As we enter the first week of the return of the despicable corrupt authoritarian that is Trump to the American Presidency, with its guaranteed upheaval, at least we have lots of great music to bring us a bit of comfort and solace.
The lovely and endearing “The Faithful Heart” by L.A.-based Wons Phreely + The Horses maintains its firm grip on the #1 spot for a second week, while “Sad in Carolina” by Texas sad cowboy music band Dexter and The Moonrocks holds at #2 for a second week after previously spending two weeks at #1. English alternative pop-rock band Glass Animals move up to #3 with their enchanting “A Tear in Space (Airlock)”.
Three songs enter my chart this week, starting with the very cool “ROCKMAN” by alternative indie rock singer-songwriter Mk.gee (born Michael Todd Gordon in New Jersey but from what I can tell is now based in L.A.). He began releasing singles in 2017, as well as two EPs in 2018, a mixtape in 2020 and his debut album Two Star & the Dream Police in February 2024. Sadly none of them charted in the U.S. until his latest single “ROCKMAN”, which is currently #26 on the Billboard AAA (Adult Alternative Airplay) and #30 on the Rock/Alternative Airplay charts (Billboard has way too many charts!). That said, Mk.gee’s star has risen exponentially over the past year, with him garnering a coveted spot as musical guest on Saturday Night Live on November 9th. He’s also amassed 2.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 288,000 followers on Instagram.
The other two debut songs are by acts I’ve recently learned about, and I loved their music right off the bat. Coming in at #29 is the beautiful “Here We Go Again” by Welsh pop-rock band Set the Tone. The song was released at the end of November, and I reviewed it in late December. One of their previously-released songs, “Do You Really Wanna Know?”, ended up on my 100 Best Indie Songs of 2024 list. And last but certainly not least is the mesmerizing and gorgeous “Imposter Syndrome” by English alt rock/synthwave band Fake Empire. I became a big fan the instant I heard this song, which I also wrote about in a recent Fresh New Trackspost.
THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (1)
SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (4)
NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (3)
BOBBY SOX – Green Day (5)
ARROW – The Head and the Heart (6)
IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (7)
GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (10)
A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (8)
HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (9)
AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (14)
ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (15)
SO COLD – Balu Brigada (16)
GIVING UP – Michigander (11)
DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (17)
YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (18)
DETROIT – Badflower (19)
SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (20)
FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (12) 19th week on chart
DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (13)
DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (23)
AFTERLIFE – Sharon Van Etten (24)
SHE WANTS TO GO DANCING – Mt. Joy (25)
PEOPLE WATCHING – Sam Fender (26)
CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (22) 19th wk on chart
Lots of new music continues to issue forth from more of the highly creative artists and bands I follow, so time for another Fresh New Tracks installment. Today I’m featuring new songs released over the past week by four acts I’ve previously written about, in alphabetical order: L.A.-based pyschedelic pop-rock duo The Nanners, Texas indie rock trio Onism E, Philadephia-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Marc Schuster, along with an array of indie artists he calls “His Amazing Friends”, and Scranton, Pennsylvania-based metalcore band Traverse the Abyss. While each of the four songs couldn’t be more different from one another from a musical standpoint, they all address varying approaches for trying to keep sane in what seems to be an increasingly insane world.
The Nanners – “Jokes”
Hailing from Los Angeles are The Nanners, the wonderfully zany music project of Nicholas Ewing and Thomas Ferraiuolo, who have this to say about themselves: “Welcome to Banana World, where love, curiosity, angst, and nebulous speculations are explored through the lens of two meek and socially awkward grown men in banana costumes.” While at first glance they might appear to be some kind of weird novelty act, they are in fact fine musicians and songwriters who also happen to be both hilarious and charming, with their music a delightful mix of indie rock, psychedelia and jangle pop.
I first wrote about them and their song “New Pony” in a previous Fresh New Tracks post a year ago, and am now pleased to feature their latest single “Jokes“. About the song, the guys say: “When you’re tripping sometimes you trip and fall pretty hard. But when you get your face out of the mud you realize everyone and everything is laughing with you.” To drive home their message, they layer a colorful blend of twangy, jangly and edgy psychedelic guitars over a bed of quirky twinkling synths, all fueling by a pleasing rhythm of subtle bass and percussion. As great as the music is, I really love their warm harmonies as they sing of not allowing life’s trials and tribulations to get the better of us.
Onism E – “Call You Home”
Photo by Jim McKay
When I last wrote about indie rock band Onism E and their powerful song “It’s Not Over” in November 2022, they were a four-piece based in New York City. Now relocated to Austin, Texas, the band is a trio comprised of uber-talented front woman, singer-songwriter and guitarist Eline Chavez, bassist Gabe Chavez and drummer Andre Atalaya. Their latest single “Call You Home“, written by all three band members and produced by Tucker Allen, is another hauntingly beautiful and compelling song in the style for which Onism E have become known.
Like all their songs, “Call You Home” features intelligent lyrics touching on life’s struggles and the human condition. In this case, Onism E explores feeling lost and untethered in a troubled world gone mad, seeking solace in people and places that can bring a little comfort and peace of mind: “The world is lost, and I’m empty. Drifting in sadness of sins I don’t even own. And I’m just trying to hold my own. I’m just trying to hold on, and all I need to know is can I call you home? When the world gets hard, and I’ve got no place to go.” I love the gorgeous mix of chiming guitars and twangy guitars, rich percussion and Eline’s always marvelous, deeply-emotive and heartfelt vocals.
Marc Schuster & His Amazing Friends – “Hole in the Boat”
Marc Schuster is an insanely creative, multi-talented guy from the Philadelphia area who’s not only an educator, author, literary critic and visual artist, but also a prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, recording both as a solo artist and as part of numerous music projects and collaborations with an ever-expanding roster of musicians. As if all that weren’t enough, he also hosts a weekly hour-long music podcast where he features songs by talented indie artists, plus has a terrific blog of his own called Abominations, where he writes about music and interviews indie artists. I honestly don’t know how he finds the time and energy to accomplish all that he does!
