Latest Posts

Damn Janis – “A Doctor, A Cop, A Judge”

November 10, 2021

Miami-based quartet Damn Janis slammed their way into our inbox with the menacing shoegaze sound of “A Doctor, A Cop, A Judge.” Filled with swirling guitar tones, a dark minor key, a blistering guitar solo, and Sprechgesang-style vocals, “Doctor” finds the band exploring themes of both aggression and love. Their sound is angular, but well-put-together… If there were a Venn diagram of Crumb; late-era Title Fight; Pile; and Modern Baseball, Damn Janis might fall right in the middle. You can find “A Doctor, A Cop, A Judge” on YouTube below, or Spotify and Apple Music.

Don’t Worry – “Crushing Weight”

November 9, 2021

Last time we checked in on Essex indie punks Don’t Worry, we were psyched on their previous, wry single, “Get Out.” They sent us another angularly-catchy song called “Crushing Weight” and it calls upon that same sardonic wit that we fell in love with before. It’s a simple, guitar-based jam, but the real magic comes from the deadpan (but still catchy!) and often humorous delivery of honest lyrics like “my feet are f***ing freezing.” You can find “Crushing Weight” on Soundcloud (below) and Spotify. specialistsubject · DON’T WORRY – Crushing Weight

Timi Temple – “Gasoline”

November 9, 2021

Sydney-based enigma Timi Temple recently caught our attention with the wickedly catchy indie pop flavor of “Gasoline.” Full of whistled hooks, a low-key drumbeat, and Timi’s effervescent vocals, he has crafted a deceptively upbeat song about the perils of Stockholm Syndrome in the context of a gaslit relationship. “Gaslit” is bedroomy like Still Woozy, but also has a simple and effective hookiness to it a la Weezer… What’s not to love? Check “Gasoline” out below and be sure to swing by Spotify to add it to your playlist there, too. TIMI TEMPLE · Gasoline

Letting Up Despite Great Faults – “Corners Pressed”

November 9, 2021

Dream-o quartet Letting Up Despite Great Faults hit us up with the twinkly magic of “Corners Pressed” and we’ve been hooked on it ever since. This Austin, TX crew specializes in sparkling guitar riffs, a tight percussion presence, and far-off shoegaze vocal prowess a la Slowdive or The Depreciation Guild… Fans of everything from shoegaze, to dream-pop, to midwest emo sounds will find lots to love here. “Corners Pressed” is available all over the place – you can find all of the important LUDGF links via their website here. Keep an eye out for their upcoming album, due out in 2022, and an accompanying tour. Letting Up Despite Great Faults · Corners Pressed

Gabby Holt – “Songbird”

November 4, 2021

Portland singer/songwriter Gabby Holt is on fire – one listen to her latest single “Songbird” is all you’ll need to confirm. Full of blistering, fuzzed out guitar riffs; sugary-sweet melodies; and sparkly keyboard textures, “Songbird” shows off Holt’s guitar prowess equally as much as her ear for songwriting. Fans of Weezer, Ozma, Great Grandpa, or Charly Bliss are going to love this one. Preview “Songbird” below via Soundcloud, but be sure to check Gabby’s Spotify page out for even MORE goodness, including the EP on which “Songbird” resides, The Star and the Devil. Van Nelson Records · Songbird

Mediocre – “Give In”

November 4, 2021

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.

Eden Rain – “Sugar Baby”

November 4, 2021

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.

Crush – “So Strange”

November 3, 2021

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

Trentemøller – “All Too Soon”

November 3, 2021

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.

llo llo – “Tethered”

November 3, 2021

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.

Cheap City – “Witch In The Alley”

November 3, 2021

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

Baby Bulldog – “Daddy”

November 1, 2021

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.

HUSBANDS – “Ancient One”

November 1, 2021

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

June Swoon – “Queen of Hearts”

November 1, 2021

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

Past Life – “Connect the Dots”

November 1, 2021

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