Pop & Indie:
CONCERT: 5/12 – Mallrat @ Space Ballroom
Duolingo released an absolute masterpiece of an album for Christmas which included the song “Bring My Parents Back.” Using Duo’s iconic threats towards commenters on social media, this song is truly something special. Getting a child to sing about wanting his parents back and promising to study and do lessons is iconic behavior from my favorite green owl. This song is obviously a joke but it’s honestly really entertaining, and I would recommend giving it a listen if you need a laugh.
“Almost home” was sent to me on TikTok by fellow genre manager, Zach. I enjoyed it, it’s very similar to a lot of other indie songs I’ve picked before. This song gets better and better every time I listen to it and I’m excited to see what else naarjesse creates. I would like to listen to more of her music and I’m glad she’s getting noticed on TikTok.
Lucy Dacus is here for the gays with a single from her upcoming album, “Forever is a Feeling” releasing in late March of this year. Now I’ve only listened to Boygenius as a group but I’ve learned through TikTok that I should really be listening to them separately as well. “Ankles” was a great introduction to Lucy as an independent artist. Her voice is incredible and I have high hopes for this album.
Teddy Swims released part two of “I’ve Tried EveryThing But Therapy.” We know from Soundside that his primary audience consists of 40 year old drunk women and me. I love this addition to the first part of this album series. “Funeral” is a great song that has a similar vibe to his well known songs “Apple Juice” and “Lose Control.” I really like this song and it’s a fantastic representation of Teddy Swims as an artist.
Tate McRae released the single “Sports Car” in anticipation of her new album “So Close To What” releasing in late February. I’m personally not a huge Tate McRae fan but I definitely understand why she is so popular. She has a different style than many traditional pop artists that I would normally listen to. I think this single is really good and I would add it to a playlist.
Punk & Alternative:
CONCERT: 5/23 – Mayday Parade @ College Street Music Hall
Bostonian rock band Vundabar got its start in 2013 with its debut album, “Antics.” The band, consisting of Brandon Hagen, Drew McDonald, and Zack Abramo released its newest single on January 16, 2025. “Spades” is just under six minutes long, and takes on a dark, gritty tone, featuring haunting vocals and punchy instrumentals. Just over a week from its release, “Spades” has reached number three on Vundabar’s Spotify popular song ranking—under “Alien Blues” and “Ash In The Sun.”
Inhaler is a name that might sound familiar to diligent readers. I wrote about the Irish rock band last in November of 2024 when it released “Your House,” the first single off of the band’s upcoming album, “Open Wide.” Inhaler released the third single off the album on January 17, 2025, titled “A Question of You.” The song is a departure from the last two singles, taking on a pop sound throughout the whole four-minute track. It almost reminds me of Paramore’s 2017 album, “After Laughter.” With “Open Wide” coming out in under two weeks, it seems that this will be the last single released before fans can listen to the whole album on February 7.
Floridian rock band Mayday Parade gave us a great new single over break, “By The Way,” released on January 8, 2025, and is the second single the band has released over the last year promoting its new EP, “Sweet” that releases in April. While some pop-punk bands have released some questionable singles in recent months, Mayday Parade hit the nail on the head with this one. While only three minutes in length, the band fits in the sound that made the genre popular in the first place, as well as hopeful, optimistic lyrics about the future, as told by lead singer, Derek Sanders.
Australian rock band Spacey Jane released its new single, “All the Noise” on January 15, 2025. It’s the first song to be released from the band’s upcoming album, “If That Makes Sense,” which will be released in early May 2025. The release is the band’s first release after a year-long hiatus, and I have to say that they did not come to play. The song features a mixture of reverberating and grating melodies, paired with ghostly vocals that tie it all together. The song’s chorus feels like it’s floating through your ears before the guitar returns like a warning.
Back at it again, Californian band Scowl released a new single “Not Hell, Not Heaven” on January 21, 2025. You may remember when I covered the band’s last single, “Special” in November. Much of what I said last time remains true, “hard-hitting instrumentals, and a mix of auto-tuned vocals.” This song is notably lacking the scream singing that made the band’s previous release so memorable. That’s not to say that “Not Hell, Not Heaven” is bad, however, fans of the hardcore genre are disappointed in Scowl’s departure from its old hardcore sound. I enjoy the more alternative sound, and I think that Scowl was able to experiment more with this newest release. I’m excited to see what else comes from the band with the upcoming release of “Are We All Angels,” coming on April 4, 2025.
Folk & Country
CONCERT: 2/14 – Greensky Bluegrass @ College Street Music Hall
“Sugar in the Tank” by Julien Baker and TORRES was released on December 13, with an accompanying music video debuting on January 13. In their latest single, Baker and TORRES bring queerness to the forefront, breaking every perceived tradition of country music along the way. Together they are a dynamic duo, Baker’s ever-sincere delivery and TORRES’ commanding voice weave together to create a perfect harmony. The song is both authentic and rich with southern imagery, staying true to its roots with the use of a pedal steel guitar and Baker donning a banjo in place of her usual Telecaster electric guitar. “Sugar in the Tank” contributes to the ever-evolving idea of what country music is “supposed to be.” Queer voices are often overlooked in this genre, making it especially important to see tried-and-true country enthusiasts embracing new perspectives on what it means to be country. The accompanying music video was created in partnership with Stud Country, an organization that hosts queer hoedowns and offers line dancing and two-step workshops. Stud Country choreographed a line dance for Baker and TORRES, with the video featuring many of the organization’s regulars. Everything about this project radiates southern queer joy, something too often absent in the country music scene.
