Q#162 – June to July 2025

 

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/a1jcajpvkgil34r/Q#162+.zip/file   

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #162 – June to July 2025 

I hope everyone is having a good summer, it has been a busy one so far! Gig-wise it has been surprisingly quiet, with only one show so far in June/July (Death From Above 1979 at Central Park), but in other news I had been studying for an IT Certification and passed an exam recently, whilst also finally finishing my two-and-a-half-years of Invisalign, I also made a quick trip back to the UK and then had a few days in Toronto at the end of the month. As usual almost all the tracks are brand new, if you like something please let me know!

01) The Beaches - Last Girls at the Party: Keen listeners with good memories may cast their minds back to June 2023 with Q#150 and the absolute banger that is Blame Brett, the Toronto quartet return with their third album, No Hard Feelings, at the end of August and I have tickets to see them in September at Webster Hall in September.

02) Ryan Allen - Lost in a Daze: This record, Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge, was released in April and aside from one track which features a Rhodes piano, he plays every instrument on the album that will delight most power pop fans.

03) Idle Ray – Backwards: Michigan trio Idel Ray released their second album, Even in the Spring was on the 6^th of June, this song has been a massive earworm for me since I first heard it, it also opens the album.

04) The Mayflies USA – Cabbagetown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina band The Mayflies USA released Kickless Kids in May via Yep Roc Records and it’s their first album since 2002. I can’t confess to knowing them on their original run but came across this record via Rosy Overdrive’s blog.

05) Pretty Rude - Things I Do: Pretty Rude are an NYC duo who just released their debut album Ripe in May via SideOneDummy Records. The guitars are fuzzy and the songs are just downright fun, no nonsense radio friendly rock.

06) White Reaper – Honestly: This is the lead single from the band’s upcoming fifth album Only Slightly Empty, which will come out on September 26. It’s their first since the departure of sibling rhythm section Nick and Sam Wilkerson, additionally they’re on a new label (Blue Grape Music). This has the White Reaper signature sound and I’m sure the whole album will be excellent.

07) Freezing Cold – Backlight: New York trio Freezing cold just signed to Don Giovanni Records to release their second album, Treasure Pool, which came out on the 1^st of August. The label never lets me down and  Their first record, Glimmer, was recorded by J Robbins and released in 2019, between records they changed bassists and the band also includes Angie Boylan who has been Sleater Kinney’s drummer for the last few years.

08) Curtis Harding - There She Goes: Curtis Harding takes his time between records, with his fourth album, Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt, due on the 5^th of September via Anti-Records, four years since his last album, which in turn was four years before his second record (a mere three years after the debut). The wait is always worth it, however. It’s still slightly amazing to me that this man isn’t playing to thousands of people every night.

09) Friendship - Free Association: The band’s second album on Merge Records, Caveman Wakes Up, just came out on the 16^th of May (listeners may remember Ugly Little Victory from the band’s Love the Stranger record on Q#144). This track is a sprawling dose of Americana and there’s something intoxicating about the rhythm, the album won’t cheer you up but it’s a great introspective listen with some beautiful textures.

10) Salem 66 - Across the Sea: Another Don Giovanni release, the label picked up the rights to 80s Boston indie darlings Salem 66, adding their discography to bandcamp but also compiling a “best of” called Salt on vinyl.

11) Moontype - Let Me Cry: I loved Moontype’s 2021 record Bodies of Water (featuring songs on Q#137 and Q#141), but they dropped off my radar until releasing new record I Let the Wind Push Down On Me on the 23^rd of May. I’m still digesting the album but this was the song that jumped out for the purpose of the mix.

12) The Sewing Club – Strange: I don’t recall where I heard this band, but it was likely a blog/review since the EP (Care) was released in November last year, so it’s not new. The band are from Nashville and describe themselves as “bedroom rock”, which is a genre I love but the quality of the production on this EP goes far beyond.

13) Straightjacket Fits - She Speeds: I was flipping through some second hand records recently and found a copy of Hail by this band, who I hadn’t really thought of for a decade or so at this point. One of the classic Flying Nun bands from New Zealand, there are a few different versions of their debut, I obviously had purchased the US version which features this song (the original NZ release did not).

14) Ty Segall – Possession: I think this is Ty Segall’s only album of 2025 so far (this is the title track), but it can be a little hard to keep up. Some reviewers have called this record pop, and it is in the sense that there’s a bit more of a focus on melody and arrangement, even radio-hits by his standards, it’s not an unwelcome addition to his discography.

15) Coral Grief - Paint By Number: After a couple of Eps, Air Between Us is this Seattle trio’s debut album that was released mid-July. It’s a treble-heavy dreampop record with plenty of swirling synths for texture. Listening to this in sequence, I really should have put this after Straightjacket Fits, but here we are.

16) Volcano - Pine Cone: Another thanks to Don Giovanni for given this record a new lease of life, Volcano were a short-lived side project featuring Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets and a couple of guys from Sublime. I could never find a copy of this when I got obsessed with the Pups in the early aughts and I hadn’t even thought about finding it for well over a decade. Considering it was cut together so quickly, the record has no right to be as good as it is and I’m so glad it has been reissued.

17) Wipes - Bleeding Gums: Don’t Tell My Parents is the band’s second album and was released on Hex Records in May, it’s sludgy, angry, and often each band member sounds like they’re playing as hard as physically possible. It kinda just sounds like how 2025 feels.

18) Jusolis – Jusolis: This was/is a Chilean rock band that broke up in 1994, but recently got back together to record a record of the songs they’d written back in the day. Recorded at BYM Studios and mastered by Seattle’s Jack Edino, whose credits include Nirvana, Soundgarden and L7, it does sound a lost grunge album.

