Ok Cool - "Safety Car"

Photo by Tracy Conoboy

If you love cheery 90's indie rock, you're going to love the latest from OK Cool. FLOOD Magazine stated that "Safety Car" has "... an early Built to Spill vibe," and as much as I hate quoting another writer, I kept getting the same feeling from the song. It's reminding me of The Normal Years, when Doug Martsch wrote shorter, more poppy songs with smaller guitar epics inside. "Safety Car" is wonderfully catchy and upbeat, and has that crunchy guitar that helped define the late 90's. As much as OK Cool remind me of my glory days on this one, the more pop focused side of the song helps keep it sounding more modern and not a throwback. 

Haley Blomquist Waller says of her band's latest single:

"This song is about the people in your life that make you feel loved and grounded. I wrote it last year with my husband in mind while we were starting to plan our wedding. There are references in the lyrics to things we do together that I know, in the future, I will look back on as peaceful vignettes. It’s about feeling nostalgic and grateful for things as they’re happening."

You can watch the video for "Safety Car" below. Chit Chat is due out August 1. For more on OK Cool, check out the band on Instagram and Twitter. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

08/14 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean

08/20 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop

08/21 - New York, NY - Baker Falls

08/22 - Philadelphia, PA - Silk City

Daffo - "Habit"

Photo by Nolan Knight

Daffo is the musical moniker of twenty-one year old Gabi Gamberg. The Los Angeles based artist recently released a new single, "Habit." Knowing that Daffo has opened for artists such as Blondshell, illuminati hotties, and Wednesday will give you an idea of what their new single sounds like. The song blends modern indie rock with alt-pop, but Daffo tends to lean more into the indie rock side of things than many of their contemporaries. "Habit" has swirling guitars that move in and out throughout the song, and while there may not be noise throughout, there are some wonderfully distorted guitar solos. Somehow the pop side of the song and the indie rock side perfectly complement each other.

Daffo says of their latest single:

“I wrote that song at a moment when I was having a hard time with my OCD and cyclical thinking. It’s partly about how I tend to come to conclusions about certain situations before even allowing myself to experience them.”

You can watch the video for "Habit" below. Where the Earth Bends is due out September 26 on Concord Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Daffo, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

11/1 – Amsterdam, NL @ London Calling

11/7 - Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Festival Paris

11/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^

11/11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^

11/12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^

11/13 – Montreal, QC @ Club Soda ^

11/15 – Toronto, ON @ Concert Hall ^

11/16 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre ^

11/17 – Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theater ^

11/19 – Cleveland, OH @ Globe Iron ^

11/20 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre ^

11/21 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ^

^ w/ Wednesday

Muscle - "Carpenter"

Hardcore can be a very repetitive genre, so it's always refreshing to hear something new. Baltimore's Muscle have a refreshing take on the sound. Their latest single, "Carpenter," is an under two minute burst of heavy groove. The band consists of vocalist Madison Coan (who commands almost all attention with both her screaming and singing), bass player Quentin Gibeau, and drummer Adam Farkas. "Carpenter" is a pure industrial sounding racket coated with a heavy layer of fuzz. It sounds like a combination of Girls Against Boys meets The Gits and then amped by by a near infinite limit. At times it even almost borders on dance music. As loud and abrasive as Muscle can be, "Carpenter" is also oddly melodic in its own way.

You can watch the video for "Carpenter" below. Arrest God is due out July 10, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Muscle, check out the band on Instagram.

Bonniesongs - "Strangest Feeling"

Photo by Nick Mckk

The latest from Australia-based Irish artist Bonniesongs is an interesting mix of sounds. "Strangest Feeling" starts off as a fairly standard modern singer-songwriter track that lands somewhere between folk-pop and rock. The song is sprinkled with these little psychedelic flourishes that give the song an unexpected indie rock base. And then, just as you're lulled into a comfortable space, this eruption starts happening... and then fades out. "Strangest Feeling" ends up being a pretty little song on the surface that borders on twee, but somewhat hides a lot more going on inside of the song. It's so close to being a completely mainstream singer-songwriter track but Bonniesongs keeps the entire thing fully engaging.

Bonnie Stewart (aka Bonniesongs) says of her latest single:

“It’s maybe my only classic love song. It’s about the fear of loss with loving someone but it’s a happy song, celebrating love and connection whilst also highlighting the inevitable future heartache.”

You can listen to "Strangest Feeling" below. Strangest Feeling, the album, is due out July 25. For more on Bonniesongs, check out the artist on Instagram and Facebook.

