Latest Posts

Slow Coast – “Perfect Lie”

February 20, 2025

“Perfect Lie” is Bay Area indie rock band Slow Coast’s new single. It is the *perfect* track to bring you out of the winter doldrums and, for that reason, we were super stoked to give it a listen. We previously covered a prior track from Slow Coast with their “Double Vision” single and feel the same as we do now a back in October of 2024.   While the guitar hooks are impossible to ignore, the bass provides some stellar licks that will assuredly be fighting for your attention. In all honesty, this track felt like if Coldplay or Jack Johnson was bitten by a radioactive indie rock spider, which is both an interesting proposition and a fun thought experiment… While still being a good encapsulation of Slow Coast (though, this is a broad overgeneralization).   You can hear “Perfect Lie” below via Soundcloud and over on Spotify.   Slow[...]

Bestfriend – “HEADSTART”

February 20, 2025

Holy shit, that synth! I seriously listened to the intro of “HEADSTART” like eight times – this is a new Miller record for willingly listening to the first 28 seconds of a track, so hats off to Stacy and Kaelan of Bestfriend, and their newest track.   We’ve covered the duo before here (thanks Nick!), and funnily enough, we both used the word “shit” in our first sentence. Shit in the traditional sense, this is not though! I’m one of those lucky people who experience frisson with music and it was honestly pretty much nonstop. This felt like my actual best friend decided to start a band but obsessed over a Postal Service record before doing so. You can feel the influence, but it’s not a knock off. Definitely my type of people though. Come play a show in Buffalo, we’d love to have you.   You can hear “HEADSTART”[...]

Tristan Armstrong – “Queen of Diamonds”

February 20, 2025

Tristan Armstrong, pulling triple duty as composer, main artist, and producer, shows off his latest single “Queen of Diamonds” to us, the great unwashed masses. Much like a playing card, the track has two sides to it – literally playing cards in someone’s apartment and the more abstract; specifically, committing to someone romantically. This is unabashedly a rock ‘n roll track with more guitar than you can shake a stick at (including a brief solo, something that gets forgotten about a lot in modern music imo).   You can hear “Queen of Diamonds” below from YouTube as well as over on Spotify. If you’re a fan of 60’s and 70’s music with a dash of pop, or acts like Father John Misty who venture into a similar feel, you’ll find a lot to enjoy with this track and the rest of Armstrong’s catalogue.  

Frog – “WHERE DO I SIGN VAR. III”

February 20, 2025

Following up from the beginning of the month (here), we have a new track from indie duo Frog. “WHERE DO I SIGN VAR. III” is the latest single off their album 1000 Variations on the Same Song. I favorably compared their prior single, “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI” to your (my) friend Ron’s bachelor apartment of yesteryear: “complete with incense from his roommate and some obtuse dinnerware; never rising to ostentatious… but you’re still kinda jealous of that dinnerware.”   If “HIPS” was the tasteful dinnerware, this is assuredly the reliably delicious water that comes from their ancient Brita. Sliding into a Midwest emo vibe, the brothers Bateman mix tight (and light) drums with acoustic guitar and a tiny smattering of keys sprinkled throughout. Somewhere between American Football and Bon Iver, fans of both will find this track a great starting point before diving into the album (though you[...]

Terry Blade – Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues

February 17, 2025

Chicago’s Terry Blade is a singer/songwriter whose passion for everything-blues comes through perfectly on his latest output, Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues. An ethnographic account of both blues pioneers and an honest representation of Blade’s blues-based songwriting, Blade combines excerpts of interviews with innovators of the genre (think Theresa Needham; Jimmy Walker; Muddy Waters Jr., Willie Monroe; and Lefty Dizz), procured via public domain by Blade himself, with the soulful blues meanderings that fans of the genre have come to know and expect. These interviews from 1977 offer the listener a unique juxtaposition – a reverence for the trailblazers of the past mixed with Blade’s passion to keep the genre alive today.   There are two types of songs on Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues – song one (and every other song thereafter) features an excerpt from the aforementioned interviews, starting with the godmother of Chicago Blues herself, Theresa Needham.[...]