I’ve featured Marc many times on this blog, most recently last May when I wrote about his collaborative single “All the Same to You” with Portland-based artist Quizboy. Now he’s back with another collaboration, “Hole in the Boat”, which he recorded with the help of Quizboy and a host of other musicians he names below. The song has a somber and rather melancholy vibe, yet offers glimmers of optimism and hope that we can come together to at least achieve a bit of understanding and empathy toward each other, even if we’re unable to totally resolve or overcome our deep-seated differences.
About the song, Marc elaborates: “It’s a plaintive call for solidarity in difficult times. And, I suppose, a request for honesty. I had my own hole in the boat in mind when I wrote the tune back in November, but now I’m thinking of all the holes we don’t talk about. In fact, the line that inspired the song came from a Don DeLillo novel called Mao II, and the line actually refers to “holes,” plural: ‘What about the holes in the boat? All repaired?’ one characters asks. ‘We don’t speak about the holes’ another responds. Times like this, as I say in the song, all we have is each other, so I’m grateful to all of you for listening to my music — and to my friends Nick Cervini, Jim Lorino, Sam Goodman, Jaimee Jacobczak, Brian Lambert, and Quizboy for helping me out with this one!“
Traverse the Abyss – “Reasoning”
Photo by Juliana Soroka
I’ve been following heavy metal band Traverse the Abyss for over eight years, and while this genre of music isn’t one of my favorites, I do like to hear a good face-melting, speaker-rattling song now and then, and this band always delivers the goods. Their intense yet melodic sound draws from a myriad of metal sub-genres, including classic heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal, nu-metal and metalcore, as well as hard rock, rock’n’roll and even punk influences I first wrote about them in early 2017 when I reviewed their impressive debut album Gamble of Life, then again in August 2018 when I reviewed their eponymous EP Traverse the Abyss. In the years since, the Scranton-based act has undergone some changes in lineup, and from what I can tell now consist of original co-founders Eric “Abyss” Ross (Vocals) and “Iron” Mike White (Guitar), as well as Jamie Macheska (Guitar), Justin Coe (Guitar), Nick “Big Shits” Cotillo (Bass) and David “Goblin” Wilczewski (Drums). They’ve dropped a series of additional singles, along with a second EP Smiling in the Suffering, in 2022.
Now they return with a new single “Reasoning“, the first of five tracks from their forthcoming third EP Momento Mori, due for release on April 25th. Musically, the song opens with a somber, darkly beautiful guitar riff interrupted by an occasional stab of a piercing gnarly guitar note. Soon, all hell breaks loose with an explosion of furious raging guitars, pummeling bass and aggressive drums as Eric screams the lyrics in his signature fearsome growl. The combined guitar prowess of Iron Mike, Jamie and Justin is on full display as they inject spine-tingling riffs and solos throughout the song, while Nick and David masterfully drive the rampaging rhythms forward. The lyrics speak to letting go of negative thoughts resulting from unpleasant or unhappy past events that are holding you back, keeping you from growing and achieving your full potential: “The way we feel about everything is based on our past experiences. I know negativity is haunting, lurking, stalking me. Learn from your past mistakes. How we think and respond has the power to rebuild our own lives.”
January 10th was apparently a big day for new music releases, and I featured three singles that dropped that day on my recent installment of Fresh New Tracks. One I missed – because I was not yet familiar with the band who recorded it – is the wonderful song “Who’s a Fraud?” by English alternative pop-rock band Still Traffico.
Originally formed in London as a four-piece named Peach, the band renamed themselves with a rather unusual but certainly distinctive moniker Still Traffico in the summer of 2023, when they reduced down to three members consisting of Cam McColl (lead vocals/guitar, Dan Carabine (lead guitar) and Dan Arthur (bass). Influenced by everything from Chanson Française storytelling to African desert blues to post-rock and more, Still Traffico make a blend of indie pop and post-punk they call “Railway Pop” and cheekily describe as a “sound that clanks and shunts… but soothes.” After listening to their songs I’d say that sounds about right.
Still Traffico released their debut single “Seagull” in September 2023, and since then have dropped three more excellent singles, the latest of which is “Who’s a Fraud?” While not quite jangle pop, it most definitely features some marvelous jangly guitar work, as well as really lovely twangy guitar notes accompanied by a subtle but solid bassline and spirited percussion. It all works beautifully to create an enthralling and memorable backdrop for Cam McColl’s immensely pleasing vocals. I like “Who’s a Fraud?” more with each listen, and think it’s their best song yet.
The poetic lyrics seem to speak to those who think of themselves as pure of heart and mind with the best of intentions, yet are quick to judge others they feel are wrong or inferior to themselves:
I tore the lid off Light hit the eggshell walls What lurks underneath Can't be concealed anymore.
It's coming for you In all your comfort Turn your face away when it matters.
So who are you calling a fraud?
You've seen the world You've got your measure on things Now, hold yourself Like we're the same? It's night and day.
I tread alone in familiar places. Step into the road as the lights turn red. To find that people behind me follow. To feel.. that cars can't kill.
You know the world You've done your own reading So, hold yourself like we're the same? It's night and day.
After spending two weeks at #2, “The Faithful Heart” by Australian-born and now L.A.-based singer-songwriter Wons Phreely, backed by his band The Horses, ascends to the #1 spot on my latest Top 30 chart. I loved it at first listen, as well as the charming video they made for the song, and wrote about it in late November, which you can read here. But to summarize, Wons wrote the lyrics for “The Faithful Heart”, with the beautiful music written by singer-songwriter and musician David Skeet (who’s one half of the music duo Winter Swim and also produced and mixed the track). He said he was inspired to write it after thinking of a childhood friend he’d grown up with in Australia who, like himself, had moved on to a bigger city in search of greater opportunities and figuring out how to make their way through life. I love that sweet little piano riff at the beginning, those glorious chiming and jangly guitars, and Wons’ earnest vocals that rise to an endearing falsetto, backed by lovely harmonic choruses. I can listen to this song on endless repeat.
As for the wonderful video they made for the song, Wons drew inspiration from some of the quirky and popular one-shot videos by American alternative pop-rock band OK Go, and challenged himself to dance on film. With the help of choreographer friends, Wons and his band spent months coming up with inventive dance steps for a non-dancer like himself, with two of the guys guiding him through an entertaining routine as if he were a human-sized marionette. Once they mastered the choreography, they turned their attention to finding the right location to shoot the video, which in Los Angeles is always a challenge, especially when you’re on a tight budget. They settled on a laundromat, where they managed to film the sequence in one shot.