19) Nina Nastasia – Happiness: Songs for a World of Trouble was released on my birthday and is the first record Nina has made without Steve Albini, who of course sadly died last year. The album of course features her trademark vocals and guitar style, along with her fragile lyrics, despite the tragic loss of Albini, this slots in seamlessly into her discography.

20) Laura Stevenson – Honey: Laura Stevenson’s latest album, Late Great, was released on the 27^th of June and I have to confess I haven’t listened to it yet. This song was the lead single and joins previous appearances on Q#113, Q#126, Q#129 and Q#139, so it’s been four years!

21) Fruit Bats - Stuck In My Head Again: Baby Man is the upcoming Fruit Bats album, due on the 12^th of September and is being promoted as a very low-key, gathered-around-the-campfire type acoustic record, not that Fruit Bats ever rock particularly hard! We have tickets to a full-band show in August and a solo-show in November.

22) Squirrel Flower - Full Time Job (Live): I used the studio version of this song on Q#152 but Squirrel Flower just put out a solo live record called Live at Top Note Theatre, recorded in February of this year to celebrate 10 years of her being an artist. It felt like a good closer and it’s a beautiful live album.

As always, Peace and Love

Q

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#161 - April to May 2025

 

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/o03j945nms4t2t4/Q#161.zip/file  

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #161 – April to May 2025

 

 

Well we’re in mid-June already so this is late but aside from a trio of songs in the middle, every track is from this year.  

 

01) The Jellybricks - Age of Stupid: I heard about this band, and their new record Dreaming In Stereo because Doug Gillard appears on it. Formed in the late 90s, the band are from Harrisburg, PA, this record hits all the trademark power-pop sounds.

 

02) The Dirty Nil - Gallop of the Hounds: Power-trio The Dirty Nil are set to release their next album, The Lash on the 25^th of July via Dine Alone Records. This track is the lead single and opens the record and sports a typical anthemic chorus.

 

03) King Husky - Wish I Had a Dog: Vidar Landa is better known as the guitarist in Norwegian metal band Kvelertak but he has gone solo as King Husky and produced a quite delightful and self-titled indie-pop record.

 

04) Indigo De Souza – Heartthrob: I’ve been a fan of Indigo De Souza since her second record, 2021’s Any Shape You Take, her fourth record, Precipice, is coming out on the 25^th of July (the same day as The Dirt Nil’s new album) via Loma Vista Recordings.

 

05) The Beths – Metal: This is the first new Beths song since 2022’s Expert in a Dying Field album, so hopefully a new album will be announced soon. We have tickets to see them in December, this track reminds of The Cure when they do pop, like it could be a b-side to Friday I’m in Love or something like that.

 

06) Megan from Work - Life Into a Movie: I used Girl Suit on Q#158 which is the title track of her debut album, this is a new track that came out in April and is another banger.

 

07) Beach Bunny – Chasm: Speaking of bangers, Beach Bunny just released her third record, Tunnel Vision, which came out on the 25^th of April, which was the same day we saw the band play in Brooklyn. It was a thrill to hear the new songs live for the first time, and the record shows off Lili Trifilio’s songwriting chops to a tee once again. There’s a Rush-like quality to this track, maybe it’s the arpeggio work in the chorus, but either way it’s a near perfect record and they should be one of the biggest bands on the planet. 

 

08) The Minus 5 - Words Birds: Scott McCaughey’s latest record as the Minus 5, Oar On, Penelope!, came out on the 30^th of May on Yep Rock Records and as usual features Peter Buck of REM. No-nonsense great songwriting, McCaughey is one of those workhorses whose discography and influence is hard to quantify, (even suffering a stroke in 2017 seems to have slowed him down.

 

09) Buffalo Tom – Summer: Boston greats Buffalo Tom just celebrated the 30^th anniversary of their Sleepy Eyed album with a handful of shows, I had the pleasure of seeing them in New York. I’m sure I would have used Tangerine on one of the early Q-comps so went for this track.

 

10) Peter Bjorn & John - Objections of My Affection: It was hard to escape Young Folks when it came out in 2006, filling the airwaves everywhere, but that didn’t make Writer’s Block a bad album at all and the band are playing it in full to celebrate the (almost) 20^th anniversary. I was a fan of the album at the time and with a healthy distance it still stands up and having never seen them live before, I was really glad I got the chance. Interestingly they played the album backwards, which does make sense since it’s quite front-loaded.

 

11) Unrest - Make Out Club: The final track in our trio of nostalgia, and another 30^th anniversary. Perfect Teeth was Unrest’s final album, recorded at Pachyderm Studio a few days after Nirvana completed In Utero. I was unfamiliar with the band before the re-issue which is a shame but the next best time to hear a band is now!

 

12) Cory Hanson - Bird on a Swing: Wand frontman Cory Hanson is releasing his fourth solo record, I Love People via Drag City Records on the 25^th of July. His previous solo record, Western Cum was one of my favourites of 2023 but did feel like it could also have been a Wand album. Based on this lead track, the solo record could be more of a return to acoustic singer-songwriter tunes.

 

13) Samia – Sacred: Samia’s third record, Bloodless, came out on the 25^th of April and there’s something about it that I keep coming back to. I’ve been a fan since the debut which was perfect indie-pop, and I enjoyed Honey but it at times felt a little over-produced, whereas this album has a low-key and more organic feel.

 

14) Hannah Frances - Keeper of the Shepherd: Newly signed to Fire Talk Records, this is the title-track of a record she released last year, but just had a digital deluxe re-issue and new vinyl pressing which is how I heard it since I’m a digital subscriber to Fire Talk. The record is largely folk but there’s an ominous overtone that runs throughout, almost like Fleet Foxes at times without the beach-boys-esque vocals that brighten their songs up.

