Before you jump on checking out this new song from Pleasure Pill…if you want to hear something pretty darn good from their back catalog check out “I’d Rather Be” which came out in 2024.
This new single, out in advance of the April 24th full EP release on Quiet Panic, definitely rolls out on a very comfortable, easy-going groove that leads into a dreamy-style vocal line. Pulled along by a strong multiple-guitar wall of sound and drums that come out on top at just the right moments this song has a nice kind of buzzy energy. If you have a few extra study moments you can spend some time following the bass line as it weaves around the sonic structure here, adding a nice, pulsing foundation. This track grew on me the more I listened and is a great peek at what is to come on Alive in a couple weeks.
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
You can check out the video for this now right here:
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
Well, I had not heard of this band before getting the heads up from Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media and am quite happy that I got the chance to listen to it early (it is out now via Norwood Fisher’s InnaNuttshell Reekordingz). Along the road to learning more I also was able to read a very interesting bio on this group who go all the way back to 2006 and a gig at a bowling alley. I am sure they can tell their own story much better than me but suffice it to say that there has been a colorful history and it is very cool to see them now ready to put this new single (and soon the full album) out into the world. They have a few other songs out there if you want to check out some historical sounds.
Coming in on a slightly muted, melodic bass groove that has kind of a comforting feel to it this track quickly picks up a nice, heavy drum line and a lively tempo. The choruses have some nice group vocals and the guitar sound is loud and poignant. An interesting and unexpected element on this tune is added by some keys that add a unique foundation to the sound. I really enjoyed listening to this and am looking forward to the album release.
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
Musicians on this are: Dave Tab, Gram Tab, Scott Beattie and Rob Wheeler
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
Having just heard about this band for the first time courtesy of Mike at Sweet Beef Agency I did not know what to expect when I starting listening to this album. After having run through it several time now I have to say…this was one very interesting listening experience. Although Ricky comes tagged as slacker rock there is more depth and thoughtful musical composition than that genre often delivers.
This set opens up with “Room” which has a haunted lullaby groove especially for the first 1:10 or so. It also feels a bit somber and has a slightly disconcerting but also charming melody loop that grew on me the more I listened to it. “Call In Sick” is much different, coming in with a strong vocal and powerful rhythm section that drives this one all the way through to the end. There is also a brief but smartly placed bridge that gives this track just a little bit of needed breathing room. Following along is “Don’t Matter” (cool guitar sounds swirling around a punchy drum beat) and “Nothin Goin On” (entrancing, swaying rhythm that spirals out at the end into a bizarre sonic atmosphere).
Next up is “Cool Guy” and the star here for me is the bass line along with a wavering guitar hook that draws you into a buzzy atmosphere. It gave me kind of a fever dream feeling especially with the repetitive “famous and rich” mantra that pops up throughout the song. “Walk” (a boppin’ down the street runner) is followed by the title track which comes crashing in before quickly settling down to a mystical, hypnotic loop. The eighth song “SD Dying” is my favorite on this album and it jumps right off on a great vocal with jamming guitar vibes. The rhythm section is persistent and insistent throughout this tune and there are some interesting pacing changes along the way. It is a rocker with a twist.
“Don’t Get It” is followed by “Beautiful Day” and something about the guitar intro makes this one feel grand right from go. It manages to keep that majestic vibe even with a contrary set of lyrics which makes for a fascinating contrast. The final track is “CCR” which is a solid ending for this set. It has that slacker rock groove and feel but also layers in some cool effects, a compelling arrangement and just a few unexpected moments.
This album is a great listen all the way through and offers up a mixture of psychedelic, slacker and alternative rock but with some new twists and a unique presentation.
As I always have to do just a little more digging around…there are some other prior offerings available at the link below – I especially enjoyed Palm Trees.
