Day 7 of Julys song challenge A song that changed my life youtu.be/hGRqnNEOpe0?...

Mary in the Junkyard’s debut is wiry, anxious, whimsical, and deeply uneasy. It’s hushed and meditative, but still feels desperate to be heard. I wish they pushed it even darker, but the unnerving energy here is exciting. Strong debut.

Day 6 of July’s Song Challenge Best Album Opener www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUnX...

Day 5 of July’s Song Challenge A Song I Wish was Longer youtu.be/2oeSqwQYHoI?...

Day 3 of July’s Song Challenge - Perfect driving song youtu.be/Bn-3ICGjz0U?...

Day 2 of Julys 30 Day Song Challenge - A song that sounds haunted youtu.be/C9OfBcjyxKY?...

I promise I’ll keep up this month Day 1 of Julys challenge - A Song That Sounds Like Midnight youtu.be/4mlL5PALrfI?...

Downtown Boys are back, and it feels triumphant. Public Luxury is glossier and more fleshed out, but still urgent, chaotic, and desperate to be heard. The horns rip, Victoria Ruiz sounds huge, and the message is crystal clear. I just wish they pushed it one step further.

One last new one from mary in the junkyard before their full length debut drops! And honestly, it may be my favorite one they've dropped. It's heady, but that's what i love about it. It's constantly shifting, and really tunes in on the anxiety of their sound. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOKL...

Beth Orton keeps proving she’s making some of her best music late in her career. The Ground Above is dusty, dramatic, bluesy, and spacious, with vocals that really soar. The title track drags, but the emotional weight here is intense.

We also have another new one from Ms Charli XCX. Her latest album is just sounding better and better to me, I had reservations at first. But with every new single shes bringing more and more energy, attitude and handling a "rock" sound better www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAp4...

We also have the long awaited return of Phoebe Bridgers! And I do enjoy it, from a songwriting stance this is everything I wanted it to be. Instrumentally, it's decent, it's kind of par for the course. Overall though, far from bad www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KXn...

We also have a new single from Bob Mould's legendary Sugar side project. And they've dropped a few singles lately, but this one isn't hitting me as hard. It's got the intensity, but it doesn't have that catchy hook I crave in their music. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nZQ...

New single out from the Queen herself! New DOUBLE ALBUM on the way. And this is a pretty big leap, going for glamorous, classy Baroque Pop. While I need to hear more, this is pretty damn charming www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xqe...

Without further ado, the second half of my favorite albums of the year so far, in no particular order

Without further ado, my first 5 favorite albums of the year (so far!) No particular order here. Tune in tomorrow for the other 5!

We also have a new single from the LEGENDARY PJ Harvey, no sign of a new album yet. And it's pretty breathtaking. It's not her most forward facing cut, but the spacey vibes and her passionate vocals are pretty wowing www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzCj...

One more from Chelsea Wolfe! This one is even slower, drearier. And it's solid, it definitely gets to a point where it hits hard. But I do like this as a single a little less www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1u3...

One of two new singles from Chelsea, new album is on the way! And personally, I'm loving it. It brings me back to a simpler time in her music. Dark, chilly, definitely in the folkier realm too www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM3A...

New one from Editors as well! And...I'm not feeling it. I feel like every time they get sort of on track, they stumble a little. The upbeat, dare I say almost folky vibes of this track are just way too sunny for me www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYJ5...

Frankie Rose just dropped a new single, new album is on the way! And it's just the sort of glistening, throwback Pop I love to hear from her ! www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxoG...

Happy Tuesday y'all 🖤 We're now just about half way through the year. Today, this thread is all about my 10 favorite singles of the year so far, in no particular order!

Baby Rose has been one of my favorite voices in R&B for a few years now. And from the sounds of the new singles shes released lately, she's about to drop a truly special record. This is smokey, sexy, and so effortlessly cool. www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGtj...

Every few years I get the urge to check back in on CEREMONY. I mean, it's not bad, they do this throwback Punk sound a ton of justice. It's angsty, it's pissed, and I'm glad they're slowly getting away from the whole Post-Punk style they were going for. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK37...

This new one from Desire really isn't doing much for me either. Im usually really into their darkened Italo-Disco. But the much sunnier vibes of this track just don't really work for me. www.youtube.com/watch?v=43bf...

We also have a new one from Hazel English! I usually am in love with her dreamy, nostalgic brand of Indie Pop. But this is a little faceless, unfortunately. If you haven't yet though, check out her previous work! www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C0a...

We have another very spacey, etheral R&B tune by way of Kelela. Her singles lately have been incredible. This one is sleeker and more soulful, however. And it's ok, it may hit harder within the album. But this is probably my least favorite so far www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mLN...