 

15) Born Ruffians - Let You Down: Toronto’s Born Ruffians just released Beauty’s Pride on the 6^th of June, their ninth full length album to date since their 2008 debut and first in four years. The album has a breezy, laid back vibe which makes sense with the summer release date. We have tickets to see them in October. 

 

16) Wombo - Danger in Fives: Another Fire Talk artist, Wombo’s new record, Danger In Fives comes out on the 8^th of August and is their first since 2022’s Fairy Rust. Apparently I haven’t used any Wombo songs on previous mixes which is very surprising although I did see them in 2019 opening for White Reaper.

 

17) Pile - Born at Night: It was a bit of a shock to hear that Pile’s new record, Sunshine and Balance Beams was not being released on Exploding In Sound Records, but on Sooper Records.

The change in label hasn’t brought a chance in sound, however, as this song features Pile’s some of their hallmark textures and epic builds.

 

18) Humeric - Seeking Darkness Pt 4: Listeners to this series will recognise the name Parrannoul, the South Korean bedroom-shoegaze artist. Humeric is a side-project which is more of a post-rock instrumental outlet, but it’s by no means a set of throwaway materiel, in fact it’s one of the best post-rock records I’ve heard in a long time.

 

19) Cut Cult - Lame Horse: I’ve been a fan of Holy Fuck since 2007 and while the band haven’t released any music since 2020’s Deleter, the band members have kept relatively busy with other projects. Cut Cult consists of HF members Brian Borcherdt and Matt McQuaid, along with original HF drummer Loel Campbell.

 

20) Tunde Adebimpe - Somebody New: I opened Q#158 with Magnetic, the lead single from Tunde’s debut solo album Thee Black Boltz, which was released on the 18^th of April on Sub Pop Records. Now that the record is out I wanted to use another track and this felt like a good closer.  

 

Anyway, a little rushed as usual and a couple of weeks late this time, but thanks for listening (or reading, or both?)!

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#160 - February to March 2025

 

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/yyliysdq4w2psfz/Q#160.zip/file  

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #160 – February to March 2025

 The first “real” mix of the year! Although as usual that tends to mean a number of new songs, plus various artists that I could/should have used on the best-of-the-year roundup. We just had a great trip around Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon, a side of the country I hadn’t experienced before and would highly recommend (particularly Bryce). I then put this mix together while suffering a bout of covid which wasn’t particularly pleasant as you can imagine, but thankfully I’m back to normal by now and I hope there’s plenty to enjoy here!

01) Annie DiRusso - Back in Town: Annie DiRusso’s debut album, Super Pedestrian was just released via Summer Soup Songs on the 7^th of March. I heard about her because Squirrel Flower announced that she was opening a show of hers at Webster Hall in May so decided to check her out, I’m liking the record the more I listen to it and this song is probably my earworm of the month.

02) Ethan Beck and the Charlie Browns - Fear and Loathing in Gramercy: This record (Duck Hollow) was released back in May though I only heard about it in the last month or so. The whole thing has a lot of classic power-pop influences and is an unabashedly fun record.

03) Night Shop - Let Me Be the Lamb: It’s been three years since the last Night Shop record (Forever Night) and this is the lead single from new album The Beloved Returns which will drop on the 4^th of April and promises to be “louder and faster than any Night Shop record before”.

04) Momma - I Want You Fever: Momma’s new album, Welcome to My Blue Sky is due for release on the 4^th of April on Polyvinyl Records, I first featured them on Q#137 (April 2021) and it has been rewarding seeing the band’s growing popularity since then. To tie the Q-comps together a little bit, drummer Preston Fulks is the son of country great Robbie Fulks.

05) L.A. Witch – 777: An even longer-term Q-comp band, I’ve been a fan of L.A. Witch for over a decade at this point (I first used them on Q#98 from October 2014), this song is from their upcoming record Doggod, another album coming out on the 4^th of April (I did not intend to have three songs with the same release date in a row…).

06) J. Robbins - Exquisite Corpse: One of the most surprisingly brilliant records from 2024 was Basilisk, the second solo record of Jawbox frontman J. Robbins, which to be fair shouldn’t be that surprising because his 2019 solo record Un-Becoming was also fantastic.

07) Attract Mode – Sure: Washington D.C.’s Attract Mode is essentially a solo project from artist Chris McCrea and has a classic post-punk sound to it, I think I heard about this from https://rosyoverdrive.com/. This record, The Art of Psychic Self-Defense was released in December 2024.

08) Karate – Defendants: After a successful re-issue campaign from Numero and a comeback tour, Boston greats Karate released their first record in 20 years with Make It Fit, there’s a surprising amount of energy given their slowcore and jazz past, although there are still plenty of those elements on the record. This song opens the record and comes in pretty hot, but it’s a better record than they have any right to put out.

09) Nervous Verbs - Vicious Riffs: A new release via Don Giovanni Records, Pony Coughing is the debut record from Nervous Verbs, a solo project from Mike Montgomery whose projects include Ampline and R. Ring (who you’ll no doubt remember from Q#148). The album has a nice loose quality to it with mostly delicate folk-tinged melodies and hushed vocals.

10) LAKE - Wonderful Sunlight: Another Don Giovanni release, Lake’s latest (their 10^th) record, Bucolic Gone, came out on the 7^th of March has a breezy quality to it that lands somewhere in the realms of Yo La Tengo in places.

11) Beth Gibbons - Floating on a Moment: Portishead singer Beth Gibbons released what I guess is technically her debut solo album last year with Lives Outgrown (2002’s Out of Season with Rustin Man counts if you ask me). It’s a beautiful record, which is hardly surprising, and this song was the lead single from it. I’m excited to be seeing her show at the Beacon Theatre in April.

