If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Isaac Barnes The rap renaissance of 2025 is continuing in 2026, and one of the releases we're most looking forward to is the upcoming mixtape from .idk.. For his latest single, he's enlisted Pusha T. "LiFE 4 A LiFE" is a chill but completely intense new song. It takes everything we first loved about hip hop in the golden years of the late 80's and early 90's, but instead of sounding like a throwback, it's moving the genre forward. And then there's .idk.'s flow. As soon as the vocals start, you're completely engrossed in everything he says. He's simply one of the most engaging new artists we've discovered in a long time. "LiFE 4 A LiFE" is a killer song that's going to work for fans of both classic and modern underground hip hop. .idk. says of his latest single: “'LiFE 4 A LiFE' speaks to a way of thinking shaped by survival, retaliation, and inherited codes, not to justify it, but to illuminate it. I’m obs...

Photo courtesy of Montserrat House Music Last year we rediscovered trip hop pioneer Eric Hilton with his excellent album Midnight Ragas. Now the Thievery Corporation member is back with a new single off his album due in February. If you're of a certain age, then you know that trip hop was quite often considered sexy time music, even if the lyrics didn't always agree. Hilton's upcoming album is being described as "elegantly erotic," which makes sense once you hear "The Dharma Lovers." It takes the 60's ultracool and groovy sound that made a comeback in the 90's with classic trip hop vibes. The song is instantly cool, and perfect to chill or Netflix and chill. (Do the kids still say Netflix and chill?)  Eric Hilton says of his upcoming album: "This record is an atmosphere, a state of mind. I indulge myself by making music that I want to listen to.  It’s a more solitary record than some of my other work, there is not a big list of guest perform...

Photo by Ian Zerrouki Sam Quealy is referred to as a "techno-pop princess," but her latest single is dripping with disco glory. "By My Side," which features vocals from Marlon Magnée of La Femme, is more fun than anything else you've listened to today. It's like vintage 70's dance music filtered through the post Boogie Nights attempted disco revival of the 90's, 00's indie sleaze, and all covered with a layer of modern pop sheen. You might not want to listen to this at your work desk in case you accidentally start a dance party, but this is going to be perfect as you start your Friday on your ride home. Crank this one and forget all of your music snobbery. You're guaranteed to have a blast. Sam Quealy says that her new single is about  “...  finding someone who makes life feel brighter and less lonely, sharing a deep connection that turns the chaos of the world into a beautiful ride together. ”  You can watch the video for "By My Side...

Boston "dungeon dream pop" artists Chainlacing have a new single out on a just released compilation. "Transient" is a trippy and dreamlike new single, layered in fuzz and electronic noise. The song is stunning, and despite how experimental it is, there is an odd amount of mainstream appeal to it. It reminds me of a shoegaze band teaming with Aphex Twin and Sneaker Pimps back when they toured in 1997. "Transient" is fully mesmerizing, and is going to suck you in before you even realized it's happened. It's the kind of song where you might still be sitting there in a haze for a minute or so after it's ended. Chainlacing have slowly become a favorite around here, and our adoration grows with every release. You can listen to "Transient" below. Star Sailors: A Shoegaze & DreamPop Compilation: Vol. 4 is available now via Bandcamp . For more on Chainlacing, check out the band's website . Star Sailors: A ShoeGaze & DreamPop Compil...

Photo by Michelle Mennona Philadelphia hardcore supergroup (consisting of members of Deadguy, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, and more) Bitter Branches have a new single out that simply needs to be heard. "Cave Dwellers" is a fast and angry song clocking in at just over three minutes. It's as much post-hardcore as it is hardcore, as discordant as it is heavy. It's definitely going to give you some Jesus Lizard vibes with its monster sound, although it does have a surprising amount of melody for how heavy it is. Sometimes you just need a loud and angry rock song, and it helps when its as creative as the latest from Bitter Branches. Drummer Jeff Tirabassi says of his band's upcoming album: “On our first record I feel like we were all trying to get our feet underneath it, but on this one we really wanted to lean into the groove." You can watch the video for "Cave Dwellers" below. Let's Give the Land Back to the Animals is due out March 6 on Equal Vision Re...

Photo by Michael Wojcik Philadelphia/New Jersey band Sweet Pill have a new single out before their latest album is released in March. "Glow" is a mid-tempo anthem that combines emo, pop, shoegaze, and maybe even a little country(?). The song is an absolutely lush and dreamy track that gives singer Zayna Youssef room to show off her vocal talent. It's swarming with fuzzed out guitars and driving drums, moving between being a power ballad and a full out rocker. It's also oddly hypnotic, giving you the feeling of the music swirling around you as you listen. "Glow" is a great single, and might be the kind of positivity we could all use these days. Zayna Youssef says of her band's latest single: “‘Glow’ is about living my life with my eyes closed. Realizing I may be on the way to rock bottom, I kind of want to pretend it is not happening. We all know what this is called: D E N I A L.  I perceive through this hazy lens that is constantly fogged by a glow. To m...

Photo by Greg Norton Ultrabomb, aka the supergroup consisting of Greg Norton (Husker Du), Derek O'Brien (Social Distortion, Agent Orange, Adolescents), and Ryan Smith (Soul Asylum), have a new single out. "Artificial Stars" is a fantastic punk rock song that delves into power pop. It's catchy and simply irresistible of a song. It may not quite have the some dissonance or noise of the trio's other bands, but it still packs a killer punch and it makes up for it with catchiness. If you even slightly enjoy any of the members' previous bands, you're going to love this one. Even after releasing two great albums since 2022, Ultrabomb are one of the most slept on and underrated bands out there today. "Artificial Stars" are a perfect jumping on point if you're just discovering them now. Greg Norton says of the band's latest single: “Sitting in our bunkers, we only have artificial stars to look at. We are all scarred, but we keep reaching for those...

