Latest Posts

Mirrorball – “Story of the Ice”

October 17, 2025

“Story of the Ice” is an apropos name for a track that I’m surprised isn’t about Buffalo (because no one else gets ice and no one ever used ice in the non-literal sense for a song). I’m never going to be mad about another dream pop band to add to my repertoire and Mirrorball is no exception; they pulled me in hook line and sinker with super slick bass licks and the perfect amount of synth (if you look back at some of my previous articles, you’ll see I hate it when synth is misused). Made up of Alexandra Johnstone and Scott Watson, the duo plays around Johnstone’s super soft vocals – managing to throw in a LOT of sound while doing it quietly (if that makes sense).   From what I could tell Johnstone and Watson haven’t put out an album as Mirrorball, but have a smattering of singles[...]

Pocket Full of Crumbs – “Heaven Take Me”

October 17, 2025

“Heaven Take Me” is the latest single from San Francisco based Pocket Full of Crumbs. It’s the first track off of the split single shared with fellow Californians Kan Kan. It’s a delightfully phuzzed-out affair that, like a perfect season of television, doesn’t overstay its welcome and sticks the landing. At just over two minutes it gives off punk vibes, but this is a shoegazer’s shoegaze song.   You can hear the track below on Bandcamp, as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to check out the other three tracks on the split with Kan Kan via Cherub Dream Records. I’m always *surprised_Pikachu.gif* when an artist I enjoy is on the same label as another that I enjoy, but I’m sure that’s no accident. If you’re feeling the vibe with PFoC, I KAN say without a doubt you’ll have the similar warm and fuzzies for KAN KAN.  [...]

LITE – “SUNSET feat. Yvette Young”

October 14, 2025

LITE has released their latest track “SUNSET,” a collab with Yvette Young of Covet fame. I started off thinking this was a gentle lullaby but was proved wrong within the first 30 seconds when the guitar breaks into shit that guitars shouldn’t even be able to do (#mathrock). There’s a weird time signature too – something in like… 16:2077. A cursory internet search will show you that Yvette Young is an insanely talented instrumentalist and guitars (and guitarists) everywhere are afraid of her. LITE isn’t, however, as they’re embarking as the opening act for Covet on an upcoming string of dates.   You can hear “SUNSET” below from YouTube as well as Spotify. Don’t forget to carry the zero on this dope math track and listen to it in *LOSSLESS AUDIO*. Honestly, I have a hard time telling the difference… Do y’all hear anything different?  

Mikey Demilio – “I Don’t Know How To Speak”

October 14, 2025

I’m not sure if you know anyone who is a musician (or are one), but if you do then you probably know just how difficult it is to record, mix, master, promote, and release an album. As of October 6th Mikey Demilio has released two albums this year (I’m pretty sure he’s done, but you never can be certain). “I Don’t Know How To Speak” is his latest single, off of This Feeling Is Ours. We previously covered his track “Explain” from his Billionaire’s Club LP.   Ironically having the longest runtime on the album, Demilio sure knows how to talk about not being able to speak. Obviously it’s a bit deeper than that though. The track is a nice amalgamation of guitar, synth, and bass. Demilio’s vocals use an echo effect throughout that gives an otherworldly effect, and the whole thing just comes together wonderfully.   You can hear “I[...]

Whalers – “Scarecrow”

October 7, 2025

The latest from Austin, Texas based Whalers is their apropos for the season, “Scarecrow,” originally conceived by the band in 2011 and forgotten in the shuffle of life (or Dropbox). Legend has it, the band happened upon it in 2023 and recorded it… and here we are now!   The guitar in this track does a LOT of heavy lifting and really drives things forward. Through the magic of layering and effects it feels at parts more like synth than guitar which is always impressive. The decision to keep the vocals relatively untouched for the verses gives the song a nice juxtaposition too. All of this combined together made me feel funny, but a good funny? Like that feeling of walking away after your first kiss with someone special, or you gained arcane knowledge (at what cost?), or a bit of both.   You can hear “Scarecrow” below from Bandcamp[...]