12) Faetooth – Echolalia: LA trio Faetooth’s debut album Remnants of the Vessel came out in 2022 but I only heard it recently (they’re playing a show here in April I’d like to go to). The record is large a doom/stoner metal with some exceptional sludgy riffs, with this song probably being the most straightforward track.

13) Elder – Compendium: Elder are celebrating the 10^th anniversary of their stone-cold classic album, Lore, by playing it in full on tour that thankfully visits Brooklyn next month (this song opens the album). I’ve not managed to see the band live before so I’m incredibly jazzed about seeing this show in particular. Their last album was 2022’s Innate Passage and the band will be focusing on new material after finishing up this tour.

14) Tsunami - In a Name: Not to be confused with Chilean greats Tsunamis (who I had the pleasure of getting to see their first ever NYC show in March), but cult-favourites in their own right, this band just got a large re-issue courtesy of (you guessed it) Numero Group. Loud Is As contains the band’s four albums and presumably everything else they recorded over the course of 62 tracks.

15) Rodeo Boys - All American Made: Another Don Giovanni record… Junior is Rodeo Boys’ second record and will come out on the 25^th of April, you might recall Feel the Same from Q#152 that appeared on the band’s 2023 debut Home Movies. I don’t know if the band would love or hate this comparison but the song gives me If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow kinda vibes.

16) Buffalo Tom – Helmet: Boston greats Buffalo Tom released their 10^th album last year with Jump Rope that came out in June, and their first since 2018’s Quiet and Peace. It’s a relatively low key affair, possibly too low key for a band that are relatively masters of the midtempo alt-rock tune. Buffalo Tom are one of those bands who should be celebrated way more.

17) Blondshell - What's Fair: If You Asked for a Picture is coming out on the 2^nd of May and will be Blondshell’s second album following up the self-titled debut from 2023. I’m all for the return of radio-friendly alt rock.

18) Samia - Bovine Excision: Samia’s new record, Bloodless, is due on the 25^th of April via Grand Jury Music. I loved her debut, The Baby, and enjoyed 2023’s follow-up Honey but after listening to it repeatedly on release, it hasn’t seemed to stick. I like this lead single a lot though and am hoping for a bit of a comeback.

19) Squid - Blood on the Boulders: Squid’s latest record (their third), Cowards, just came out on the 7^th of February via Warp Records (I used lead single Crispy Skin on Q#158), this tune encapsulates everything the Squid are about I think.

20) Flooding - Transept Exit: I don’t recall how I heard about this Kansas City slowcore trio, maybe I was just trawling bandcamp for slowcore acts as I often do… this is taken from the band’s second album, 2023’s Silhouette Machine which is a real triumph and isn’t afraid to turn the amps up to 11 frequently to the point where it’s more than just a slowcore album but is filled with post-hardcore bludgeoning moments too, it just made sense to close the mix out with this one.

Anyway, a little rushed as usual but thanks for listening (or reading, or both?)!

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#159 - December 2024 to January 2025

 

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/mg5sicuj3isc817/Q#159.zip/file 

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #159 – December 2024 to January 2025

 Happy new year. This mix will be the usual “best of the last 12 months”, or at least a hopefully enjoyable attempt. It was a very good year for music although I feel like I mostly stuck in my lane as this mix will no doubt reflect. Gig-wise it was a slower one, 27 shows in total but many excellent ones (Del Amitri, Snarls, METZ, Fruit Bats, Squirrel Flower, Nada Surf, DEHD and TV on the Radio being highlights). I hope 2025 treats everyone as well as possible.

01) DEHD - Dog Days: DEHD’s fifth album, Poetry was released in May (lead single Mood Ring appeared on Q#154) and they have yet to put a foot wrong. The Chicago trio didn’t reinvent their own wheel on the latest record but they’ve certainly found their sweet spot.

02) Spirit Night - Another War: Keen ears will remember Darker Now from Q#157 and this is another excellent track from Time Won’t Tell. Still waiting on a vinyl copy which should hopefully come in January. One of the finer jangly records this year (and there were a lot). You should also check out 2023’s Bury the Dead if you enjoy this.

03) Oceanator - First Time: I used Get Out on Q#156 from Oceanator’s Everything is Love and Death record that came out in August and is probably the finest Oceanator record to date, almost any song on the record could have made the mix.

04) METZ - Glass Eye: Sadly 2024 saw us bid farewell to METZ, one of the finest bands around since their 2012 debut, and certainly one of the consistently best live acts I’ve ever seen. I was fortunate enough to see them one last time this year, and they went out with a bang releasing Up on Gravity Hill (Q#154 featured Entwined).

05) A Country Western - Great is the Grip of the Hawk: This track opens the band’s Life on the Lawn album (I also used The Dreamer on Q#155) and the MBV-esque passages really sing on this track in particular.

06) Good Looks - Can You See Me Tonight: One of my favourite records of the year is Lived Here for a While (standout track It It’s Gone appeared on Q#156). Good Looks know how to own the middle of the road and the guitar solos rip.

07) Why Bonnie - Fake Out: Dotted Line (Q#155) is one of my biggest earworms of the year and her Wish on the Bone album (via the always fabulous Fire Talk Records) is a triumph, which is a nice contrast from the country/Americana tinged debut 90 In November. 

08) Nada Surf - Moon Mirror: Now on New West Records, there’s been a Nada Surf shaped hole for a few years (previous record was in 2020 and they hadn’t played New York since 2021) but fortunately Moon Mirror fixed the album problem and they played a great show in October. It would be too easy for me to say it’s my favourite record of 2024, but it’s a serious contender (and I was delighted to see them make the cover of the latest Big Takeover Magazine).

 

09) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Park Statues: I lost count how many releases Glenn Donaldson released this year, Unwishing Well was the full album that came out, but this track is from The World Doesn’t Need Another Band, I probably used songs on more mixes than not.

