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.
worlds greatest dad – “KO”
On 2018’s get well soon, worlds greatest dad proved they were adept at making feeling bad sound good, and their new tune “KO” seems to signal that they’ve only gotten better since then. Everything that was so great about get well soon is apparent on “KO”—melodic and intertwining guitar lines, brutally direct lyrics, undeniable hooks—but it all sounds more massive and refined here. There are too many great lyrics to quote in this small space, so just give it a listen and see what pops out.
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
Vyva Melinkolya – “I65”
Louisville artist Angel Diaz, who performs under the shoegaze / noise pop project Vyva Melinkolya, released a new video for her dreamy roadtrip-worthy single “I65.” The first single off her upcoming album Unbecoming out in October, it’s a radiant montage of footage that captures the skateparks and highways of her hometown as Angel and friends roam through her favorite parts of the city and shares her love of them. “I65” is as lush as it is nostalgic for those nights where there was nothing else to do but drive around listening to music with the people you loved.
Loan Pham | @x_loanp
Open City – “Blitz Kids Stay Sick”
The resumes of the members of Open City speak for themselves: Lifetime, Paint It Black, Ceremony, Titus Andronicus, Bridge & Tunnel, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Still, the D-beat band’s latest single off the upcoming Hands in the Honey Jar goes far harder than anyone could’ve expected. “Blitz Kids Stay Sick” is a brutal kick in the teeth.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Church Girls – “Nightmare Nights”
I always struggle to write coherently about Church Girls, despite—or maybe because of—the fact that they are one of my favorite bands going right now. Part of what makes their records so great is their refusal to ditch a raw edge, even if Still Blooms clearly takes a more “polished” approach than the ferocious attack of The Haunt. Their new track “Nightmare Nights” falls into that pattern, with guitars that manage to sound like they would fit as well in a dirty garage as a huge arena. It’s the first track of their upcoming EP out October 5th, which should definitely be on the radar of any regular reader of this blog.
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
Mannequin Pussy – “I Got Heaven”
Mannequin Pussy’s “I Got Heaven” is rabid and beautiful. It’s cathartic and nostalgic in sound, and the riff has been stuck in my head all week. It’s almost euphoric with the vocals, which feels unnatural to say about such a snarling song, but that’s what I love about it.
Ryleigh Wann | @wannderfullll
Public Opinion & Rex Tycoon – “Bug”
Building off a sneakily infectious riff and vocals traded between Public Opinion and Rex Tycoon, “Bug” is one of those tracks that makes you wanna just keep hitting replay again and again. Two rad bands with rad EPs out teaming up for a rad song? There’s a lot to love here.
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
Sea of Shit – Self-Titled LP
For over a decade, Sea of Shit has been iterating on its version of grindcore-inflected hardcore. Songs waver between 45-second barrages and dirgy two-minute treks. I wouldn’t call their Self-Titled LP from earlier in the year some grand statement or culmination of what they’ve been building to. It just feels like another installment in Sea of Shit’s quest to get people to beat each other up as efficiently as possible.
Hugo Reyes | @hvreyes5
Whitehall – “Shadow of Your Wall”
According to the band, Whitehall’s newest single “Shadow of Your Wall” has existed “since the early dorm room days of the band,” but you wouldn’t know it from listening. The song feels as fresh and sprightly as their latest LP, and it’s as cool and breezy–it’s a perfect Whitehall track to ring out the end of summer and the coming of brisk autumn nights.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=cTxYuPAxqy4&feature=oembed
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Mikie Mayo – “daddy issues”
On “daddy issues,” Mikie Mayo leans more into a pop-punk ballad style than on his previous tracks for this project, but that doesn’t mean his weirder (in a good way) musical inclinations don’t seep in. Short and sweet, the track makes for a killer trio with early 2k “dorrance st.” and the sparkly uke-led “big couch.”
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
The Alternative’s ‘New Music Friday’ playlist
Each week our editor Lindsy Carrasquillo compiles a playlist of songs our staff has been jamming. We post it on Fridays on Twitter 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.
The Alternative is 100% supported by our readers. If you’d like to help us write about more great music and keep our site going, you can become a Patron on Patreon, which also allows you to receive extra content, sweet perks, and The Alternative merch, with levels starting at only $2 per month. Everything helps, and if you can’t afford to donate, consider sharing this article and spreading the word about our site! Either way, thanks for reading!