JEEN – “Look What You Did”

October 7, 2025

JEEN continues to build upon her absolutely stellar offerings with “Look What You Did,” recently released in anticipation of her EP For The Romance due out October 30th. It seemingly takes on a funky/freaky David Byrne-esque life of its own, but JEEN, ever the pro, is able to ride the waves and bring the song in for a soft landing. Drums, synth, and a dope bass line bounce around and off of JEEN’s vocals that occasionally turn echoey and it all works exceedingly well.   Be sure to check out our prior coverage of JEEN here (especially “Pour Your Heart“). Judging by her track record, we already can’t wait to check out the rest of the EP and hope that a trip out to Buffalo to perform is in order!   You can hear “What You Did” below from Soundcloud as well as the usual Spotify and Apple Music.  [...]

Lys Allen – “Boyish”

October 7, 2025

“Boyish” is the latest single from Lys Allen and the title track from their new album. It’s a super low key jam that builds up slowly yet surely; mirroring the themes of self-doubt and coming into your own. I know I like to point out a well placed crescendo, but this track definitely sets the gold standard. The last minute or so even has the main and backing guitar playing together instead of separately as had been the case in previous stanzas throughout… *chefs kiss.*   You can hear “Boyish” below from Bandcamp as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to check out the rest of the album if you enjoyed this offering. I particularly enjoyed “Columbia” as it showcased a different lyrical voice that reminded me of Courtney Barnett or Sonic Youth.   Boyish by Lys Allen

Washing Machina – “Debbie Lost Her Mind”

September 26, 2025

Washing Machina, based out of Stockholm, decided they were gonna tell the whole world about the ever-present Debbie that someone has come across at some point in their latest single, “Debbie Lost Her Mind.” “Everyone knows a Debbie,” says Karl Nordahl, vocalist and guitarist of Washing Machina. “She’s the one who pushes the night past its limits, who flips the switch from fun to madness…. This song is about that energy…”   The track itself is a phuzzy, guitar-forward affair that celebrates (and warns?) about that special person in your life. This fell right into that nice grungy/shoegazy/post-punky vibe that I can never get enough of – think Dinosaur Jr. making out with Sonic Youth while Foo Fighters watch from the closet.   You can see the music video from the band’s YouTube below which is honestly hilarious, or you can opt for the less hilarious, but admirably utilitarian Spotify[...]

Jacqueline Tucci – “Burning Out”

September 26, 2025

The time honored tradition of the burn out has never sounded very nice, but Jacqueline Tucci has changed that with their latest tune “Burning Out.” A stripped down intro gives way to garage-influenced pop punk distortion and continues to oscillate between the two feelings. Tucci commiserates with us, the listener, and plays around with the dual meaning of burning:   I know I’m not the only one who feels like I’m running towards the sun I feel myself burning up, I’ll be burning out in no time Oh, but there must be another way I used to sit in the sun all day I think I used to like the heat I think there’s still some time for me after all   There’s a sliver of hope too, “I think there’s still some time for me after all,” and while it easily could have been some gallows humor, I chose to[...]

Extra Space – “Never Wanted”

September 22, 2025

It has been a minute since we checked in with Extra Space back in July, with a review of their album Green Season here. Lead by Joey Puleio and Chris Kyle, “Never Wanted” is the latest single from their next album New Colors. Not a single note is out of place, which is important with most songs, I suppose but even moreso when it’s on the softer side like this one.   Don’t mistake “loud” for “good” and “quiet” for “bad;” you can hide mistakes with turning things up to 11 but when you bare it all and do it quietly with that Midwest emo sentimentality? Different story. Light drums and guitar guide us through the track with Puleio’s dulcet tones pushing things forward to a very satisfying fade out to black with a diddy of a guitar solo at the end.   You can hear “Never Wanted” below from the[...]

