Latest Posts

Altalune – “Dead Weight”

July 25, 2025

“Dead Weight” is Altalune‘s latest track and the second one we’ve covered this year (with “Fragments” being the last we covered back in April). This hefty, almost proggish (not a word but it is now) track is *beautifully* composed and leans heavily into melodic guitar riffs and steady bass riffs that just… friggin’ gel! Emo and screamo aficionados will find a lot to enjoy here, as well as the prog… heads? Prog heads. Here’s a little snippet from the band about what the song means to them:   “This song is about recognizing that we all have our part to play in all aspects of a relationship. We’re all quick to point the finger at someone else but it’s much harder to reflect on what you’ve done wrong… I’m getting over myself, meaning I’m putting away the flawed perceptions I might have of myself and accepting my own impact, but[...]

Caleb L’Etoile – “Fireball”

July 25, 2025

“Fireball” can mean a lot of things. It’s the go-to sorcery spell in D&D for mass destruction, the go-to alcoholic beverage for lovers of cinnamon destruction, and the latest track from Caleb L’Etoile. Written as a tip of the cap and a tongue of the cheek to the sock hop anthems of yesteryear, it is impossibly catchy and if you still have your shoes on and aren’t boppin’ along – please get your ears checked.   My mother always spoke fondly of sock hops and desperately wanted to us to relive that dream for her – whether her own idealized version of what they were or from actual experience, I’ll never know (I was like 8). I’ll probably just ask her tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can live Babs’ fever dream of sock hoppin’ in the safety of your own living room right now.   You can hear “Fireball”[...]

Mikey Demilio – “Explain”

July 25, 2025

Mikey Demilio is exactly what you’d expect to get from a Jersey boy with an album titled Billionaire’s Club and a single called “Explain.” Really fun, controlled chaos-pop-rock that will assuredly find easy access through your ear canal to get stuck in your brain. I couldn’t find too much of a bio about Mikey, but a strong tip of the hat to anyone who can put together a cohesive 13-track album in this day and age of singles and soundbites. *shakes fist at cloud*   You can hear “Explain” below from YouTube or over on Spotify. Be sure to check out the rest of the album, Billionaire’s Club, in particular the title track – which I found an interesting juxtaposition to “Explain” and gives a better idea of Demilio’s depth. The rest of the album is also worth a listen to if you’ve liked what you’ve heard.  

Chris Combs – “Can’t Stop”

July 25, 2025

Tulsa based Chris Combs, other than obviously being a real cool guy based on name alone (check the by-line), is a man of many talents enmeshed in a smorgasbord of (excellent) sounds. His latest, “Can’t Stop” is a romp of a track that has a 90’s grunge/post grunge/Gregorian chant vibe that fits together beautifully. You might wonder how Gregorian chant fits into contemporary indie rock so well? Ask your nerdy music friend to explain time signatures or scales or keys… Or just listen to the track and judge for yourself.   You can hear “Can’t Stop” below from Soundcloud, or add it to your trippy playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. If you’re looking for even more proof of Combs’ depth of talent, give the other half of the single, “Historicity” a gander too.   Chris Combs · Can’t Stop

Ginger Winn – “Socrates”

July 14, 2025

“Socrates” is the latest track from Ginger Winn off of her latest album Freeze Frame. Amusingly, her Spotify bio reads “people tell me I have a haunting voice.” This proves accurate, as she manages to pull that off in spades, with the added vocal effects probably unnecessary but certainly rachets up the haunting… ness? The track itself is a poignant-feeling vocal-forward track where Winn gracefully allows guitar, synth and bass to accompany her. Speaking to the track, Winn had this to say:   “Socrates is about the unknown legacy we all leave behind. The song is inspired by this idea about philosophy and planting seeds for a future we’ll never see…”   You can watch the music video on YouTube below or throw it on your Spotify playlist regular rotation. The rest of the album is worth a listen to, especially “Hyperallergic,” as I felt this also showcased her vocal[...]

Cerrone x Christine and the Queens – “Last One”

July 14, 2025

Who said disco was dead? Evidently not Cerrone nor Christine and the Queens! “Last One” is the pop disco collab between the two French artists – an amalgamation of Cerrone (who has been around the block a few times but still very much in the game) and Christine and the Queens -the pseudonym of Rahim Claude Redcar.  You won’t be disappointed in the lyrics, bass lines, synth, or any aspect of this track. Just listen, are you even actually working right now?   You can hear the track below from YouTube as well as over on Spotify. You will need to call your otolaryngologist if you aren’t bopping your head to this track. I’m not saying you have to like everything you listen to, it’s a free country (sort of), but if you aren’t at least bopping a little bit you’re probably need to get that checked out.  

Big Society – “Guarantee”

July 14, 2025

Big Society‘s new track “Guarantee” brings an intro that, while purposeful or not, gave me a JRPG soundtrack vibe. Intro included, the British trio, music students the lot of them, have crafted a delightful pop track that is on the surface a whimsical pop song but… just listen (spoiler alert, the lyrics take a turn within the first minute). Nestled into those twee guitars and synth you’ll find quite the gem.   You can hear the track below on YouTube (for free) or over on Spotify and Apple Music. Be sure to add it to your “more than the sum of its parts and a little dark” pop playlist. Their debut album will be out… sometime. In the meantime, listen to the other two tracks “Foolish” and “Every Stage of a Genuine Heartbreak” for a better idea of what to look forward to (and even some folk tinged action too).[...]

The Kerosene Hours – “Who’s That in My Room?”