10) Snarls - With Love: This is the fourth track I’ve used from the band’s second album, With Love (Q#152 Big Fish, Q#154 Heavy Drinker and Q#156 Moon Tides), so that alone should probably speak to how good the record is. Their live show was also one of the best I saw this year and it’s always nice to see a rising band at the top of their game.

11) American Motors - A Half Finished Wall of Glass Blocks: I adore the production on Content, the band’s debut, recorded by J Robbins of Jawbox who himself released a fantastic solo record this year that really should be on this mix. Sometimes the downer records sound the most beautiful and there’s something strangely uplifting about how bleak the album is. Q#158 also featured Colonial Lanes.

12) Porcelain – Obi: If you put a gun to my head, I’d probably say that Porcelain’s self-titled debut was my favourite album of the year (Disgrace was on Q#154). Yes the Unwound influences are super in your face but Unwound are one of my favourite bands, so just plug it into my veins.

13) Thou - Emotional Terrorist: Baton Rouge’s finest returned with Umbilical in May via Sacred Bones, you might remember the pummelling I Feel Nothing When You Cry from Q#155. Sludge metal doesn’t come much better.

14) Frail Body – Monolith: I’m probably asking a lot of many of you by using Porcelain’s post-hardcore, then Thou’s sludge metal and Frail Body’s screamo back-to-back, but the band’s second record, Artificial Bouquet deserves a seat at the table (Refrain appeared on Q#154).

15) Sour Widows – Initiation: Taking things down a notch here with California trio Sour Widows and a track from Revival of a Friend, which is one of the most beautiful albums the year had to offer (I also used Cherish on Q#155), the record hits a lot of slowcore notes that is important to my wellbeing.

16) Quivers – Screensaver: Australian act Quivers signed to Merge records this year to release their third album, Oyster Cuts (Q#155 featured Apparition). There were a few contenders from this album but there was something about the 80s radio ballad vibe of this tune that kept me coming back to it.

17) Wild Pink – Disintegrate: Winner of most improved act for 2024 is Wild Pink, who I’ve enjoyed in the past without any of it sticking, but everything seems to click on Dulling the Horns, maybe it’s the switch to Fire Talk Records!

18) Bnny - Something Blue: Another Fire Talk artist, Bnny’s One Million Love Songs is one of those records that catches you by surprise in how good it is every time you listen to it. Her second record, it’s a much more confident set of songs and seems to have been criminally ignored on all the end of year lists I saw. You can also hear Good Stuff on Q#154.

19) Julian Velard - What if I'm Wrong: Velard’s In the Middle of Something record is basically a concept album of midlife crisis (and certainly makes me feel good I don’t have kids, even though I’m sure he loves his life!). You can also check out Money, I’m in Love With You on Q#155.

20) Macseal - Golden Harbor: Long Island’s Macseal released their second album, Permanent Repeat in July and if you’re an Oso Oso fan then the only thing holding you back might be that they sound a bit too much like Oso Oso!

21) Mdou Moctar - Sousoume Tacheq: Hailing from Agadez, Niger, Mdou Moctar have a guitar hero vibe wrapped up with Tuareg inspiration. Funeral for Justice was released by Matador Records in May (Imouhar was on Q#155).

22) Joyer - Rings a Bell: The band’s third album, Night Songs was released in April and sees them deliver a highly confident record which manages to retain some of their signature slowcore moments, but really expands their range.

23) Horse Jumper of Love – Wink: From one slowcore act to another one, probably the best of the newer wave of the genre for that matter. Horse Jumper of Love released their fifth album, Disaster Trick, in August and you can also hear Today’s Iconoclast on Q#157. I typically like to end a mix on a slow note so why break a habit!

Thanks for listening (or reading, or both?).

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#158 - October to November 2024

 

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/qyu9itrxsjwr12g/Q#158.zip/file

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #158 – October to November 2024

 

 

Happy almost end of the year! 2024… it’s been ok. I’ve gotten way into discogs this year, we just passed the 10^th anniversary of Death By Audio closing (Nov 22 2014, see Q#98 for my DBA mix - https://qcomps.blogspot.com/2014/11/q98-october-november-2014.html). Shows included Nada Surf, Vampire Weekend, DEHD, Julian Velard and TV On the Radio. Everything on the mix has been released in the last few months. I write these notes on Thanksgiving Day before flying home and I’m grateful for anyone who is listening to these.

 

01) Tunde Adebimpe – Magnetic: In addition to TV On the Radio playing their first shows in 5 years (I was fortunate to get tickets to their show on the 26^th), and the band re-issuing debut album, Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes on vinyl for its 20^th anniversary, Tunde Adebimpe announced he’ll be releasing a debut solo album on Sub Pop Records. This song will presumably be on it!

 

02) Humdrum - There and Back Again: Humdrum’s debut album, Every Heaven, was released on the 18^th of October via Slumberland Records and is a lovely Pale Saints-influenced dose of dream-pop over the course of its 10 tracks.

 

03) The Laughing Chimes - High Beams: Another Slumberland Records artist, this is the lead single from Whispers in the Speech Machine, which will come out on the 25^th of January. Featuring siblings Evan and Quinn Seurkamp (only guitar/vocals and drums respectively), this Athens (Ohio, although the sound feels influenced from Athens, Georgia!) quartet display a goth undertone to the jangle delivery.

 

04) Good Looks - Chase Your Demons Out: You might remember If It’s Gone from Q#156, this track is one of two that the band just released that didn’t make the record (Lived Here for a While) and I’m glad they’re seeing the light of day. If you ask me, there was a home for them on the album!

 

05) Momma - Ohio all the Time: It’s been 2.5 years since the band’s last album (Household Name), so this tune is hopefully a sign of a new record. They’ve had some fairly high-profile tours as a support act in the last couple of years so it seems like they’ve got good record label support at present.

