Author: nathan.lankford

Chris Staples Shares Doesn’t Matter Now

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For all the noisier stuff I’ve been embracing today, I think the quiet of Chris Staples new single is one of the best ways to settle into my Tuesday. For the most part, the tune feels pretty simple, with a light strum and Staples’ voice remaining the focus for the first bit; drums kick in after the first 30 seconds, opening the song to more arrangements that support Chris’ gentle guitar play. Musically, the song’s moving when it gathers all the moss and rolls forward, but the magnificence of the track relies upon the voice. It’s something that feels both intimate and familiar, yet there’s this sense of longing that makes you yearn to sit in quiet with the tune itself. A nice little treat, and be sure to pick up Don’t Worry before it hits on August 5th.

Retail Drugs Announce rECKless dRIVing

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I was super into the last jam we heard from NYC project Retail Drugs, and today we get the great news that there’s a new LP on the way titled rECKless dRIVing…out on August 1st via Angel Tapes/Fire Talk. This song allows songsmith Jake Brooks to slowly manipulate the guitar sound, letting it embrace some of the popular melodic notes of the post-punk genre; Brooks pokes hols in the tune with this mysterious vocal, barely audible above the mix. Before you reach the 1 minute mark, the song begins to kind of hum with feedback, erupting into this shattering bash of noise that pushes the expectations of bedroom pop.

Winter Releases Misery (featuring Horse Jumper of Love)

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This new effort from Winter was already high upon my anticipation list for the year, but with their latest single, Samira’s got Horse Jumper of Love on board too, illustrating the draw of her powerful songwriting. Over her last several releases I’ve marveled at how the project manages to channel the softer side of bedroom pop while filling it with this upbeat energy that makes your body respond to every little note. HJoL provides the heavy strum that runs through the track, which for me, serves a lot like the traditional rhythm section, with the notes operating more like a continuous drum hit that allows for Winter to blanket the tune in her smoky whisper. Adult Romantix hits on August 22nd via Winspear.

Cory Hanson Loves Lou Reed

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While we have all grown accustomed to Cory Hanson‘s work in Wand, I feel like the masses generally sleep on his solo stuff; I can’t believe he’s already up to his 4th solo LP. This new single drops in an elegant bit of balladry, working with a piano backbone that allows for negative space to be filled with string arrangements and saxophone work. There’s also a bit of dry humor too, while Hanson brings up Lou’s quirkier traits, such as his role as a “tai chi master.” Throughout, there’s this solemn reverence that you can feel in each note on the piano and in the quieted fragility of Cory’s voice. Really looking forward to the entirety of I Love People; it drops July 25th via Drag City.

Anna Tivel Announces Animal Poem

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If you are going to announce a brand new album, you better come out swinging like Anna Tivel has with the title track from her forthcoming Animal Poem. The lyrical content alone plays with juxtaposition in such a striking fashion, and yet I continue to sort of get stuck on the “you breathe/then you’re not breathing,” though I suspect that’s my own anxieties of the world shining through. All of it, even its commentary on how difficult it is to be someone who loves are delivered in such a careful fashion that you can feel yourself sort of traipsing through the song as each syllable rolls off her tongue. Musically, the shooting star of a guitar line at 1:29 totally broke me, in the best possible manner. Cannot wait to see how the rest of the record unfolds for listeners; Animal Poem drops August 29th via Fluff & Gravy Records.

Don’t Worry Drop This Time Single

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Something in the water has allowed the folks in the UK to seamlessly blend pop punk and emo into this new anthemic sound, and there’s no one doing it better than Don’t Worry this week. Their latest single off their new Idealism LP begins with this chugging guitar; it’s got a heavy riff that drives the energy, forcing the drums to justly emphasize every hit. The verses get delivered in a matter of fact manner, striding in their own fashion, almost working against the pace, but that’s what sets the chorus up for brilliance. The punchy switch from the velvety voice to an anthemic growl of self-reclamation has me singing at the top of my lungs. Specialist Subject Records will drop Idealism on July 18th!

Star Moles Shares Fate Single

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I am an absolute lover of incredible voices, and today, I continue to indulge and marvel at the work of Star Moles, the project of Emily Moales. Beginning with a light strum and a bit of bard-esque storytelling, the quickly takes off from the light strum, twirling the listener around in this striking melody. Careful little notes on the tune give it a spiritual lift, though as it spun me about, I kept coming back to the Emily’s voice and its magical draw; it reminds me of Quinnisa from Big Blood. If you’re looking to completely obsess over an artist that wasn’t on your radar, you might want to go down the rabbit hole of Star Moles’ Bandcamp; the new album Snack Monster is out on August 8th via Earth Libraries.

The Mary Onettes Drop Two New Singles

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This past Spring, the Mary Onettes quietly dropped a stellar single for our ears, the first hint that 2025 might offer the Swedish outfit a welcome return. Today, we get further insight into their plans, as they’ve delivered two fresh singles, with the promise of more coming from the group in 2025. The first of the two tunes, “Hurricane Heart” reaches back to their self-titled LP, particularly in the cavernous feel of the vocals; I love the quick strum of the guitar that works in the song’s backdrop, akin to something you’d hear on a Go-Betweens track…just spun in a dreamier space. They do switch to some loftier tones in the vocals as it progresses, so it’s nice to hear plot twists being used to illustrate how far they’ve come as a band. On the other new single, they enlist Maja Milner of Makthaverskan on vocals to balance out the emotion; it’s a nice addition on a track that brims with a new energy. You might not have heard such adventure in their earlier works, but it seems like they’ve really come together to craft something supremely refreshing. This is the band at their finest, and I cannot wait until we get our hands on more new music!

New Music from Cass McCombs

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I feel like Cass McCombs is an artist I consistently take for granted, though I’ll admit to owning several pieces of his work; he seems to pop up in the quiet times in the industry and just deliver these powerhouse ballads. For instance today, he dropped a track with a steady little strum driving the track forward; there’s a snappy rhythm section behind it too, giving energy to the tune while the vocals would seem to be floating in the outer realms. He also has these tonal vocal switches that remind me of the magic of Sufjan, taking a kind of calm delivery and turning into something more ethereal. But, don’t ignore the nuance in the tune, as that’s what makes Cass’ work special; there was this cymbal build I heard that I thought was going to smash through the roof, only to get pulled back. Looking forward to hearing Interior Live Oak, out in August via Domino.

Nansy Return with In Your Eyes

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Now that we’ve gotten some rock n’ roll out into the world, let’s focus on the softer side of my heart, like this tune from the recent reunited Nansy. The Oslo band was an indiepop go-to in the early 00s, but walked away until this last week; their new single embraces the early charms whilst bringing it right up to speed with the modern sound. I’ll be honest, however, as the vocals are what swept me away, not that the music doesn’t have its own magic, but the way it switches from the calmed delivery into this more pronounced pop spin got right under my skin. Hats off to the arrangement as well, as there’s a great bit of depth that will surely reward your repeat listens.

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