In other notable chart developments, “Neverender” by French electronic music duo Justice and Australian band Tame Impala, “A Tear in Space (Airlock)” by English alternative pop-rock band Glass Animals and “Bobby Sox” by legendary punk-pop rock band Green Day, each move up two spots to #s 3, 4 and 5. “Gild the Lily” by Michigan-based singer-songwriter and bluegrass musician Billy Strings advances three spots to enter the top 10 at #10, while “So Cold” by New Zealand alt-pop duo Balu Brigada jumps six spots to #16, making it the biggest upward mover this week.
The lone debut, entering at #30, is “Bad Dreams” by Georgia-based Teddy Swims (born Jaten Collin Dimsdale). The song is the first single from his forthcoming second album I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2), due for release on January 28th. “Bad Dreams” is Swims’ third song to appear on my chart; “Lose Control” went to #1 in February of last year, while “The Door” spent two weeks at #4 in November.
THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (2)
SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (1)
NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (5)
A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (6)
BOBBY SOX – Green Day (7)
ARROW – The Head and the Heart (8)
IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (9)
A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (3)
HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (4)
GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (13)
GIVING UP – Michigander (12)
FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (10)
DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (11)
AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (16)
ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (17)
SO COLD – Balu Brigada (22)
DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (20)
YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (21)
DETROIT – Badflower (23)
SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (24)
NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (14)
CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (15)
DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (25)
AFTERLIFE – Sharon Van Etten (28)
SHE WANTS TO GO DANCING – Mt. Joy (29)
PEOPLE WATCHING – Sam Fender (30)
MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (18)
It’s been six months since my last Fresh New Tracks post, and given the plethora of new music being released, as well as the fact I’ve returned to writing reviews again (at least for now), I thought it was time for another installment. Today I’m featuring the music of four acts, in alphabetical order – Michigan singer-songwriter Taylor DeRousse, English alt-rock band Fake Empire, Texas alt-rock band The Formerly Misinformed, and Pennsylvania alternative pop/punk band naive nature. The songs were released on January 10th, except for the one by Fake Empire, which came out January 2nd. I’ve previously written about The Formerly Misinformed, whereas the other three acts are new to this blog.
Taylor DeRousse – “Growing Up Is Scary”
Photo of Taylor from her Facebook account
Taylor DeRousse is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the Detroit area with an impressive resume. She not only writes, sings and records her own original songs, she also owns a music school and studio called Tailored Harmonies Music Co, plus has a B.A. degree in Music with an emphasis in Piano Performance, as well as an MBA. According to her website, she’s been teaching music in a variety of capacities since 2014, including as a private music instructor, studio music teacher, group class instructor, middle school art & music teacher, theatre vocal coach, and collegiate music tutor. While her primary instruments are piano, guitar, and voice, she also plays the ukulele, violin, mandolin, and bass guitar.
Inspired by such artists as Alanis Morissette, Phoebe Bridgers, Stevie Nicks and Carole King, she released her first single “Pins and Needles” in 2020, and last September (2024), she began dropping a series of singles, beginning with “Front Porch”, that will be included on her forthcoming debut album Running Back To Me. Her fourth in the series and latest single is “Growing Up Is Scary“, a sort of coming of age song about realizing what really matters in life. The song was recorded with the help of Bryan Pope on guitar and bass and backing vocals by Cassidy Chaisson and Tom Mihalis, who also produced the track. I like the bouyant melody and great instrumentation a lot, as well as Taylor’s lilting vocals, but it’s the honest and poignant lyrics, in which she sings about the thing that frightens her more than monsters, zombies or Friday the 13th that really touch me: “I don’t wanna die doing something I hate, make a whole lot of money just to drink it away. I want something more, I’ll do whatever it takes. It’s a burden I carry. Growing up is scary.”
I wasn’t familiar with English band Fake Empire until the other day, when I learned about them in a post by Maria Savva for her blog Rock And Roll. She’d chosen their latest single “Imposter Syndrome” as her Track of the Day, and it was love at first listen for me. The song is darkly beautiful and mesmerizing, with a brooding atmospheric feel that reminds me of some of the songs by bands like The Cure, New Order, The Church and Interpol. The song compelled me to check out more of their back catalog, which I must say is outstanding, and I’m now a fan of this band.
Based in the south of England, Fake Empire consists of Simon Brookes, Les Black and Becky Bellinger, and from what I can tell, they’ve been putting out music since 2017, all in the form of singles which now number 20 in total. “Imposter Syndrome”, which runs 7:45 minutes in length, was released along with two shorter remixes. Though the primary song is long, it’s so beautiful and flawlessly executed that it could go on for even longer. I love the lush, haunting synths and Cure-esque jangly guitars set to an enthralling beat and accompanied by droning, yet comforting vocals. It’s the perfect song for sitting back with headphones and letting yourself be enveloped by its gorgeous soundscapes. To my mind, the lyrics seem to be about living lives that are inauthentic and controlled by other sociopolitical and cultural forces, leaving us acting like sheep, unable to be our true selves or even know who we really are: “Imposter syndrome. You’re sinking like a stone. How can you live when your life is not your own? Our lives are not our own.” The original artwork used in the single cover art was painted by Nathaniel Westwood.
The Formerly Misinformed – “Cut To Scene (Half Life)”
The Formerly Misinformed is a family band from Texas that’s comprised of siblings Brandon Green, Erica Jones and Emily Henney, and their father Terry Green. Together, they create a pleasing style of alternative indie rock, with strong elements of folk and singer-songwriter. Brandon also hosts and produces a music podcast Gimme These Two. Formed in 2019, they released their debut album All In A Dream in 2020, followed by a number of singles and an EP Let’s Pretend it’s Fine in 2022. In September 2023, I reviewed their song “Underneath the Same Stars”, a collaboration with Welsh singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Craig Mapstone, who records music under the moniker Secret Postal Society. The two collaborated again last month (December 2024) when The Formerly Misinformed did a remix of Secret Postal Society’s song “Autumn Leaves”, which is currently enjoying a long run on my Weekly Top 30.
