The Alt Weekly Roundup (2/16)

Posted: by The Alt Editing Staff

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.


Adult Mom—”Berlin”

The latest Adult Mom single, “Berlin,” is a gorgeous slowburner that features some of Stevie Knipe’s best lyrics yet. It could well be the best song the band’s ever released. 

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Crisman—”Cya”

Crisman’s “Cya” is atmospheric and translucent, with jutting riffs that prevent it from becoming shapeless. It overlaps with bands like Hand Habits and Palehound.

Bineet Kaur | @hellobineet


Trace Mountains—”Lost in the Country”

The new single from Trace Mountains, “Lost in the Country,” splits the difference between twangy Americana and blurry dream pop—not unlike Wild Pink’s latest album. In taking the best of both genres, the song from the former LVL Up co-vocalist manages to sound like something totally new. 

Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison


Bloods—”U & M E”

Bloods’ hair-raising, sickly-sweet single “U & M E” feels like The Beths crossed with Led Zeppelin. Seriously. The rest of their EP will be out in May.

Bineet Kaur | @hellobineet


Whitney Ballen—“Cellophane” (FKA Twigs Cover)

FKA Twigs has an incredibly unique voice and a very peculiar, distinct style. It’s hard to imagine anyone covering her music, but the Washington songwriter Whitney Ballen just released an unexpected rendition of “Cellophane”, the haunting piano ballad that closes out Twigs’ 2019 record Magdalene. Ballen’s voice is also idiosyncratic, and the quiet intensity of her delivery maintains the integrity of the original while also playing to Ballen’s strengths as a performer. It’s an unsuspectingly perfect match.

Eli Enis | @eli_enis


Pool Kids—”$5 Subtweet”

Pool Kids released an obscure, effervescent video for “$5 Subtweet,” a track they released in 2018. The song is about the consequences of being short-tempered and self-centered.

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.


The Alternative is ad-free and 100% supported by our readers. If you’d like to help us produce more content and promote more great new music, please consider donating to our Patreon page, which also allows you to receive sweet perks like free albums and The Alternative merch.