Horsegirl Share Julie Single

Not sure I had Horsegirl penciled in on my calendar as delivering the knockout record of 2025, but here it is, and I’m definitely going to stand by this being one of the strongest LPs we’ll hear next year. “Julie” is another settled portrayal of a band locked into crafting their sound, building their songs with an absolute purpose; I keep thinking they’re going to explode at any given turn, yet their restraint just illustrates how carefully they’ve evolved on this LP. Don’t get me wrong, there’s not an absence of art of energy, but rather this beautiful experience that, like me, you’ll want to share with your nearest and dearest music nerds. Phonetics On and On is out on February 14th via Matador.

The Cords Drop Favourite Time

Is it allowed to drop two Christmas singles into your coverage in one day, let alone right after one another no less? Well, who gives a damn, as this fresh ditty from the Cords is too delightful to ignore; it hits all the right jangle pop notes, and feels like it has a slight little update on the sound. You can hear the remnants of Sarah and C86 in there, or more recently Jeanines, but I like that they eschew the noisier, ramshackle nature, instead cleaning it up to deliver a maximum sweetness that surely makes it one of the more infectious tunes you’ll hear this week. This tune brought to you courtesy of Slumberland and Heavenly Creature.

Train Conductor Offer Mary Anne

As the year wraps up, I’m still looking to have my mind warped just a little bit, and this Train Conductor is definitely doing the trick, sort of trickling through my speakers like an indie rock version of Massive Attack. In the first minute or so, you’re sort of stuck in this magical realm of broken beats and ambiance. But, a pop sensibility begins to unfold, with slight vocals making their way into the mix to kind of twist up the musical mapping here. It sort of works in an unidentifiable manner; is it slow core, electronica, what? Ultimately, it’s just a unique tune to get you on your way into Monday.

Last Week’s Jams (12.2 – 12.6)

In a world where folks are rushing to put out their year end lists, so you can debate their tastes, I’m just over here putting out songs with my bud RayRay. We covered a surprising 21 new songs last week, and 22 if you included a tune that’s not on any of the DSPs. Tons of rad Austin stuff like Strange Lot, Gus Baldwin, Lunar Gold…and of course the ATH Records’ own Fantastic Purple Spots. New music from FACS and Sprouts made my week complete, though I also found some soft spots in there you can dig through on the site. Don’t forget to also check out our Rock n’ Recipes with Sasha Bell of the Ladybug Transistor, just in time for their little tour and reissue! We also got to premiere a brand new Gaytheist tune worth your time!

Dropkick Share Title Track from Primary Colours

There’s never a bad time to digest a new tune from Dropkick, as the group have been consistently carrying the flag of jangling indiepop for years (as we’ve noted!). Their new LP is on the horizon, and today we get to hear the title track, “Primary Colours,” which offers up that circuitous guitar ring, reminiscent of some of the ways we got into early Teenage Fanclub records. One thing that Dropkick excel at, however, is making it their own, owing to their beautiful tug on the melodies in the vocal; they’re so comforting and crisp that inevitably you find yourself wrapped up in their earworms. Primary Colours is out February 7th via Bobo Integral.

Gaytheist Announce The Mustache Stays

Been a handful of years since you’ve heard from Portland’s Gaytheist, but we’re changing that today as the group are here to announce The Mustache Stays, their new long-player for the masses. Don’t get caught off-guard by the gentle opening, as it won’t be long before you’re rushing to turn your volume down, with the band entering with thundering drums and piercing vocals. While it jumps out of those gates rushing with punishing fury, the group don’t shy away from turning the song inside out, slowing it down to a stomping metal growl. It’s easy to bundle up and look for comfort in the Winter, but that’s not the style here; they want to wake you from your slumber, and you’ll be grateful for the harrowing energy thrown right in your face. Look for The Mustache Stays on February 21st.

Ciao Malz Releases Gold Rush

Malia DeLaCruz and her project Ciao Malz might not be a household name just yet, but I think the latest single from her forthcoming EP displays a lot of risks within the confines of the songwriter genre. Claiming interests that are equal parts and Men I Trust, there’s definitely a bit of a pop hipness in the way Malia spins some of her syllable work; it reminds me of a young Amber Coffman, though the relaxed casualness in her performance sort of renders it an anomaly in the current scene. Really think you’re going to want to spend time with Safe Then Sorry, which drops today via Audio Antihero.

Corasandel Release 1999 Track

We’ve spent several posts covering Corsandel over the years, so we were quite pleased when they reached out to give us a listen to their new track, “1999.” While they specialize in dense ambiance, this new single seems to eschew a more open expanse, drifting in atop a heavily synthesized bit of beats. Those synth stabs and snapping percussive runs give the track energy, while allowing the wistful tone of the lyrics to maximize their thematic thoughts, reflecting on a time when things seemed more pure and promising. The beauty of the song is that it reminded me of the promise, and maybe with that it gave me a little sadness too, knowing that everything was before me…and now, 25 years later, maybe not so much. And, maybe that forces me to look on today, find that promise and chase after it, and I’ll definitely have a nice tune to work with in doing so.

Fantastic Purple Spots Drop Video + Share New EP

Over on our label side of the site, we began the year with the excellent Vibrations Now EP from Austin’s Fantastic Purple Spots. Thus, it seemed only fitting that we wrap up the year by tossing out the final musical statement from the project: Spotsylvania Lullabies. Prior to the holiday break, we shared a nostalgic leaning classic rocker, “Flowerland,” and today we’ve got a video version of the tune to run for you below. It’s the perfect encapsulation of their sound, melding their work from both EPs into a psychedelic world of blended colors and imagery. In terms of the new EP, officially out Friday but streaming below, it reminds me a lot of the early Clientele records, living somewhere between experimental psychedelia and pastoral rock n’ roll…perfect for your Winter listening, so stream it below!

Strange Lot Release It’s Always You

Over the last handful of years, Strange Lot has been making a solid name for themselves in the Austin music scene, and it appears as they’re nearing their own pinnacle as this fresh single illustrates the group’s quality, while also throwing down what makes them more of an outlier in an oversaturated psych realm. The genre as it stands has the propensity to lock in a groove, let that pulse and move, but always hold the song steady; we don’t see the band striving to escape that. However, most acts employ a more traditional guitar sound while the Strange Lot seem content to lurk in the shadows of their work; it elevates their craft into a more cinematic realm that feel more traditional in its willingness to step away from the masses. This tune will feature on the group’s forthcoming LP, with Alex Mass and Jim Eno taking on production/mixing roles…so you know it’s a big deal.

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