Now they’re back with a new single “Cut To Scene (Half Life)“, which was written and sung by Brandon, with backing vocals by Craig. Brandon also produced, mixed and mastered the track. According to the press release, the song draws inspiration from the scientific concept of half-life, a term used to describe the rate at which unstable atoms decay or how long stable atoms survive, and aims to capture the feeling of transition – of reflecting on where you’ve been while acknowledging the messiness of where you are now. I like the song’s free-form melody that almost borders on progressive rock, as well as its colorful mix of grungy guitars, spare piano keys, throbbing bass, swirling synths and spirited percussion. Brandon’s laid-back vocals have a casual air, and are nicely complemented by Craig’s backing harmonies that fully blossom in the terrific choruses.
Hailing from Philadelphia is alternative indie rock trio naive nature. Formed in 2023, the band is comprised of singer-songwriter and guitarist Jackson Vincent, drummer and backing vocalist Jim Lorino (who’s also front man of Philadelphia-based power pop band Scoopski) and bassist and backing vocalist Mickey Collins, who joined the lineup last September. Together, they blend grunge, pop-punk, alternative, emo and indie rock influences to create some really terrific songs. They released their debut single “the weight of the world” in January 2024, and since then they’ve dropped another four singles plus a three-track EP outsiderism (their band name and all their songs are stylized in lower case letters). Their wonderful single “childhood friends” ended up on my 100 Best Indie Songs of 2024 list.
On January 10th, the guys released “alright“, the first single from their forthcoming second EP separation anxiety, due for release in March. The band said the song “serves as a modern breakup anthem with a clear determined focus on pushing through the worst of times to find something better.” To drive home their message, Jackson serves up a marvelous fuzz-soaked guitar riff, while Jim and Mickey drive the rhythm forward with insistent drumbeats and a thumping bassline. Jackson has the perfect singing voice for this type of grunge/pop-punk song, and he’s in fine form here as he conveys a sense of sad resignation to a romantic partner at the end of their relationship: “It’s alright now. Waste your time now, you know it’s all the same. You’ll be fine now. Don’t forget how you gave me all the blame.” “alright” is a great song, and I’m looking forward to hearing their new EP.
Hailing from the fair city of Melbourne, Australia is singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mikey J (aka Michael Johnson), who humbly refers to himself as “just a dude who loves music“. Inspired by some of the great songwriters of the past, life experiences and his family, his songs are a mix of rock, blues, folk, funk and indie influences, all of which he performs and records in his simple setup at home. He’s been writing and recording music since his teens, releasing his first self-titled EP in 1999 at the age of 17 with his then band Blue Tracer. In 2011, he released a solo album Happy “六” Anniversary, inspired by and dedicated to his wife Ella. Nearly 10 years would pass until his next release ISO-Inspiration, an album inspired by the Covid lockdown, in October 2020. Since then, Mikey J’s been on a creative tear, dropping five more albums, most recently Muffet Way, a 14-track behemoth he released last May, as well as numerous singles.
Now he’s recorded his latest album Made in China, another ambitious work to be released in March that will feature 14 tracks inspired by the twelve years Mikey J spent living in Shanghai. The songs delve into love, growth and personal struggles, reflecting the people, places, and experiences – including a pet and a typhoon – that shaped his life during that period. In a recent interview with Marc Schuster for his Abominations blog, Mikey J explained “It’s where I became a man. I moved to China pretty much on a whim after leaving a pretty toxic relationship, for what was supposed to be maybe two years at most of fun! I then met the girl of my dreams, we got married, had a kid and all of a sudden it was twelve years later! It was such an exciting period of Shanghai’s development as well – 2005 was when it really started to develop in a big way and it was just so fun! I wanted to write an album that was a little more thematic than I have previously written and China seemed a pretty significant part of who I am. I had some ideas about people, places and events that were pretty memorable and it just kind of came together! Of course, there is a good smattering of my patented sappy love songs about my wife to boot!“
Last month, on December 5th, he released the first song from the album, “Where Do I Belong?”, and now returns with two more songs released as a pair, “She’s So Fine” and “Fell So Hard“, which dropped January 9th. Both songs are totally different in sound and structure, with straightforward and honest lyrics about meeting and falling in love with Ella, the woman who would become his wife. “She’s So Fine” opens strong with a gnarly, almost bluesy guitar riff accompanied by snappy drums and a thumping bass groove. Mikey J’s impressive guitar prowess is on full display as he layers multiple textures and riffs throughout the song, highlighted by a great solo in the bridge. Mikey J said that the song was somewhat inspired by The Easybeats, an Australian band from the 1960s, while “Fell So Hard was inspired by the Beatles.
“Fell So Hard” has a slower tempo, with a melody and instrumentation reminiscent of songs by the Beatles in their mid-career period of 1966-68. I really love the mellotron sounds as well as the jangly guitar work that nicely channels that of George Harrison. Mikey J doesn’t have a particularly strong singing voice, but his vocals are endearing and heartfelt as he sings of how he fell for Ella: “I met a girl who stole my heart, she snatched it clean away. I was alone, just drifting through life, but I fell for her that day. She looked at me, and the world seemed to stop. I fell for her so hard that fateful day.”
I like that “She’s So Fine” and “Fell So Hard” offer up a completely different vibe and sound from each other, and also that both sound different from “Where Do I Belong”, with its hard-driving beat. It’s a clear indication of Mikey J’s ability to cross music genres and styles in his songwriting and musicianship, which he puts to good use on Made in China, making for an interesting listen indeed.
Brian Lambert, an affable, talented and thoughtful singer-songwriter from Denton, Texas who describes himself as a “Friendly Neighborhood Rock and Roller”, is one of the most prolific musicians I know of. When Covid put a halt to playing live, he challenged himself to writing, recording and producing a new song every week for a year, an ambitious feat he went on to accomplish in 2021. Since then, he’s continued his prodigious output, writing and recording numerous songs both as a solo artist and in collaboration with a host of other musicians, including his frequent musical partner Marc Schuster (with whom he also has a side band called The Star Crumbles), Quizboy, Jr Moz Collective, Scoopski, Harmoni Kelly and As Particles Collide, to name some that come to mind.
