First Listen: New Releases for 25 July 2025
Album: Precipice
Quick Thoughts: Indigo De Souza is onme of those artists that I feel like everyone who knows her loves her work, but she has yet to have that direct breakthrough that lets everyone else in on the open secret. This album could change that. It's a little more poppy, but still retains the sort of alt-rock edge that sets her apart from many of her peers and made us fall for her to start. One of the best listens of the summer, frankly.
Songs of Note: "Crush," "Be Like the Water," "Heartthrob," "Heartbreaker," "Pass It By," Precipice"
Album: Snipe Hunter
Quick Thoughts: I've spent much of the weekend trying to figure out the analogue of Tyler Childers to modern country music with regards to mainstream rock/pop. Like, if Childers isn't country a-list right now, he's damn close, and yet his stuff still feels raw and accessible to people like myself who are otherwise allergic to modern country music. Honestly, this is a super enjoyable listen across the board and wears its influences not just on its sleeves, but all over. "Eatin' Big Time" is a clear favorite for me, but so much of this is sneaky great that it's definitely worth your time.
Songs of Note: "Eatin' Big Time," "Getting to the Bottom," "Bitin' List," "Down Under," "Snipe Hunt," "Dirty Ought Trill"
Album: paper doll
Quick Thoughts: Quinnie fills that female indie singer-songwriter slot so well that it's kind of weird I hadn't heard of her before this week. I will be honest: anyone willing to call a song "hate fuck" is going to get a listen, but I was surprised at how really solid and whole the songwriting and the overall sound was from an artist previously unknown to me. Will be keeping an eye on this, it's a great listen.
Songs of Note: "baby rockstar," "ripple," "hate fuck," "forgiveness," "paper doll," "my secret"
Album: Pl*net F*tness
Quick Thoughts: I was trying to figure out exactly what Pacing reminds me of, and it dawned on me that they remind me a lot of early Illuminati Hotties in that it's got that out-of-left-field feel that makes it sound familiar but utterly different across the board. This latest album is one surprise after another, and was one of the more fun and enjoyable listens of the week.
Songs of Note: "Pl*net F*tness," "Mastering Positional Chess," "True Crime / birthday song," "Advertising"
Album: The Big E
Quick Thoughts: When I listen to Editrix, my first reaction is "I should be listening to more Editrix." The angular, angsty, complicated music they put together feels rightly on brand and spot-on even while being a little more impenetrable than most. Wendy Eisenberg, who has a hell of a solo resume as well as her work here, makes the avant garde rock sound more accessible and I love every moment of it. Here's to hoping they get a booth at the actual Big E in the coming years.
Songs of Note: "Real Fire," "Flesh Debt," "Slight Return," "The Big E," "The Jackhammer"
Of note:
* Tommy Genesis - Genesis (Solid pop effort.)
* A. Billi Free - Pleasure, Peace and Pain (Great for fans of Little Simz; produced by The Lasso.)
* fresh - Disassociator I
* Folk Bitch Trio - Now Would Be a Good Time
* Oog Bogo - Cowgirls
* Boyhood - Birdhouse
* Yoshika Colwell - On the Wing
* Signals Midwest - Layovers
* dottie - Intention
* Alpenglow - Tuning
* Luke Gaines and Peter Buck - Going Down to the River... To Blow My Mind
* Goblomb - The Beat Goes On
* Bleary Eyed - Easy
* Patty Griffin - Crown of Roses
* Matching Outfits - Ditch Me
* Homeboy Sandman - Soli Deo Gloria
* Unspoken Traditon - Resilience
* Michael Beach - Big Black Plume
* Bonniesongs - Strangest Feeling
* Peach Rings - i'll look out for you
* Ryan Davis and The Roadhouse Band - New Threats From The Soul
* Fitz and the Tantrums - Man on the Moon
* The Mighty Rootsmen - The Mighty Rootsmen
* Pretty Bitter - Pleaser
* Samantha Schmutz and Adrian Younge - Samantha and Adrian
* Your Future Ghost - Impatient for the Dream
EPs:
* Madonna - Veronica Electronica (Lost EP of remixes from the Ray of Light era.)
* Pizza Hotline and Shirobon - Shadow Cell
* Why Bonnie - The Bedroom
* The Gypsy Moths - Five by Five From Four
* Kiesza - Dancing and Crying
* Ember Knight - Water Can Fly!
* Nuovo Testamento - Trouble
* Boy Jr. - I Hate Getting Dumped!
Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:
* Nick Drake - The Making of Five Leaves Left
* Heatmiser - Mic City Sons (30th Anniversary Edition)
* TAKKUUK (Original Soundtrack)
* Fever Ray - The Year of the Radical Romantics
* Dot Allison - Subconsciousology (Lomand Campbell Remixes)
* Yoshihiro Hanno - Gangs of Taiwan (Locust) (Original Soundtrack)
Also out:
* Alice - Chateaux Fables
* Robotic Hawks - Rock 'n' Roll Relapse
