Alternative Rock

New split single: Queen Serene || Glitter Disco b/w Heavy Meddo || La Mer

Austin bands build a wall of noise to look up to

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The title Glitter Disco could easily raise false expectations, because it is actually a wall of jangly guitars that marks the boundary between art rock and post-punk, with shoegaze influences seeping through. It is one of the strong tracks from Queen Serene’s versatile 2 LP that was released last November, now filling one side of a beautifully designed split 7″ single. The flipside is by Heavy Meddo, also from Austin, Texas, who bring equally hazy post rock to the stage with La Mer, in which the noisy guitars are supported by compelling synths. Two times five minutes that provide a hypnotic session.


Glitter Disco b/w La Mer is out digitally and on limited edition vinyl 7”, with cover art by Nick Stout and Bill Baird respectively. Queen Serene are Sarah Ronan (guitar, vocals), Matt Galceran (guitar, vocals), Dale Pohly (bass, tambourine) and Riley Corcoran (drums). Heavy Meddo are Bill Baird (guitar, synth, vocals), Jonathan Horne (guitar), DB Tamir (bass), Jordan Johns (drums, percussion), Sarah Ronan (vocals) and Amy Annelle (vocals).

Add to wantlist: Queen Serene‘s or Heavy Meddo‘s Bandcamp

New EP: Leghorn || Wait… Don’t Tell Me

Stirring riffs and weathered vocals color a convincing debut

By / / Alternative Rock, Garage Rock / 1 Comment

Last summer I raved about No Stones, the debut single from Columbus, Ohio-based garage rock trio Ladybird. Singer/guitarist Matthew Hollis (vocals, guitar) and drummer Fritz Manuel (drums) have not only found a new bassist in Luke Garvine, but have also adopted a new band name. As Leghorn they are now releasing their first EP, titled Wait… Don’t Tell Me, where the functional cover layout has remained and that awesome introductory song is also present. The four fresh tunes are not quite as raucous (maybe we should even call it mature), but just as brilliant in riffs and sound.


Wait… Don’t Tell Me is out now digitally via Many Such Cases.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: I Before E || Mulligan

From Chattanooga to the ’90s

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

Chattanooga, Tennessee’s throwback pop punk trio I Before E was one of my favorite discoveries of 2024. Their underproduced yet irresistibly melodic sound channels a perfect blend of bands ranging from Green Day to Big Drill Car.

Now, they’re back with a follow-up EP, Mulligan, and it’s another absolute winner. The liner notes alone reveal part of their charm—they thank a slew of bands that could be plucked from my own ’90s record collection. Mulligan features five tracks of pure early-’90s-inspired pop punk goodness, delivered with authenticity and energy by Walter Staszewski (bass/vocals), David Dalton (guitar/vocals), and Brennan Buzinkai (drums).

Though I think none of them were even born yet in the ’90s, I Before E somehow captures the essence of that era, evoking a time when pop punk felt raw, fun, and full of heart. Few bands today play this specific style of pop punk today and do it this well. So hats off to them for keeping this sound alive!


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Taze Latimer || 1111

Exploring the depths of life armed with a microphone and a guitar

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Not much more is known about Taze Latimer aka Taze Skipworth than that he exchanged Florida for Western Australia, that he has some background in hip hop, and that he also creates appealing music under the moniker of ASBC, but his latest solo output speaks for itself. Mini-album 1111 was released two months ago, but hasn’t gotten the media attention it deserves and continues to intrigue me—a good reason to share it here, right? The seven songs—24 minutes in total—blend personal street poetry with dark indie rock, soulful and melancholic. The distinctive vocals full of emotion and the mesmerizing groove provide an immersive listening experience that feels urgent, not least because of the stories exploring the depths of life. Fascinating in every way.


1111 is available via streaming services (self-released).

New single: Vacation/Whippets || Split

A soulful rocker and a dark post-punk gem

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Released quietly during the holiday buzz, here is a single worth circling back for: a split 7″ released by Nomad Eel Records featuring Vacation and Whippets.

Vacation, the prolific indie rockers from Cincinnati—known for their mix of garage, punk, and arena rock—contribute Armory of Bay. It’s a soulful, upbeat rocker that brings to mind Laika’s Orbit and Royal Headache joining forces. On the flip side, Whippets, a Wisconsin trio with members of Wristwatch, The Hussy, and Tenement, deliver C-Thru, a fiery and slightly dark alt-post-punk track. 

