If you want to skip the blah-biddy-blah, here is the Spotify playlist.

Au Pays du Cocaine, Geese

It’s great to see a band like this really blowing up. A Redditor described them as sounding like the instruments are fighting each other. Their unique sound is anchored by Cameron Winter’s drone-like vocals, burning with intensity despite not giving any fucks at all.

Button, Peaer

A weird and wonderful song. Reminds me of Lomelda’s writing style. Love it. Hats off to Pitchfork for this recommendation.

Ultraviolence, Lifeguard

Another Pitchfork recommendation, this was a new band to my ears. What a find. I absolutely love these guys. They remind me of a male Horsegirl, and it turns out the two bands are both from Chicago and know each other. Also check out “It Will Get Worse” and “Under Your Reach” from their debut album Ripped and Torn. “Ultraviolence” is a wonderfully raw, rapturous thrash and the first single released for a presumably forthcoming second album.

Kurayami, Mei Semones

Mei Semones beautifully blends indie vibes, jazz and Japanese math rock. Her guitar is recorded completely dry, offering no cover for inaccuracy as she rips through blazing fast runs. Despite the song’s complexity, it manages to be quite catchy.

Taka, Pino Palladino (bass), Blake Mills (guitar), feat. Chris Dave (perc)

This highly rhythmic jazz tune has such a killer main riff. Pino leads with a bass line that sets the melody, highlighted with flourishes of guitar processed to sound like a magic flute.

Unoriginal, Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay completely blew me away on their Mecurial World tour back in 2022. Since then, their sound has shifted slightly away from the electronic vibe of their previous two albums. The singles they’ve released this year have a considerably more organic feel. “Unoriginal” is a beautiful little indie pop song. The B‑side on this single, “Black-Eyed Susan Climb” is also well worth a listen.

Running Errands (Yesterday), U.S. Girls

This two track single released in October comes just 6 months after Scratch It, a full album released in June. The song features some deft sampling, beautifully layered vocals and an irresistible groove.

Ghosts of Tennessee, Beatrix

This beautiful and melancholy melody reminds me of something Sufjan Stevens could have released twenty years ago. The transition around 2:10 kills me.

Guardians, Midlake feat. Madison Cunningham

Midlake is a band I’ve enjoyed since their fantastic 2006 album, Trials of Van Occupanther. This is one of those bands with albums you can safely just put on and let it run. Madison Cunningham, the indie collab queen of late, lends her creamy vocals. Everything she touches turns to gold. What a blend and what a cool song.

T Shirt, David Byrne

David Byrne is killing it lately with some really solid solo releases and having recently done his debut Tiny Desk — a must watch if you’re Talking Heads fan. Here’s another classic pop tune tilted with his trademark quirkiness and humorous social commentary.

Dusty, Hannah Cohen

A breezy 70s feel gets me every time. And then flutes? Stop it. What a chill and pretty tune. I’d never heard of this artist, but it turns out we share the same birthday! This is from her fourth album, Earthstar Mountain.

Only Girl, Man/Woman/Chainsaw

A Spotify new music recommendation, this oddly named act has yet to release a full album. “Only Girl” is a really strong single with a strongly individual sound, so I look forward to see what else they are doing.

Stevie, Warpaint

I forget how this song came to me — it’s a track off Warpaint’s 2022 album Radiate Like This. An infectious and interesting melody, buttery vocals and super chill production. New to me and on heavy rotation lately.

That’s My DJ, Esther Rose

I don’t know this artist well, but this was a Spotify recommendation and I love it. Her most popular songs on Spotify are lowfi classic country. Not really my thing, but this tune is a definite keeper.

Admit It, yeemz

Super chill tune, beautifully performed and produced. I haven’t been able to find out much about this artist. Her first album was released in July of this year.

Night or Day, Chris Cohen

Reminiscent of early 2000s indie music with a slight prog twist. Great harmony, interesting melody. Love it.

Magic, Sorry

I’d never heard of this band before, but they’ve been putting out music since 2016 and are from London. This super cool tune is off their album Cosplay, released on November 7th.

JUNKIE GARDEN, PINKLIDS

PINKLIDS is yet another case of the opening band at a show absolutely crushing it and stealing the show. To be fair, I wasn’t really there to see the main act, more to see an old friend. But PINKLIDS, a still relatively local band, had mountains of energy on stage and played a ferocious string of prog-punk tunes that left me wanting to see them again soon. It makes my heart swell to see a fledgling local band just crushing it with interesting, beautiful music and energy to spare.

PEPPA POT, Major Lazer

I’ve been a longtime Major Lazer and Diplo fan. This is my favorite track from their album GYALGEBRA, released November 21. An outrageous song, to be sure. So much fun, though.