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 

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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

Q#155 - April to May 2024

 

 Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/t5r0rsxtxi9lu76/Q#155.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 #155 – April to May 2024

 

 

Another late one! No particular excuse because I’ve been enjoying this mix for a few weeks at this point, but it’s the middle of June and I’ll have completed another orbit around the sun on the 13^th and I’m still somehow keeping most of the grey hairs away. Almost everything here is entirely new so I hope you find something to love. Oxford United also managed to get promoted to the championship for the first time this millennium so things are going ok!

 

01) Nada Surf – In Front of Me Now: It still feels a little alien, but Nada Surf have signed to a new record label and will release new album, Moon Mirror, in September via New West Records following a long run on Barsuk. This lead single has their classic sound and I’m looking forward to seeing them in October, it’s been three years since they played NYC which seems crazy.

 

02) Supercrush - Lost my Head: Seattle power-pop trio Supercrush have featured on a couple of qcomps previously and this track is featured on a new compilation called From Far It All Seems Small which is a collection of Seattle underground tracks.

 

03) Pile of Love - Happy to Hide: I think I heard this track on a random spotify mix, sometimes the algo has a direct hit! This LA quintet have put out a record and two Eps since 2021, with the most recent being Super Sometimes from December 2023 on which this track appears.

 

04) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Rare Night (Don't Say Goodbye): In typical Glenn Donaldson fashion, he released a digital-only record weeks after the last “proper” album, Unwishing Well, which was released in April (and naturally had a song on the previous mix). He’s currently on tour in the UK and Europe but has yet to play NYC but surely it can’t be too long before he plays a show here! This track is from the aforementioned This is Adult Art School that came out on bandcamp on the 1^st of May. B-sides don’t really exist anymore which is a shame because he’d be the king of them.

 

05) A Country Western - The Dreamer: Philly quartet A Country Western released their latest record, Life on the Lawn, in March, and it’s a great low key record with elements of americana, slowcore and indie rock. Primarily recorded live in their practice space with a few overdubs, it’ll be one of those records that probably gets forgotten about during the best of year roundups but totally deserves to be in the conversation.

 

06) Quivers – Apparition: Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Quivers have just signed to Merge Records to release new album Oyster Cuts on the 9^th of August. I own and like their two previous albums so am happy to see them getting the Merge treatment! This has one of those earworm choruses that will creep up on you.

 

07) Why Bonnie - Dotted Line: Newly signed to Fire Talk, which meant this track ended up in my bandcamp collection as I’m a digital subscriber, it felt like an instant win and I ended up going back and listening to previous record 90 In November from 2022 which I have since picked up on vinyl. Self-coined as Shoegazeicana which feels apt for this track, which I’m hoping is a sign that a full album is on the way.

 

08) Parks, Squares and Alleys – Shadows: I can’t remember how I came about this record (Zero Division Error) that was released in July 2023, or even that much about the artist at this point other than their bandcamp page lists them as from Tbilisi, Georgia. It feels weird to say this sounds like a throwback but this does hark back to when I first moved to New York when you had bands like Diiv making waves, I can totally see this band on stage at Glasslands (RIP).

 

09) Milly - Drip from the Fountain: If it hasn’t been hammered down your throat enough times already, shoegaze is back, and I’m fine with that! Keen listeners may remember the track Illuminate from my October 2022 mix (of course you do…), their follow up record, Your Own Becoming is coming out on the 28^th of June and this is about as classic a shoegaze sound as you can get.

 

10) Majesty Crush - No.1 Fan: The only re-issue/old track on this mix is, almost inevitably, was re-issued by Numero, with the career spanning Butterflies Don’t Go Away in March 2024. This was originally on their only album, Love 15 from 1993 and the quartet were active from 1990 to 1995. In 2017, frontman David Stroughter was killed by LA police officers while wielding an axe, he had been diagnosed as schizophrenic with bipolar disorder many years prior.