 

06) Megan from Work - Girl Suit: I don’t know that much about this act from Manchester, New Hampshire but their debut album, Girl Suit (this is obviously the title track) was released on the 4^th of October and has a few power pop bangers on it.

 

07) Squid - Crispy Skin: One of the most interesting bands of the last few years, Squid just announced their third album, Cowards, will be released on the 7^th of February via Warp Records. I missed a recent show in NYC so am hoping they announce a return when the album comes out.

 

08) Bdrmmm - John on the Ceiling: Speaking of British bands announcing their third albums, Hull’s Bdrmmm have essentially been keeping a very similar timeline to Squid! New album Microtonic will be released on the 28^th of February. This track sees the band drifting further away from their shoegaze origins but still retains their essence and seems a natural progression as a band, which has been introducing more electronic influence anyway. Excited to hear what they have come up with.  

 

09) FACS - Wish Defense: Chicago’s FACS just announced new record Wish Defense (another 7^th of Feb release) via Trouble in Mind Records. This marks the return of original member Jonathan Van Herik (albeit he originally played guitar with Brian Case on bass, those are now reversed). Fans got a preview of this song which appeared on a live record the band released in April.

 

10) American Motors - Colonial Lanes: This band’s debut album, Content, was released on the 4^th of October and if you like bleak post-punk then you should probably stop listening to this mix and check it out immediately. Recorded by J Robbins of Jawbox, the album cover depicts an abandoned home with debris everywhere and lonely looking armchair and the synergy between album artwork and music is a triumph.

 

11) Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Detroit: The world’s best stoner rock band at present, Newcastle’s Pigsx7, just put out this single on the 11^th of November, hopefully the sign of a new record.  

 

12) Fake Eyes - Never Speak: Keen listeners will no doubt remember me using this heavy-shoegaze band from Charlotte, NC, a couple of times before (way back on Q#132 and Q#135 respectively). They’ve just released their debut LP, Saccharine Scream, via Sunday Drive Records, on the 22^nd of November.

 

13) Peaer - Just Because: Brooklyn’s Peaer return with their first recorded music since 2019 with this absolute gem of an understated math-rock track. I last used a track on Q#120 from July 2018 when I saw them live and loved their set, hopefully there’s much more of this to come

 

14) Bedtime Khal - Dumb Stuff: I heard this track from Rosy Overdrive’s blog and instantly fell for this track that appears on Eraser, which was released on the 15^th of November. The tune is breezy yet anthemic in parts and it all comes together in a very low-key way.

 

15) Shower Curtain - Wish U Well: Released on the 18^th of October via Angel Tapes, Words from a Wishing Well is from Brooklyn’s Shower Curtain who self-identify as bedroomgaze which has a nice ring to it. This is definitely the track that jumps out immediately and the record otherwise has that feeling like it will be a grower and reveal itself differently with each listen.

 

16) Blue Zero - Broken By a Glance: Oakland artist Chris Natividad is in a few bands from the area including Public Interest who I like a lot and have used a couple of tracks already, and Marbled Eye who I now need to check out. Natividad plays all the instruments on this debut record (Colder Shade Blue) with additional vocals from Lauren Melton.

 

17) Current Joys - Sister Christian: I used California Rain on Q#156, and now that the new Current Joys record has been released (East My Love), it’s a welcome return to form so I thought I’d throw this track onto the mix.

 

18) Anya Marina - Sunshine or Shadow: New album, Asteroid, was released on the 25^th of October via Good Rope Records, I think this might be her first album since 2017’s Paper Plane (though there have been a number of Eps and singles). Always recommended to see live, I have to confess I haven’t listened to the album in full yet but this track caught my ear and felt like it would go well on the mix.

 

19) Bollard - Jacob the Liar: I loved Montreal Donuts which I used on Q#154 and the Melbourne act put out EP I Was Wide Open at the end of July, this track has a nice hypnotic quality to it.

 

20) Robber Robber - Sea or War: I found this band because they were opening for Thus Love (albeit a concert I did not end up going to) so I checked out their album Wild Guess, which is a cool mix of post-punk and a little krautrock in places. The record was released on the 26^th of July.

 

21) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Loves Steep: Is it even a Q-comp without The Reds, Pinks and Purples these days? It’s hard not to when he keeps releasing tracks so frequently! This is from a 3-song EP called Resltess When You Sleep which features two covers and original, of which this is the original track. It is, unfortunately, missing from Spotify!

 

I frantically put these notes together a couple of hours before catching a flight back home to the UK. Del Amitri announced some dates in December and at this point, every show feels like a gift! The next mix will be the usual best-of-the-year and I feel like it has been a strong year, at least for me. I hope everyone has a great time over the holidays and 2025 brings you all happiness.

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#157 – August to September 2024

 

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/gir8a3597t079ct/Q%2523157_.zip/file

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #157 – August to September 2024

 Greetings! We’re obviously a couple of weeks late on this one, I’m writing this on the 14^th of October, but I’m sure the thousands of listeners will forgive me. August/September were nice, saw a few good shows (Dada, The Beths, Pulp, Loudon Wainwright III, The Hives), had a nice few days away in Rhode Island, saw the Mets beat the Red Sox. There are two songs from 2023 but otherwise I think everything is new.

01) Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – Ahhhh!: I was browsing show listings on OhMyRockness a couple of months ago and noticed this Australian four piece playing Mercury Lounge so I gave their debut album, I Love You (released October 2023) and liked it a lot. Unfortunately it turned out I already had tickets for another show so couldn’t go anyway, but I thought this made for a good opener.

02) Beach Bunny – Clueless: I used Vertigo on the last mix and Beach Bunny have since released this tune as another single and it’s another banger. Sounds like a new album will come out in 2025.