Photo by Olivia Rodriguez
His lively, eclectic sound runs the gamut from rock’n’roll, indie folk and garage rock to grunge, punk and synthpop. In addition to a dizzying array of singles, he’s also released a terrific album Wild in September 2023 and EP Everything’s a Business in June 2024. I’ve featured him many times on this blog (you can read some of my reviews by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post), and today I’m pleased to present his latest single “Take This Heart“, which he released on January 3rd. Inspired by the 90’s music of some of his favorite bands like Soul Asylum, the Goo Goo Dolls and Better Than Ezra, the song is a smoldering, foot-stomping banger. Brian wrote the music and lyrics, produced the track and played all instruments.
The song starts off with a snappy drum riff that’s quickly joined by rumbling bass, then a gnarly guitar enters and we’re off to the races. To my ears, the song almost has a bit of a 60s garage rock feel, but with a contemporary treatment. I love the chugging guitar riff and the insistent drumbeat that continues throughout the song, nicely complementing that grimy bass line in keeping the sultry groove moving forward. Brian dazzles us with all sorts of guitar gymnastics, highlighted by a blistering guitar solo in the bridge.
He’s also a fine singer, with a highly emotive vocal style that works perfectly on this song as he passionately sings of his fervor for a woman he loves: “Hey alright, the moonlight. I just wanna hold you in the middle of the night. Baby, do you want me? Baby, I want you./ Got this feeling inside I can no longer hide anymore./ Baby take this heart of mine.” I think it’s one of his best songs yet!
We’re now into the first full week of 2025, and last week’s top four songs remain in place, with Dexter and The Moonrocks‘ boisterous “Sad In Carolina” holding on to the top spot for a second week. The song is now in its fifth week at #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, making it their most successful single yet. “The Faithful Heart” by Wons Phreely + The Horses, “A Fragile Thing” by The Cure and “Hardcore Romance” by Beach Weather remain at #s 2, 3 and 4. Entering the top 10 are “Arrow” by The Head and the Heart, finally breaking loose and jumping seven spots to #8 (the song has spent the past three weeks at #1 on the Billboard AAA chart), and “In The Living Room” by Maggie Rogers, which advances five spots to #9.
Making their debut this week are the enchanting “She Wants To Go Dancing” by Los Angeles-based alternative roots rock band Mt. Joy, entering at #29. The single was released last October, but took a while to appear on my chart, unfortunately. It’s their sixth song to appear on my Top 30. The second debut, at #30, is “People Watching” by English singer-songwriter Sam Fender. Released in November, the song has a pleasing and fast-paced anthemic groove similar to his 2021 hit “Seventeen Going Under”, which went to #1 on my chart.
SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (1)
THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (2)
A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (3)
HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (4)
NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (7)
A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (8)
BOBBY SOX – Green Day (10)
ARROW – The Head and the Heart (15)
IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (14)
FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (5)
DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (6)
GIVING UP – Michigander (16)
GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (20)
NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (9)
CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (11)
AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (18)
ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (19)
MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (12)
Unbelievably, 2024 ended up being an even crazier year than 2023 was! Though things didn’t turn out as I’d hoped from a political standpoint, it was nevertheless a decent year for me personally, plus there was lots of incredible music to enjoy. As I do at the end of each year, I’ve compiled a list of my 100 favorite songs for 2024. This past Monday, I posted my list of the 100 Best Indie Songs of 2024 (which you can read here), and now this new list represents my compilation of favorite songs that I feel are the overall best of 2024. (Eighteen songs from the Best Indie Songs list also appear on this list.)
Music tastes are very subjective, and while I don’t understand how others cannot share my love for a particular song or artist, I fully realize that not one person will agree with all my song choices or rankings. Furthermore, as a music blogger, I’m exposed to a tremendous amount of new music over the course of a year, both from the literally thousands of artists and bands I follow, as well as all the music I learn about from my fellow bloggers. Despite this, I’ve heard only a tiny fraction of all the music released in 2024. Consequently, my list includes only songs I know, and I’m certain there are likely many great ones that should be included, except that I’ve never heard them. Among the thousands of songs I did hear in 2024, there were many outstanding ones, and it frustrates me to have to cull my list down to only 100, omitting quite a few that I really like. It’s also a challenge ranking them, because a song at #40 isn’t necessarily any better than a song at #70. Perhaps it’s a pointless exercise to even rank them at all, except for the fact that I love making lists!
I avoid ranking albums, as there are simply far too many I’ve either not heard, nor had the time to fully listen to, therefore any list I might compile would be woefully inadequate. That said, there are some particularly beautiful records released in 2024 that impressed me, including Romance by Fontaines D.C. (my overall favorite album of 2024), Songs of a Lost World by The Cure, Leon by Leon Bridges, nothing by Louis Cole, Dreamstate by Kelly Lee Owens, Clancy by twenty one pilots, I AM CINCO by MISSIO, Melt by Beach Weather, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish, A Dream Is All We Know by The Lemon Twigs, and As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again by The Decemberists.
Most of the songs on this list were released in 2024, however, several were released in 2023 but didn’t ‘peak’ until 2024. Likewise, several songs released after November 1st are still moving up my weekly charts and won’t peak until early 2025, thus will appear on my 100 Best Songs of 2025 list. The few songs in this Top 100 that also appeared on my Top 100 Songs of 2023 list, such as Green Day’s “The American Dream Is Killing Me”, which spent a week at #1 at the end of 2023 and another three at #1 in early 2024, are indicated with an asterisk *.
I’ve written brief narratives and included videos for the top 10 songs. As always, I’ve created a Spotify playlist for this Top 100, which is included at the end of the post. Hopefully you’ll find some of your own personal favorites on it. Let me know what songs were your favorites of 2024.
1. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C.
Irish alt-rock band Fontaines D.C. are one of the most exciting and interesting acts making music today, and while they’d been gaining acclaim and popularity since the release of their debut album Dogrel in 2019, it was their spectacular fourth studio album Romance, released last summer, that really put them over the top. Elton John recently called them “the best band out there at the moment“. I love their always arresting sound, thanks in part to charismatic lead vocalist Grian Chatten’s distinctive baritone Irish brogue, and they’ve become one of my favorite bands. “Starburster”, the bombastic lead single from Romance, is musically complex and brilliant, and one of the most sonically thrilling songs I’ve heard in a while.