7″ available now in three color variants.


Add to Wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Krystian Quint & The Quitters || Something Like That

Krystian Quin (The Stools) goes from punk to indie rock on latest (solo) project

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Almost like they want to give you ample time to settle in or buckle up, Krystian Quint & The Quitters start Lost & Found—the opening track of their debut album Something Like That—with 50 seconds of echoing guitar and easy bass riffing sans drums. Then, the song kicks into what is easily one of the year’s first standout punk rock tracks.

But don’t let Krystian Quint (of The Stools, Expest, etc.) fool you into thinking Something Like That is simply another punk record. The press release cites C86, twee, and major-label indie bands like Velvet Crush, Blake Babies, and Pavement. For every punk track (Outer Drive is another favorite), there’s an indie counterpart that does much more than soothe your eardrums. Quin, who does all the heavy lifting here, clearly knows his way around a tune. While the samples below give you a taste, I highly recommend exploring the whole album to get fully acquainted.

Something Like That is out now on cassette via Quality Time Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: CuVa Bimö || CB Radio

Bold first transmission that slides from noise to gaze

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Somewhere to the left of the dial you might come across CuVa Bimö, a Californian noise rock band featuring Sebastian Moeller (guitar, vocals), Pete Vadelnieks (guitar, vocals), Jake Bilich (bass) and Ricky Cunliffe (drums). With their full-length debut album CB Radio they present a confident calling card by fusing post-punk, new wave, grunge and gaze in an idiosyncratic way. The contradictions and searching of the personal but outspoken lyrics are reflected in the dynamic interplay between the heavy guitars and tight rhythm section, held together by distinctive, potent vocals. Haunting but admiring.


CB Radio, recorded by Kevin O’Connell, is out now digitally (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Dusted || The 10 Best Cover Songs Of December 2024

By / / Alternative Rock, Blues & Roots, 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, eg 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, here are – in random order – ten of our favorite covers from last month – links to the pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.

Da Doo Ron Ron || Cover: The Peawees || Original: The Crystals
First the good news: Italian punk rock band The Peawees have finally released a studio version of their cover of this Phil Spector classic—always a highlight in their live shows—on 7″ vinyl, as the flip side to their self-penned song Drive (taken from this fall’s One Ride LP). The inevitable bad news: the single was a present for the 300 attendees of the Wild Honey Christmas Party, that reportedly never will be reprinted. A cold comfort: you can download it for free.

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Gimme 5! James Harding Shares 5 Records That May or May Not Have Influenced the Latest Best Bets LP

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With ‘Gimme 5!’ we take a peek into the collections of artists we admire. The premise is simple: artists WE like share five records THEY love.

Best Bets have an impeccable track record on our site. Their On An Unhistoric Night LP topped my list of 2022, and their The Hollow Husk of Feeling LP had a prime spot among my favorites this year. Both albums also landed on Dennis’ year-end lists, cementing Best Bets as one of those rare acts we universally agree on. So when the opportunity arose for the band’s guitarist/singer James Harding to do a Gimme 5! feature, we didn’t hesitate for a second.

In addition to sharing five records he loves—woven together with insightful connections—Harding has exciting news for the new year. His other band, Transistors, will release their new album Everything Will Never Happen Again on February 28th (preorder here). Transistors, which predates Best Bets, includes fellow member Olly Crawford-Ellis, with production by another Best Bet, Joe Sampson. Based on the teaser tracks, this release is already a lock for the wantlist.

But that’s for later—now, let’s hand it over to James and his picks!

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New album: The Stewart Dolly || II

A late-year gem from Edison, New Jersey

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Power Pop / 2 Comments

If you’ve noticed my absence here over the past week, fear not—I’ve been knee-deep in renovating our new home. Posts will be a bit sporadic through January, but with new releases slowing down, the timing works out. That said, I couldn’t pass up sharing a late-year gem: II, the sophomore album from Edison (New Jersey) three-piece The Stewart Dolly.

The Stewart Dolly deliver Weezer-inspired geek rock without falling into imitation. In fact, “scrappy Weezer” might be the most concise and precise way to describe II. Alternatively, the band would have fit right in with those late ’90s and early ’00s acts in the slipstream of modern pop punk, like The Stereo or Ultimate Fakebook—but with a rawer, less polished edge that sets them apart.

II is out now on LP and CD, and it’s sure to scratch that itch for new music.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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