Latest Posts

Shaky – “In a Heartbeat”

February 13, 2026

“In a Heartbeat” is the first single of the year for Shaky and it wastes no time establishing itself with a very un-shaky guitar intro (actually, two seconds and then guitar, but I digress). I felt some fun vibes between the notes – somehow being simultaneously reminded of the Strokes and Bruce Springsteen (check the 1:10 mark and tell me you disagree). Speaking to the track, Jake Hammill had this to say:   “‘In a Heartbeat’ is the feeling of nostalgia. For me, it’s a look back at my life in my early 20s, living in Philly… As I get older and the world gets stranger, I find comfort in my memories of the past – when times were simpler.”   As I was listening before writing I was thinking to myself, “Dang this feels like it would make for a cool music video.” Well fam, not only is there[...]

Pat Faking – “You’ll Find It”

February 12, 2026

I have no idea what Pat Faking alleges to be faking, but it sure as shit ain’t music. Their latest single “You’ll Find It” is a fantastic build up of sounds from the garage rock family of indie rock, with hints of shoegaze haze poking through. The brainchild of Patrick Fagan (I see where the name comes from now), you can tell he either plays bass or really knows how to make killer bass lines with some of the little licks that pop up in the middle and ending stanzas. Combo that with some rawkin’ guitar and his at times ethereal vocals, and you’re in for a (not) faking and very legitimate good time.   You’ll find “You’ll Find It” below from Soundcloud or on Spotify with their other two singles “Easy” and “Have You Had Enough.”   Pat Faking · You’ll Find It

Mount Mural – “Out and Down”

February 12, 2026

I usually like doing really silly preambles about “such and such artist” and they’re “yadda yadda yadda.” Really though? Just have to say that “Out and Down” fucks hard and I’m friggin’ here for it.   This was billed as showing off Mount Mural‘s “unpredictability” which can be good for music, but not so great for relationships (ask me how I know). As it compares to the random smattering of songs I listened to including “Sickboy” and “Froze,” this was definitely more in your face with lots of reverb and spitty distortion tones. Think “SHOEGAZE DAWG” and less “gentle dreampop tune;” both quite good in their own right, but this one falls into the former camp.   You can hear it below from Bandcamp as well as on Spotify. I know time is fleeting and you gotta seize the day, but taking two minutes for some mindfulness and MUSIC… This one’s[...]

Bleary – “sugar splint”

February 5, 2026

Based on name alone, Bleary sounds like it could be something cutesy or hazy (like that feel when you wake up bleary-eyed) but they are and they aren’t. Shoegaze is funny like that because it’s a little bit of everything! Their latest is “sugar splint” and I gotta say, it sounds pretty sweet (sorry not sorry).   Written partially during the lockdown and over the past four years, the tracks have had time to germinate and (as evidenced here) really grow into something spectacular. “sugar splint” is filled to the brim with sound and lots of geetar layers and is one of those tracks that rewards subsequent listens.   You can hear “sugar splint” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. A new album, Little Brain will be out in May of this year. yk records · sugar splint  

The Lives of Famous Men – “Lost in the Branches”

February 4, 2026

“Lost in the Branches” is the latest from LA based The Lives of Famous Men (they took a leaf from Portugal. The Man and mostly moved out of Alaska). “Branches” is one of those lovely amalgamations of indie rock and the *tiniest* hint of electronica, slightly reminiscent of Gibbard and his tunes, that just fires on all cylinders (just kidding, it’s definitely more than a tiny hint). I can’t always get behind a track where the synth features prominently in the chorus, but consider me hooked by the hook (it’s a damn good hook). Speaking to the track, the band is pretty clear about the subject matter:   “[Lost in the Branches]… is about algorithmic culture and how all-consuming it’s become. …trees were an apt metaphor, both for something organic and rooted in place, as well as the cold logic of nodes and branches that decide everything from the songs[...]

Theo Black – “Follow The Money”

February 4, 2026

“Follow The Money” is both the words uttered by Deep Throat in All The President’s Men and the latest track from Theo Black. He started the song in Vegas (ya know, the place that’s all about dollars) and used that as a jumping off point.   He paints a dreary picture about how money makes people dehumanize others in the pursuit of more, but does it oh-so beautifully. A sick bass riff propels the track forward while his vocals mesh with simple yet effective guitar and drums that take it the rest of the way forward. I’m a sucker for post-punk that finds a way to feel fresh even after all this time, which “Money” nails in spades.   You can hear it embedded below from Bandcamp or Spotify. You can hear last year’s EP Last Nite if you’re looking for more, with the synth drenched “Girls On The Internet” being[...]

Cape Francis – “Catapult”

January 31, 2026

“Catapult” is the newest release from Cape Francis, aka Kevin Henthorn. CF begun as a solo project to realign with his own musical wants and needs; definitely still going strong since 2017, so a tenure that’s certainly nothing to sneeze at!   I was frankly enthralled by Henthorn’s vocals – he showcases an impressive vocal range with a strong yet surprisingly chill build up that levels out at the end. Vocals aside, the [acoustic] guitar does most of the talking and meshes well with the collection of light drums and second guitar layer or synths (hard to tell sometimes, seriously).   You can hear “Catapult” below from Soundcloud, as well as Spotify and Apple Music. His next album, Plateaus is due sometime in the near future from Sleep Well Records.   Cape Francis · Catapult      

Retro Kid – “Think I Know”

January 31, 2026

Sometimes the catchiest tunes have the best back stories. Case in point is “Think I Know” from UK born, Danish based Retro Kid. “Think I Know;” probably about someone suspecting their lover is cheating on them, or maybe knowing… the plot to the next Game of Thrones novel? Nope, in this case it’s inspired by his sassy toddler who enjoys putting his socks in the dishwasher.   The track itself is dandy of an indie electronica song with a sick beat to boot. Tight drums do a lot of the heavy lifting along with swirly synths and ear-tickling effects that are reminiscent of Zero 7 or Still Corners. I love the wholesomeness which adds, rather than detracts, from the overall presentation.   You can hear “Think I Know” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. The year is still early, with an EP on the way in the near future.[...]

