Latest Posts

Pagodas – “Blanket Ban”

October 30, 2025

Pagodas is a twee-sounding five-piece that might trip you up with “Blanket Ban.” At first, it’s all Shins-esque plucking – a fun rhythm and sunshine-y energy that pushes forth with a perfect amount of pep, but never truly explodes… That all changes at 1:58, when the band abruptly changes directions for an exceptional outro, pairing blasts of distorted guitar with catchy vocals and neurotic riffing. The result had us replay the song instantly to make sure we heard everything correctly – turns out we did, and that’s why we’re writing about it now.   “Blanket Ban” is out now on In A Box Records. Check it out via the bandcamp embed below, or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.   Blanket Ban by Pagodas

Dylan James – “Stylite”

October 30, 2025

Dylan James is just a regular guy (with a name that would further bolster that hypothesis), but there’s nothing ordinary about the blast of energy he just released called “Stylite.” After a 10 year absence from music writing (it happens!), Dylan found himself grieving life happenings by picking up his guitar again. Out poured “Stylite,” a start-stop explosion of indie rock energy full of riffing, rhythmic jauntiness, and Dylan’s passionate vocal delivery. This sounds huge, Dylan… Never put down your guitar again.   Get a good feel for “Stylite” via the bandcamp embed (below) – you can also find it on Spotify.   Stylite by Dylan James

Genoese Speed – “THIN ICE”

October 30, 2025

Genoese Speed wasn’t the plan – but when do the best-laid plans ever work out? Instead GS figurehead Shelby Jean stumbled upon this sound by accident – perhaps best embodied by latest single, “THIN ICE.” Largely guitar-driven, the denizen of Nashville conjures up an icy, indie rock sound – powered significantly by Shelby’s vocals, but making great use of driven guitar, bell-like leads, and lush layers of reverb. Put this on your play list next to Jay Som, Soccer Mommy, and/or Waxahatchee.   “THIN ICE” is available via Soundcloud (below), Spotify, and Apple Music.   Genoese Speed · THIN ICE

zahra – “bloom”

October 30, 2025

What is there to say about an acoustic backbone of a song – like “bloom” by zahra? It’s one of those breathless songs that sucks all the air out of the room (in a good way) – utilizing hush-hush, layered singing (a la Elliott Smith); minimal percussion; and gently-plucked acoustic guitars to great effect. Raised in Rochester, NY (our neighbor!), zahra aims to use unique songwriting tricks to convey emotion with without becoming monotonous – the warm and fuzzy tape-esque production value here certainly adds to that ambiance.   “bloom” is available now on bandcamp (below), Spotify, and Apple Music.   bloom by zahra

mel denisse – “going nowhere”

October 30, 2025

mel denisse gazes so hard at her shoes in new single “going nowhere,” she might burn a hole through the floor. Inspired by a fantasy novel (The Serpent & the Wings of Night to be specific), “going nowhere” dives into themes of survival; feeling invisible; and being an outsider. For those that may resonate with those themes, “going nowhere” is going to be a welcome addition to your melancholy playlist – with an instrumental that encapsulates the feeling of a rainy day, this song sounds like it was recorded underwater with rays of sun beaming down through the salty waves. Perfect on any playlist next to Slowdive, MBV, or anything with sad girl vibes.   “going nowhere” is available on both Spotify and Apple Music.   mel denisse · going nowhere

Doottak – “Glow”

October 25, 2025

Doottak is about to defeat you with the quiet crush of latest single, “Glow.” Sounding like some perfect amalgamation of Pinback and Electric President/Radical Face, “Glow” has those trademark plucky guitars and gentle vocals that you’d expect from a Rob Crow or Ben Cooper composition. This is one of those bedroom-pop songs that feels like it was accidentally and perfectly literally created in Doottak’s bedroom… Bonus: once you’ve let this one sink deep into your soul, give it a re-listen and take in that nimble bassline. *perfection*.   Let “Glow” wash over you by clicking on the incredibly convenient YouTube embed we’ve provided below.  

Blond:ish x Notre Dame x Black Circle – “Higher (Notre Dame Remix)”

October 25, 2025

Blond:ish, Notre Dame, & Black Circle teamed up for a slice of progressive house they’re collectively calling “Higher.” If this isn’t already a dancefloor anthem, it’s only a matter of time. With it’s accessible repetitiveness, jittery synth play, and overall hypnotic pulse, “Higher” is a song meant to be danced to. Let the drop wash over you, take in the earworm refrain, and remember 2012 when you were still able to drink your ass off until 4am at the club. Good times.   “Higher” is embedded below (YouTube), but you can also find it on Spotify and Apple Music.  

Kaia Müller – “The best of me”

October 25, 2025

Sometimes it’s all about the bassline – ask Oregon-based Kaia Müller on her latest single, “The best of me.” “The best of me is yet to come / if it ever does” Kaia muses existentially, with a sassy, sprechgesang – echoing a sentiment we all have at times… Are we ever going to be the best version of ourselves? Who knows. But Kaia’s gotta be close… I repeat – that bassline.   “The best of me” is embedded below – enjoy.  

