There are more wantlist-worthy releases than time to cover them all. Starting this year, Loose Ends is our monthly fix for the great records that slipped through the cracks. Expect a key track and quick take on each release, and a link to add it to your shelves.
ABAOAQU || BUDDHOD
Noisy, subtly mathy yet melodic indie rock from France. Consider us intrigued.
The Afghan Whigs || Soft Control
With visceral guitars, soulful intensity, and hard-won wisdom, these ten new songs find strength in embracing both the darkness and the light without losing sight of the absurdity in between.
Apes of the State || Nothing Makes Sense Anymore
Blending biting political rage, personal turmoil, dark humour, and genuine solidarity, these ten folk-punk songs turn a dysfunctional world into a surprisingly life-affirming celebration of resistance, friendship, and simply making it through another day.
Atomic Bronco || Pregaming the Apocalypse
The latest album from the Austin-based solo project of Kyle Nuss is an atmospheric and energetic collection of twelve tracks that masterfully blends nostalgic alternative rock and psychedelic garage rock.
BADTAB || The Year of Sincerity
These eleven songs by the Wellington, New Zealand-based neo-psychedelic band are neither pop nor rock, neither trip-hop nor neo-soul, neither nor funk or jazz, but the ethereal vocals, kaleidoscopic synths, and intoxicating guitars make it all quite true.
Beach Vacation || Delayed Affection
For anyone who likes their jangle pop hazy, shoegaze-tinged and briskly paced, this richly layered, melancholy record makes late-summer nostalgia feel surprisingly immersive.
Better living. || Fix your heart
This alternative punk rock band operates on the right side of familiarity, playing with a whole lotta heart and emotion.
bit depth || maybe in august
A lightning round review does not do this record justice, nor will any tag I place on this. It’s got too many layers, too much going on for that, too many band member to mention even (about 15). There is an atypical catchy song (listen below) that is barely 40 seconds, and the lyrics will break you apart. It is followed by a song of almost 11 minutes that deserves to be played in a nice theatre. Take a breathe, dig in.
Candybar || First Bite
A new band with two parts Big Eyes (Kait Eldridge and Jeff Ridenour)? I did not see this coming, and love how Candybar goes for a more midpaced classic rock slash glam rock sound, which my brain wants me to believe sounds like Joan Jett and Phil Lynott have started a gig together.
Cold Wrecks || You Can’t Plan for This
This urgent and eclectic third full-length album by the New York four-piece is a powerful exploration of grief, growth, and the realities of adulthood across 27 minutes and 27 seconds of authentic pop-punk and frantic emo rock.
Custody || 3.1
I loved this Finnish melodic emo leaning punk rock band’s 2024 album. That one was called 3. Their new EP is titled 3.1, and it is a perfect follow up! RIYL Samiam, Knapsack.
Dona Casque || Le Reflet de Maman
Don’t really know how to describe this four-song 12″ on Turbo Discos, but that is a positive. Color us fascinated!
Martin Frawley || Peppermint Tea
It sure is nice of Marty Frawley (Twerps) to share his recent home recordings with us.
Freak Phone || Fresh Set
These Portland punks impress the hell out of us with their debut EP. Firecracker Girl is an ANTHEM.
Guiding Light || Fear on my Own Time
Fantastic hyperactive post-punk for understimulated brains by this Austin band featuring two parts of Touch Girl Apple Blossom.
Bob Hillman || King Of The Bees
This EP is the straightforward power pop record that Bob Hillman has always wanted to make. He’s got Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello) behind the drum kit and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) involved in the song below. Classic stuff.
Honey Radar || Let’s Talk About Swimming
The latest 10″ from this Philadelphia outfit has several underground guitar pop-‘n’-roll gems waiting for you to fall in love with.
The Iron Roses || Molotov Nights
Nathasha Gray’s joyful and communal post-Boysetsfire band is all about igniting a revolution and then partying to it. The party/revolution continues on LP 2.
