The Alt Weekly Roundup (11/2)

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.


Seahaven—”Bait”

Seahaven’s first comeback single leaned into the darker, heavier style of their early work. But their latest, “Bait,” is a callback to the spacious Reverie Lagoon sound, while also including a climax that would’ve been the loudest moment on that record. “Bait” is a perfect synthesis of everything Seahaven did pre-hiatus, and it suggests Halo of Hurt might be better than anything they’ve done before. 

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Black Country, New Road—”Science Fair”

Riding the coattails of the eclectic New Weird Britain movement, London’s Black Country, New Road makes maximalist post-post-punk that exists in the same vein as artists like Squid and black midi. “Science Fair,” the lead single off their upcoming album For the first time, blends King Krule-y sludge and proggy, ‘70s-style analog synthesis. The enigmatic track is at once taught and fluid, jazzy and hard rocking.

Ted Davis | @tddvsss


Tigers Jaw—”Cat’s Cradle”

Tigers Jaw has continued to refine and perfect their sound since their lineup shakeup in 2013, with Ben Walsh and Brianna Collins polishing and broadening their signature style without alienating fans who first saw them in Pennsylvania basements. In “Cat’s Cradle,” the first single from their just-announced LP I Won’t Care How You Remember Me, they lean into the catchy poppiness captured on some earlier albums with funky synths while keeping their feet planted in a driving, guitar-driven progression that recalls the early ’90s sound perfected by Smoking Popes and The Lawrence Arms. 

Michelle Bruton | @MichelleBruton


Chastity—”Drain the Bloodbath”

Chastity’s Home Made Satan was a standout record last year, a swirling mix of post-hardcore grit, dream pop ambiance, and alt rock hooks. The project’s latest single, “Drain the Bloodbath,” steps away from that mix; instead, it’s a haunting, theatrical dirge with a booming earworm chorus. 

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Terry vs. Tori—Heathers

Terry vs. Tori shared a collection of balmy, breezy music, with upbeat guitar work and lush vocals. It’s similar to groups like Vacations and BOYO. 

Bineet Kaur | @hellobineet 


Dive—”The Other Way”

Dive put out one of my favorite shoegaze albums of 2019 with their Inside Out EP, and new single “The Other Way” is a fitting addition to their catalog. 

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Charley Hickey—”No Good At Lying”

Charlie Hickey doesn’t need any help getting off the ground; the 21-year-old from South Pasadena is the son of two singer-songwriters. But in such a crowded music landscape, anything that helps artists stand out is a boon, and Hickey got a big one when the inimitable Phoebe Bridgers provided backup vocals on his new track “No Good at Lying.” It’s astonishing how seasoned Hickey’s music is given his young age, and “No Good at Lying” hums with beautiful acoustic riffs and languid vocals. 

Michelle Bruton | @MichelleBruton


d.c.r. pollock/derek ted—”rat’s nest” // “out there”

A rewarding new split by d.c.r . pollock and derek ted finds both artists delivering excellent mellow tunes with catchy hooks. d.c.r. pollock’s strong vocals stand out as the chorus of “rat’s nest” grows a bit more intense with each pass. On “out there,” derek ted creates a cozy, comforting sonic world to house his ruminative lyrics. 

Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject


Swim Camp—”Hiking”

Philadelphia songwriter Tom Morris, who makes lo-fi folk rock in the vein of artists like Alex G as Swim Camp, has returned with his latest single “Hiking,” following last year’s excellent Barlow Hill and a couple of other one-off releases. “Hiking” is a warm and hazy slow-burner that perfectly matches the changing of seasons, mirroring the feeling of taking your first sip from a fresh cup of coffee as you watch the leaves fall from the trees.

Michael Brooks | @nomichaelbrooks


Cryogeyser—”Glove”

On their 2019 debut album Glitch, Los Angeles dream-pop trio Cryogeyser blurred the lines between Galaxie 500 and Liz Phair. On the band’s latest single “Glove,” shuffling drum machines and chorused-out electric guitars lay the framework for one of lead singer Shawn Maron’s most propulsive and impassioned vocal performances to date. With their eye catching neo-victorian aesthetics and their penchant for retrofuturistic songwriting, Cryogeyser continue to cement their place as one of indie rock’s most exciting up-and-comers.

Ted Davis | @tddvsss


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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