The song was inspired by a panic attack that Chatten suffered in a London tube station, and the jarring gasps heard at the end of each line suggest the gasps or quick breaths of someone experiencing a panic attack. To drive home their message, Fontaines D.C. start with a foreboding Mellotron string loop quickly followed by an elegant piano riff before the music explodes into a bombastic soundscape of stomping trip hop beats, sharp percussion and reverb-soaked twangy guitars. Chatten does a fine job with his commanding rapid-fire rapping of the lyrics, which he’d previously done on the collaborative single “Better Way To Live” with Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap. The song transitions to a calm interlude in the bridge with a majestic string arrangement and Chatten’s vocals now a warm and soothing croon, then finishes with a return of the stomping beats and jarring music. I love it, and couldn’t stop listening to it for months on end, making it my favorite song of 2024.
The song’s rather unsettling video, directed by Aube Pierre, features Chatten performing a variety of daily activities in differing personas ranging from angelic to demonic, sometimes wounded and other times wearing a mask or wig. It’s as ambiguous and scattered as the song’s lyrics.
2. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather
Another favorite act of mine is alternative pop-rock trio Beach Weather, whose “Trouble With This Bed” was my #1 song of 2023, and “Sex, Drugs, Etc.” my #3 song of 2022. Their gorgeous “High In Low Places“, released at the end of May 2024 and featured on their subsequently released second album Melt, takes its place as my second-favorite song of 2024. I love the song’s brooding cinematic vibe in the vein of Ennio Morricone, particularly the twangy guitars and lead vocalist Nick Santino’s sensuous vocals. He had this to say about the song: “We like to call ‘High in Low Places’ our apocalyptic love song. There was beauty in the idea of finding peace in one another while the world was slowly melting. We wanted to create something that felt cinematic, the closing credits of a modern end-of-times western. There are hints of those influences in the guitars and strings running through the chorus where we want to pull everyone into a world but stay hopeful that we can all rise above that insanity transpiring around us.” The lyrics speak to remaining positive and optimistic in the face of life’s problems and obstacles.
3. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots
Ever since learning about them 10 years ago, twenty one pilots have ranked among my all-time favorite music acts, and their 2015 masterpiece Blurryface is one of my favorite albums of all time. Still based in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, the dynamic duo consists of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. Joseph is a brilliant and imaginative songwriter, as well as a damn fine rapper, and Dun is one of the best drummers around today. In May 2024, they released their seventh album Clancy, the final installment of their nearly decade-long series of conceptual albums, concluding the storyline of the character Clancy, who resides in the fictional dystopian city of Dema in the metaphysical world of Trench we were introduced to on their 2018 album Trench. One of the album’s tracks, “The Craving”, was released in two different versions, one being the album cut featuring a stripped-down acoustic arrangement subtitled “Jenna’s Version”, and the other the single version featuring a fuller arrangement. Joseph wrote the song as a dedication to his wife Jenna. The beautiful single version was twenty one pilots’ 11th song to reach #1 on my chart, and finishes the year at #3.
4. MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR – Royel Otis
Without question, one of my absolute favorite songs of 2024 was “Murder on the Dance Floor”, by Australian guitar-pop duo Royel Otis (comprised of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovi). It’s a marvelous cover of the 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” by British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, which Royel Otis performed on the Australian radio station Triple J for their Like a Version program. Interestingly, the song does not appear on their excellent debut album PRATTS & PAIN that was released in February 2024. The song was co-written by Ellis-Bextor and Gregg Alexander, former frontman of the band The New Radicals (who had a hit in the late 90s with “You Get What You Give”). Ellis-Bextor’s original version gained renewed popularity earlier this year after appearing in the 2023 black comedy thriller film Saltburn, causing it to re-enter the UK Dance Singles Chart, where it reached #1. It also peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and #51 on the Hot 100, her first song to ever appear on that chart. Royel Otis’ version peaked at #2 on the Alternative Airplay chart, but spent three weeks at #1 on my chart. I love the video of the exuberant studio performance, in which all the musicians involved are positively first-rate.
5. MY GOLDEN YEARS – The Lemon Twigs
Another one of the more interesting music acts around today is American indie rock duo The Lemon Twigs, consisting of the hyper-talented and charismatic brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario. Raised in a musical household on Long Island, New York (their father Ronnie D’Addario is a musician and songwriter in his own right), the two learned to play instruments and sing at an early age. Both Brian and Michael also had extensive stage, while Michael’s also appeared in a variety of television shows and films. The brothers formed The Lemon Twigs while they were both in high school, with each performing lead vocals, lead guitar, drums and other instruments. They cite as their major music influences bands ranging from The Beatles and Beach Boys to Procol Harum and Queen. They recorded their first album Do Hollywood in 2015, when the two were only 15 and 17 years old. The album, which was released in 2016, was well-received by critics and earned them appearances on TV programs like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, CBS This Morning “Saturday Sessions” and Conan, as well as a coveted spot at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California in April 2017.
Their delightful power pop gem “My Golden Years” was the lead single from their fifth studio album A Dream Is All We Know, co-produced by the band and Sean Ono Lennon and released in May 2024. The song seems to pay homage to some of the great songs from the 60s by acts like The Byrds and Beach Boys, as well as early 70s The Raspberries. I absolutely love those gorgeous jangly Rickenbacker guitars and Beach Boys-esque harmonies. Shockingly, I don’t believe the song appeared on any chart in the U.S. or elsewhere, though YouTuber Anthony Fantano of theneedledrop ranked it #13 for the year, and New York Times TV critic James Poniewozik called the song “the soundtrack of my year“.
6. PEACEFUL PLACE – Leon Bridges
Leon Bridges is an enormously talented singer-songwriter based in Fort Worth, Texas. I love his pleasing style of R&B-influenced neo soul, particularly his smooth and warm vocals that remind me at times of the late, great Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke. His gorgeous song “Peaceful Place”, from his fourth studio album Leon released this past October, spent two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart and four weeks at #1 on my chart, and finishes the year at #6. In addition to his marvelous, soulful vocals, I also love that slide guitar and cool bass line on the track. His 2018 song “Bad Bad News” was one of my favorite songs of that year, and ranks #29 on my Top 100 Songs of the 2010s list. The wonderful video was shot in Mexico City and Los Angeles.