Stoner Metal fans, be thankful! Sleep is back with their first new album since "The Sciences", a new album is on the way! And honestly, it's ok. It's decent. The sci-fi vibes are real, the synths are STRONG. I just personally wish this was heavier. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khwi...

New singles round up time! I missed a few days

Pond’s latest keeps their current hot streak going. It’s not reinventing Psych Rock, but the grooves are tight, the sci-fi atmosphere rules, and Kevin Parker’s production really shines. Still a bit familiar, but for clean modern Psych, it works.

Kelsey Lu - "So Help Me God" The new Kelsey Lu record is breathtaking: ethereal, sensual, smoky, and wildly ambitious. I haven’t always been fully sold on her work, but she sounds locked in here. It drags in spots, but the highs are stunning. Fans of Half Waif and Weyes Blood should investigate.

Starting off the day with one of my favorites of the year! A master class is gothic folk! Ora Cogan - “Hard Hearted Woman”

This album confirms Olivia is the real deal. It's heartfelt, mature, whimsical, and has her best songwriting yet. The influences are obvious, but she makes them her own. A couple of tracks are a little awkward, but this feels like the kind of Pop album we will still be talking about years from now.

After loving Illion, I had huge hopes for the new Slift record. There are still moments of crushing, progressive Psych Rock here that rip. But it doesn't hit with the same intensity, and some of the vocals, especially on "The Village," really don't work for me. Not the knockout I was hoping for.

New single out from Julia Jacklin, new album coming in September! And for me, someone whose never been wildly into Julia's music, this is one of the stronger singles I've heard from her. Love the old school Folk feel to this and how full of life it is www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJKK...

The new YHWH Nailgun record is way more manic and cerebral than 45 Pounds. It's packed with great ideas and keeps you on edge the whole time, but the shorter runtime makes it feel less cohesive than its predecessor. Still, they are one of the more exciting experimental rock bands around right now.

New one is out from Rebecca Black! No sign of a new album yet, but I have to be real with y'all. This is one of the more hyped singles I've heard from Rebecca in a long time. The beat goes hard, her performance has swagger, it's pretty epic! www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcHW...

Widowspeak quietly remain one of indie's most consistent bands. Roses is another collection of misty, love-filled Americana and Indie Pop ballads. It doesn't reinvent their sound, and a few ballads drift by more than usual, but the atmosphere and songwriting are still easy to get lost in.

Converge's second album of the year doesn't mess around. It's pummeling and packed with the kind of intensity you expect. When it hits, it hits. That said, I have a little less to say about this one than some of their stronger releases. If you're starving for Metalcore, you'll probably eat this up.

New one out also from Parannoul! If you're a fan of their stuff, you're going to want to hear this. It's sunny, it's hazy, it's dreamy, the Shoegaze nods are apparent. Personally though, there's a sense of euphoria I usually get from Parannoul, and it's missing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxVF...

New single from Hovvdy, their new album is droppin in a month or so. They always seem to show up for me when I need a summery tune. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wpg...

Starting off the day with this absolute modern classic in Art Rock 🖤 Deerhunter - “Halcyon Digest”

The new Death Cab record is a little lopsided, but better than I expected. Some of the singles hit surprisingly hard, Ben Gibbard sounds great, and the band feels genuinely energized. It doesn't break new ground, and a few ballads are pretty tame, but I'd put it right alongside Asphalt Meadows.

Also we have a new one out today from Mr. Jack White, new album coming out in July. And I definitely dig it, it has a this very freakish energy to it I love. If I had to nitpick, I wish it was a little more direct. But I'm excited to hear more! www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeDC...

New one from Bonobo! Unfortunately, I expected a little more. It's ok, it's smooth, and I do love the World Music influence here. However, his last record was such a great reset, and this feels like a back step www.youtube.com/watch?v=asYh...

A pissed-off Vince Staples is the way to go. This is probably the closest he's come to making a rock album, and the energy works wonders. The political themes hit hard, the storytelling is great, and its focused! A few average moments aside, Vince proves once again why he's one of Hip-Hop's best.

One more new one from Interpol. This one i definitely do enjoy a little more. But once again, this just kind of sounds like their classic sound but watered down. It's ok, but I personally need to hear a little more. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoQ5...

New one from Interpol, new album on the way! I don't know, this one isn't for me. I feel like Paul and company have been trying to find their footing for a while, and this isn't it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgJ8...

One of my modern faves in Art Rock! Debut album is dropping soon. I do dig this track a lot, their moody, Gothy vibes are alive and well! www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMXL...

One of modern metals nastiest bands are back y'all. New album coming and they are sounding more ruthless then ever youtu.be/4jMsE6KcuAg?...