Heavy Jam from Trauma Ray

I definitely spent a lot of time jamming to the debut LP from Trauma Ray; it was heavy in all the right spots, with the faintest hint of melody lurking to keep pop fans like myself enthused. Well, yesterday they dropped an EP announcement with this new single and it’s totally bringing me back to mid 90s shows at Liberty Lunch here in Austin. The heaviness of the riff work recalls a number of acts from that era, though the earlier Deftones LPs certainly come to mind. I think the way they flirt with soaring vocal melodies is reminiscent of Water and Solutions by Far, mastering heavy riffage with a huge set of pipes! Think the group’s new Carnival EP will be pretty solid, out February 20th via Dais Records.

Alec Siegel Shares False Alarm

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

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.

Cootie Catcher Share Puzzle Pop Video

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!

Pleased to Meet You: Knight’s Ferry

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

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.

Andronoids Return with Two Hearts Can’t Be Held Apart

It’s been a few years since we’ve heard from Swedish pop purveyors, Andronoids, but with a new single hitting this week…why on Earth wouldn’t I be here to cover it. Interestingly, it’s a semi-instrumental track, albeit one that employs a great deal of voice work throughout the song. On the front end, you’ve got a jangling bit of guitar pop working, pepped and propped by the snare smashing in the front of the mix. When you hear the vocals, they’re working in this sort of hazy underground, which, if I’m being honest, gives them more of an ambient wash. But, that works perfectly in this mixture of the tune, offering up a bit of obscure in a land of sugar. Turn it on, then listen again and again.

Fazed on a Pony Shares the Perfect Swan

We’ve got to ease into Friday, or at least that’s my approach as this softened track from Fazed on a Pony comes through our emails. This track is the latest single from the New Zealand project, with the release of Swan still a few weeks ago. On my side, this song was all about balancing the gentle vocal work with the quiet strumming of the guitar; the notes are crisp, but the song does get a wee change as it moves to a close. Right after you cross the two minute mark, the tune takes on more of a swell, and while it’s subtle, it was one of the charms that has me looking forward to the new LP; it drops on January 23rd via Meritorio Records.

Cate Le Bon Drops Brand New Single

If you perused any Year End List for indie rock last year, you assuredly saw Cate le Bon’s name popping up after the excellent Michelangelo is Dying. The artist has wasted no time, returning with a brand new single that features additional vocals from St. Vincent. Drifting in carefully, the song crafts this striking presence before the vocals even come into play; I think that’s one of the magical things about le Bon, as her music works in two different plans that seem to overlap with one another. When the artists hit upon the line “it’s always the same” the track begins to operate as a seance, the perfect meditative piece for your day. Cate will be hitting the States throughout January, so keep your eye on your city’s music schedule!

Memorials Share Cut Glass Hammer

Call me crazy, but I’m thinking that the new record from Memorials is going to be one of those albums you keep coming back to throughout the year. On their latest single, you can already hear the group flexing their work with textured synthetics, layering vocals and electronica atop one another, building in that propulsive manner that drew us all into the depths of Stereolab. Close ears will hear little flutters of noise and ambiance, illustrating the details the duo has put into their craftsmanship on this record, offering up more than your modern fare. Sing into the melodic buzz of this jam and prepare yourself for All Clouds Bring Not Rain, out March 27th via Fire Records.

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