On “Reaper,” a song off their recently released album Mirage on the Meadow, Pine Barons combine psychedelic instrumentals and vivid lyrical imagery to deliver a haunting track that truly rocks; perfect listening for this, the spookiest of seasons. The tone is firmly established within the first few seconds, as a series of long atmospheric tones from the synth drape themselves over the drum and guitar lines. Before the lyrics come in you have already been set on a meandering walk through the dark forest in your mind. 

Songwriter and vocalist Keith Abrams cleverly illustrates the concept of scattered thoughts in the pre-chorus where, utilizing different production effects, he plays two intertwining inner monologues: one perpetually questioning, and one confident in its defeatist statements but not offering any answers. From this back and forth bursts the hook, which delivers everything you could ask for in a great rock chorus. It’s melodic, it’s powerful and it stays with you long after the song has ended. For much of “Reaper” there is an expertly curated sense of movement, like some physical manifestation of inner anxieties is stalking you at a distance. The closing guitar solo and coda, which layer in melodic callbacks from earlier sections, bring about a feeling of envelopment, like that fog of fear has finally caught up and engulfed you. Photo by Chris Sikich.

Proust once said, “Love is a striking example of how little reality means to us.” When we care about someone, the desire to know the intricacies of their world—what book is on their nightstand, what chips they buy at their favorite grocery store—becomes the driving force behind our affections. The possibilities cloud our rational thoughts and judgements. All we really want to know is: what’s it like to be in this person’s life? That’s the question Sure Sure asks on their newest single, “What’s It Like?” Inspired by the novel on his own nightstand, vocalist and guitarist Charlie Glick ruminates on the possibilities in the lyrics: “What’s it like / To handle your vacuum?... What’s it like / To get too drunk with you?” The melody is fun and upbeat, and like the arrangement, has an infectious sense of optimism at its core. Opening with some singalong-friendly uh uhs, a light, sunshiny synth, and tight, thrashing drums, the track immediately invites you to participate with your entire body. It never once loses its momentum; the crescendoing arrangement only gets brighter as it goes on, culminating in a cool electric guitar riff followed by one big, vibey party of sounds in the last chorus. Simply put, “What’s It Like?” is a euphoric, sun-soaked jam. It’s the last single before the release of Sure Sure’s 8-track album of the same name, out June 27th, and is one of our most anticipated releases of the summer.

What started as an online project between friends based in New Zealand, New York, and Paris swelled into a musical force that boasts two full-length albums, three EPs, extended tours, and a myriad of singles and collaborations. After concluding EP III in 2018, alternative dream-pop band Yumi Zouma followed up with their self-released single, “Bruise.”  While “Bruise” is immediately recognizable as belonging to the band, band members Christie Simpson, Josh Burgess, Charlie Ryder, and Olivia Campion described the track as “way too club” to include on any of their earlier projects. Luckily, the eclectic, shimmering bop is more than capable of standing alone. Yumi Zouma’s signature sound comes through in the swirling synthetic beats and is elevated to a full-on dance floor smash with high-energy keyboard and club-esque bass and drums. The band is known for their glittery, dreamy soundscapes but while their songs typically guarantee shoulder-swaying and head-bobbing, “Bruise” will have you on your feet in a full-on hip-shaking dance fever.

Payton Odom's latest EP Sightlines is a sonic escape. “Hinterland,” the last track off the EP, is laced with instrumental chords from guitars and horns that create a gorgeously rich jazzy background to accentuate his vocals. Having lost his voice in a fluke some time ago when first starting up as a solo artist, the focus on the depth of feeling Odom's voice is able to bring out in the listener never gets old. With a slow pace and beautifully placed lyrics, the song's build matches that of any of his past pieces and sets the tone for his future ballads. "Hinterland" is simple, meaningful, and funky.

Britney Spears’ iconic pop hit “...Baby One More Time” turns 20 this year, and to celebrate, psychedelic indie-pop group The Marías has released a dreamy cover. An amalgamation of jazz, indie, and funk influences, “...baby one more time” is a softer rendition of the original and swings to a smooth, sultry beat. Lead singer María’s vocals, sung just above a whisper, are velvety and sweet, guiding you through the arrangement with sweeping attention and ease. Her intonation, particularly in the “Oh baby, baby” backing lines, is even reminiscent of Britney herself, turning the nostalgia level up a few extra notches for good measure. Still, the light, delicate synths behind the vocal work with the jazzy percussion give the track a timeless feel. The original is planted firmly in the 90s, but “...baby one more time” transcends decades and genres.

Indie singer-songwriter Arlo Day has arrived on the scene to break your heart. Arlo Day, a moniker for London-based Alice Barlow, has released her second track, “This Love” from her upcoming debut EP, Bad Timing. In her new song, Barlow invites us to follow her down the rabbit hole that is a toxic relationship, describing the addictive nature of a love you can’t quit. Gloomy, electric guitar strums and grounding, hypnotic drum beats play underneath yearning vocals—creating a mesmerizing sound that has you feeling like you’ve stumbled into a private and painstaking moment. “This Love” combines dark, enchanting melodies with a knack for storytelling to pull you into an inner turmoil before you can realize it’s happening. Barlow returns again and again to her mantra, “This love, I won’t do, I don’t want to be apart of it,” seemingly trying to convince herself just as much as her audience. Her voice climbs and wavers and fades on every “This love,” making the word entirely inescapable throughout the song. In the last line, Barlow makes a slight edit and sings, “wish I didn’t want to be apart of this,” suggesting a relapse that leaves us aching as the song ends quietly. Arlo Day’s Bad Timing EP is out this Friday, May 31st via Domino and is sure to be a bewitching debut if “This Love” is any indication.