Kevin Bronson on
Today’s mighty playlist, Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 304), boasts new music from Slugs, Trapdoor Social, Illuminati Hotties, Giant Waste of Man, Lucius, Geneva Jacuzzi, Blondshell, Nicole Miglis, Katie Gavin, Dawes, Go Betty Go, The BellRays, Bandie, Claude Fontaine and more. Dig in below.
Note: Anita Wills contributed to today’s roundup.
■ Slugs, “91” — The biggest flex yet from Marissa Longstreet and Slugs, “91” is the first single from the band’s debut album, “In Btwn,” out Nov. 1 via Anxiety Blanket Records. The album finds Longstreet connecting with an old homie, Sean Donnelly, the former bassist in Joywave and, like the frontwoman, a native of Rochester, N.Y. Longstreet has interesting things to say about “91,” so we’re going to share her artist statement in full:
“‘91’ is a song about ‘thinking out loud’ online as a grasp to connect and feel seen. But between the message and the receiver is a web of algorithmic agendas. The more we share online, the more our narratives are echoed back to us with capitalistic solutions in productivity apps and commodities for self-betterment. We are encouraged to express ourselves online at the cost of our individuality, as social media sets the template for how to be expressive along with the motive to gain profit from whatever we offer. To reveal ourselves in a physical form, in movement or voice, we have the power to regulate and experience our spirits with sovereignty. To express that experience into art, we can share with and cultivate community without the static undertones of insecurity and inhibition which can come with being a contributor to capitalist plight. While our loneliness can direct us to an online source for connection, the more digital platforms become a habitual mood stabilizer, the more dependent on them we become. This song encourages people to take their stories and emotions and sing about it, move about it, write about it, scream about it, garden about it, host an event about it and log off to revel in the uninterrupted consciousness between us.”
■ Giant Waste of Man, “Mutiny” — Post-rock maestros Giant Waste of Man, who released the tour de force “Biographer” in 2022 (watch “Stuck Here Forever,” then listen to the full record), have opened another vein. “Mutiny” is their second single of 2024, and like their best 3- to 5- minute epics, it’s magnificent.
■ Blondshell, “What’s Fair” — A fraught mother-daughter relationship is the trigger for the new Blondshell single, “What’s Fair,” and although we try to keep these items brief, it’s only fair that we share one of Sabrina Teitelbaum’s verses: “You’d want me to be famous / So you could live by proxy / You always had a reason to comment on my body / You’re not a perfect person / Something’s always wrong / But I know there’s nothing less perfect to a girl than a mom.” Live Sept. 14 at the Forum, joined by Glass Animals.
■ Trapdoor Social, “People Go” — Trapdoor Social have been through some things en route to today, which was the release of their third full-length, “Echobloom.” The band — solar-power activists, independent festival promoters and makers of affecting pop and indie-rock tunes for more than a decade — suffered a loss in July when their van and solar generator were stolen. The finery of the fan-funded “Echobloom” and having it out in the world might cushion the blow. Besides singles like “Prophit” (feat. the B-52’s Fred Schneider) and “Loneliness,” you’ll find gems like “People Go.” So go find them.
■ Wallice, “Heaven Has to Happen” — “How many more jokes can I make before the wool gets pulled out from over my eyes?” Wallice Watanabe says of the imposter syndrome she’s copping to in “Heaven Has to Happen.” The song, released this week with the companion single “The Opener,” introduces Wallice’s debut album, “The Jester,” out Nov. 15.
■ Dawes, “Still Strangers Sometimes” — Following up “House Parties,” Dawes have released “Still Strangers Sometimes,” the latest single from their forthcoming ninth album, “Oh Brother” (out Oct. 11). Here’s the video. The band is touring in November and December, but there are no L.A. dates on the itinerary yet.
■ Illuminati Hotties, “Sleeping In” — Friendly reminder that Illuminati Hotties’ new album, “Power,” is out today, and among its very relatable songs is “Sleeping In.” Don’t oversleep the Hotties’ live dates: Sept. 25 at the Constellation Room and Nov. 1 at the Teragram Ballroom.
■ Archer Oh, “This Isn’t You” — The epic and seductive guitar-driven “This Isn’t You” is the first stand-alone single from dark surf rockers Archer Oh since their previous 2023 stand-alone single “The Loneliest Surface”. Busy as the supporting act of national tours, plus headlining tours of their own, the Moreno Valley locals’ last album, “Gradients,” came out in 2022. Archer Oh will be playing Desert Daze on Oct. 12 as well as The Shrine on Nov. 16.
■ Magdalena Bay, “That’s My Floor” — Magdalena Bay’s new album, “Imaginal Disk,” is out today, and “That’s My Floor” is the final official single, bass-heavy with a female Britpop vibe. Live Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 at the Fonda Theatre.
■ Bandie, “Minute” (feat. Devyn Sawyer) — Has it really been four years since Brian Hill — aka Bandie — released music? That’s more than a “Minute,” the new single that features Devyn Sawyer. Bandie’s first show in more than a minute is tonight at the Moroccan Lounge, opening for That Band Honey.