Photo by Johann Flash Danz CM is a self-produced musician, composer, and songwriter formerly known as Computer Magic. Their latest single, "Over the Ocean," is a ballad heavy on synths and acoustic guitar. It might be the space/astronaut theme of the video, but this one sounds and feels like a modern version of David Bowie's "Life on Mars" or "Space Oddity" meets The Cars. It's updated, but still has that 60's space age sound to it. "Over the Ocean" is a song that is as beautiful as it is cool. It's the kind of song that sucks you in deeper with every second that you listen, and only gets more addictive with each spin. Despite how synth laden the song is, Danz CM has crafted it so that it still feels organic and not electronic. Danz CM says of their latest single: “You don't know if the character has made it out alive; either it's a reverse chronological narrative where the dreamscape you just witnessed was reality all alo...

Photo by Guy Bolongaro Dog Chocolate is back with a new single. "Green Stuff" is described as a "scrappy pop-punk song," but it's unlike what you imagine when you hear pop punk. It has a much more discordant and slightly unhinged sound. It's more like pop punk dipping its toe into noise rock, and then losing its balance and fully falling in. While it's still oddly catchy, no one is going to confuse "Green Stuff" with anything that was shown on MTV's TRL. Dog Chocolate has created a fun and energetic song that fits in the pop punk genre, if barely. It's always good to see a band transform and add to a genre that has mostly remained stagnant for two decades. Matthew of Dog Chocolate says that the band's new song's lyrical theme “... stemmed from the idea that while humans continually slather concrete and tarmac over habitats, nature always finds a way to reclaim them when left unattended. This echoed with the brewing unrest of nat...

Photo by Michael Black Nevaris is a nine piece soulful project out of Manhattan. Their latest single, "Ninth Sun - Live," is a mind-altering three and a half minutes of music that combines jazz, dub, funk, improvisation, and turntablism. You know those people that don't think jazz is for them? This is going to change their mind. Nevaris take so many styles of music and fuse them into "Ninth Sun - Live" seamlessly. This is such an inventive sound that is going to appeal to music snobs of every style, from jazz aficionados, indie rockers, hippies, and underground hip hop heads. Seriously, if you call yourself a music fan, you're going to adore this one. You can watch the video for "Ninth Sun - Live" below. SoundSession is due out February 27, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Nevaris, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram .

Photo by Eleanor Petry Chinese American Bear are a Seattle based duo consisting of married couple Anne Tong and Bryce Barston. Their latest single, "No No Yeah Yeah (不不好啊好啊)," is an insanely fun two minute burst of indie pop. We've described songs as infectious before, but nothing we've covered is an infectious as this release. The song has a kind of cut and paste feel to it, much like you get with a mash-up track. It's light and airy feeling with a danceable beat, and if you're looking for a way to inject yourself with joy, there aren't many better ways than listening to " No No Yeah Yeah (不不好啊好啊) ." Chinese American Bear might be the most enjoyable artist we've covered in quite a while, and this is perfect if you need a little escapism at this point in time. Chinese American Bear say of their new single: " This song came about one day because we were joking about wanting to write a song using only 'No' and 'Yeah.'  Can...

Photo by Mitch LaGrow Funk, jazz, and soul organ trio Parlor Greens (which includes Tim Carman on drums, Jimmy James on guitar, and Adam Scone on organ) are back with a brand new single. "Eat Your Greens" is a pure delight. I personally find the song to lean more into the funk category more than the others, but there are still flourishes of soul and jazz that can't be beat. This is the kind of instrumental track that doesn't need any vocals, and is complete without them. There is a lot going on with only guitar, organ, and drums, and the song is fully engaging and complex with the three instruments. Parlor Greens were one of my favorite musical discoveries of 2025, so it's great to start off 2026 with new music from them. You can listen to "Eat Your Greens" below. Emeralds is due out March 27 on Colemine Records. For more on Parlor Greens, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. Feb. 7 - 12 - Port Of Miami, FL - Jam Cru...

Photo by Charles Gall Mandy, Indiana are one of the hardest bands to describe. The Manchester, UK band's latest single, "Cursive," has an undeniably killer beat to dance to. It's letting an impossible number of genres play in the same song, easing between indie rock, dance, hip hop, New Wave, drum and bass, noise rock, and some other sounds throughout. Sometimes the song will lean more into one or three genres, with everything sounding like it all belongs together perfectly. Even though I stated that the genres ease into each other, "Cursive" is far from a mellow track. Mandy, Indiana get intense on this one. You're going to be inspired to move, even if you have no idea how you're supposed to with this one. If this description sounds even the slightest bit intriguing, you're going to love "Cursive." Simon Catling (synths) says of his band's latest single: "‘Cursive’ is probably our most collaborative track to-date. Whilst Scott...

Heavenly are a legendary indie pop/twee band from Oxford, England who released four albums between 1989 and 1996 before disbanding. Last year they released their first new song in twenty-nine years, and today they are announcing a new album along with a new single. "Excuse Me" picks up right where Heavenly left off three decades ago. As much as it sounds like the band's music from their first run, there's something oddly modern sounding about the song as well. It could be that so many bands have been borrowing this sound since the 90's, but it feels like Heavenly chose to update their sound to 2026 while still sounding like themselves. "Excuse Me" is a delightfully upbeat sounding indie pop song that is going to delight their original fans, their newer, current fans, and some brand new ones, as well. You can watch the video for "Excuse Me" below. Highway to Heavenly is due out February 27 on Skep Wax, and is available to pre-order on Bandcamp ....