03) Spirit Night - Darker Now: New York’s Spirit Night is the workings of Dylan Balliett, who had a spell in The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, but give me this power pop delight any day of the week, with a hint of bedroom/lo-fi joy to the whole thing, no doubt some Flying Nun inspiration to boot. This is taken from new record Time Won’t Tell was released on the 4^th of October.

04) The Umbrellas – Gone: San Francisco jangle-pop quartet The Umbrellas released Fairweather Friend back in January but I only really just got around to listening to it and bought it on the most recent bandcamp Friday (via Slumberland Records).

05) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - The World Doesn't Need Another Band: What’s a Q-comp these days without a song by the Reds, Pinks & Purples? This is the title track of a collection that Glenn Donaldson notes “some brand new songs and a few remixes of previous singles that felt like they fit with this set.”. Just another great set of songs and I hope he never slows down!

06) Thee Sacred Souls - Live for You: I went solo to see Thee Sacred Souls at a free outdoor show in Prospect Park this summer and it was an incredibly pleasant gig. I played their 2022 self-titled record a good amount when it came out and they just released the follow-up Got a Story to Tell, which obviously this track comes from.

07) Naima Bock – Kaley: If you’re in the mood for some 70s inspired UK folk then Naima Bock’s new record, Below a Massive Dark Land should be up your alley. Even the album cover has a bit of a I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight vibe to it. The record came out on the 27^th of September via Sub Pop.

08) Emily Frembgen - Are You Listening?: Emily Frembgen’s second album, No Hard Feelings was released on the 13^th of September via Don Giovanni Records, and it’s a lovely dose of Americana. This track kicks off the record and is probably the most upbeat, not that the album is a bummer!

09) Horse Jumper of Love - Today's Iconoclast: Speaking of bands that excel in downbeat tunes, Horse Jumper of Love released their fifth album, Disaster Trick in August on Run for Cover Records and it’s another perfect addition to their glowing slowcore discography.

10) Wild Pink - The Fences of Stonehenge: I’ve flittered in and out with Wild Pink over the years, I enjoy a song here and there, but it doesn’t seem to stick. However, the group recently signed to Fire Talk who can do little wrong as a label, and this album opener immediately jumped out at me. Something about the production really sings here.

11) Lightheaded - Bright Happy Girls: I think this song popped up on a random Spotify playlist and my ears were immediately drawn to the guitars which have that perfect 80s REM sound, or possibly even lifted from the Meat Puppets Up On The Sun record. 

12) Ex-Pilots – Motel: I can’t recall where I heard this track I have to confess. I think it was a bandcamp purchase that then suggested I would like this Pittsburgh sextet. This song appears on their album Motel Cable which was released on the 23^rd of August. The record notes it was recorded at home in Pittsburgh and NYC between 2019-2024. The vocals, while relatively buried, remind me of White Reaper. 

13) Thus Love - On the Floor: I was a big fan of Thus Love’s Memorial record from 2022 and new record, All Pleasure will be released on the 1^st of November (once again via Captured Tracks), this is one of the singles and also opens the record.

14) Louse - Thieves: Sticking with the goth vibe, Louse are from Cincinnati, Ohio whose debut album, Passions Like Tar came out on the 20^th of September on Feel it Records. The album leans heavily on the likes of early Comsat Angels

15) Molchat Doma - Ty Zhe Ne Znaesh Kto Ya: This trio are from Minks, Belarus, and their name translates as Houses Are Silent. We’re keeping the goth run going with this track, albeit in a dance-y synth-pop way. This record, Belaya Polosa was released on the 6^th of September via Sacred Bones.

16) Parannoul - Lights Off Repentance: South Korea bedroom-shoegaze wizard Parannoul surprise-released his latest album, Sky Hundred on the 3^rd of August. He recently announced that he’ll no longer perform live (having only performed a handful of shows in South Korea, one of which is captured on the live album After the Night), but so long as he keeps putting out great music like this, that’s enough of a gift.

17) Pom Pom Squad – Spinning: Mia Berrin’s Pom Pom Squad return with second album Mirror Starts Moving Without Me on the 25^th of October, following 2021’s Death of a Cheerleader which is a really great record (2021 also provided both a cover of Nada Surf’s Popular in addition to opening for the band on tour). The new songs released so far sound a bit more produced and I’m curious to hear what the full record sounds like.

18) The Hives - Bogus Operandi: I never really listened to The Hives, but I ended up with a couple of free tickets to see one of their recent shows at Kings Theatre and they put on a hell of a show. Looking at their discography, they released an album in 2023, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons, which this track opens and is a pretty solid rock and roll album.

19) Leaving Time – Wise: Keen listeners may remember Jacksonville Florida’s Leaving Time from Q#152, at the time they’d released a couple of Eps but they’re soon to release their debut full length, Angel in the Sand will come out on the 1^st of November via Sunday Drive Records.

20) Mondaze – Linger: Sticking with Shoegaze, but this time from Faenza, Italy. This band appeared on a couple of mixes in 2021 and will be releasing a new record on November 22 called Linger, of which this is obviously the title track. 

21) Yoo Doo Right - Spirit's Heavy But Not Overthrown: Montreal band Yoo Doo Right will release t their third album on the 8^th of November and the two songs they’ve released so far sound like it’s going to be another triumph of kraut/space/post-rock.

I’m sure the next one will be late but it’ll also be the last “normal” mix of the year before we round up the best of 2024, where did it go?!

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#156 - June to July 2024

 

 Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/w5rlrljbvpr171a/Q#156.zip/file

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #156 – June to July 2024

 

 

Greetings! It has been a busy couple of months so as usual, this mix is a little “late”, whatever that means anymore. Travelled well in July, visiting Milan, Venice, Zermatt, Zurich and a stint back home in the UK. As usual most of this mix features brand new songs so hopefully there is something of interest.