7. TOO SWEET – Hozier
I just love Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, who’s had quite a resurgence over the past year or so with his critically acclaimed third studio album Unreal Unearth, which featured his two hit singles “Eat Your Young” and “Francesca”, his duet “Northern Attitude” with American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan (which appears later in this Top 100 chart), as well as his singles “Too Sweet” and “Nobody’s Soldier”, (which also appears later in this chart). Released in late March a week after he dropped his fifth EP Unheard, “Too Sweet” has turned out to be his highest charting single both in the UK and the U.S. It quickly went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April, then went on to spend an astonishing 11 weeks at #1 on the Alternative Airplay chart and 8 weeks on the AAA chart. It spent two weeks at #1 on my chart, and ranks #7 for the year. It was Hozier’s fifth song to top my chart (the previous being “Take Me to Church” in 2014, “Nina Cried Power”, featuring Mavis Staples, in 2018, “Eat Your Young” in 2023 and “Northern Attitude” earlier this year). The song’s lyrics are directed at a romantic partner with totally different lifestyle preferences – the singer enjoys staying up late and drinking alcohol and black coffee, in contrast with his partner who goes to bed early, eats healthy, etc. – in other words, she’s too sweet for him.
8. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C.
Fontaines D.C. are back with “Favourite“, the second single from their brilliant album Romance, and the second song to not only appear on this chart, but also in the top 10. The uplifting, gorgeous and heartwarming anthem has become their highest-charting song in the U.S., reaching #3 on the Billboard AAA chart. It spent three weeks at the top of my chart, and comes in at #8 for the year. The delightful video features childhood scenes of the band members, juxtaposed with images of them today.
9. TIME – MISSIO
I’m sounding like a broken record, but Austin, Texas-based duo MISSIO (comprised of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Matthew Brue and multi-instrumentalist and producer David Butler) are yet another of my favorite acts. I love their uniquely eclectic sound that’s an arresting blend of alternative rock, electronic and hip hop, and have written about them several times on this blog. Four of their songs – “I See You”, “Underground”, “Can You Feel the Sun” and “Time” – have reached #1 on my Top 30. “I See You” was my #1 song of 2019, and ended up at #10 on my Top 100 of the 2010s, while “Can You Feel the Sun” was my #4 song of 2021. The darkly captivating “Time”, from their fifth album I AM CINCO, an epic work released last May which I reviewed, finishes at #9 for 2024. I love Matthew Brue’s distinctive tenor voice, which sounds especially vulnerable and heartfelt on this song, accompanied by a gorgeous instrumental arrangement. The simple but profound lyrics touch on anxieties over some of the issues facing our current world and society, with MISSIO reminding us that “time goes wherever you are, now, in each moment” and to “live like it’s your last because you’re not guaranteed a tomorrow.”
10. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam
While I’ve always liked the music of Pearl Jam well enough, I’ve never been a huge fan. But I really love their magnificent song “Wreckage”, released in April 2024 as the third single from their 12th studio album Dark Matter. I like how the song gradually builds from a compelling downtempo rock song into a spine-tingling anthem, fueled by explosive jangly guitars, tumultuous percussion and Eddie Vedder’s impassioned vocals. In an April 2024 interview with British newspaper The Sunday Times, Vedder said he wrote the lyrics to “Wreckage” about the “desperation” of former U.S. president Donald Trump, elaborating “There is a guy in the United States who is still saying he didn’t lose an election, and people are reverberating and amplifying that message as if it is true. Trump is desperate. I don’t think there has ever been a candidate more desperate to win, just to keep himself out of prison and to avoid bankruptcy. It is all on the line, and he’s out there playing the victim… So the song is saying, let’s not be driven apart by one person, especially not a person without any worthy causes.” The next day, he told Howard Stern that the song could also be about “a difficult relationship”. Whatever it’s about, I love it, and it’s become my favorite song by Pearl Jam. “Wreckage” was a big hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Adult Alternative Airplay charts. While it peaked at only #2 on my chart, where it spent two weeks, it ranks as my 10th favorite song of 2024.
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (STAY HIGH) – The Black Keys
NEON PILL – Cage the Elephant
THE AMERICAN DREAM IS KILLING ME – Green Day *
CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals
DILEMMA – Green Day
PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION
MESSY – Lola Young
THAT’S HOW I’M FEELING – Jack White
BURIAL GROUND – The Decemberists
A FRAGILE THING – The Cure
WHAT NOW – Brittany Howard
NORTHERN ATTITUDE – Noah Kahan & Hozier
LOSE CONTROL – Teddy Swims
SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks
LIKE YOU DO – Talk in Waves
LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People
OVERCOMPENSATE – twenty one pilots
BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant
ALL I DIE FOR – SWiiMS
HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather
ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter
STARGAZING – Myles Smith
GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan
WINTER COWBOY – Frank Joshua
COOL ABOUT IT – boygenius
THE DOOR – Teddy Swims
THE TOWER – Future Islands
A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame
OH NO! – The Decemberists
I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain
END OF BEGINNING – Djo
DON’T FORGET ME – Maggie Rogers
KOOL AID BLUE – The Sylvia Platters
BLAME BRETT – The Beaches
MY LOVE MINE ALL MINE – Mitski *
CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday
LOVIN ON ME – Jack Harlow
ATTRACTION – Wild Horse *
I’M IN LOVE – Jelani Aryeh
UP ALL NIGHT – James Bay, The Lumineers & Noah Kahan
DEATH VALLEY HIGH – Orville Peck & Beck
LUNCH – Billie Eilish
MOTHER NATURE – MGMT
LUNAR ECLIPSE – The Vaccines
NOTHING MATTERS – The Last Dinner Party
FORTNIGHT – Taylor Swift & Post Malone
NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier
WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH
FOR US ALL – Asgard Raven
MODERN GIRL – Bleachers
RUN AWAY WITH ME – Cold War Kids
ICE CREAM (PAY PHONE) – Black Pumas
DIAMOND AND THE MISSING SON – Unquiet Nights
ALIVE! – Bakar
EVERYTHING WE NEED – Mojave Grey
YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton
BLUSH – Vazum
NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala
CAPRICORN – Vampire Weekend
MUSTANG – Kings of Leon
ON THE GAME – The Black Keys
GARMONBOZIA – Flying Lotus
INTO GOLD – London Grammar
BOTHERING ME – Sarah Blasko
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT – Dead Slow Hoot
LONELINESS – Pet Shop Boys
A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals
WANTING AND WAITING – The Black Crowes
FIND MY WAY – Ships Have Sailed
SUPERSAD – Suki Waterhouse
HOW DID YOU GET HERE? – Antony Szmierek
WAR – HEALER
SCARED TO START – Michael Marcagi
THE BREAK – Blame My Youth
GOOD PEOPLE – Mumford & Sons, Pharrell Williams
GOLD – Caitlin Lavagna
I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen
RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías
TOO MUCH – girl in red
THE LIGHTHOUSE – Stevie Nicks
DARK MATTER – Pearl Jam
BROKEN MAN – St. Vincent
HONEY – Mr Bewlay
BOBBY SOX – Green Day
BIG CAT TATTOOS – Hamish Hawk
MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano
At the end of each year, I publish a list of my Top 100 Songs, representing my picks for what I think are the best songs – my favorites actually – for the entire year. This year, at the suggestion of John Gilbert, guitarist and lead vocalist of Missouri folk rock band Voodoo Planet, I’ve also compiled a list of my 100 favorite indie songs of 2024 (their song “Adrift” is included in this list). Because I follow, and am followed by, many indie musicians and bands on the various social media platforms, I want to highlight some of the really outstanding music being made by them that’s every bit as good as that from mainstream acts.
