its parts (and not some (or perhaps some(?)) Frankenstein mish mash). Encompassing anywhere between Charlie XCX or “scawy monstews and nice spwites :3″ from Fraxiom, it’s quite the gap!   The track itself reminded me a lot of one of my personal favorites: Silversun Pickups – in particular, the fuzzed out guitar which keeps this rooted in indie rock. The synth and voice modulation keep the track interesting but not to the point where the band loses the plot and you’re left wondering what you’re listening to. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! Sometimes you need something so out of pocket that it haunts your dreams. In this case, honeygaze reigns in the wildness of hyperpop to create something left-field, but melodically[...]