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.

Baby Rose’s distinct and uniquely soulful vocals lend themselves to her equally soulful lyricism. “Borderline”, one of her latest singles to be released explores the push and pull of an undefined relationship in a state of flux. “Heavy stuck in the motions / but we’ll just keep it going / trying to find where we stand." When does it end? Where is the line between something and nothing? The emotions behind such uncertainty are emphasized throughout the song, ultimately ending in, “Maybe if I could just stop / dreaming of him, I’d be fine / I don’t know where to reside / I’m still / on the borderline, “ a feeling many know all too well. The rising Atlanta native’s layered vocals and old jazz-infused instrumentation give this track the exact pensive and somber feeling the lyrics themselves convey. Charismatic and unique, Baby Rose is absolutely one to watch.

“Calm Me Down” is the fun and eclectic new single from digital punk rockers Top Bunk. Formed in Silver Lake, LA the band is made up of a large handful of friends who had musical eccentricity in common. “Calm Me Down” is an excellent portrayal of what they’re capable of—clocking in at just 2:22, the tiny track has a big sound and isn’t afraid to break the rules of conventional songwriting. A lush arrangement creates vast soundscapes through buzzy, vibrant synths and electronic keys. A throbbing bass line introduces you to the song, bopping to a smooth, catchy beat, and carries the rhythm the whole way through—creating nice consistency in a track so packed with sounds. Frontman Petro A.P.’s voice is clear and fluid, switching between languages and cadences with seamless ease and transfixing from start to finish. Ultimately, “Calm Me Down” is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Now, you won’t be able to stop listening.

Indie surf rock band The Vaughns grab our attention and make a declaration of love in their latest single “Shout.” The New Jersey-based band have created a sparkling track full of infectious, shimmering guitar lines and catchy choruses that don’t fail to put a smile on listeners’ faces. According to lead vocalist, Anna Lies, “'Shout' is this last-ditch effort of declaring love, and attempting to keep someone’s attention before moving on. Influenced by the best of 90’s slacker rock married with indie pop melodies, the song builds to a spectacular chorus that shouts, begs, and pleads for love. As if that wasn't enough, every note in the track’s bright guitar line seems to reverberate with sheer uncensored happiness—building comfortably to one of the most joyful guitar solos you will ever hear.

"Ghostride" is the 2nd single from Crumb's anticipated debut album, Jinx, which will be self-released by the band on June 14th. This latest song features a mesmerizing combination of apathy and heartbreak, encapsulating the band’s singular blend of psych-rock and jazz. Listeners are quickly lulled into a daze by a dreamy guitar loop, followed by a repetitive and hypnotic drumbeat. This sensation is immediately validated by Lila Ramani’s voice droning, “the slow beats rock me back to sleep, keep me on automatic.” Ramani’s vocals hover over the top of a swirling mix of keys, bass, synth, and drums that faithfully echo her shifting mood. The lyrics and the melody mimic each other throughout the song; Ramani’s voice remains bored and impassive as the song takes on the guise of a soothing lullaby. It then quickly slides into a straining and eager tone, as the music swells to reflect the anxiety of watching a love slip between your fingers and being unable to stop it. The true heartbreak of the song comes in the final lyric of the chorus, when Ramani laments, “People come and people go but I stay.” When the chorus comes around for the first time, Ramani is unable to fully deliver the line—making it all the more tragic when she finally gets the words out and leaves them to hang as the song slips away as hazily as it began.

A door opens to a new future after the loss of something once beloved on "Loss & Relax," one of two recently released tracks from Portland songwriter Katherine Paul of Black Belt Eagle Scout. A compelling account of the strength of community and the resilience of the human soul, "Loss & Relax" finds Paul seeking comfort in memories of moving water and the cyclical nature of life—"oh, the loss of you / brings me to / a place that I call home." Beginning with a buzzing melodic guitar riff and airy vocals, the song moves through its varying cadence with confidence. Eventually ruminating in the intensity of memory and nostalgia, "Loss & Relax" builds to a conclusion that is both rock & roll and reverie.