 

01) Ben Seretan - New Air: This is the opening track of Ben Seretan’s latest record, Allora, which just came out on the 26^th of July. Recorded over three days in Montebelluna, Italy, the story goes that the band booked a European tour around a festival in Switzerland, but ended up not touring and recording this instead. This track is basically a majestic guitar wig-out a-la Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

 

02) Good Looks - If It's Gone: Lived Here for a While is the debut record from this Austin quartet that was released on the 7^th of June (they also released an EP, Bummer Year in 2022). I think this track came on recently while Emily was randomly playing Spotify and sometimes the algorithm gives you a solid hit. It can be hard to nail middle-of-the-road rock, but there’s something about this tune and really draws me in.

 

03) Beach Bunny – Vertigo: A new Beach Bunny single! This track was released on the 17^th of June and is hopefully a sign of a new record, but I’ll take what I can get.

 

04) Bad Moves – Hallelujah: Washington DC’s Bad Moves will release their third record, Wearing Out the Refrain in September via Don Giovanni Records. Based on the three songs released so far, it’ll be another fun fill record with anthemic choruses.

 

05) Oceanator - Get Out: Another artist about to release their third record, NYC’s Oceanator is releasing Everything is Love and Death on Polyvinyl records on the 30^th of August. This lead single rips and I’m sure the rest of the record will too.

 

06) Noun – Wanted: Speaking of songs that rip, Marissa Paternoster has resurrected her Noun project following the breakup of Screaming Females and just released this song along with another called Consumed. I also subscribe to Marrisa’s patreon which has featured some amazing songs and great guests.

 

07) Antenna - Don't Cry: Antenna is a new band fronted by Tim "Shogun" Wall, best known for his work in Royal Headache, who are missed but this song could well have been them and sounds perfect. Let’s hope they stick around for more than this self-titled 5-track EP.

 

08) Chime School - Give Your Heart Away: I loved Chime School’s self-titled debut from 2021 and their follow-up, The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel, will be released on the 23^rd of August via Slumberland Records. If you need some jangle in your life, Chime School pass with flying colours.

 

09) Eyelids - Bound to Let You Down: Speaking of jangle, to celebrate the band’s 10^th anniversary, Eyelids released No Jigsaw on vinyl (their 20^th vinyl release as well), which features unreleased tracks, 7” singles and other rarities, onto a 2LP set.

 

10) Macseal - Permanent Repeat: You could be forgiven for thinking this was an Oso Oso tune, but that’s a compliment if you ask me. The Long Island band’s second album, Permanent Repeat was released on the 12^th of July.

 

11) Jessica Boudreaux - Be Somebody Else: I don’t know much about Portland, Oregon’s Jessica Boudreaux, she fronted a band called Summer Cannibals who broke up in 2023, but I don’t know them either. I heard this song, which is on her debut solo album called The Faster I Run which came out on the 19^th of July, due to a bandcamp recommendation.

 

12) Chalk Talk - Loveseat: This four-piece was a recommendation on Oh My Rockness’ website (who are usually pretty reliable!) and when I noticed they were signed to Graveface Records and Curiosities I was further intrigued. Sometimes I Call You is their debut album and was released in December 2023 (quite ancient for this mix!).

 

13) Snarls - Moon Tides: Columbus, Ohio band Snarls released their second album, With Love, back in May although the vinyl didn’t ship until July so it feels like a brand new record now that I have a physical copy. I had the pleasure of catching the band live in June and they were utterly fantastic, maybe the best set I’ve seen all year. Anyway, the record is also one of the best of 2024 as well.

 

14) Wand – Smile: Vertigo is Wand’s first album since 2019’s Laughing Matter although frontman Cory Hanson has released two solo records in that time, so while it hasn’t really felt like they’d been away, they do seem missed now that this new record is here!

 

15) Fox Gang and Parannoul - Lullaby for a Memory: I’ve used a bunch of Parannoul tracks on Q-comps (expect another one soon as he just surprise released a new album), but I had never heard of cloud rap group Fax Gang, who are from the Philippines. The record, Scattersun, is naturally a little disjointed and this feels like the most Parannoul-esque track which is perhaps why it was chosen as the lead single, but I also need a little more time with the album.

 

16) Current Joys - California Rain: I didn’t really get into Current Joys’ previous record, Love + Pop from last year, but this single from upcoming record, East My Love seems a return to form, although having said that, the record was written before Love + Pop, so we’ll see in the longterm!

 

17) Allegra Krieger - Never Arriving: Another new artist for me, Allegra’s second album, Art of the Unseen Infinity Machine will be released on the 13^th of September via Double Double Whammy and this tune is the lead single from it. There’s a breezy quality to it that feels appropriate in the oppressive summer heat we’ve been having here.

 

18) Christina's Trip - My Friend: This album, Forever After ended up in my bandcamp wishlist but I honestly couldn’t tell you how I heard about it but aside from each song starting with the same cowbell four-count, it’s a blast.

19) Laughing – Bruised: Montreal quartet Laughing released Because It’s True on the 28^th of June and it’s a perfect power-pop for fans of Teenage Fanclub, Hurry, etc.

 

20) Taxidermy – Today: A lot of this mix has been very nice, so I simply didn’t know where to fit in this math-y, angular attack. Taxidermy are a five-piece from Copenhagen who released this individual track in May, but appears on their Coin EP that was released in June, which is an all-killer EP, I’d love to catch them live.

 

21) The Ganjas – Resistance: This is the title track to Chilean psych greats The Ganjas’ fifth record, released in 2011. The reason for its inclusion here is that I picked up a vinyl copy on discogs last month, this track kicks off the album but it felt like a decent closer here.

 

Brief notes but lots of great new music, I hope you enjoyed!

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q