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
I have definitely been swirling around the fringes of this band for awhile – hearing their music in various places, missing chances at a couple shows, breezing through a few articles…so aware and disconnected I guess. I do distinctly remember hearing their Arrested Youth EP (years ago…maybe 2015?) and thinking that they had a pretty cool energy and a bit of an eclectic sound that was a mix of punk, pop and rock. It was a band that sounded authentic to me so kind of a bummer that I did not stay up on them over the years.
They have released a lot of music since that time and you can check their Bandcamp page to pick up a few songs or albums if you have the inclination. I got the heads up on this new single (out March 13th on Wicked Cool Records) from Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media and really like the way it kicks off with rowdy guitars and big crashing drums. It then jumps into the strong vocal track that is carried along on some nice bass textures. The guitar sound and tone do a great job of giving this pop-punk song a little bit of an extra edge. This single is an engaging track that deserves a spot in your collection.
The band also just jumped on tour for most of March and have a slot on the Van’s Warped Tour June 13-14 (Washington DC – Festival Grounds at RFK Campus).
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
Musicians on this are: Kelly Ogden (lead vocals, bass), Luis Cabezas (guitar, vocals) and Simon Hancock (drums).
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
Always watchful for new music from this great San Francisco band I caught this single when it dropped on January 23rd and have been having a good time listening to it. As with all things Tess & The Details this track is packed with plenty of energy, volume and edginess. There is some very nice guitar work on this one that really punches through a tight and loud rhythm section. The vocals are delivered by Tess Stevens with a soft tone that belies the message being delivered. Overall, this is a song with a brash, pop-punk groove that will quickly have you stomping your feet and singing along.
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
Sometimes it can be very cool to step back into a musical moment from your past and re-experience a bit of those special rhythms, grooves and beats. This new single from ghostbells has some good fresh energy to it but definitely throws back to the electronic dance sounds of the 80’s. The first couple of times listening to this song I had a few flashbacks to some rather interesting times in Tijuana. All of those nights were fueled by entrancing waves of bass and synthesizer played loud and accompanied by those wonderful flashing stage lights. This track has all the heavy rhythm you could want blended well into a relentless techno framework.
This band was new to me and they have a pretty cool back story on getting to this point in their journey. As detailed in the press release from Earshot Media:
“ghostbells’ rise has been anything but conventional. After spending nearly two years writing, recording, and filming videos before approaching labels, the band signed to Out of Line Music in June 2025 with nearly two albums’ worth of material already completed. Just weeks later, with no released music and newly launched social media, they made their live debut at Poland’s Castle Party Festival.”
I have also recently heard that this full EP is going to be out February 5th via Out of Line Music. You can get a pre-order for the CD here:
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
You may remember I had written about this band and the upcoming tour to support the 15th anniversary of their Winter Forever album. That tour kicks off January 21st in Santa Ana, CA and news just dropped about this new single. I gave it a spin and was pleased to hear the energetic rhythm, smooth vocals and a soaring guitar solo that comes in around the 1:30 mark. This track is a nice blend of the energy of Seahaven’s early work and the polish they added on later releases such as Halo of Hurt.
You can catch this one on streaming in your usual places – easy access link below:
Also, if you want to get jazzed up a bit for that Winter Forever music there is a very nice acoustic version of “Understanding” offered up here by the band:
A quick note that this tour now looks to be eighteen US dates and six over in the UK and is selling out so if interested…it might be a good idea to jump on some tickets soon.
And keep that awesome community around you in mind always 🙂
At some point, somewhere along the course of many trips to California I had heard some music from this group, probably around 2019 or 2020. After getting the press release on this from Earshot Media I had to go back and listen through their Bandcamp portfolio to try to figure out what I had heard back then and I think it was “Every Time” (off 2017’s Plate Lunch). That album is a pretty decent offering on its own and combines some hard rock vibes with punk and a little reggae groove to good effect. Much of their prior press highlights this multi-genre style in their music and it is definitely a strength for Wanted Noise.
