Alternative Rock

New EP: Red Bird || The Follies

Surreal alt-rock with a freak-folk core

By / / Alternative Rock, Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

Anyone searching online for Red Bird will find the Northern Cardinal, the Angry Birds franchise, and a French action film at the top, but not these indie rockers from Oxnard, California. That is bound to change now that the band centered around singer-songwriter Manuel Chavez has released their debut EP titled The Follies.

The lyrics of its five songs revolve around memory, longing, emotional dependence, and the lingering impact of love and loss, presented through surreal, dreamlike imagery rather than straightforward storytelling. Musically it’s just as adventurous, with instruments, interplay, and structures that lean towards freak folk and refuse to do what is conventional; from energetic to subdued to even more dynamic, from strings to horns to vocal gymnastics, this flies at a high level.


The Follies—recorded and produced by Manuel Chavez—is out digitally via Lazy Bones. Featuring Manuel Chavez (vocals, guitar, piano), Cameron Esmaili (lead guitar, banjo), Sky Coggeshall (violin, vocals), Julian Martinez (bass), David Rodriguez (drums), and Javier Anguiano (trumpet, tenor saxophone), with Rey Arroyo (additional lead guitar) and Thee Jack Brown (additional alto saxophone) guesting on opener Domino.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Something Ain’t Rights || Rotten In The Brain

The sound of punk lifers going eclectic

By / / Alternative Rock, Country & Folk, Punk / Leave a Comment

Don’t judge a book by its cover—the Rotten In The Brain EP sounds much lighter than you would expect based on the title and art. It is the debut release by Astoria, Oregon’s The Something Ain’t Rights, a new band emerging from the punk and garage rock underground, founded by Mike Vasquez (Sweatbox Studio). Yet the nine songs here never feel like a genre exercise, on the contrary. Rootsy twang plays a remarkably large role, but alongside the alt-country elements, you hear countless other influences, extending right up to wiry post-punk and soulful jazz. As if that weren’t fascinating enough, the eclectic and unpredictable mini-album captures a current world that is equal parts absurd, fractured, and strangely hopeful.



The Rotten In The Brain EP is out digitally and on 12″ vinyl through Hovercraft Records. Featuring Mike Vasquez (vocals, guitar), Dan McClure (guitar), Alpha Rasmussen (bass), and Carrie Beveridge (drums).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Phantom Island || Community

A sharp-edged reminder that nobody stands alone

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

Let’s go to Australia again, or more specifically to Perth, where we enter the world of Phantom Island. It’s an art rock quartet who make their debut with Community, a 28-minute album that fuses jagged guitars and sharp hooks with provocative lyrics that have plenty to say. Its seven songs confront selfishness, loneliness, overwork, privilege, and colonial guilt while also searching for friendship, belonging, and empathy. The central idea is that community is fragile, imperfect, and constantly tested, but ultimately worth fighting for. Whether reflecting on absent companions, dreaming of escape, or rejecting entitlement, it’s abundantly clear that surrounding people are essential (most striking in Adam: “Take out a rib, Lord, from my side // Clothe it in flesh and give it life // I do not wish to be alone”). The vivid storytelling rides a wave of post-punk tension, where expressive interplay and commanding vocals never lose their grip, as echoes become part of the landscape.



Community—produced by Laurie Sinagra—is out digitally and on 12″ vinyl through Igloo Records. Featuring Joe Bludge (rhythm guitar, vocals), Sze T (lead guitar), Bonnie Rock (bass, vocals), and Flick Dear (drums, vocals).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Best of 2026 So Far: Born Too Late Podcast

Listen to Niek, Jay (Shock Treatment Zine, Audio Ammunition) and Josh (Faster and Louder Blog) giving you thirty-plus reasons to empty your wallet

By / / Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Getting invited by two bloggers who have pointed me toward countless great records over the years is as much an honor as it is a lot of fun. So while Dennis was enjoying a well-earned holiday, I happily accepted an invitation from Jay (formerly of Audio Ammunition and now back with Shock Treatment Zine) and Josh (Lord Rutledge of the Faster and Louder blog) to join the latest episode of Born Too Late.

