Indie Pop

New Album: Verge Collection || A Real Miserable Cunt

Slacker pop from Perth drenched in dark humor and existential dread

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

I’m at the point where I recognize a band name, know I’ve heard them before, but need to press play to know for sure. A quick look at the album covers in their discography, I discovered I know Perth’s Verge Collection for their Flaneur (2018) album, especially for the opening track on said record: Feelin’ Old — a slacker anthem for anyone over 30. I lost touch with the band after that, but I’m thoroughly enjoying their latest release (their third LP), A Real Miserable Cunt, and let’s be honest, that title rolls off the tongue rather nicely with an Australian accent!

The title also fits perfectly with Verge Collection’s new record. While their guitars are clean and polished, their songs carry plenty of grit. The lyrics are full of dark, self-deprecating humor and existential dread — in the ’90s this one would have come with a parental advisory sticker. Take Cocaïne, for example, one of the slower tracks on the album. Personally, I prefer their more upbeat slacker pop songs like album highlight Live Like a King, which nails that “is this it?” existential crisis with gut punching lines like, “I want to rewrite my whole experience, and relearn how to pretend.”

Another favorite track is All The Little Devils, the album closer. It’s got a rockin’ vibe with a Bob Dylan Rolling Thunder Revue influence, and it’s a perfect way to end the record.

A Real Miserable Cunt is out now on LP.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Joe Sampsom || It Must Be Hard Seeing Me Like This

Hyperfocus MODE ON with this instrumental adventure by Joe Sampsom (Melted Ice Cream, Best Bets, Salad Boys, T54)

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

Press play on Joe Sampsom’s new solo album, It Must Be Hard Seeing Me Like This, and you’re instantly transported into a different world. You may recognize Sampsom as the founder of Melted Ice Cream, or from bands like Best Bets (new album coming soon!), Salad Boys, and T54, but this album takes a refreshing turn. It feels like Sampsom rediscovered an old toy and breathed new life into it — in this case, a Zoom RT-123 Rhythmtrak, which he found packed with “ridiculous” preset rhythm tracks. Sampsom started experimenting, plugging in a homemade fiberglass electric guitar and pairing it with a vintage 1974 MXR Phase 100 pedal to create something truly unique.

Recorded sporadically over six years, the album is fully instrumental and plays out like the perfect video game soundtrack, with each of the 16 brief tracks feeling like a new level. For me, it’s the kind of album that induces hyperfocus, pulling me into a zone where time flies and I’m able to shut out the world while working. Hypnotic and ever-evolving, this is a mesmerizing journey of a record.

Out now on Tape at Sampsom’s own Melted Ice Cream label.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Love, Burns || Blue

Veteran musician Phil Sutton strikes again

By / / Indie Pop, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

New York-based singer-songwriter Phil Sutton has some pretty good music to his name with Pale Lights (we wrote about their Waverly Place LP earlier this year), but he has also played in Comet Gain, Velocette, Kicker, Cinema Red and Blue, and a few other bands. With his solo project Love, Burns he now releases mini-album Blue—seven delicious tracks of melancholic indie pop—with memorable jangly guitar melodies, stirring sun-kissed vocals and flowing, realistic lyrics. Contrary to what you might expect based on the title, the sound is just as colorful as the cover art, and really easy to embrace.


Blue, recorded and mixed by Gary Olson, is out tomorrow on CD through Calico Cat Records, and on vinyl LP through Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten and Jigsaw Records. Also featuring Kyle Forester, Gary Olson and Hampus Öhman-Frölund, with Beth Arzy, Ben Phillipson, Suzanne Nienaber, Alex Curtin and Kenny Wachtel on select tracks.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Coeur-Joie || R​é​miniscences

A late Summer gem with indie charm and French flair

By / / Indie Pop / Leave a Comment

Here’s a late summer gem to brighten your playlist. Residing in Paris, Coeur-Joie expertly blend UK and US indie pop influences like Cate Le Bon, Tim Presley, Deerhunter, and Stereolab with the French chanson, crafting a sound they call “post-twee pop.” The result is as twee as it is delightful.

Their debut LP, R​éminiscences,  follows their 2022 Allumettes Au Bout Des Îles EP (Hidden Bay Records). It is out now and it’s an absolute treat from start to finish. The bass, drums, and synth interplay will make it hard to sit still, while the contrast between sparse and rich guitar work keeps things engaging.

R​éminiscences takes the essence of French chanson and transforms it into something modern, yet comfortingly familiar. With plenty of potential radio-ready hits – check some of them below, the LP is a no regrets purchase available at Howlin’ Banana Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Howlin’ Banana

New Album: Persimmon || Tomorrow Morning

A laid-back jangle debut from New-Zealand by the way of Melbourne

By / / Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

The four members of Persimmon, originally New Zealanders who once called Melbourne home, have crafted an indie pop debut that seamlessly blends the best of both places. On Tomorrow Morning, the band’s sound captures a sun-soaked, laid-back vibe that will resonate with fans of jangly guitar pop.

Drawing clear inspiration from Aussie indie stalwarts like Dick Diver and Chook Race, Tomorrow Morning delivers bright, crisp guitar work and smooth, easygoing melodies, relying on charmingly jangly guitars and occasional solos, as heard in standouts like Anglesea and Cleaning Graves, while other tracks lean more towards indie rock, like the energetic Spirituality and the title track.

