First Listen: New Releases for 17 and 24 October 2025
Album: LOTTO
Quick Thoughts: I was unsure how much I would like Lotto based on some of the stuff I had read, but when this turned out to be exactly the type of dirty, grungy shoegaze I love, well, this album quickly became a favorite. It's a short record, but one with basically no skips from beginning to end - "sour diesel" and "rl stine" are highlights, but if you generally love the stuff we highlight here, you'll love this.
Songs of Note: "sour diesel," "trainers," "slo crostic," "violence iii," "herpim," "rl stine"
Album: Some Like It Hot
Quick Thoughts: I can't say for sure that this is a bit of a change of pace for bar italia, but the sort of polished twee-ish Britpop that feels current and nostalgic is amazing and worth your time this week. Between the high production values and great songwriting, don't miss out.
Songs of Note: "Fundraiser," "Cowbella," "omni shambles," "rooster," "eyepatch"
Album: Try to Have a Little Fun
Quick Thoughts: sadlands reminds me of some of my favorite bands from my college-ish years. High-energy power pop with great melodies and a little crunch behind the scenes, and you get an album that's a fun slice of music in a time where power pop seems to be low on everyone's priority list. Don't miss this one.
Songs of Note: "Wrong Idea," "Bad Idea," "Twin Flame," "Lessons Learned," "Jars"
Album: West End Girl
Quick Thoughts: I don't need to rehash the genesis of this album here except to say that Hellboy did Lily Allen so wrong that she decided to take a blunt force object directly to him in the form of the most deliciously violent takedowns of a philandering partner we've seen in ages. If we can say anything about Lily Allen over the years, it's that she doesn't generally hold back, and, well, when you can get your ex-spouse's Instagram DMs read over a track from your first album in 7-odd years, well...
Songs of Note: "Tennis," "West End Girl," "Nonmonogamummy"
Album: Living While Dying
Quick Thoughts: I've liked what I've heard from fanclubwallet up until now, but I did not expect to love this album quite the way I did. It's got elements of lo-fi alternative indie, modern indie pop, classic grunge, a little bit of everything and all of it amazing. Great song after great song, and I probably could have highlighted any of them this week. Don't miss out.
Songs of Note: "Cotton Mouth," "Know You Anymore," "Head On," "Do You Hate Me," "New Distraction"
Album: Good Story
Quick Thoughts: Eliza McLamb specializes in very appealing pop-adjacent singer-songwriter tunes, and when Good Story is on, it is unstoppable. "Mausoleum" in particular stopped me in my tracks, one of the many standout tracks with so much out recently. Give this some time.
Songs of Note: "Suffering," "Mausoleum," "Forever, Like That," "Every Year," "Getting Free"
Of note:
* Jane Inc. - A RUPTURE A CANYON A BIRTH (Excellent dance music.)
* cupcakKe - the BakKery (She's still got it.)
* Machine Girl - PsychoWarrior: MG Ultra X (Often-surprising electroclash-style rock.)
* Orchestra Gold - Dakan
* Rianne Downey - The Consequence of Love
* Coast Arcade - Coast Arcade
* Living Hour - Internal Drone Infinity
* Josienne Clarke - Far From Nowhere
* Palm Ghosts - Content Providers
* Carla Geneve - Don't Be Afraid
* The Lemonheads - Love Chant
* Jesca Hoop - Selective Memory
* Sudan Archives - THE BPM
* Jennie Lawless - Moody Age
* Chad Crouch - Creek and Raven
* Skullcrusher - And Your Song is Like a Circle
* Soulwax - All Systems Are Lying
* Public Memory - Public Sword
* Seaside - Disiderata
* Cusp -What I Want Doesn't Want Me Back
* Brandi Carlile - Returning to Myself
* Beauty Sleep - The Whole Damn Cake
* The Last Dinner Party - From the Pyre
* Ruen Brothers - Awooo
* Just Mustard - We Were Just Here
* Suzie True - How I Learned to Love What's Gone
* PARTYOF2 (fka grouptherapy.) - Amerika's Next Top Party
* The Lovely Eggs - Bin Juice
* Elektro Guzzi - Liquid Center
* Jopelton Mayfield - Crowd Pleaser
* Chimehours - Underneath the Earth
* Cosmic Kitten - Cosmic Kitten
* The Second Hand Orchestra - Puzzle
* Old Saw - The Wringing Cloth
* Jonny Fritz - Debbie Downers
* Good Flying Birds - Talulah's Tape
* Maggie Lindemann - i feel everything
* Courting - How to Thread the Needle and Come Out the Other Side to Tell the Story, Or: 'Lust for Life
* Polica - Dreams Go
* INJI - Superlame
* Oruã - Slacker
* Headache and Vegyn - Thank You For Almost Everything
* Jodie Langford - Softly Spoken
* Molly Ringworm - Perfect Dog
* Tame Impala - Deadbeat
* Rachel Bobbitt - Swimming Towards the Sand
* Low Girl - Is It Too Late To Freak Out?
* True Blue - Star Witness
* Pelea de Cantina - Musica Para Preocuparse
* Couch - Big Talk
* Blase - Somewhere Out There
* Hannah Jadagu - Describe
* Katy and the Null Sets - Troublemaker
* Smote - Songs From the Free House
* Destiny Bond - The Love
* The Kasambwe Brothers - The Kasambwe Brothers
* Sigrid - There's Always More That I Could Do
* Heather Aubrey Lloyd - Panic Room With a View
* Far Produce - Soulful Days
* Juliana Riolino - Echo in the Dust
* Ex-Hyena - XX Your Love
* NGHTCRWLR - OZ
* Alma Muñeca - Deseu Un Brillo
* The Noisy - The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat
* Billy Dean Thomas - MX
* Brainwasher - 39 Lightyears From Heaven
* Spiritual Cramp - RUDE
* Alice Phoebe Lou - Oblivion
* Alessandro Cortini - Il Mostro
* Ouri - Daisy Cutter
* Losses - Serious Business
* Chad Crouch - Creek and Raven
* Militarie Gun - God Save the Gun
EPs:
* After - EP2
* Weezy Ford and Rodeo Wilson - Magnolia Moon
* Cindy Wilson - Second Sight
* Speed Week - Weak Speed
* bloodsports - Anything Can Be a Hammer
* Imogen Heap - I AM ______
* Nelly Moar - Love's Law
* Fever Dream - Fever Dreamer
* Savannah Conley - Love You, Mean It
* Babeheaven - Slower Than Sound
* Aura Bora - Welcome to Heck
* Geowulf - Twinkly Depression
* Charlotte Dos Santos - Neve Auzl
* dance arts center - dance arts center presents
* Tortiose - Touch
* KT Tunstall - The Stargazer EP
Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:
* The Sound Cove Super Sonic Showcase, Vol. 1
* The Secret Symphony of Plants
* Young Man in a Hurry - PAPA AKIYO
* Serj Tankian - Covers, Collaborations, and Collages
Also out:
* Paz Lenchantin - Triste
* Chrissie Hynde - Duets Special