Jack The Songman || Faces, Places, and Warm Embraces
“Sunshine funk rock” by Jack Carmichael: these ten piano-driven, power pop-inflected songs blend yacht rock smoothness with a warm, celebratory spirit and 1970s charm.
Judy || Death of a Ladies’ Mutt
Four fuzzy garage pop hits by L.A. duo Blue Broderick (of Diners) and Leah Levinson (of Agriculture) who have a special knack for writing earworms.
Kid Chameleon || A Wren To Tame
Another gorgeous collection of guitar pop tunes from Liam James Marsh.
Lothario || IOU EP
This exciting Melbourne rock-‘n’- roll band is not messing around on their new three-song single. A must hear for fans of Romero, Leatherman, R.A.B.B.I.T, A Giant Dog and Sheer Mag.
The Mark 3 || Happy Today
With eleven new songs steeped in mod, garage, soul, and power pop, Guernsey’s Mark Le Gallez proves that four decades on, the attitude is still intact and the songwriting as sharp as ever.
Moodlighting || Party School
This duo keeps serving lo-fi pop gems, at times sounding like a more lo-fi version of Alvvays.
Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band || Join Us For A Few
The band may never record again, but their third LP is a strong display of their heartland rock-‘n’-roll. Read Josh’s review who gave this one the attention it deserves.
Neptune’s Core || Pivot
This band consisting of two pairs of siblings is the least interesting fact about this artsy indie rock band, which says a lot about the suspenseful and seductive qualities of their music.
Radiator Hospital || Distorting Time
I may be partial to the early material, but eight or nine LPs in, Sam Cook-Parrott’s Radiator Hospital is still great in 2026.
The Retrospects || Vaporwave
White Wires frontman Ian Manhire released the second Retrospects album so quickly after the debut, we totally missed it. But Alien Snatch! has picked it up for a vinyl release (the first LP as well!). Manhire goes full MIDI on this synthy garage-pop throwback to the ’80s, although you don’t have to squint all that much to imagine these songs as White Wires songs.
RIBS || COLD RIBS
A wiry, shape-shifting blast of post-punk that turns jagged guitars, taut grooves and sardonic vocals into an edgy soundtrack for the absurdities and anxieties of modern life.
Sheena Sheenina || Antemeridiem
Indonesian label forfun.cookies has unearthed another gem, and these eight tracks are living proof of the vibrant jangle pop scene over there. You’ll hear amazing sped-up guitar melodies and appealing vocals that can keep up.
The Sleights || Don’t Worry It’ll All Be Over Soon
If you are looking for a certified-fresh, well-produced, well-executed melodic punk rock record, The Sleights (members of The Nobodys) have got you covered.
Smug Brothers || Extra All The Time
Yeah, the Burj Khalifa is pretty high, but have you checked out our expectations for the new Smug Brothers album (coming 9/18) after hearing this teaser single?
Superfriends || King Of The Moths
This is a darker, weirder slice of indie punk that turns the chaos of modern life, growing older and starting over, into bright, scrappy songs packed with heart, humor, and an ever-growing swarm of moths.
Sweeping Promises || You Say I Romanticize
Artsy, catchy (post)punk on the new LP from this Kansas duo, out now on Sub Pop.
Sweet Gloom || No Love Lost
A fuzzed-out, big-hearted rush of melodies, infectious hooks and lovesick punk, turning doomed crushes, bad ideas and emotional self-destruction into something raw, reckless and strangely romantic.
Vista Blue || Championship of Love
The latest single of Vista Blue contains a three minute song about football that definitely is up there in terms of my favorite Vista Bleu songs so far, but I probably have made that statement before. There are just so many great Vista Blue songs to pick from, imagine if they start writing songs about actual football!
WUSS || Suzan
The debut full length from this Indonesian band contains more than a couple hypeworthy indie punk bangers.
The Zimmermen || Rivers Of Corn
A reissue of The Zimmermen’s 1986 Rivers of Corn courtesy of Half a Cow Records – available on CD for the first time, remastered and with bonus tracks? That is just the right nudge to play their classic Don’t Go To Sydney again. What a track!