Every day I get hundreds of new singles, videos, EPs and albums from artists, publicists, managers, record labels and streaming services around the world. And here’s the honest truth: Most of them are crap. You know it. I know it. Even the people pitching me know it, whether or not they’ll admit it. But within that avalanche of mediocrity, I can almost find a few nuggets of awesomeness. And starting today, I’ll be compiling them into this all-killer, no-filler rundown. You’re welcome. Let’s get to it:
Blood Ceremony | Powers of Darkness
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Occult flute rockers Blood Ceremony share a new single entitled Powers of Darkness, accompanied by a video. The track, taken from their fifth studio album The Old Ways Remain (released in May), Powers Of Darkness finds the band tapping in to new areas of mystical melodies, with poptastic allure. As founding member Sean Kennedy comments: “It’s been a decade since our last music video, and we’re thrilled to unveil a new promo for Powers of Darkness. We drew inspiration from iconic ‘60s music programs such as Beat Club and Ready, Steady, Go!, and director Mark Cira captured a moody, live-off-the-floor atmosphere. The song is about invoking sinister elements, so there’s a heavy dose of pop-occult madness threatening to intrude on the performance.”
Oracle Sisters | Ruby On The Run
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Oracle Sisters release a new video for Ruby On The Run, drawn from their acclaimed debut album Hydranism. The video comes just before their upcoming headline run of dates in North America, beginning in two weeks. Ruby On The Run showcases Oracle Sisters’ now-trademark penchant for gorgeously cinematic videos — shot on location in Morocco. The track prominently features drummer Julia’s stunning vocals, underpinned by Latin rhythms and lush strings, it truly highlights the band’s formidability across multiple genres and styles. Directed by Jade de Brito Lopes, the video, set in the alleyways of Marrakesh, stars Lewis and Chris as two detectives hot on the trail of a golden suitcase which is in the possession of Ruby — played by Julia. Ruby On The Run is the final video for the band’s Hydranism era, which will be seen off with the band’s first U.S. Headline Tour commencing in September. After this they will be retreating to start work on their highly anticipated followup album.”
DVTR | Crematorium
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “DVTR launches its third single, fatally titled Crématorium, with a psychotic music video. This track as well as the two previous ones, DVTR and Vasectomia, will be found on Bonjour, the duo’s first EP, which is scheduled for release on Nov. 10. This is a song about the joyous death industry, which starts like an old Beastie Boys beat and ends with a hardcore finale. Recorded at Studio PM with Gabriel Lapointe (percussion), Simon Lévesque (mixing, sound recording) and Philip Gosselin (mastering), the single has been written and composed by DVTR. In the self-directed video, the two accomplices let loose and crash a gloomy disused haunted house!”
Ty Segall | Void
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Come on an amazing journey through the Void. Ty’s trip begins with a shimmering frisson of acoustic guitars, like a sub-aqueous release of oxygen bubbles. Each bubble’s another life — which one’s ours? Diving down, we spiral into sensory isolation, but doors are opening, with comings and goings. Then, over dreamy half-time, fanfare-ish guitar figures sound, like trumpets to the engagement, as fuzz guitars raise ancient walls in defense. Far OUT.”
Mannequin Pussy | I Got Heaven
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Philadelphia’s Mannequin Pussy release their ferocious new single I Got Heaven. The song, produced by John Congleton, is the first taste of new music by the band, with more on the way soon.”
Margaret Glaspy | Get Back (The Echo Sessions)
THE EDITED PRESSS RELEASE: “The third full-length from Margaret Glaspy, Echo The Diamond emerged from a deliberate stripping-away of artifice to reveal life for all its harsh truths and ineffable beauty. Like the precious gem of its title, the result is an object of startling luminosity, one capable of cutting through the most elaborately constructed façades. “This record came from trying to meet life on life’s terms, instead of looking for a happy ending in everything,” says the New York-based musician. “The whole experience of creating it felt like effortless catharsis.”
Thin Lizzy | Jailbreak + Don’t Believe A Word (Live On The Midnight Special)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Thin Lizzy performed on The Midnight Special March 25, 1977.”
Snag | On The Human Condition
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Milwaukee’s Snag return with their most angry and climate-anxious release to date. This time they’re accompanied by legendary screamo veterans Coma Regalia on a full-length split LP. Five songs from each band, every song pushing farther than the last.”
