Here’s a beautiful return-to-form for dreamy indie-pop act Mediocre. “Give In” pairs jangly guitar magic with lilting vocals, a mid-tempo pace, and an epic string ending. Fans of Jay Som, Alvvays, or Girlpool will find lots to love here – it’s set off by a swirly, psychedelic music video that fits the song’s mood perfectly and highlight’s the LA duo’s tasteful moodiness in the perfect light. There are lots of ways to enjoy “Give In” – check them all out here.
Loving this sassy new single from Eden Rain about a very particular type of relationship. “Sugar Baby” is a straight up pop banger with tasteful hints of r&b, hip hop, and indie pop peeking through its left-of-center appeal. Eden’s lyrical prowess is nothing short of inspirational – her bluntness is frankly refreshing… Plus, the chorus of “fucked up bitches get money; it’s just reparations honey” is an insanely catchy hook that will claw its way right into your brain, never to let go. Check out the unique lyric video for “Sugar Baby” below – you can also find her on Spotify.
Manchester quartet Crush is a mysterious band whose “So Strange” caught our ears for its dreamy, shoegaze-y approach. Singer/guitarist Amber Warren describes the song as: “A head-on challenge to negative feelings… It’s a dialogue in the first-person addressing anxiety in a cathartic defiance of the emotions that arise from it.” We found ourselves particularly drawn to the droning guitar ambiance of “Strange,” reminiscent of other gaze-y bands like DIIV, My Bloody Valentine, and Slowdive with the sugary-sweet vocals of The Sundays for good measure. Peep “So Strange” via Soundcloud below – be sure to check out “So Strange” via Spotify too. crush · So Strange
Copenhagen’s Trentemøller teamed up with singer Lisbet Fritze to create the stunning, yet simplistic dream pop of new single, “All Too Soon.” Sparsely-tracked guitars interact perfectly with Fritze’s lilting vocals, creating a dark-pop atmosphere that sounds dusky, mysterious, and expressive all at once. Fans of Phantogram; Now, Now; and Still Corners will find lots to love here – not to mention the stunning visuals brought to live in the accompanying music video. Watch the dreamy video for “All Too Soon” below – there are also multiple other ways to listen to it… Find them all here.
Chicago-based dream-grunge band llo llo caught our attention with the soaring midwest vibes of their latest single “Tethered.” Combining Billy Corgan-esque guitar tones with the shoegaze approach of Slowdive and the midwest sound of early American Football, “Tethered” is one of those songs that scratches multiple itches at once… It’s emotional and forlorn without ever losing it’s strong, guitar-based energy. Dig into their quiet/loud approach and let their music wash over you. Check out “Tethered” via YouTube below – you can also find it on Spotify if you prefer to stream your music there.
Fun, raucous, and weird are three apt words to describe this impressive new single from Cheap City… Let’s just say we think fans of Pile, The Dismemberment Plan, and The Growlers will come together to find a common love in this unique crew. A strong bass line helps push this one forward, while klaxon guitars, cowbells, and sprechgesang vocals bring an explosive energy to this tune. Check out “Witch in the Alley” via Bandcamp below – you can also listen to it on Spotify and Apple Music. Clocktower Broke by Cheap City
Last time we checked in with Baby Bulldog, we were intrigued by the lighthearted indie-pop of “I Rly Rly Like You.” Steph Barker is back with another jam, albeit, this one’s just a bit more menacing. “Daddy” takes the same amazing energy of “Rly Rly” and packs it into something both badass AND catchy. The refrain of “call me daddy” has been stuck in our head for weeks… Be warned, this one’s a certified earworm. Check out the video for “Daddy” below – there may or may not be some (theatrical) murder involved.
