Well folks, it’s been another week in a seemingly endless cycle of weeks. Like Sysiphus and his rock, you’ve done meaningless tasks that seem to generate even more meaningless tasks. It’s time to take a break from the hustle and bustle and focus on what matters: tricking your streaming service algorithm into auto-playing new and relevant music to dazzle your friends on drives and at parties. Here are six brand new songs that will hopefully make the bots think you actually care about current trends in music and art.
Pinhead Gunpowder “Unt”
Billie Joe Armstrong’s longtime side project, Pinhead Gunpowder, released their first and only proper full length album nearly thirty years ago. Other than a handful of EPs, we’re not sure what Armstrong has been doing the last few decades. It seems that he’s finally come to his senses, though. That’s right, Pinhead Gunpowder is back. Their latest single and title track to their forthcoming album ‘Unt’ is bare bones power pop that will make you long for the days you could skate without your knee making that weird noise.
Genital Shame “Out of My Hands”
Pittsburgh’s Genital Shame – the solo project of super-shredder and multi-instrumentalist Erin Dawson – just released a new EP. As is true on previous releases, ‘As Good As A Kiss’ is a confounding listen that pushes the boundaries of black metal while practically redefining the genre in its entirety. It’s hard to imagine such a sonic assault – we mean that as a compliment – being produced by just one person, but Dawson has done it and we hope she never stops.
Video Age “Record Shop”
New Orlean’s Video Age has been crafting delicate and dreamy indie-pop since their formation in 2016. Their West Coast meets the South sound pairs well with attempting to smile for once and pretending nothing scary is ever happening in the world. Their latest track, an innocent ode to crate digging entitled ‘Record Shop,’ will help you accomplish both for three of the most pleasant minutes of your week.
MJ Lenderman “On My Knees”
MJ Lenderman’s highly anticipated album ‘Manning Fireworks’ is finally here. While Lenderman cranks the gain in his breakout project Wednesday, his solo material leans heavier into the more pensive Americana infused side of the indie rock realm. Album highlight ‘On My Knees’ splits the difference well but the entire record will have you itching to pick up your guitar for five minutes before getting frustrated with yourself again.
Ethel Cain “For Sure (American Football cover)”
Like most nerds, we often find ourselves wishing our favorite American Football songs would never end. No one can promise forever, but Ethel Cain has the next best thing. Recorded for the 25th anniversary of American Football’s eponymous debut, the experimental artist’s dreamy-as-fuck version of ‘For Sure’ clocks in at nearly 10 minutes, which may as well be an eternity considering modern attention spans.
Soft Kill “Circles (Dag Nasty cover)”
Portland post-punk quartet Soft Kill have been operating at a dizzying clip recently, and it seems they are physically incapable of not releasing music. While this kind of output could yield inconsistent results for a lesser band, Soft Kill has offered nothing but gold. Their latest EP, ‘Roseland,’ comes in at the heels of this year’s excellent LP ‘Escape Forever.’ Its three tracks encapsulates the band’s growth over the years, and the Dag Nasty cover is a nice finishing touch.
Because we know you’re too despondent to do it yourself, we’ve compiled these and several other questionable tunes into a playlist for you. It’s literally the least we could do. Click here to like, follow, and trick your friends into thinking you’re a tastemaker in the world of punk, indie, hardcore and metal.