Jack Xander – “Listen 2 My Heart”

February 17, 2025

Los Angeles self-producer Jack Xander has a fun pop song that should nestle nicely on your next Friday night “going out” playlist. The new single “Listen 2 My Heart” features the punchy delivery from Xander over electro-pop beats with lyrics about being vulnerable and listening to his heart couple accented with a falsetto Metronomy-esque delivery on the hook. The song builds into a crescendo where Xander sings about wishing he had listened to himself and trusted his intuition. Fans of LANY or Cherub would be into Xander’s accessible sound complete with tinkering keys and have bass synths. Check it out.

PYNKIE – “Februarylove”

February 17, 2025

New Jersey dream-pop act PYNKIE released a slow-burner last week that’s been the office stereo since it’s unveiling on February 13th. PYNKIE is the moniker for full-time nurse and part-time indie pop songstress Lindsey Radice, who has been writing songs since she was a freshman in college. Initially starting as a way to tinker with Audacity, the singer/songwriter evolved her style and network to produce three full-length records and breakout singles on Spotify.   PYNKIE’s latest “Februarylove” is a hazy love song with nods to early 00s acts like The Clientele and Brittle Stars. The single has a it of a trudging melancholy that has a reflective dreariness to it with some longing undertones. If you are a fan of Mitski, Sparklehorse, or Azure Ray, you would dig PYNKIE’s sound. Check it out below.       PYNKIE · Februarylove

BRIGHT IDEAS – “NEXUS”

February 15, 2025

Dallas, TX act BRIGHT IDEAS is going to be the soundtrack to your next late-night drive with latest banger, “Nexus.” With quippy vocal samples; trap-esque percussion; and a constant flair of future bass, “NEXUS” keeps up a constant energy that begs to be visually accompanied by neon lights and blurry streetlights. This one was purposely written to have no breaks to keep up a fun, consistent energy – let this one rattle your windows as you race down the highway tomorrow night.   Add “NEXUS” to your favorite Witch House or Wave playlist on Spotify.   BRIGHT IDEAS · NEXUS

Gutter Crowns – “Denial”

February 15, 2025

Welland, Ontario-based quartet Gutter Crowns are here to hit you with the type of basement-born emo that reminds you of your high school glory days. “Denial” has twinkly riffs and harmonics aplenty, with a mix that sounds like something you’d hear on a 7″ back in 1999. DIY, home-recording vibes give an American Football or Mineral Vibe, which maintains the groups ultra-sincere band-in-a-room mouthfeel. Side note: Gutter Crown likes to play Halo 3 and drink soda on the weekends… So maybe this really will help you harken back to your glory days.   Check out the music video via the YouTube embed below – then add it to your favorite emo Spotify playlist.

DYAN – “Acoustic Midwest”

February 15, 2025

DYAN wraps up her album cycle with the lovely, heartstring-pulling “Acoustic Midwest.” A bare bones arrangement that highlights film composer Alexis Dyan Marsh’s vulnerable-but-stunning vocals atop beautifully strummed acoustic guitar, “Acoustic Midwest” is one of those songs that truly lets itself do the heavy lifting. Lyrics about protecting your child and vague Midwestern imagery give a strong sense of nostalgia that, like DYAN explains, “bring out the tender defiance of leaving.” Throw this one on during your next early winter morning while you sip your coffee.   Check out “Acoustic Midwest” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your Spotify or Apple Music playlists.  