Will Butler + Sister Squares | Stop Talking
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Will Butler + Sister Squares — Miles Francis, Julie Shore, Jenny Shore and Sara Dobbs — present the new single and video Stop Talking, from their forthcoming self-titled album out Sept. 22. One of the first songs written for the album, Stop Talking emerges from clouds of hazy synth, with percussion cutting through the layers, guiding the track to its euphoric heights. “You said the dream is done, but it’s not done,” Butler spits out atop infectious percussion, “and it’s a bad one.” Of the track, Will adds: “This is one of the ‘dream songs’ on the record. Emotion in dreams; dreams in reality; tired and confused. ‘Stop talking; there’s nothing to say’; not sure if it functions as a dismissal ‘Stop!’, or as a sign of love ‘You don’t have to say it; I already know’; I think, like a lot of communication between people who love each other — a little of both? Like, this song is full of fear; someone expressing fear to their partner, and the partner being like, ‘There’s nothing to fear, and also, shut up, quit being crazy.’ That’s not exactly it, but there’s something of that here.”
Beurre | Uniform
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The harder the music, the softer the ears. Beurre’s music is loud and desperate, denouncing and redeeming. In a neurotic manner, the three musicians Chadi Messmer (Closet Disco Queen & The Flying Raclettes, Jacob Hannes, Tanche), Elischa Heller (Film 2, Tanche) and Philip Meienhofer (Elio Ricca, Drill) play the dark projection of our existence on distorted walls. As reduced as they are wild, sometimes fast, soon slow again — the boards of Beurre struggle for clarity and push themselves right into the body.”
Buddy & Julie Miller | I’ll Never Live It Down
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Buddy & Julie Miller will release In The Throes on Sept. 22 . The 12-song set was produced by Buddy and features Emmylou Harris, Regina McCrary, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Gurf Morlix and Matt Slocum of Sixpence None the Richer. In the Throes is a deeply soulful collision of dusty country, mournful gospel, cosmic blues, and ecstatic R&B. It sounds lively and diverse, eccentric and slightly askew, thorny with desire and blame. The fearless collection came to life during an intensely creative period for Julie. She says, “I got deep into songwriting mode, and they just kept coming along.” Buddy watched with wonder and admiration as his wife filled up notebooks with lyrics and recorded voice memos with melodies. By his count, she ended up with more than 100 songs — some of them fully written, others simply fragments. Today they share I’ll Never Live It Down. Buddy says: “This is a song about capricious love and the heartbreak it brings.”
Backstreet Girls | Smoke
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Norwegian rock legends Backstreet Girls have been going strong since 1984 and have no plans to slow down, on the contrary they are playing more concerts, to bigger audiences, than they may have ever done before. Maybe it’s like fine wine, that Backstreet Girls only get better with age? In Lust We Trust is the long-awaited new album from Backstreet Girls, and the band’s 16th studio album. Backstreet Girls cut 10 new tracks for the album, whilst proudly maintaining their signature sound and all of its powerful hallmarks. Play it on volumen brutale!”
Mondo Generator | One Two Three Four
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Californian stoner punk icons Mondo Generator (fronted by former Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri) premiere their new single One Two Three Four. Their seventh studio album We Stand Against You is due Oct. 13. Oliveri explains: “One Two Three Four is a song about depression and pills that doctors prescribe that make it worse. In this case, the person hangs herself. It’s a true story and the person I am singing about will remain missed by her loved ones and will remain anonymous.”
Blitzen Trapper | Cheap Fantastical Takedown
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Portland-based Blitzen Trapper return with a new single, Cheap Fantastical Takedown, a trippy slice of cosmic Americana, and their first new studio material since 2020’s Holy Smokes Future Jokes. “It’s incredible to get some new music out into the world, it’s been a couple years since Holy Smokes Future Jokes and it’s time,” offers Eric Earley. “This tune, Cheap Fantastical Takedown, is a conversation between two lovers at a crossroads, in that place where the fantasies and illusions we build about ourselves and others give way to the hard reality of actual vulnerability and love. It’s a dark tune, written on acoustic guitar at a time when I was struggling to get in touch with my own submerged emotions.”
