Hey buddy. You doin’ okay? Neither are we, but it’s fine, we guess. We won’t bore you with all of the existential ins and outs impacting the nation at the moment. Horrors abound all around, this we know all too well. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Good news exists in increasingly small doses if you know where to look. For example: currently, at least, there is no mandate to include Kid Rock in every piece of recorded music. Of course, this is subject to change at any moment, so here are six new songs to listen to before they are irreparably harmed with the stroke of a pen.
Deafheaven ‘Magnolia’
Imagine waking up sobbing uncontrollably inside of a burning cathedral as a post-rock tsunami barrels through the stained glass. The song you’re likely hearing in this admittedly strange thought experiment is Deafheaven’s triumphant new single ‘Magnolia.’ It’s their first new music in four years and our staff has been so excited about the band’s return that we’ve had to put foam on all sharp corners, hide most of our silverware, and put the fire department on standby.
Saetia ‘Three Faces Past’
Remember when music used to make you feel things? Saetia does. Their latest single, ‘Three Faces Past’ continues their startling return after a 26 year absence. It’s a nostalgic blast from the emo past, complete with unintelligible screaming over guitars that sound like they were recorded inside a crumbling art school. The lyrics haven’t been released yet, so just yell along randomly and pretend it’s 1997 when things weren’t great, but certainly not as terrible as they are now.
Froglord ‘Herman’
Doom metal? Sludge? Psychedelic amphibian worship? Froglord defies classification and explanation. ‘Herman’ sounds like a wizard hotboxing a swamp while conjuring an ancient, riff-wielding toad to tell us the secrets of the universe. Heavy as hell, but also weirdly funky. If you don’t immediately grow a beard and start wearing a cloak after hearing this, check your pulse.
Tobacco City ‘Bougainvillea’
Tobacco City’s latest ‘Bougainvillea’ plays out like the soundtrack to a movie about a sentient denim jacket (our copyright is pending, so don’t even think about it). It cements the Chicago alt-country duo’s penchant for crafting slow-burners that feel like a sunset was injected into your bloodstream. Play this while staring wistfully into the distance with a toothpick in your mouth and pretending you know how to ride a horse.
Alex Orange Drink feat. Conor Oberst ‘Queen Victoria’
We’re pretty sure Alex Orange Drink teamed up with Conor Oberst on this track to remind us that we’re not depressed enough. ‘Queen Victoria’ is indie-folk-pop at its most concerning, a song that feels like eavesdropping on a conversation between two people who have definitely been kicked out of a Tim Horton’s for crying too loudly. It’s sludgy, catchy, and absolutely something you should put on when staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m.
Cryogeyser feat. Wednesday ‘Mountain’
The dreamy LA trio Cryogeyser have long muddled in the blended waters of shoegaze and indie rock. Their latest single, which features Wednesday, ups the ante quite a bit. ‘Mountain’ sounds like the feeling of finding a letter from your ex in an old winter coat. You know, the one you’re ‘totally over’ but still follow on Instagram for some reason. Not to get off the rails here, but you aren’t fooling anyone, much less yourself. No judgement, though. Just listen to the song.
Now that you’re keenly aware of how little time is left to listen to untainted music, you’re probably wondering where to find more. Fortunately, for you, we’ve created a playlist to collect these and more as the year hurdles on. You can like, follow, and listen below.