Sleep Debt Ceiling – “Misery is My Calling Card”

February 14, 2025

Buffalo’s emotionally-witty act Sleep Debt Ceiling has returned with their latest single “Misery is My Calling Card.” Similar to the angsty punk sound of SDC’s Demo EP, this track tunes into the raw emotions that come with self-sabotaging. In contrast to their previous release, “Misery is My Calling Card” features fuller production that provides a more studio-quality feel. The new dynamics increase anticipation for the April release of their second EP, Dead Air Trap.   Project head James Stephenson shines a spotlight on the deep-cutting lyrics while staying true to the genre with guttural vocals. This stunning combination is comparable to the works of iconic folk punk artists like The Mountain Goats and AJJ. Following the pattern of SDC’s sarcastic banter, this track deals with anxiety-induced overthinking that ultimately leads to avoiding humanity.   “I don’t deserve your kindness Secretly I hope That you will never realize I am a misanthrope[...]

Pavy – “Amex My ID”

February 13, 2025

Southside Chicago rapper Pavy blends subgenres into one hypnotizing formula for his latest track “Amex My ID.” Comprised of smooth trap autotune, enchanting chorus, and frantic adlibs, Pavy’s created an airtight banger for your cruising and pregame playlists. Clocking in at just over 2 minutes, a large chunk of “Amex” is Pavy’s and featured rapper The Boy Illinois‘ “make a girl wanna roll with us” hook. The middle verse is tight – but all you need is a few minutes of that hook taking your mind into a dark, smoke-filled, neon-lit back room. The duo’s adlibs throughout the entirety of the track keep the energy high and your ears guessing what direction they’re gonna hit you – flexing great production work on top of the already stellar vocalists. Check out more from Pavy and The Boy Illinois on Spotify.

SOZI – “The Brink”

February 11, 2025

“The Brink” is a place I’m sure many people have been brought to through various circumstances, but in this case, we’re talking about SOZI’s latest single. Drum machines and synth underpin an ethereal romp that feels like partway between a dream and waking; just as time is starting to slow down to a crawl. Speaking to the track, SOZI had this to say:   “This one’s all about that electrifying moment between breaking and breakthrough: the tension, the uncertainty, the push to keep going when everything feels like it’s about to collapse.”   Fans of Florence and the Machine and Clairo would find a lot to enjoy here, as well as aficionados of LORDE/Randy Marsh.   You can hear “The Brink” below from YouTube. You can check out her personal site with a link to lots of stuff (more vids, socials, etc.). Including, apparently, SOZI tokens.        

MacGregor Burns – “Put It All On Me”

February 11, 2025

MacGregor Burns, a true artist’s artist and a renaissance man, brings us his latest single: “Put It All On Me.” We previously covered Burns and producer/collaborator Luke Temple back in August for the lead single, “She Never Took a Chance On Me” off the upcoming album (coming this fall). Burns flexes his goth cred with a lightly haunting but not oppressive track; calling to mind a modern-day version of Joy Division or Robert Smith on a sunny day.   The bass & synth on “PIAOM” contrast nicely with the acoustic guitar of the prior “SNTaCOM;” seeing artists dip into different styles while still maintaining a signature feel is always a fine treat. Both tracks come straight from the soul lyrically while going in interesting directions musically.   You can hear “Put It All On Me” below from YouTube or add it to your synth-y playlist over on Spotify.    [...]

A1 Beanz – “Digital Scale”

February 10, 2025

SoCal rapper A1 Beanz  brings the heavy snow with his newest coke rap single “Digital Scale.” With menace in his voice, the “dope rapper” talks guns, scales and sniff tests while icy, heartless piano paces the track’s beat. Beanz departs from the evocative lines to drop clever one liners like, “I did a line and now my eyes wide like Emma Stone.” “Digital Scale” also features a strong hook -with Beanz’ gruff voice demanding his counterpart “put the work on the digital scale – it’s all there!” “Digital Scale” goes perfectly within your Griselda playlists as Beanz has coke lines for days and charismatic vocals and adlibs that’ll stick between your ears immediately off the rip. Check out the music video on YouTube live from the trap house. The guns aren’t real but the rhymes sure as hell are. Listen to A1 Beanz on Spotify and check him out on our[...]