Time and Place - s/t

There are times that I think I'm knowledgeable about the Boston music scene, and then I discover a "new" band that's been around for sixteen years. "Leftist Americana act" Time and Place recently released a self-titled album that I'm thrilled to share with you all. While there are many bands out there labelled folk-punk, a lot of those tend to be more folk than punk, or even fairly mainstream pop rock. That's not the case with Time and Place. They are equal parts folk and punk. They use typical folk instruments like acoustic guitar and stand up bass to make straight up punk rock. All the songs on Time and Place have gruff punk style vocals, with gang vocals taking over most songs. The album also includes guest musicians on mandolin, baritone saxophone, pedal steel, trumpet, and even accordion by Red Sox organ player Josh Kantor. The album is a collection of fourteen songs about what it's like living in the current "Boomer fever dream," and it's basically if Woody Guthrie had lived to see punk. This is a truly great album that's going to be even better if you also happen to be a Leftist that loves Americana.

You can listen to "The Want Machine" below. Time and Place is available now on Bandcamp. For more on Time and Place, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook. They'll be playing August 3 at The Jungle Community Music Club in Somerville with Broken Daisies and The Only Humans.

The Jazztronauts - "Dave's Song"

I can't quite explain why, but the latest single from The Jazztronauts doesn't sound quite like I assumed they would. First of all, "Dave's Song" starts off with a killer guitar riff, which doesn't typically scream "jazz song." After that, the song is propelled by the horn section in the way you typically hear from brass bands, especially the ones that meld hip hop into their style. Once you figure out what "Dave's Song" is, it changes up into a more traditional jazz sound, until the guitar solo kicks in, which is more of a rock and/or Funkadelic style. The Jazztronauts have created a hard rockin' jazz single that you should crank up loud and enjoy.

You can listen to "Dave's Song" below. The single is out now on Nu-Tone. For more on The Jazztronauts, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.

The Wind-Ups - "A Fine Pink Mist"

Oakland's The Wind-Ups have such a great and unique sound on their latest single. "A Fine Pink Mist" could have been one of the most sugary singles we've ever covered. The song is unbelievably catchy and has all of the melodic components of a great, poppy song. That is, except for the fact that it's coated in a thick layer of lo-fi fuzz and noise. At some points the fuzz is just barely there, and at others it overwhelms the entire song. But it's always there, throughout. I certainly don't mean that as a negative, and if you also love sugary power pop and fuzzed out noise, you're going to love The Wind-Ups.

You can listen to "A Fine Pink Mist" below. Confection is due out July 11 on Dandy Boy Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on The Wind-Ups, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.

Chicago Underground Duo - "Click Song"

Photo by Mikel Patrick Avery

Chicago Underground Duo are set to release their first new music in eleven years, and we can hear the first song off their upcoming album. The duo of Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor just released "Click Track," an experimental jazz song with African rhythms. The group also gets the post rock tag, which you can hear in this song. Not being a jazz blog and as casual at best fans of jazz, you know when we bring you a release from that genre that it can't be a pure version. "Click Track" is an experimental jazz song that you will want, and possibly need, to dance to. If you're not the dancing type, Chicago Underground Duo is best listened to with your full attention and not as background music. There's a lot going on here that will reward your full attention.

Rob Mazurek says of the gap between Chicago Underground Duo's releases:

"When it feels right we do it. We have worked together and have been friends for a long time. This creates a kind of continuity not only in the music, but in our lives.”

You can listen to "Click Song" below. Hyperglyph is due out August 15 on International Anthem, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Chicago Underground Duo, check out the group on Facebook and Twitter. Upcoming live dates are below the song.

Friday September 12th - Sound & Gravity Festival - Chicago, IL 
Saturday September 13th - Public Records - Brooklyn, NY 
Sunday September 14th - Solar Myth - Philadelphia, PA

First Listen: New Releases for 27 June 2025

Artist: Gelli Haha
Album: Switcheroo
Quick Thoughts: Everything about this package feels unhinged, and yet this is a real favorite of the week. This isn't quite dance / electronic, but it's not your standard listen either. Opening track, "Funny Music," gives a sort of weird dissoance to start us out before it gets rolling; "Piss Artist" is as chaotic as you'd imagine, and the whole package is just one that's a delight. One of the favorites of the week.
Songs of Note: "Funny Music," "Spit," "Piss Artist," "Tiramisu," "Pluto is not a planet it's a restaurant"

Artist: Vandoliers
Album: Life Behind Bars
Quick Thoughts: Vandoliers are back and they are Not Happy. This is an overt, angry, political record in so many ways and the sort of rage that streams from its pores is a welcome addition to this summer, and it doesn't hurt that the songs are great, too. Don't skip this one, it's a welcome return and perfect for this point in time.
Songs of Note: "Dead Canary," "Life Behind Bars," "Thoughts and Prayers," "Valencia," "Jim's Barn"