The Brudi Brothers released their single “Me More Cowboy Than You” on January 8. This song has been making waves on TikTok, and while the videos are entertaining, the track deserves far more recognition than just being a passing trend. The song itself critiques passing trends and addresses how southern culture and the blue-collar lifestyle are being co-opted by wealthy kids with lifted trucks and boots that have never seen a hard day’s work. The Brudi Brothers stay true to their roots with classic southern crooning and the gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar in this western folk anthem. They call out the recent trend of reducing cowboy culture to just hats and boots, pointing out that being a cowboy isn’t about appearances, it’s about work ethic, something that money can’t buy. Although “Me More Cowboy Than You” is their latest single, I strongly encourage you to explore the Brudi Brothers’ music. Their authentic sound truly shines, especially in their outstanding 2020 album, “See You Soon.”
Released on January 17, “Old Tricks” is the latest single from The Droptines, an alternative country band hailing from Texas. While rooted in country music through their southern vernacular, The Droptines break away from the mold of “traditional” country. “Old Tricks” follows their self-titled 2024 album, which I also highly recommend as an essential listen for fans of alternative country. This is about the lessons we learn from relationships and the difficulty of saying goodbye to someone who knows you so well. And of course, one-night stands and grain alcohol. I’ve never heard a song use a banjo so strikingly. The way The Droptines incorporate instrumentals is truly unique, blending elements of traditional country with modern influences to create something entirely their own. Self-proclaimed Shakespeare’s in a trailer park, The Droptines have a distinct voice, their raw authenticity and innovative sound are a breath of fresh air, and I sincerely hope to see more of them climbing the country charts.
Hip-Hop & R&B
CONCERT: 2/21 – The LOX @ Toyota Oakdale
“GNX” was my favorite album of last year, and I feel like it’s pretty easy to say why. First, Kendrick Lamar is my favorite artist, so there’s going to be a bit of bias in my review, but I thought “GNX” was a well-put-together project that reflected a lot of growth since “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” The album released November 22, 2024, so I haven’t gotten to talk about it on the Weekly yet. The album starts with a bang, with “wacced out murals” and iconic leak “squabble up.” Then, as soon as “luther” hit my ears I instantly ascended. The amazing sample PLUS SZA’s vocals made this one an instant hit. The middle section of the album showed off a ton of LA and West Coast artists, proudly representing his home. I think my favorite one of these features (and an underrated one too) was dody6 on “hey now.” Even though his verse is at the very end of the song, he slides over the unique beat and caps the song off really well. My favorite song on the whole project was “heart pt. 6.” Part of what made this funny to me is that Drake released his own “THE HEART PART 6” as a diss in an attempt to co-opt Kendrick’s “heart part x” series of songs. That obviously didn’t matter to Kendrick, who delivered one of, if not his best, storytelling songs ever. He talks about his come up with TDE and some popular names he ran with back in the early 2010s. The slow guitar on this song is so smooth, and it feels like it’s suited for a dramatic flashback scene. All in all, this album was a masterpiece in my eyes, and I can’t wait for the “Super Bowl Halftime Show!”
Even though I was lucky enough to see Bad Bunny for WQAQ last Spring, I never ended up truly diving into his music. There were a handful of songs that I loved from the concert, but this album is turning me into a real fan. Just like Kendrick, Benito took his latest project back to his roots, Puerto Rico. He keeps a lot of his hip-hop and reggaeton influences, and he instills in this whole album an unmistakable urge to dance. While basic, I think my two favorite songs on the project were “NUEVAYoL” and “BAILE INoLVIDABLE.” The beat drop on “NUEVAYoL” might be one of my favorites in music, and as soon as it cracks 60 degrees this whole album will be on repeat. Bad Bunny also showed his range as a songwriter on this album with the title track, “DtMF.” This one’s been making the rounds on TikTok paired with a really sad trend. The name of the album roughly translates to, “I should’ve taken more photos,” so many people have been showing pictures of deceased family members to show their appreciation. The song is incredibly sad but it fits perfectly on an album meant to showcase the beauty of Benito’s home.
While I got to this album a bit late, Mac Miller’s “Balloonerism” really sent me back. Formally released on January 17, this album has been shelved for over a decade. We see a truly vintage Mac Miller on this project, and as someone who became a big fan only after he died, I would kill to witness his musical evolution in real time. You can see a lot of aspects he brings with him into future albums like grand piano beats that he goes on to use frequently on “Swimming,” the album I consider to be his magnum opus. The drums on this album also remind me of patterns he uses on “GO:OD AM,” and the flows and lyrics from “Faces.” I feel like the album obviously lacks some polish from Mac himself, but I will always sing the praises of how his team has handled posthumous releases and events. My favorite songs from my first listen were “Manakins,” Rick’s Piano,” and Stoned.” While I don’t anticipate many more posthumous releases, now is the best time to dive into Mac’s discography if you haven’t already. He’s an irreplaceable piece of hip-hop history and everyone should get familiar.
FKA twigs’ brand-new project, “EUSEXUA” blew me away. Although I’ve been getting more and more into house/garage music and EDM recently, this album has the potential to start a real obsession. There were a lot of songs with themes of feminism and women empowerment behind awesome electronic beats, many produced by Koreless. I liked a lot of the more popular songs, like the title track, “Eusexua,” “Perfect Stranger,” and “Drums of Death.” I tended to like the songs that built up throughout the beat. My favorites from my first listen were “Keep It, Hold It,” and “Room Of Fools.” All in all, if you were a fan of “BRAT” and are willing to get more experimental, I think “EUSEXUA” should be your next listen.
