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, live sets. Check back every other Monday to see what we were jamming the week prior.
Snõõper – Worldwide
Snõõper, the egg punks from Nashville, return with their new album Worldwide. I’ve been a fan of this band since their early days, and Worldwide offers the same earworms with a touch of maturity and growth. Their live shows are energetic and full of giant papier-mâché puppets, all tied together with Blair Tramel’s vocals, synchronized movements in track suits, fat bass lines, and fast-paced riffs. I can’t recommend catching them live enough.
Ryleigh Wann | @wannderful
Nick & June – “Husband and Wife”
Berlin-based Nick Wolf and Suzie-Lou Kraft, who perform as Nick & June, just released their newest single, “Husband & Wife.” Kraft wrote the haunting track after the loss of her grandmother. Alongside lush arrangements from composer Owen Pallett, their lyrics surrender to the fragility of life while placing trust in the enduring power of love.
Giliann Karon
Stay Inside – “Old Faithful”
To celebrate the release of Lunger, their third LP and first for Tiny Engines, Stay Inside’s just released a video for the album’s final pre-release single. The “Old Faithful” video is just as eerie and claustrophobic as the track itself; vocalist/guitarist Chris Johns finds himself pursued by unknown assailants, his every move punctuated by bleating sax.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Jonny Tex – Heifer / Cherubhead
I caught Jonny Tex play a show a few weeks ago and was impressed immediately. The Boston band boasts slacker-rock riffs through a cowboy lens, sharp lyrics, and a confident but unassuming stage presence and vocals. I’m a sucker for an animated bass player, and also when keys surprisingly appear in a song, like “Heifer.” The double A-side via Happen Twice (Austin, TX) also includes “Cherubhead,” a song that’s jagged as a broken bottle and summarizes the showy aspects of self-proclaimed prophets.
Ryleigh Wann | @wannderful
Soul Blind – “Mistake to Wonder”
In the wake of Soul Blind’s debut album in 2022, a wave of new alternative rock bands drawing on similar early 2000s influences followed, but most fell short of the bar that Soul Blind unwittingly set. Having signed with Closed Casket Activities earlier this summer, the New Yorkers returned with a vengeance on the powerful “Hide Your Evil” and the drowsy, Alice in Chains-inspired “Dyno,” which showcased more metal influences. Their most recent single “Mistake to Wonder” is the most melodic so far and feels reminiscent of pensive songs like “Phantom Pool” or “Falling Asleep” that tap into the band’s dynamic range. With their new album Red Sky Mourning arriving this Friday, it would not be surprising if they set the bar once again—they’ve clearly returned at the top of their game.
Loan Pham | @x_loanp
Restraining Order – Future Fortune
On Restraining Order’s Locked in Time, the punks stuffed 12 songs in 22 minutes. Future Fortune ups the ante: 13 songs, 23 minutes. As ever, the Springfield hardcore luminaries pack a ton of thrilling hooks into bite-sized ragers—not only is not a second wasted, but there’s not even a second to breathe. Future Fortune never lets up. Let’s just hope Restraining Order never slow down.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
The Alternative’s ‘New Music Friday’ playlist
Each week we compile a playlist of songs our staff has been jamming. We post it on Fridays and then include it in each edition of the Weekly Roundup to make sure you don’t miss any of the great music we’re recommending.
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