Artist: Ceylon Sailor
Album: Here We Lie
Quick Thoughts: A local debut worth watching, this has all the hallmarks of an early aughts indie blogger hit in all the best ways. Sort of like an early Beulah, this stuck with me almost from the start and wouldn't let go, and when I was listening back to the collected playlist later over the weekend the songs got me hooked all over again. A required listen, because this band deserves great things.
Songs of Note: "lines seem severed," "all promises will break eventually," "nowhere in your eyes," "not where we were," "when I was by your side"

Artist: Willi Carlisle
Album: Winged Victory
Quick Thoughts: I texted Ken that I didn't think a queer Johnny Cash would work as well as it does when Willi Carlisle does it. For many purveyors of country music, it's the honesty and transparency that comes along with the most successful records, and Willi Carlisle has made a record that is distinctly, uniquely his in all the best ways. If you're not singing "Cryin' These Cocksucking Tears" all week long, you're doing it wrong.
Songs of Note: "Winged Victory," "The Cottonwood Tree," "Cryin' These Cocksucking Tears," "Big Butt Billy, "Old Bill Pickett"

Artist: Laura Stevenson
Album: Late Great
Quick Thoughts: And here comes Laura Stevenson, ready to ruin our summer with another gorgeous, heartbreaking record that feels as essential as anything she's put out in her solo career. The album is a revelation in so many ways, and not just because she's operating on a whole different level than most other singer-songwriters right now. She's the best-kept secret in indie rock right now and this is just such a solid listen.
Songs of Note: "#1," "I Want to Remember It All," "I Couldn't Sleep," "Instant Comfort," "Late Great"

Artist: Penny and the Pits
Album: Liquid Compactor
Quick Thoughts: Penny and the Pits feel like they were snatched out of Matt Pinfield's CD holder. Epic-esque alt-rock that sounds like Speedy Ortiz fed through The Breeders, it's such a great listen. "Thick Black Gloves" in particular is a favorite of the week in its weird, wonderful glory. Check it out.
Songs of Note: "Montenegro on Ice," "Eutychus," "Thick Black Gloves," "Headcrusher," "Placeholder"

Artist: Lorde
Album: Virgin
Quick Thoughts: It's easy to consider Virgin the bratification of her sound, but the sort of confessional stance that Charli XCX brought to last summer's event feels like it's front and center here in an inescapable way. That said, this is Lorde's most challenging record in a lot of ways both in terms of topic and tone (and I think not having Jack Antonoff on this thing helps), and given that she's spent half her life as an a-ist pop star, you don't get this level of introspection on a pop record. There's a lot of grappling with gender and identity and what have you that I am completely unqualified to discuss, but this is a really incredible record on a lot of levels and deserves a listen.
Songs of Note: "Hammer," "What Was That," "Shapeshifter," "Current Affairs,"

Of note:

* Pig Pen - Mental Madness (The Bear star's hardcore band.)
* Freedom Fry - Best Friend (Delightfully chill.)
* Wavves - Spun (Solid indie power pop.)
* Smut - Tomorrow Comes Crashing
* Kat Hasty - The Time of Your Life
* Jasmine Guffond - Muzak for the Encouragement of Unproductivity
* Jane Sheldon - flowermuscle
* Durand Jones and The Indications - Flowers
* Tropos - Switches
* Durry - This Movie Sucks
* Nick Leon - A Tropical Entropy
* Frankie Cosmos - Different Talking
* Fishbone - Stockholm Syndrome
* Juno Eclipse - Blue With You
* Pan American and Michael Grigoni - New World, Lonely Ride
* Pan American and Kramer - Interior of an Edifice Under the Sea
* Smote - Clyppan
* Daisy the Great - The Rubber Teeth Talk
* Litloya - LitLoya
* Ringlets - The Lord is My German Shepherd
* Sharpie Smile - The Staircase
* Mission to the Sun - Seven Years
* Electric Citizen - EC4
* Sister Sadie - All Will Be Well
* Door Eater - Try
* Jeanines - How Long Can It Last
* Akira Kosemura - Mirai
* Greet Death - Die in Love
* Brighde Chaimbeul - Sunwise
* Mt. Joy - Hope We Have Fun
* Black Sites (Helena Hauff and F#X) - R4
* Lightheaded - Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming
* TDJ - TDJ
* Spider Kitten - The Truth is Caustic to Love
* Hot Milk - Corporation P.O.P.

EPs:

* Nina - Meraki Nina
* Wet World - Gush
* Sofii - I want this feeling to last forever

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* Blonde Redhead - The Shadow of the Guest

July 2 - Minneapolis, MN - Mortimer's

July 3 - Chicago, IL - Cole's Bar

July 4 - Youngstown, OH - Westside Bowl

July 6 - Brooklyn, NY - The Broadway

July 12 - Somerville, MA - The Burren

July 31 - Medford, MA - Deep Cuts 

August 6 - Lowell, MA - Taffeta (supporting The Dollyrots)