Welcome to Sound Station, the place we’re highlighting the best new tracks that got here out this week. Head into the weekend with songs from Blondshell, Frost Children, midwxst, and extra.
Blondshell’s “Joiner” disguises bleakness with Britpop
Blondshell faucets into the magic of ’90s alt-rock by way of squalling guitars, tender vocals, and lyrics as good as Fiona Apple. With her new single “Joiner,” nonetheless, Sabrina Teitelbaum calls upon one other of her loves by the use of jangly Britpop. Alongside wry traces that reference HBO, Radiohead, and sketchy drug runs, Teitelbaum falters between selecting self-destruction or salvation. And simply look ahead to the bridge on the three-minute mark, which is alluring sufficient to have you ever run by way of the track straight from the highest. —Neville Hardman
Frost Children need to “cut the shit” in love on “FLATLINE”
Experience what’s mainly the whole lot of a membership set within the type of a track on “FLATLINE.” From New York scenesters and sibling hyperpop duo Frost Children, the track follows a pulsating home beat that is at first quixotic as Angel Prost sings, “Flatline, my love is blind,” earlier than extra playful sounds get added to the combo. It ultimately culminates into chaos, as they yell, “Cut the shit/Are you fucking with me?” They could also be advising towards being blind in love, however Frost Children are so enjoyable. If it was attainable, we may simply try flatlining on the center of the dance flooring with them in the event that they requested. —Sadie Bell
midwxst faucets Denzel Curry for a classic Hollywood flick with “Tally”
Indiana rapper midwxst is kicking off a 12 months that’s certain to set him aside along with his fiery new single, “Tally.” Rife with hedonism and bravado, midwxst raps a few woman operating round his head overtop Spanish guitar and horns. Denzel Curry’s look is very potent, delivering a nimble verse that packs in references as towering as Davey Jones’ Locker and Kobe Bryant. But its accompanying black-and-white mobster video, set in Bel Air, California circa 1944, is the actual knockout, flinging the duo again into Hollywood’s golden age in what looks like solely a trailer for better issues to come. —Neville Hardman
Victoria Anthony’s “Another Regret” is a breakup anthem that calls again ’00s hitmakers
Victoria Anthony is again with one other fiery pop-punk anthem. Pairing the precocious lyrics of Taylor Swift and the unwavering confidence of Hayley Williams, the burgeoning teen musician delivers a cathartic breakup anthem about “a ghost of a failed relationship” that channels the ethos of early aughts stalwarts. It’s a departure from her extra candy-coated bops like “Kinda Into You” or “Dirty Lipstick,” but proves she’s not too comfortable being boxed in. —Ilana Kaplan
Love Under The Sun’s “DNA” is emo-gaze at its finest
Love Under The Sun’s debut single for Outlast Records, “DNA,” brings back the emo-gaze sound that dominated the mid-2010s scene — but with a modern twist. The song from singer-songwriter John Michael Mukai’s latest project contains stacks of thick guitars, reverberated melodies, midtempo rhythms, and direct, impassioned vocals that balance moments of aggression with soft falsettos. While you can trace the song’s influences back to scene veterans like Balance and Composure, Teenage Wrist, and Failure, Love Under The Sun has found a unique way to fuse nostalgia with glossy production that breathes new life into an already classic sound. —Alessandro DeCaro
Allow Hello Mary’s distorted guitars on “Spiral” make you spin out of control
If you haven’t yet, it’s time to meet Hello Mary. The Brooklyn-based trio (featuring bass player Mikaela Oppenheimer, vocalist/guitarist Helena Straight, drummer/vocalist Stella Wave) make indie rock that hinges on ’90s nostalgia, from shoegaze to grunge, and they’ve been making waves in the New York scene in the past year — even though Straight and Oppenheimer just graduated from high school. This week they dropped their latest single, “Spiral,” off their self-titled debut, which is due out March 3 via Frenchkiss Records. It’s full of distortion and harmonies that could put you into a trance, just as much as it could make you want to spiral out of control. —Sadie Bell
LOVBREAKERS are keeping Britpop alive and well on “Spark”
In case you were worried about the state of Britpop in 2023, it is very much alive and well, especially on the U.K. quartet LOVEBREAKERS’ latest single, “Spark.” Channeling their apparent love of Oasis and Arctic Monkeys, “Spark” features witty and at times snarky vocal deliveries that would have given even seasoned rockstars like Liam Gallagher a run for their money. With wailing guitar solos and a touch of playful anarchy, “Spark” further proves that the Brits will always know their way around penning timeless rock music, no matter the decade. —Alessandro DeCaro
PACKS share folk-rock delight “4th of July”
One listen of PACKS and you’re sure to be endeared to singer-songwriter Madeline Link’s dazed, almost whine-like delivery and pronunciation. Take the Canadian band’s new song “4th of July” off the upcoming Crispy Crunchy Nothing, for instance: Few can draw out “yeah” or declare they have “no fucking clue what is going on on” so charmingly. The song falls somewhere between folk rock and slacker rock, and while Link may be pondering the significance of modern Americana and hedonism, it’s a delight — like, well, chilling out lakeside on the Fourth of July. —Sadie Bell
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