This new single has a subtle and melodic lead-in that goes on just long enough for you to give that head turn of curiosity before it slams into a wall of guitars and furious rhythm. This track has a definite message to convey as explained by lead singer Suri Sherman:
“’Burn The Time Away’ was written about life with our crew in Goleta, where I grew up—capturing the duality of living the dream while also facing the tragedy that can come with life on the edge, but experiencing all of it together.”
This is a solid and energetic song and a nice advance peek at what is coming from the band. You can pre-save here and this is due out on January 6, 2026:
Musicians on this (other than Sherman who also plays guitar): Taylor Wagner (drums), Matt Lappin (bass) and Caleb Adkins (guitar, vocals).
As another random and cool thing to know and check out – Sherman is a close friend of Mendeleyev (https://www.levsongs.com) who has a rather interesting project going on. I also read about this in the Earshot Media press release and then poked around on Apple Music to find the IN WAVES concept album. I have failed to properly absorb this collection of pretty cool takes on his “In Waves” song but will be continuing to work on it – you might find it interesting also. Additionally, there is a version of this by Wanted Noise being released today as part of a second project from Mendeleyev.
You and your community are powerful – get out there and explore it 🙂
I am always a fan of artists who take a chance and step out of their usual style or genre to give some other sounds a try. Knipp has long been a great talent (mostly in the blues / rock space) going all the way back to her first album Midnight Mind. She has displayed other chops along the way (speaking of that first album check out “Someonewherelse” which is a piano driven number and a fav of mine). Some other highlights from the past to check out include “Santa Cruz Blues” (off Take It With You), “The Gospel of Good Intentions” (The Well and also a great performance on Live at the Green Room Social Club) and “Outlaw Doc” (Me). One of the things I appreciate the most (other than the great band she always has with her) is her ability to write piercing lyrics that kind of sneak up on you sometimes…you can just be listening along and she will turn a phrase or a sharp line on you unexpectedly. So, all of that being said, when I started seeing her release some “re-mixes” as singles I had a “what the heck is this all about moment?” Not to worry though as Dance Me, which she proudly proclaims as “my first ever electronica record!” is an interesting and worthy addition to her catalog.
This new album, featuring re-mixes of eight of the ten songs off of 2024’s Me, hits a range of grooves in that electronica space. These include a club-bopping version of “Vampire”, the slow and slightly breathless funk of “Go” and a dreamy and stark reggae influenced take on “Stillness.” You can definitely dance to these but they are also pretty cool to listen to just sitting around and pondering the world.
If you check these songs or the album out…please think about purchasing as streaming does not pay well even times a thousand.
You can check out more music and info at either link below:
Yes, yes, I know…this is an album from quite a long time ago…15 years to be exact. I had not listened to it for a good stretch of time either when the press release from Earshot Media hit my inbox announcing that Seahaven was headed out on a special tour. This short run (which will span eleven dates in January and February 2026) will feature them playing the album in full. Considering that Winter Forever contains a really great collection of emo / pop-punk songs this sets up to an event worth attending.
Back in the day (2011) when I first heard the album I was struck by a few things:
The unique voice of Kyle Soto (who also plays guitar) which adds a layer of texture to every song; kind of a heartfelt, ironic, slightly cheeky overlay that will stick with you.
Interesting and varied arrangements; these range from the change-of pace groove of “Goodnight” to the hammering choppiness of “Thank You” and on to the simple, stripped down “Honeybee.” There is a lot of musical talent going on within these tracks.
Very cool guitar sounds – I have always liked the tone on this album – a simple thing but notable to me.
Musicians on this (other than Soto) are: Cody Christian (guitar), Mike DeBartolo (bass, piano) and Eric Findlay (drums).
Check it out on your favorite streaming channel and let me know your thoughts about it – music makes for good conversation 🙂
And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
There is also a pretty cool acoustic EP on Bandcamp that is worth checking out (including a version of “Goodnight “ which is also on Winter Forever) – link below:
jack mesenbourg 