Author: nathan.lankford

Alec Siegel Shares False Alarm

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Some time during this past Summer, I stumbled upon Alex Siegel, so when his new single came my way, I was all about it. Siegel’s voice has this heaviness to its performance, almost operating as if its providing its own rhythm, even as the notes hit their highs. Push that up against the bass bob and you’ve got a recipe for infectiousness; I just have to remind myself to let myself free, swinging those arms and stomping the floor as the chorus drops and there’s a slight little shuffle in the synthetic texture. If you’re seeking a nice pop ditty, well, thank me later!

Power Pop from Duane Hoover

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Music runs in cycles, and the last several years have the garage rock and psychedelic realms opening their doors for the power-pop maestros…and thus we have Duane Hoover. The dude seems to just write and write and write, and if you’re that dedicated you’re going to land on a gem like the one below. It’s got this light piano backbone working beneath the surface, lifting the song as the guitar has a jangling strum to it. There’s some Bolan-esque balladry at play here, and that’s never a bad way to kickstart your day. If you’re enjoying what’s here, be sure to check out the newest LP, Magic Mirror Story Book.

Swirls Release Neverland Single

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The theme of never growing old is timeless, assuredly around long before JM Barrie penned his famous story of Peter Pan; it looks as if French outfit Swirls share the sentiment, with a nod to the literary legacy of said aims. They present it with this scattering bit of angular guitars and matter-of-fact vocal delivery, holding tight to the refrain of “I don’t have to grow old/I don’t have to grow at all.” A steady drive from the drumming helps the tune march, turning the track from self-reflection to an advice column, reminding the listener that “YOU don’t have to grow old!” They’ll release their new album Surge on March 6th via Howlin Banana/A Tant Rever Du Roi.

 

Brigitte Calls Me Baby Announce Irreversible

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When I’m listening and watching this new video from Brigitte Calls Me Baby, I’ll admit, I’m approaching it with a bit of trepidation. First, I love the sound; I love the sonics and the way you can trace the lineage to acts like Orange Juice. The rapid drum and cymbal work has this rhythmic pull that even the most hip human couldn’t avoid digging. That said, there’s some elements of this video and the band’s pomp and hairdos that remind me of the Killers. Am I being tricked? Is this too saccharine for longevity? I want to be free and fall in love with this song, but I’ll have to wait for more singles from their new LP, Irreversible…it arrives on March 13th via ATO Records.

Cootie Catcher Share Puzzle Pop Video

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Cootie Catcher has given us their refined brand of indiepop with spirited single after spirited single, but today’s offering gives a look at the group’s ability to mix it up on their forthcoming LP, Something We All Got. Nolan takes on the lead vocal role this go round, but it’s more about the calmed approach to the verses that sets the tune up for success. In a sense, the tune’s themes of being non-confrontational shine through the songwriting, though the group is sure to bring it all back to their pop purveyance in the chorus, as they never stray to far from offering joy to the listener. Carpark Records will release the new LP on February 27th!

Dog Chocolate Drop Green Stuff Video

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While they’ve been laying low for the last few years, Dog Chocolate have popped up to remind us all that in our battle of industrialization, the green stuff “will always win the war.” It’s a furious bit of angular guitar lines dancing around the verses, which, by the way, were written individually by Rob, Andrew and Matthew. Crawling through the speakers like vines, the guitars scratch at our ears, each round amplified by a burst of drum hits that set up the chorus. Back and forth the song goes, much like man’s back and forth with nature…a reminder from the band that it’s a battle we can’t win. This ditty will feature on the group’s new LP, So Inspired, So Done In…out February 27th via Upset the Rhythm.

Pleased to Meet You: Knight’s Ferry

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Projects amongst friends always bring the most joy, which is where the story for Knight’s Ferry begins. Alex Olsen of Portland emailed Clay Hunt of San Francisco, who brought on Michael Ramos (Tony Jay/Flowertown), who emailed ATH, and here we are. When you listen through, the imagery of the album art begins to seep through the musical sphere, as if the track was pulled together in one of the rooms of the old house; the vocals are almost presented as a whisper so as not to wake anyone in the rest of the house. Personally, I was drawn to the way the guitar notes sort of hung in the mix for a bit, giving an added textural depth to the whole of the tune. Really excited to hear where this goes, but for now, the band have House Demos ready to roll out on February 6th courtesy of Teeth.

Chris Canipe Shares Barely Stitched + Drops Monuments

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I wanted to start 2026 being kinder to myself, thus needing musical accompaniment that is equally kind, thus where I landed with Chris Canipe. This Missourian is writing tracks that land somewhere between Yorn, Tweedy and Pernice, with lineage linking back to Americana and folk, though built with a bit more rock spirit to keep it feeling lively. While there’s definitely some aspects that snap on the back of the drum work, the way Canipe’s vocals sweep in offer your a sense of inner peace. If you go through this track and find some love here, you’ll want to be sure to swing through all of Monuments, his latest release, which coincided with the release of this ditty.

Last Week’s Jams (1.5 – 1.9)

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My goal this year is to cover as much new music as I can, while clearly staying in my lane and straying from the folks rinsing and repeating PR blasts. Walked a fine line last week, bringing in tons of new stuff. The big news for me was that a new record from Heavenly is finally announced, not to mention a long-awaited new LP from the Twilight Sad. There were some good Austin connections via Pullman, Winged Wheel, BS and Daily Worker too, with bands and labels from our town. Big hitters like Cate Le Bon, The Orielles and Dry Cleaning also had new singles comes out, so you’ll find those lurking in here too! Dig in and kick back.

Side note: Spotify sucks. Looking for hints on other playlist generators that support labels and bands.

Stuart Pearce Delivers Dances with Starships Video

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Last Spring, Stuart Pearce released the delightful All This Vast Overproduction, but great records never disappear, so Stuart has decided to revisit the closing track, “Dances with Starships.” When this tune kicked off, it sounded to me like a British version of Pavement, and I mean that in the best way possible. The pop driven chug of the guitars circle back again and again, with a growling guitar clearing the way for this burst of hooks to settle into the chorus. It’s clear the song’s a standout, but seeing as it was hiding at the end of a great record, not everyone listens all the way through. Perhaps now you’ll give it some time and go back and hear the record in its entirety…courtesy of Safe Suburban Home.

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