First Listen: New Releases for 3 October 2025
Album: Worldwide
Quick Thoughts: Some great, great, GREAT power pop punk here. It's a whirlwind of sound that feels super tight from start to finish, doesn't take itself too seriously (example: their cover of "Come Together"), and you just come away from this feeling like they're a band that has found their spot and plan to occupy it for some time. A great listen this week.
Songs of Note: "Company Car," "Hologram," "Worldwide," "Star 6 9," "Come Together," "Blockhead"
Album: R is for Rocket
Quick Thoughts: Ken sent this one over and this is a new act for me. Melodic indie rock, for sure, but will probably draw positive comparisons to Speedy Ortiz and the sort of 90s grunce / alt-rock that influences it. "Crossing Fingers" won me over immediately, but the whole album is worth your time.
Songs of Note: "Crossing Fingers," "Another Second Chance," "Pretending," "Wide Awake," "R is for Rocket"
Album: Baby Did This
Quick Thoughts: As a lifelong R.E.M. fan, jangly rock music is nearly always going to be a winner in my book, so while I understand that I'm grading on a curve to some extent, this album rules. Feels like it's right out of this era, with gorgeous melodies and great guitar work. If "Can't Thank You Enough" and "Memory Light" don't work for you, I'm not sure what to say. One of the best of the week, and direct from our backyard at that.
Songs of Note: "Rain," "Memory Light," "Can't Thank You Enough," "Sister"
Album: Scarrow
Quick Thoughts: I have a real soft spot for UK folkies, and this Scottish band falls right in that wheelhouse. Scarrow is the latest from Salt House, and continues their great approach to stark, delicate-sounding folk music. This one kept surprising me even though I knew what was coming, which is always a nice moment when listening to something for the first time. Give this a listen.
Songs of Note: "Headed Our Way," "Take This Day," "Cut Him Out in Little Stars," "Underwing"
Album: Ghost of Me
Quick Thoughts: There were a number of rootsy releases this week, but my favorite one by far was this smoky, torchy album by Kashena Sampson. With a hint of Lydia Loveless in the approach, Sampson offers up a pile of songs that stuck with me this week. "Rearview Mirror" won me over immediately, and "Phases" was a dark delight, but the whole album is worth it. A true favorite this week.
Songs of Note: "Rearview Mirror," "Fucked Up Love," "Phases," "God"
Album: Don't Care. Didn't Ask.
Quick Thoughts: I wanted to make sure I gave a nod to Cheap Perfume, which offers a pitch-perfect political punk record that feels very much up to and up for the moment. No punches pulled, no targets missed. Put it in your rotation.
Songs of Note: "Anytown, USA," "Start Shit," "Desert"
Of note:
* Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl (It's fine, kinda, but I didn't need to know that much about Travis Kelce's "magic wand." "Opalite" is the winner.)
* Arthur Buck - Arthur Buck 2 (Surprisingly great after being on the shelf for close to five years.)
* Drink the Sea - Drink the Sea II (Not leftovers from the first release, but not quite as essential, either.)
* Arthur Buck - Arthur Buck 2
* Ash - Ad Astra
* Supersuckers - Liquor, Women, Drugs and Killing
* Gully Boys - Gully Boys
* Stay Inside - Lunger
* Recognize Ali - Back to Mecca 3
* Emma Pollock - Begging the Night to Take Hold
* Rachael Yamagata - Starlit Alchemy
* Nicki Bluhm - Rancho Deluxe
* Ava Luna - Ava Luna
* Haerts - Laguna Road
* Pynch - Beautiful Noise
* Night Tapes - portals//polarities
* Family obligation - Prior Commitments
* Geckøs - Geckøs
* Marta - Out the Way
* Noah Floersch - Francis Aquarius
* Kelly Moran - Don't Trust Mirrors
* Potential Badboy - Elusive
* Upchuck - I'm Nice Now
* Cate le Bon - Michaelangelo Dying
* Say She She - Cut & Rewind
* Pauil Meany - Forever Phase
* Caitlin Canty - Night Owl Envies the Mourning Dove
* Donny McCaslin - Lullaby for the Lost
* Crushed - no scope
* Idlewild - Idlewild
* Prewn - System
* Elcamino - Mino
* Hammydown - Former You
* Kinlaw and Franco Franco - Faith Elsewhere
* Volk Soup - 10p Jazz
* Genevieve Artadi and Real Bad Man - Everything is Under Control
* Vatican Shadow - Church of All Hallows' Eve
* Brennan Leigh - Don't You Ever Give Up on Love
* Vernon Reid - Hoodoo Telemetry
* Emma Pollock - Begging the Night to Take Hold
EPs:
* Weakened Friends - Feels Like Hell
* OogLaDaar - Children, Fools, and Madmen
* Ribbon Skirt - Pensacola
* Hohnen Ford - Incurable Optimist
* Peel Dream Magazine - Taurus
* Bermuda Search Party - Fools on Parade
Also out:
* Rainbow Kitten Surprise - bones
* Seth Avett - Feathe
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