Porch Coffin – “Family Portrait”

January 22, 2026

“Family Portrait” is Orlando based Porch Coffin‘s newest single off of their Dogs Bite EP. Far from being a happy go lucky track, it’s a slice of indie rock pie with a post punk crust, topped with some hints of Midwest emo sensibilities.   The band (a four piece, from what I gathered from their IG) paints a dreary picture but does it exceedingly well. This is mostly a guitar-forward affair with a small amount of reverb that gives an otherworldly effect, (like, “alien in your own skin what is going on around here” and not literally a different world).   You can hear “Family Portrait” below from Bandcamp, as well as Spotify. The rest of the EP is well worth a listen and a late 2025 album that may have gotten lost around that weird gap between Thanksgiving and New Years that feels like it just ended.   DOGS[...]

Synthetic Friend – “Renovations”

January 22, 2026

Natives of Winnipeg, Synthetic Friend is here in the new year with a new track off of a new EP. “Renovations” is the second track off of Catching the Outlines, and it’s one of our favorites this year!   Five piece bands can fall into weird overproduced messes with everyone doing something okay but not well. Here though, everyone brings something to the table and nothing ever sounds unnecessary. The build up to the guitar solo in the middle of the song is done perfectly and I have no notes. Emma Stevens gives us quiet and loud with the vocals, never missing a beat.   You can hear “Renovations” below on Soundcloud as well as Apple Music and Spotify. You should listen to the rest of the EP but if you only listen to one other track, I can’t recommend “Baby, You’re My Microwave” enough. It’s whimsical and hilarious and[...]

Wild Spelks – “305”

January 22, 2026

The word “pop” gets a bad rap sometimes and I hope you, dear reader, do not fall into this camp because you’re missing out on some fabulous music. That, or, one sneaks in a “pop-punk” or “dream pop” sublabel. Pop do be pop and it be poppin’. Japandroids, Saves The Day, Jimmy Eat World? The list goes on and, coincidentally, all happen to be in the same vibe-space as Wild Spelks (hopefully you didn’t forget about them, I’m getting there).   “305” is the latest from Wild Spelks, cleverly using the song title to reference what the band calls the “perfect pop-song runtime” (and we can’t disagree with them). The track itself is a masterclass of the genre, with all instruments getting their moment. Mainly driven by the guitar, the drums hold their own throughout. It’s the right type of upbeat that’s not blah or toxically positive.   You can[...]

Known Moons – “TIME”

December 13, 2025

Nothing like a build up with drums and guitar that bursts into immediate vocals, which “TIME” delivers in spades – courtesy of Milwaukee-based Known Moons. The guitar transcendence continues with upbeat tones and poppy vocals that would appeal to anyone who has listened to emo in the past 20 years. There’s also a trumpet too, performed by none other than the legendary Steve Lamos of American Football fame, so expect a bit of “Never Meant” flavor too.   You can hear it below via YouTube, as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Known Moons is releasing a split EP with Barely Civil 2/2/26, Barely Known so if you’re diggin’ “TIME” be sure to check that out when it drops. I always find it easiest to keep abreast of bands by following ’em, so I found the band’s linktree so you don’t have to! IG can be found here.      

Trip Tease – “Milano 2098 Ft. Lubo”

December 13, 2025

EDM tracks are sometimes tough to describe, because how do you describe a feeling that is sounds? I like association, so we’ll try this: What’s something you like doing for like, ten minutes (or more) that makes you look cool? Think about it, turn on “Milano 2098 (Ft. Lubo),” and get ready to… do whatever it is you do that makes you look cool. This is the latest from Mexico based Trip Tease off of of the Sex Having Disco, PT. 2 single – which features a couple other artists, but notably Lubo on this track. I’ll level with you, the cool thing I was thinking of was dancing (okay, it was sex, which is sort of a sort of dancing).   You can hear the track below on YouTube or add it to your “dancing” playlist on Spotify. If you need more dancing time, there’s a second track to[...]

j<3 – "hard 2 love / i’ll make it easy"

December 13, 2025

j<3 is the brainchild of Jeffy Yu and “hard 2 love / i’ll make it easy” is their latest single off of the f33l album. The track is divided in two, and while this confused me at first (“why not just call it one song?” I said aloud) but it makes a lot more sense after listening. There’s a line of delineation that occurs, but I’ll let you be the judge. While I couldn’t find much about Jeffy Yu, I can say already they are clearly talented with the unbelievable mix of sounds that are thrown together in this pulsing, hyperpop-tinged EDM track… Especially the breathy, innocent-sounding vocal treatment found here.   You can hear the track embedded below from YouTube. Spotify and Apple Music are the other places I found the track for easy listening and playlist adding. Check out the rest of the album, f33l, available now (I[...]

Christian Alexander – “You”

December 13, 2025

London based Christian Alexander brings us his latest single, “You,” and it’s the perfect bedroom-pop track for to take you through into the new year. Acoustic guitar and light drums are the meat and potatoes, with Alexander’s vocals being the succulent gravy that really ties everything together. It was honestly more calming and peaceful than a Christmas dinner and wouldn’t go amiss on your centering indie pop playlist. There’s cranberry sauce in there too, somewhere… Perhaps the rhythmic plunk of electric piano.   You can hear the track below embedded from Bandcamp or on Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to check it out or the equally excellent album 11 from earlier this year. More to come in 2026 too, so stay tuned!   You by Christian Alexander