Let’s just put it out there, we like HUSBANDS. We’ve previously featured their singles, “Culebra,” “Mexico,” and “Neuromancer,” and today we’re overjoyed to feature their latest single, “Ancient One.” The multi-city duo (OKC x Seattle, to be specific) get a bit more experimental on “Ancient,” introducing a unique percussive presence to their otherwise sunny indie pop. In true HUSBANDS style, the song closes out with a fun sing-a-long melody, so be sure to stick around until then. You can find “Ancient One” on Bandcamp (along with the rest of the band’s excellent discography) – check it out here. HUSBANDS · Ancient One
Don’t let the summery name of LA’s June Swoon fool you – her latest offering, “Queen of Hearts,” is about as autumnal as it gets. Mixing the anthemic appeal of bands like War on Drugs with the shimmery indie pop of bands like Alvvays, “Hearts” finds June exploring hopes of having someone love you when you’re just not at your best. Beyond June’s endearing vocals, you can expect jangly guitar magic and a galloping bassline. June Swoon is on Spotify too… But be sure to swing by Bandcamp and support JS if you like what you hear. Queen of Hearts by June Swoon
Philly-based joy rock band Past Life hit our inboxes with “Connect The Dots” and we’ve been hooked on their unique, bouncy approach ever since. Fans of Two Door Cinema Club, Phoenix, and Grouplove are going to like this one a lot – expect screaming guitar riffs and ebullient vocals, not to mention the “DJ set” of pedal theatrics that blasts in mid-song. About “Dots,” the band says: “Connect The Dots is about a relationship that had fizzled out but neither person had the guts to call it quits.” Check out “Dots” via the Bandcamp widget below – you can also find Past Life on Spotify. Window Shopping Economics by Past Life
An Hour A Minute hit our inboxes with the uniquely laid-back vibes of “Honeydew (Honey Don’t)” and we’ve been hooked ever since. There’s a distinct island vibe to their bedroom-y/indie pop approach – think bongo percussion providing a steady backbone for the duo’s easy-going instrumentals. We think the unique refrain of “Honeydew/Honey Don’t” will surely find its way into your brain… Not to mention, the summery flavor feels delightfully bittersweet as we plunge further and further into fall. “Honeydew (Honey Don’t)” is available on both Spotify and Apple Music. An Hour a Minute · Honeydew (Honey Don’t)
Nottingham-based singer/songwriter Chloe Rodgers is here with an understated stunner called “Bones.” Boasting a set of lyrics that are shrouded in abstract mystery, “Bones” plays with haunting electronic elements, unique chord progressions, and Rodgers’ ever-pleasant vocal presence. Co-songwriter Alex Starling adds: “Bones is largely about losing someone who should have been close and being excluded from not only their life but also their death.” Powerful stuff. Chloe’s stuff is on Spotify too – be sure to give her Spotify page a view. Chloe Rodgers · Chloe Rodgers – Bones
US-born, London-based act tummyache (aka producer/musician Soren Bryce) caught our ears with the unique alternative rock flavors of her new single, “Soak.” Inspired by the out-of-the-box ways we’ve learned to live with ourselves throughout the pandemic, “Soak” explores themes of restlessness and escapism via a 90s inspired sound and an anxious 2021 mindset. Fans of fuzz are going to love the breakdowns here, but there’s enough guitar nuance here to please even the fussiest of music snobs. “Soak” is also available via Spotify – make sure you check it out there, too. Soak by tummyache
Just in time for Halloween, LA-based band Creature of Doom has released their menacing single, “Dead Ringer.” Full of squelchy synth atmosphere (that sounds like a dank, bubbling cauldron) and haunting vocals, this one falls on the spectrum somewhere between the cold post punk of She Wants Revenge, the nuance of Radiohead, and the creepiness of Nine Inch Nails. Bonus points: “Dead Ringer” was co-produced and mixed by Ali Chant of Perfume Genius and Soccer Mommy fame. If you’re feeling “Dead Ringer,” you can check it out via Spotify too. Creature of Doom · Dead Ringer
Digging this in-the-pocket bedroom-funk collab between Odaiba and Anna Majidson. The French musicians hit it out of the park with “Help” – a funky mix of nu-disco and bedroom-pop with an ultra-catchy refrain. We all know someone we need to tell “Please go get some help” for one reason or another – now you can do it in a sing-song way! Expect slap bass antics and a perfectly-suited sultry vocal from Majidson too. “Help” is available via Soundcloud below – you can also find it on Spotify or Apple Music. Cookie Records · Odaiba feat Anna Majidson – Help