These are not “indie” songs in terms of genre (though there are many that fall into that overall category), but songs by independent or unsigned music acts. Some are in fact signed to music labels, but they’re usually small, independently owned labels. There are 89 acts represented in this list, the majority of which are from the U.S., Canada and the U.K., but also from Australia, Malaysia, Norway, Spain, Germany and Ukraine. Of course, I must make note of the fact that this list contains only songs I’m aware of, and that there are likely hundreds or even thousands of other songs that deserve to be here, except that I’ve never heard them.
Though they’re ranked from #1 to 100, it doesn’t mean that a song at #30 is better than one at #70. That said, the ones closer to the top are my very favorites. And though I’d love to write a narrative about each song and artist, given my limited time and energy, not to mention people’s short attention spans, I’ve decided against that. I’ve created playlists on both Spotify and YouTube, which are included after the list itself. Enjoy!
LIKE YOU DO – Talk in Waves
ALL I DIE FOR – SWiiMS
THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses
WINTER COWBOY – Frank Joshua
A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame
ATTRACTION – Wild Horse
I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain
KOOL AID BLUE – The Sylvia Platters
WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH
FOR US ALL – Asgard Raven
DIAMOND AND THE MISSING SON – Unquiet Nights
YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton
BLUSH – Vazum
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT – Dead Slow Hoot
FIND MY WAY – Ships Have Sailed
WAR – HEALER
GOLD – Caitlin Lavagna
HONEY – Mr Bewlay
MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano
TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH? – Candid
YOUR WORLD NOW – Marc Schuster
WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo, Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso & Gabrielle Marella & the voice of Tony Milillo
VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson
ADRIFT – Voodoo Planet & Mikey J
BICYCLE AWAY – Sam Rappaport
PERMANENT RECORD – GG Fearn
AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society
HOLOGRAM – Raker
GOOD TIMES GO – The Kid and I
JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves
IT’S OVER NOW – Oli Barton
DYING TO MEET YOU – Gooseberry
OH, WELL – John Serrano
SUBMARINE – Homeless Radio
BRAND NEW DAY – Ben Gorb
DOWNING STREET – Brain Ape
LOOSIE LUNA – Coppa Londra
TEMPTATION – Pylon Poets
WHY DO YOU CARE – The Muldoons
I AM AM I? – NAVE
THIS ALL ENDS HERE – Minus Cube & Natalie Lucie
NEW PONY – The Nanners
KEEPING SCORE – Snap Infraction
WAKE ME UP – HEALER
ODYSSEY – Josephine Pascoe
LIKE THE SUN – A.Wake
SMALL MERCIES – Brian Lambert & Marc Schuster
EASIER AND EASIER – Lyia Meta
VICTIM – Frank Joshua
SMUDGE – Mock Deer
THE LOST – The Ocean Beneath
INVISIBLE INK – Ships Have Sailed
BY DESIGN – Amongst Liars & Felin
LITTLE SELF-INDULGENT – Western Jaguar
PIECE OF CAKE – Bottlecap Mountain
COLLISION – The Zangwills
ROADS – HULLAH
GUYS LIKE YOU – Olivia Miceli
YOUTH – The 23’s
STATELINE – Nathan Ball
CHASING YOUR DREAMS – Asgard Raven
ELEVEN – Minus Cube & P’like
DREAM TONIGHT – The Ocean Beneath & Liz Mann
SELF CONTROL – John Laurant, Ron van den Beuken & Shimmer Johnson
THE BEST – Thunder Fox
NEW MOON – Morning Fuzz
REPOSSESS – Western Jaguar
YOU ARE NOT A SLAVE – Amongst Liars
CREATURE FEATURE – dwi
BAD LUCK – The Macrotones
WITCH TRAIN – The Blackburns
NOCTURNALLY YOURS – Scoopski
TANTALUS – John Serrano
REAL COLORS – The Nanners
DO YOU REALLY WANNA KNOW? – Set the Tone
PRETTY ALRIGHT – Caitlin Lavagna
LET’S RUN AWAY – Solar Eyes
ONE ROOM PAST WAITING – Chief Springs
ARE YOU REALLY FREE? – Alba
FIREBIRD – Josephine Pascoe
CHILDHOOD FRIENDS – naive nature
SPACE TRAVEL – Sandrom
MORE – Andrew Neil and Code Purple
SMALL TIME FISH (BIG TIME POND) – Sorry Ghost
THE VOID – Fuzzle
GREEN EYED MONSTER – Olivia Miceli
ALL I WANT – The Heroic Enthusiasts
WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME – Tom Burton
COCK OF THE FIFTH YEAR – The Empty Page
NOT READY YET – Sean Magwire
GHOST – Grizzly Madams
ALWAYS DO – Melody Zenith
MISSED YOU – Mal Fantome
WOULD YOU WANT IT (IF YOU HAD IT) – The Barons
THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF WHAT IF – Eleanor Collides & Emily Gray
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 