July 14, 2025

“Who’s That in My Room?” can either be a frightening or exciting experience, but in this case it’s the latest track from The Kerosene Hours – much closer to exciting rather than frightening.   Aaron Silverstein (no relation) is the brains behind this act and brings a bass-soaked post-punk vibe with sampling and synth mixed in. It had a goth rock mouthfeel that feels fresh – a line that Silverstein walks quite confidently.   The song itself delves into disassociating as we change, living in the times we live in (check the news) and coming to terms with it. Silverstein’s vocals feel appropriately haunting and bring a spunky energy that is sometimes difficult to conjure when you’re singing about the dreariness of this life we live in.   You can hear the track below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify and Apple Music. The Kerosene Hours · Who’s That in[...]

Channo – “The Interview”

June 14, 2025

Channo‘s latest single, “The Interview,” is fresh off of their LP Shades of the Midnight Sun. The brainchild of Australia-based Luciano Mercieca, “The Interview” is a sublime slice of sounds carefully layered with a healthy dose of acoustic guitar. Mercieca’s vocals sound like they’re bubbling up from a dark pool in the best way possible; haunting, yet inviting.   No audio track sounds out of place and this could fit in well with a chill wave study track or the music for the second zone in a JRPG game.   The track is available below from YouTube, as well as Spotify. As of press time, the track had been removed from Soundcloud, but you can find the rest of Channo’s work there in the meantime. Be sure to check out the rest of the album if you’re diggin’ this, you won’t be disappointed.              

Club 8 – “Stay Together”

June 14, 2025

Club 8 is one of our perennial favorites who refuse to stop putting out bangers. Their first album (as far as I can find) came out in 19 NINETY friggin’ 8. Two people, Swedish, look both chill and unapproachably awesome looking, just refusing to stop it with the bangers! We’ve covered them more than once here and instead of linking individual tracks, I just linked their tag.   The track, “Stay Together,” has the funkiest bass underpinning the dulcet guitar vibes and Karolina Komstedt’s vocals. It veers into a dream pop-esque feel… So a funky dreampop track… yes. Final answer. Give it a listen, let us know what you think!   You can hear “Stay Together” below from Bandcamp as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Their entire catalogue is numerous and varied, so give it a spin (anywhere will do, with such a broad spectrum).   Stay Together by[...]

Mainland Break – “I Give In”

June 14, 2025

Mainland Break gives in to their obsessions and compulsions (listen to the song, it makes more sense), which also seems to include making infectious indie pop ear worms. Guitar-driven with a healthy dose of bass (stop underestimating us), “I Give In” is mostly a clean, guitar-forward affair that keeps multiple threads going to keep things *really* fun and interesting. Speaking to the track, the band had this to say:   “I Give In” is about experiencing warring emotions and feeling unable to change the process or eventual outcome. It’s about taking the path of least resistance and losing an internal struggle. The wave crashes over you, but also propels you. You love, but you hold yourself back from loving.”   “I Give In” is available wherever you stream music (probably) but we’ve included the embed below for Soundcloud, as well as Spotify and Apple Music.   Mainland Break · I[...]

Summer of Peril – “Aftermath”

June 14, 2025

Appropriately coming from an EP titled Revision, “Aftermath” is a redux of an older song by the band Summer of Peril. This is a shoegaze track through and through with the effect laden guitars that are a hallmark of the genre. Writer and (presumably) singer Alex Forbes fits right in with the cacophonously melodic noises emanating from the track with his vocals that feel both 90’s adjacent and (in a good way) almost dirge-like?   You can hear “Aftermath” below from YouTube, as well as over on Spotify. They have one other track, “Streetlights” on the four track split EP with fellow band Strayline. Check out everything on here because I can guarantee if you enjoy this track, you’ll enjoy the rest!  

The Kites – “16”

June 11, 2025

Based out Leeds, Yorkshire (yeah, that one), The Kites bring us their latest with “16.” Capturing for many what is a pivotal year as a teenager, the track is heavy on the guitar that is only outshone by the vocals. I felt a lot of nods to the headier movements from bands like Blink-182 that capture that pop punk vibe while still tugging at the ole heartstrings. Assuming you’re at least 17 and reading this, the age of 16 is an easy-to-grasp concept that The Kites artfully depict – and left me feeling a whoooooole lot of emotions.   You can hear the track below from YouTube or over on Spotify. This definitely an easy contender for your summer playlist and hopefully not the last we hear from the band this year.  

Elle Belle – “Figure 8”

June 11, 2025

Christopher Papas fronts Elle Belle and their latest single is “Figure 8,” the second track off of the single sharing the same name. The first, incidentally, was reviewed by the incomparable Nick Sessanna here. It’s a study in simplicity written on a train to Timbuktu (sarcasm), and a primer to “Figure 8” that, taken together, showcases Papas’ range as a musician. Funnily enough, I felt like the intro to “Figure 8” felt more like a train getting started as it spirits the protagonist away from the station (to or from Kyoto?!).   Speaking to the track (and partially dashing my theory of a train theme) Papas had this to say: “‘Figure 8’ is a sweet love song despite the brooding melody and dark chords. I don’t know if there is a place where we could love each other forever, but if there is, let’s go there.”   You can hear[...]

Hot Head – “Electric Chemistry”

June 11, 2025

NYC based Hot Head released their latest (but not first, that honor goes to “Intro“) track “Electric Chemistry.” Out June 6th, it contrasts mightily with the subdued “Intro” and serves the perfect pop-punk kick off to the summer you needed. More power chords than you can shake a sparkler at and showcasing the foursome’s range with solo and melodic lyric play.   Speaking to the track, the band said the track drew inspiration from ” …the static energy formed when you come into contact with another person of an opposite charge.” You can definitely feel that energy throughout and, I can assure, you won’t be disappointed unless you don’t like your punk upbeat and happy.   You can hear “Electric Chemistry” over on Soundcloud or the big green circle with stripes, Spotify. Be sure to listen to “Intro” first to get the full effect, trust me! Or don’t, down with[...]