The assignment sounded simple enough: bring your ten favorite releases of the year so far. In reality, narrowing it down was anything but. Nearly two hours later, three people who spend an unhealthy amount of time digging for underground music had covered everything from the resurgence of ’70s power pop and rock ‘n’ roll to Dutch punk zines, labels that deserve far more love, guilty pleasures, overlooked gems, surprise favorites, and the passing of J Waylon of Friends of Cesar Romero. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all? Despite our heavily overlapping musical tastes, we only shared one album in our Top 10s.

You can find the episode wherever you get your podcasts (Apple || Spotify). It’s even available on Bandcamp.

And if you’d rather spend your time listening than scribbling down band names, Jay has put together a complete overview of every record we discussed over at Shock Treatment Zine, complete with a playlist.

Oh, and in case you missed it, find Add To Wantlist’s previous appearance on the Podcast here.

New album: Sweet Teeth || The Void That Eats The Heart

Heavy melodies done the Scandinavian way

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

A lot of people got excited when Bob Mould announced Sugar would reunite for a tour. I can’t help but wonder whether anyone was happier than the two Andreases, Joona, and Jocke from Sweden’s Sweet Teeth. They’ve been keeping that sound alive while Sugar was on hiatus. And I don’t mean that as a criticism. Quite the opposite. If ever there was a band proudly wearing its influences on its sleeve, it’s Sweet Teeth.

The Void That Eats The Heart is a worthy follow-up to 2022’s High Anxiety and the band’s spectacular debut EP, Acid Rain. It’s heavy without becoming oppressive, melodic without losing its bite, and packed with songs that feel oddly familiar from the very first spin. More than anything, this is a record made by people who genuinely love plugging in guitars, turning the amps up, and making a glorious racket together.

Listening to Sweet Teeth, I can’t shake the feeling they’d be the perfect opening band for any major rock act touring Scandinavia. They’d win over the crowd long before the headliner hit the stage.

The Void That Eats The Heart is out now via De:Nihil Records, Engineer Records, and Scene Police.



Add to wantlist: Engineer Records || Scene Police || De:Nihil ||

 

Dusted || The Best New Cover Songs Of July 2026

By / / Alternative Rock, Blues & Roots, Country & Folk, Funk & Soul, Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Psych, Punk / Leave a Comment

Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, e.g. as a tribute to such a musical hero for a special reason, or they simply feel that a song deserves to be dusted and polished to reacquaint fans with great songs from the past. Other times, bands cover songs as a parody. Regardless of intent, some of those cover versions are so good or so much fun, we’d like to put a spotlight on them. Chosen from a wide range (only if supported by the artist, so no live videos filmed by the audience or anything like that), here are—in a kind of random order—a bunch of successful covers from last month.

I Fought The Law (The Crickets) by Park+Riot — digital track

Police On My Back (The Equals) by Parker Woodland — from Police On My Back: Singles Collection Vol. 1 EP (Flak Records)

Le Premier Bonheur du Jour (Françoise Hardy) by Fabienne Delsol — from Indigo Red LP (Damaged Goods Records)

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New album: Mopar Stars || Official Researchers Of The NJ Devil

The past, present, and future of underground guitar rock, all in 28 minutes

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Power Pop / 1 Comment

Look, I know I get excited about bands a little too easily. My enthusiasm has raised more than a few eyebrows among friends, family, and coworkers over the years. I doubt any of them understand just how much I’ve been looking forward to this week, because Philadelphia’s Mopar Stars have finally released their debut LP.

It has been a long time coming. Their 2023 EP Shoot The Moon was one of those rare “where has this band been all my life?” discoveries. A year later, Burning Question somehow proved it wasn’t a fluke. Then Stupid Bag Records did us all a favor by collecting both EPs on one essential LP. But Official Researchers Of The NJ Devil is the real thing: a full-length statement from a band that has been quietly building an impeccable batting average.