Persimmon’s debut is a charming dose of feel-good indie pop, available now in a limited cassette run.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Tony Jay || Knife Is But a Dream

Intrigue in Lo-Fi

By / / Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Uncategorized / Leave a Comment

Tony Jay (aka Mike Ramos) is a tough artist to pin down, and his new album Knife Is But a Dream (which Ramos himself wrote, recorded & mixed, and was mastered by Andy Pastalaniec of Chime School) is anything but easy listening. Some might call it strange, others might find it monotonous, and some may simply shrug. But for me, it’s mesmerizing.

In many ways, this album functions like a novel or film that leaves much open to interpretation — where each listener might come away with a different take on the narrative, appeal, and message. The record deals with grief and sadness, an awareness of the mortality of a trusted friend (a 14-year sick cat in this case) does that. Tony Jay doesn’t offer clear answers, but he does paint an intriguing picture.

On a more practical level, Knife Is But a Dream makes for excellent background music. Ramos’ delicate guitar work, combined with the subtle hiss and sigh of the lo-fi production, allows you to tune in and out as you please.  For example, when Ramos suddenly covers Todd Rundgren’s A Dream Goes On Forever. Whether you need a soundtrack for hyperfocus or a gentle space for your mind to wander, this album is surprisingly effective.

This lo-fi bedroom pop effort is unconventional, but absolutely worth exploring. Out now via Slumberland Records, Paisley Shirt Records, and Galaxy Train.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New EP: The Fizzybees || And How And Why

Twee pop duo surprises with sweet and shimmering summer songs

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American indie pop duo The Fizzybees – singer Emily Bernier and songwriter Jeff Yaus – have just released their new EP And How And Why, featuring five sweet and shimmering summer songs. The lyrics come across like unsent love letters (“I just want the pleasure of your company // Because I treasure our camaraderie” – from The Option) or personal diary entries (“I’m grateful for my neck // Without it, I expect that I’d // Be leaving my head behind” – from Flaky Crust), matching the clear vocals and uplifting music. Superb.


And How And Why, self-produced and self-released, is out now digitally.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Kid Chameleon || How Long The Devil’s Been Gone

Another Gem from one of guitar pop's best kept secrets

By / / Indie Pop, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

Kid Chameleon is a bit of a contradiction. Despite being one of the most prolific acts in the guitar pop world, it remains one of its best-kept secrets. With How Long The Devil’s Been Gone marking Kid Chameleon’s second full-length release of 2024 (check out our post on that one here), a quick glance at the back catalogue reveals just how much output there’s been. Liam James Marsh, the mastermind behind Kid Chameleon, isn’t just leaving breadcrumbs to lead you to his music — he’s lighting up the sky with flares and fireworks.

This latest album is another showcase of Marsh’s brilliance. It’s heartfelt guitar pop that, from my reading of the lyrics, revolves around love gone wrong. Take this sample lyric from Better Yet, Never Sent, one of the album’s standouts: “We go quiet. You ask me what I’m thinking. I try to condense 5 years down to a single sentence. But some things are best left unsaid, and I don’t need the regrets.” But even without focusing on the words, Kid Chameleon’s music stirs a wide range of emotions — despair, melancholy, longing, euphoria, and everything in between.

So, why does his music seem to fly under the radar? Is the warm, semi-acoustic sound too lo-fi? Is the songwriting too subtle? I’m not sure. But as long as Kid Chameleon keeps releasing music of this quality, I’ll keep drawing attention to it, big arrows and all. This is the good stuff. If you’re a fan of guitar pop and power pop acts like The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness, Dropkick, or Hanemoon (or Teenage Fanclub), Kid Chameleon should be part of your musical diet.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New Album: Slippers || So You Like Slippers?

Lame-O Records has unearthed yet another guitar pop gem

By / / Garage Rock, Indie Pop / Leave a Comment

One spin of the debut album from Slippers and you’ll know the title is purely rhetorical. So You Like Slippers? Are you kidding? I LOVE them! Kudos to Lame-O Records for unearthing yet another hook-filled guitar pop gem.

That one spin is over in a flash — ten songs in little over 15 minutes, hitting the sweet spot between indie pop, indie punk, and ’60s garage pop. And who’s complaining? It’s a Bermuda triangle you’ll want to get lost in, especially when the melodies are this rich, and the delivery is as scrappy and charming as Slippers pull off. Strummy, jangly guitars and a punchy rhythm section form the perfect backdrop for the irresistibly poppy and seductive vocals.

In the end, So You Like Slippers? isn’t a question or an accusation. It’s a knowing nod to being in on the secret — the underground appeal of a band that should be on a path to stardom. LP is available now via Lame-O Records.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Lame-O

New album: The Rifles || Love Your Neighbour

Positive Britpop vibes spreading smiles

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Coincidence does exist, as it turns out. While rearranging my CD collection, I also came across The Rifles‘ strong debut full-length No Love Lost (2006). Nice to play it again, and when I looked up where the English indie rock outfit had gone, I learned that they released a new LP called Love Your Neighbour last month, their first studio recordings since Big Life (2016). The underlying theme is that we’re all in a big mess together, so why not be nice and help each other out where possible (the album title comes from the infectious Mr. Sunflower single).

Upon first listening, I immediately remembered why I fell for the Essex band back then—the eleven new songs happen to be just as classy and charming as the old hits. The poppy melodies with summery harmonies and an uplifting feel will undoubtedly also bring smiles all over the place at live shows.



Love Your Neighbour is out now on CD and vinyl LP through Cooking Vinyl / Right Hook Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Discogs || The Rifles

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