Latest Posts

Sweets- “WEIRD MONEY”

February 16, 2026

Manchester-based alternative pop artist Sweets gets his ASHTRAY COWBOY project rollout kicked off with an off-the-wall cut appropriately named “WEIRD MONEY.” Blending pop and electronic elements with a punky bravado and rapping delivery, “Weird Money” shows off a wide range of taste for Sweets, and sets up excitement for the album’s release. Lyrically, Sweets breaks down the weird guy/good girl relationship dynamic. “Weird boys get weird money, weird boys get good girls, good girls try to turn into your whole world.” What wins out? Option A: the desire to live life as you please, push your boundaries as an artist and be able to live out of your pocket? Or Options B: the comfort that comes with the gravitational pull of a relationship – where your actions naturally find their way back to how they’d impact your partner? Sweets digs into this and more while being a tastemaker with production choices.[...]

Fourmile – Fourmile

February 13, 2026

It’s amazing that, as musicians, we can collaborate across literal oceans. That’s exactly what Fourmile did – a collaboration between Buffalo’s Dylan England (of Del Paxton * fame), and a group of London-based musicians (Owain, Cais, Hank, and Tom) that boast a pedigree of other great bands including TTNG, Harlem Renaissance, Big Hug, and Muttering. Their efforts have resulted in a three-song EP, Fourmile, that continues England & co.’s penchant for guitar-driven Midwest emo sounds. Having initially connected when Del P did a European tour, the members have stayed in touch – lucky for us, it’s resulted in new music.   If the album art to Fourmile is any indication – a patchwork of carpets strewn with some guitar pedals (very nice ones, I might add), cables, and Fender Telecasters – this is a guitar-forward offering, layered thick with lots of tasty textures, twinkles, and any other relevant buzzword typically given to[...]

Misty Coast – “Hallucinating”

February 13, 2026

Misty Coast is Linn Frøkedal and Richard Myklebust and their latest is “Hallucinating.” Just based on the album art, I knew I was gonna be a fan, and now, so will you! They shoved quite a bit of sound into this track; it’s chockfull of drums, Synth with a capital S, and possibly a ghost (seriously, right around the 2:20 mark, what is that?!). The psychedelic and dream pop portions of the track cohabitate very well together with Linn Frøkedal’s vocals driving things forward, without feeling rushed.   You can hear “Hallucinating” below, as well as their other single “Always Sun.” I’m not quite sure what the sun is but it sounds nice… New album is out soon, be sure to keep your eyes peeled (but for the album, not the sun!) You can find both (and more) via that Soundcloud embed below or on Spotify.   Misty Coast ·[...]

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[...]

Godface – “Ms. Lady”

February 11, 2026

“The Bay Area’s favorite emcee” Godface taps into his Tupac influences for his latest single, “Ms. Lady.” Godface leans into vocal refrain and boombap beats, but his appreciation and ardor for the women in his life ties him directly back to his West Coast lineage. “Ms. Lady” gets into the finer details of a female faced with the options of settling down with someone serious about the streets or serious about sensuality. The veteran rapper hopes that a festilent lifestyle turns her towards him, but the story’s longer than a song. “Ms. Lady’s” a great addition to the lineage of the “will she be mine” trope in hip hop, and we recommend adding it to your lyrics-focused playlists. If you’re feeling Godface, give him a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, take a look at our Best of 2026 playlist – just know we’re updating this jawn every single mother[...]

Belle Blue – “Jack”

February 7, 2026

Belle Blue‘s latest song would have been a huge hit in the ’90s… Ironic, since she herself wasn’t even around then. “Jack” is built around sparse guitars and Belle’s world-weathered vocals – culminating in a swelling emotional crescendo that takes us to the end of the song. Belle seems to know the science behind creating “space” in a song – what starts as stabs of fuzzed-out guitar turns into a maelstrom of emotional noise. This one’s a keeper.   Check out the official music video for “Jack” below. It’s also available on Spotify.    

New Words – “Meteor”

February 7, 2026

Last time we checked in with New Words, we were psyched on the big hooks and emo energy of single “Gave You More.” Project mastermind Benny Scheibel is back and has doubled down on the emo energy, this time with a track called “Meteor.” Fans of Listener or La Dispute will appreciate the passionate sprechgesang that kicks this one off, before a chunky, guitar-driven chorus brings everything home a la The Early November or Knuckle Puck. It’s clear Scheibel loves the art of “emo,” in it’s many forms/waves – get sucked in by the emotional catharsis and stick around for the phat hooks.   “Meteor” is available via Spotify – see below.  

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[...]

Newman Bros Presents – Camping Trip!

February 2, 2026

Camping Trip! is a reiteration of an interesting 2014 concept album by Newman Bros Presents, a funk-punk band from Ithaca. The album demonstrates creative storytelling with intricate musical accompaniments that spans a handful of genres. To say NBP is a multimedia project is an understatement – Camping Trip! will be released as an album, a play, an illustrated children’s book, and even a pinball game (including an accompanying iOS version)! To add, their friends at Well Worn Boot released some fan-fiction about this multimedia effort that can be read here.   The album starts off with “The Opening.” Here, we meet our main character, a camp counselor named Paul Blart Jr., and his pet monkey, Toto. An upright bass and horn ensemble play behind the narrator as Paul and Toto move through their morning routine. Paul’s voice is raspy and young-sounding – it’s comparable to the SpongeBob SquarePants opening theme[...]

Showrocka, Corey Gunz and Mickey Factz – “Balance”

February 1, 2026

Showrocka and Mickey Factz are two rappers with great care for the craft. Factz opened up Pendulum Ink, a school for emcees to work on their craft, and Showrocka was their first valedictorian. “Balance” is a collaborative effort from the dudes and carves out some space for a hip hop veteran, and a leader in the art of rap, Corey Gunz. A harp arpeggio stays ready to burst throughout the capacious production, as each of the emcees also take their turn at blowing the lid off this track. Rocka and Factz trade verses, and you could tell they went into the booth trying to drop the best bar. Gunz’ technical ability has never been denied, but here on “Balance” he makes sure his pen game gets its proper time in the spotlight. This is a track for the true hip hop heads – pick out your best lines and scrunch[...]

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