The Alt Weekly Roundup (1/13)

Posted: by The Editor

The Alternative Weekly Roundup is a column where our staff plugs a variety of new releases in a concise, streamlined format. Albums, singles, videos, and live sets. Check back each Monday to see what we were jamming the week prior.


Beach Bunny—”Ms. California” 

Beach Bunny’s upcoming Honeymoon is sure to start 2020 off on the right foot. If it’s anything like one of their new singles, “Ms.California,” it’s going to be a stunner. The song is one of the band’s most straightforward rock songs, but it never sacrifices Lili Trifilio’s sugary melodies to get there. It’s immediately one of their best songs yet. 

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Church Girls—”Nothing”

Church Girls’ “Nothing” thumps relentlessly, insisting that feeling distraught isn’t the worst state of mind because it at least means you’re feeling something. It sounds like The Regrettes, but more permeating.

Bineet Kaur | @hellobineet


Cassavetes—”Imposter Syndrome”

Their 2019 debut LP Senselessness was rather under appreciated, so Cassavetes is back to correct the record with their latest single “Imposter Sydrome.” It’s the sort of skyscraping emo ballad that bands like Mineral and Penfold were beloved for, with a crunch and ferocity those groups hardly tapped. 

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Elephant Jake—”Shipment Only Knifing”

Elephant Jake is back with another track of what is at this point their signature sound. The band’s melancholic emo energy shines on “Shipment Only Knifing” as the listener gets swept away by the repeating mantra of “Who’s got it better / who’s got it better than you?” Musically this song is perfect for this time of year, encapsulating the somber feeling of a nighttime come too soon. 

Scott Fugger | @scoober1013


Hospital Bracelet—”sober haha jk unless”

A cry for compassion or helping hand, wrapped up in the ‘almost’ resolution that you’re not sure if you’re strong enough yet to get better— Hospital Bracelet’s “sober haha jk unless” is a brutal confession about the pitfalls of questioning your own self-control. Coming from one of the most powerful, motivated, and pointed voices in DIY (shoutout Eric Christopher), lines like “I don’t really know if I want to overdose / Maybe I’m just constantly scared of being on my own,” paired next to, “A head without thoughts / I think that’s what I need / Maybe I’m just too messed up to succeed”, are a one-two punch that leave you breathless before the chorus has even kicked in.

Olivia Keasling | @residentkilljoy


Feeble—Growing out of Touch

Feeble melds churned, frayed riffage with line upon line about the ways life can leave you feeling devoid of enthusiasm in Growing out of Touch. “Bozo Sushi” is about a draining food-service job, and standout track “The Haunting of Spaghetti Shaq” details the agony of drifting apart from someone you cherish.

Bineet Kaur | @hellobineet


The Alternative’s ‘New Music Friday’ playlist

Each week our editor Lindsy Carrasquillo compiles a playlist of songs our staff has been jamming. We’ll post it on Fridays on Twitter and then include it in each edition of the ‘Weekly Roundup’ to make sure you don’t miss all of the great music we’re recommending.


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