Fool Nelson – “Forget It”

October 25, 2025

Perth’s Fool Nelson have been filling a The Get Up Kids-sized hole in our hearts – one listen to “Forget It” might help you understand why. They’re already popping off in Australia, and we’re betting they’re gonna connect with audiences worldwide with their ready-made hooks, crunchy guitar, and accessible emo punk vibes. The trio of brothers/best friend have an undeniable chemistry, writing songs that reflect their upbringing in 90s/00s surf/skate culture down under… If you know us, that’s right up our alley. Check it out – you’re gonna love it.   Check out “Forget It” via the forbidden YouTube embed below, or, click this link to get to their Spotify.  

Ian McFarland – “Every Days a Saturday”

October 25, 2025

Pop punk has a funny way of bridging existential dread and breezy joy – take Ian McFarland‘s latest offering for example. “Every Days a Saturday” is a unique take on burnout (which we’re all feeling on some level, let’s be honest) – but it’s explored with upbeat, jangly guitars; quirky Motion City Soundtrack-esque lyrics; and McFarland’s uplifting vocals. If you want to harken back to the late 90s when SR-71 was ruling the airwaves, this might be a good place to start.   “Every Days a Saturday” is the first track on McFarland’s latest EP, Midnight Surgery, out now, (October 17th, 2025). Check out the forbidden YouTube embed below, or, peep it on Spotify.  

CERULEAN SAPPHIRE – soft attention

October 21, 2025

CERULEAN SAPPHIRE (CS) appear out of a blue-hued aether with their latest, self-produced album, soft attention. Based around a self-proclaimed concept they’re calling “Mediterranean Melancholy,” CS was created by a Finn who grew up in south Spain, surrounded by a suite of different cultures. Like its creator, soft attention lives in the spaces in between – a liminal, escapist, and dreamlike offering that harkens back to the ’90s in a Pure Moods type of way while keeping its finger on the pulse of modern day synthpop.   Songs like “orientate in paris” are archetypal CS. The music here is some holy mixture of synthpop, ambiance, and shoegaze – equal parts Cocteau Twins, Everything But The Girl, and Slowdive. Ghostly, otherworldly vocals float heavenly above Casio-tone keyboard tones – buzzing, bubbling basslines; machine-like percussion; and gauzy synth pads create a sleepy haze. This is music to meditate to – or at[...]

H_ngm_n – “Three Hours Sleep”

October 21, 2025

Listen. Emo isn’t dead. Emo will never die. And, despite their name, H_ngm_n are one of the many bands keeping the genre alive and well. “Three Hours Sleep” is sharp, emotional, and strikes the perfect balance between dirty and polished. Fans of mid-aughts style emo will love the readily-accessible hooks, while fans of deeper cuts can appreciate that well-constructed emo is still being made. With lyrics that touch on anxiety and guilt, this one’s a dead ringer for all us steadfast emos.   Check out the band’s most recent LP, Paper Street, upon which “Three Hours Sleep” resides, via the Bandcamp embed below. You can also find it on Spotify and Apple Music. Paper Street by H_ngm_n

The Tin Can Collective – “Knot With Threads”

October 20, 2025

The Tin Can Collective specialize in beer-soaked indie/emo that your older brother probably loved, specifically the good stuff from the late 90s. We’re talking Rainer Maria, The Get Up Kids… Even Tigers Jaw. You get the idea. Throw “Knot With Threads” on your favorite, sweaty basement show emo playlist. The big, guitar-forward energy here would be perfect for a DIY venue or a VFW hall, with a particularly sweet vocal performance from singer/guitarist Jess Warren.   Check out “Knot With Threads” via the Bandcamp embed below – Spotify too. If you like what you hear, they have a whole album called The Thrill Is Gone And I Can’t Get It Back   The Thrill Is Gone And I Can’t Get It Back by The Tin Can Collective

Kitty Coen – Conversations with the Moon

October 19, 2025

When you think of country music, images of gothic, alt-country songstresses don’t typically conjure up… But that’s Kitty Coen. Landing somewhere “between a saloon and a séance,” Kitty’s take on country doesn’t fully eschew the “dirt road, big truck, cold beer” aesthetic… But expect to hear some glassy-eyed songs about cocaine and dancing on graves too. The result is the stunning, 12 song offering, Conversations with the Moon, an eclectic, but ultimately super-listenable record that has enough country appeal to vibe with regular listeners; an equal amount of old-school country badassery to impress your parents; and enough angst to get indie rockers like me to pay attention. Like Stevie before her, Kitty fancies herself sorta witchy – check out a little bit more about what this album means to her below:   “This record came from those nights when you feel like the only thing listening back is the moon… It’s[...]

WaterPenny – Buttons For People

October 15, 2025

WaterPenny defy classification… But if we had to quantify, we’d peg them as Western-tinged, blues-influenced rock n roll. Lane (lead guitar & vocals), Wes (guitar & vocals), Cihan (bass), and Sean (drums) are the quartet of musicians that comprise this enigmatic and unique act from Washington, whose latest album, the nine-song Buttons For People bridges the gap between classic rock fervor; sweaty, emotional blues; and modern day indie rock   The album kicks off with “Not Yours or Mine” that highlights exactly what this group succeeds at. Swampy slide guitar moans and groans in a mid-tempo meditation before the group explodes into a jammy outro, melting faces with a stanky rhythm and blistering lead guitar. Elsewhere, they channel Led Zeppelin (or maybe Cage the Elephant) on “Iteration” and album closer “Undone,” sounding like a perfect mix of the aformentioned bands. The band has no problem spreading their wings either – lead[...]