■ Katie Gavin, “Casual Drug Use” — The follow-up to “Aftertaste,” “Casual Drug Use” is the new single from Katie Gavin’s debut solo album, “What a Relief,” out Oct. 25. Gavin is set to play three sold-out shows, Nov. 25-27, at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
■ Christian Lee Hutson, “Beauty School” — The follow-up to “After Hours,” “Beauty School” is the latest single from Christian Lee Hutson’s album “Paradise Pop. 10,” out Sept. 27. It’s a tune Hutson calls “a love song to myself and to you. To all the people we’ve been and to all the people we will be.” Live Sept. 26 at the South Pasadena Masonic Lodge.
■ Nicole Miglis, “Sleep All Day” — Nicole Miglis (of Hundred Waters) today released her debut solo album, “Myopia” (out via Sargent House), an entrancing melting pot of electronic pop, orchestral and ambient music. Here’s the video for “Sleep All Day” (we also caught up with “Autograph”). Live Aug. 25 at Permanent Records Roadhouse.
■ Lucius, “Old Tape” (feat. Adam Granduciel) — “We wanted to make something that was both driving and uplifting and no one does it better than The War on Drugs,” Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig say of the new Lucius single. “So after building a landscape, we called our dear friend, Adam, to see if he’d lend his beautiful vocals and guitar. He graciously and enthusiastically accepted and it really brought the track to life.” Lucius open for the National and the War on Drugs on Oct. 6 at the Greek Theatre and Oct. 7 at the Hollywood Bowl. Both shows are sold out.
■ Geneva Jacuzzi, “Laps of Luxury” — Underground art-pop star and video artist Geneva Jacuzzi today released her new album, the aptly titled “Triple Fire.” “Laps of Luxury” is the lead track on the record, about which she says: “I was listening to a lot of Pet Shop Boys at the time and wanted to capture the light/dark ghostly dreamscape of castles and discos from another time.”
■ The Rare Occasions, “Mr.Bubbles” — As a follow-up to “Macaroni Moon”, the harder, more energetic “Mr. Bubbles” introduces the Rare Occasions’ third LP, “Through Moonshot Eyes,” out Sept. 13. A five-week national tour is planned, starting with a Sept. 12 date at the Constellation Room and ending with an Oct. 21 date at the Lodge Room.
■ Hex Code, “Babylon Lottery” — Hex Code’s debut single, “Babylon Lottery,” is goth rock-meets-riot grrrl, and danceable, too. Their debut LP “True Crime Wave” will be out Sept. 13 via Recess Records. Catch Hex Code in their hometown of Long Beach at Happy Sundays Music Festival on Aug. 24.
■ Go Betty Go, “Party at Sea” — L.A. pop-punk torchbearers Go Betty Go, on Sept. 13, will release a new EP, “Black and Blue” — which is the way the band has felt in recent years, especially as lead guitarist Betty Cisneros has been undergoing treatment for cancer. Recorded in between her treatments, they carved out the EP with producer Davey Warsop (The Used, Face to Face, Chuck Ragan, et al). “[The EP] has a strong backbone full of grit and determination,” Nicolette Vilar says. “‘Black & Blue’ is a reference to the bruises life dealt us during these past difficult years.” Speaking of Vilar, check out her wildly imaginative video for the song. Live Sept. 19 at the Paramount, joined by Los Abandoned.
■ The Black Pacific, “I Think I’m Paranoid” — The Black Pacific is the side project of Jim Lindberg of Pennywise, joined by drummer Alan Vega. “I Think I’m Paranoid” is ready for a mosh pit near you. The Black Pacific album “Here Comes Our Wave” is out Sept. 20 via Dine Alone Records.
■ The BellRays, “Hard Drive” — Now in their fourth decade, Riverside punk-soul warriors the BellRays will release their new album, “Heavy Steady Go!,” on Aug. 30. Live Sept. 6 at Zebulon.
■ Cliff Beach, “The Work” — Cliff Beach displayed his jazz chops on “You Showed Me the Way,” the album he released this past spring. Now he’s back in his funk shoes. “The Work” is the first single from his forthcoming album, “Beach Please,” out Oct. 18.
■ Model Child, “Sports” — Danny Parker does not let inspiration wait. In June, he released his sophomore Model Child album, “Get There!” Now he’s back with “Sports,” a high-energy song inspired by the 2024 Olympics. He calls it “a song for bros and babes who are trying to throw down and win the big game. I wrote it to pump people up and go hard in the paint. It’s for champions.”
■ Claude Fontaine, “Green Ivy Tapestry” — The follow-up to “Love the Way You Love,” “Green Ivy Tapestry” is the last sampling of chanteuse Claude Fontaine’s sophomore album “La Mer,” out Sept. 6 via Stones Throw.
■ Sonja Midtune, “It’s All the Same” — Maybe the perfect end-of-summer song? Read the backstory on “It’s All the Same” here.
■ Los Yesterdays, “I Want You to Stay” — We’ll bring this playlist in for a smooth landing with a track from Chicano soul outfit Los Yesterdays, who today released their new album, “Frozen in Time.”