Fulton Lights – “Hold That Thought”

September 22, 2025

Pull up a comfy chair and throw on the latest from DC-based Fulton Lights, the brainchild of Andrew Spencer Goldman. “Hold That Thought” is a nice jaunt somewhere between rock and folk that manages to be contemplative without being droll. The guitar work is deliberate and gives way to what I thought was a harmonica but was actually its cousin, the melodica! Speaking to the track, Goldman had this to say:   “[The song is in some ways] … trying to remain open to those moments where creativity is born – and capturing and releasing them – before they dissipate. It can be an act of resistance against all of the things conspiring to distract.”   You can hear “Hold That Thought” below from Bandcamp, as well as Spotify. This is the perfect track you’ve been missing for your long thoughtful drive at night or winding down at home with[...]

CATBEAR – “Darkness”

September 17, 2025

“Darkness” is the latest single from Catbear; a duo based out of London who are very much here to show you how to embrace the gloom. They previously asked us “Who Cares?” back in May (here) and we had nothing but good feels there (we DO care, duh). The synth is the star here, occasionally playing second fiddle to the hauntingly beautiful vocals from Zoe Konez. Appropriately, the band describes the track as “The Cure scoring the film Drive” and I agree with that 110%.   The Soundcloud embed for “Darkness” can be found below, as well as over on Spotify. This is a surefire addition to your fall playlist and one you should honestly keep the rest of the year too. For whatever reason, spoopy time equals post-punk music and you know what? That’s just fine.   CATBEAR · Darkness

Dead Movie Animals – “Dead Movie Animals”

September 17, 2025

I’m not sure when I first started thinking about how “oh, that animal from *whatever movie* (Homeward Bound, rip Shadow) is definitely dead now” but I blame the internet and 30+ years of undiagnosed ADHD. Dead Movie Animals, in a rare play, have released a self titled track. A duo based out of Mysen, Norway, DMA leans heavily into the post punk vibe and, even with a small sample size, assuredly seems to be sticking around. I was instantly wowed by the extensive guitar play and incredible sound output, reminding me a lot of bands like Billy Talent or Death From Above 1979. If your ears aren’t melted by the end of this track, you were listening to the wrong audio.   You can hear “Dead Movie Animals” below from Spotify. They seem to have an active social media and linktree, but Spotify has the most up to date tracks.[...]

SIKADE – “body of water”

September 16, 2025

SIKADE is a solo project from Norway native Linnea Vestre, and “body of water” is their latest. This is a poppy, shoegaze-forward track that does a fantastic job being apart of a bigger whole while standing on its own. You’ll easily be drawn into the nifty guitar riff that goes right into a nautical mouthfeel with Vestre’s vocals leading the way. Somewhere betwixt folk and shoegaze, this is sure to pique you and your friend Ron’s interests (Ron loves indie folk almost as much as his firstborn).   You can hear “body of water” below from SIKADE’s bandcamp, as well as Spotify and Apple Music. The rest of the three track single is also worth your time. “seaglass” and “bloody moon” really completed the entirety the body of water experience for me. It felt like slowly slipping deeper and deeper and really hit on all cylinders (from top to bottom,[...]

Dalmatic – “Empty Lights”

September 12, 2025

“Empty Lights” is the latest single from Glasgow based Dalmatic. Toeing the line somewhere between punk and indie with shoegaze sensibilities, there is a lot to unpack from this track. This is through and through a guitarist’s guitar track with several layers of that delightful phuzz that would pique the interest in anyone who enjoys non-stop sound. Don’t take that to mean you can’t hear anything through all of that though; not a single note or strum is wasted and I’m willing to bet bottom dollar at least one of them is classically trained.   You can hear “Empty Lights” on Deezer, as well as Spotify and Apple Music. The rest of the single is worth a listen to, with “Coming Down (Demo)” and “Not All The Time” rounding things out.