The higher your expectations, the greater the chance of disappointment. Not this time. Press play on opener Wreck The Bike. Isn’t that one of the finest indie rock songs you’ve heard all year? It’s the opening chapter of a breathless 28-minute songwriting masterclass. Mopar Stars isn’t trying to reinvent rock ‘n’ roll. Quite the opposite. The band works with the same familiar building blocks everyone else has access to. The trick is that they somehow arrange them into songs that feel fresher, brighter, and more irresistible than they have any right to.

That probably shouldn’t come as a surprise. Mopar Stars is made up of members of Poison Ruïn, Zorn, Positronix, TVO, ICD10, and Sheer Mag, all seemingly using this band to indulge their collective power pop addiction. George Orwell never actually wrote this, but he probably should have: all hooks are equal, but some hooks are more equal than others. If someone stuck me in an MRI scanner while this record was playing, I’m convinced they’d discover an entirely new section of the brain devoted exclusively to Mopar Stars hooks.

There are traces of ’70s power pop and classic rock, ’80s college rock, and ’90s alternative rock all over Official Researchers Of The NJ Devil. But none of that really explains why this record is so good. Some bands just have that rare ability to make great songs sound effortless. Mopar Stars has it in absurd quantities.

If there is a better guitar record coming out this year, I’d genuinely like to hear it. Until then, this is the one I’ll be trying to convince everyone else to fall in love with.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

The Loose Ends || July 2026

By / / Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Power Pop, Psych, Punk, Surf / Leave a Comment

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 (30+ this month!), and a link to add it to your shelves.

Banda AL9 || Hey! Hey! We’re Banda AL9
Brazilian power pop duo Banda AL9 —brothers Matheus and Thiago Khouri—released this collection of newly remixed and remastered fan favorites alongside new material on Wicked Cool Records: hook-filled power pop songs that pair Beatlesque melodies and harmonies with youthful energy.

BIG GAINER || Frittiert
This Berlin trio plays noisy slack rock, or should we say sl-egg punk?

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The Loose Ends || July 2026Read More »

New EP: Miniskirt || Dive Bar Darlings

A celebration of the places where music happens

By / / Alternative Rock, Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Now this is fun. Miniskirt turns the places where sweat, drinks, noise, and friendship collide into fuzzy little monuments on Dive Bar Darlings. The Chicago quartet delivers five punchy songs that are equally suited for a packed pit or a late night bar booth, driven by girl group shimmer, garage grit, and punk attitude.

Each track pays tribute to a venue that shaped the band’s journey, transforming local hangouts into a love letter to the city’s vibrant music scene. From the carefree rush of Dive Bar (“Late night living // My kind of life”) to the rowdy whiskey-soaked chaos of Liar’s Club (“Feeling kinda crazy (uh huh)”) and the nostalgic charm of Babies On The Wall (“Empty bottle calls”), these eleven lo-fi minutes capture the magic of live music and celebrate the locations that keep the scene alive.


Dive Bar Darlings—produced by Ryan Dahl—is out digitally and on cassette through Monoblack Records. Featuring Priscilla Jimenez (bass, vocals), Steve Pigozzi (guitar, vocals), Conrad Navarro (guitar), and Jake Besen (drums).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

EP Review: Nerd Dude || No Shot

Bad decisions and blown speakers

By / / Alternative Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Nerd Dude is a mysterious punk rock trio from Tokyo, Japan. After a Demo Tape last year, they recently debuted formally with the No Shot EP, featuring five lo-fi tracks influenced by grunge and alt-rock from the 1990s/2000s, full of heavy and loud noise. The dangerous energy bursts from the cover art, spreading out in dirty riffs, crushing rhythms, and gripping vocals. Even if you don’t understand the words, you know what the band is aiming for (in their words): “For when you need to clear your head, when you’re feeling down, when you’re holding back the urge to smash something, or when you just wanna get blown away—this one’s for you.” This is the raw sound of glorious irresponsibility.


No Shot is out digitally (and on limited CD-R, only available at the band’s live shows) (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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