 

11) Thou - I Feel Nothing When You Cry: Baton Rouge metal greats Thou just released new album Umbilical via Sacred Bones Records, and while it’s their first full length album since 2018’s Magus, they’ve released numerous Eps and collaborations in that time.

 

12) Ride - Portland Rocks: Oxford legends Ride have been on a nice run since reforming in 2014 and just released their third record since getting back together, Interplay was released on the 29^th of March and while the band have said it was a difficult one to record and put together, it doesn’t really feel that way as a listener.

 

13) Vago Sagrado - K is Kool: It wouldn’t be a qcomp without a Chilean psych track (spoiler alert, you’ve got another one coming) and so I’ve dipped back into 2019 with this track fomr the band’s Vol. III album (this is the opening tune).

 

14) Special Cases – Believe: Here’s your two-fer Chilean psych selection this time around. Special Cases is fronted by former Follakzoid bassist/vocalist Juan Pablo Rodriguez and very much leans into the Spiritualized and britpop sound that crops up in the Chilean scene a lot.

 

15) Mdou Moctar – Imouhar: Funeral for Justice was just released on Matador Records on the 3^rd of May and sees Mahamadou Souleymane (aka Mdou Moctar) absolutely shredding on a few tracks, this one in particular.

 

16) The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick - April 25: I was a couple of years late on this band’s debut album Ways of Hearing, which came out in 2020 and featured a track on my Feb 2022 mix, but they just released new record The Iliad and the Odyssey on the 25^th of April no less (much like the title of this song!), via Count Your Lucky Stars records. I liked their debut a lot but this album feels like a step up in songwriting and confidence.

 

17) Sour Widows – Cherish: I loved this band’s 2021 EP Crossing Over and I’m slightly amazed I didn’t use a track from it… but they recently signed to Exploding in Sound Records who are always good value and their new album, Revival of a Friend will come out on the 28^th of June. 

 

18) Royal Headache - So Low (live): Australia’s Royal Headache burned bright for a short few years, seemingly threatening to break up at any given moment, it seems a small miracle I was able to see the band twice (2015/2016) and I’m grateful they announced a live record Live in America that will come out this month.

 

19) Julian Velard - Money, I'm in Love With You: Singer songwriter Julian Velard just released his seventh album, In the Middle of Something, which as the title might suggest, centres around mid-life crisis. Seeing him live felt like a semi-regular occurrence while he (a native New Yorker) lived here but it’s more of a rare treat these days now that he lives in LA, but I managed to see him in April and heartily recommend catching him perform if you ever can.

 

20) Fastball - Rather Be My More Than You: Like many people at the time, I had a softspot for The Way when it came out but truth be told I was a big fan of their follow-up record, The Harsh Light of Day from 2000, I’d never seen them live before so jumped at the chance when they announced a date at the Mercury Lounge this April. This song is from their upcoming record Sonic Ranch which comes out in June.

 

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#154 - February to March 2024

 

 Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/716x252itfr1acu/Q#154.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 #154 – February to March 2024

 

 

Ok we’re a little late on this one… but it’s the first regular mix of the year and almost every track is brand new.

 

01) The Follies - I Idled: Fronted by Evan Radigan of Vanity (whose 2016 album Don’t Be Shy is well worth checking out), The Follies have a little more jangle to them and Permanent Present Tense, the band’s debut, came out on the 23^rd of February via Feel It Records. I love all the little guitar licks on this tune, which opens the record and felt like the perfect opener here.

 

02) Bollard - Montreal Donuts: I have to thank my buddy Felix for this track that he sent me on a spotify mix. From Melbourne, Australia, this tune from their album Lo that came out in October, really evokes the band Kitchens of Distinction (truly one of the most under appreciated bands in history).

 

03) Snarls - Heavy Drinker: Columbus Ohio band Snarls are gearing up to release their second record, With Love, on the 3^rd of May (their 2020 debut Burst was one of my favourite records of that year). This tune features one of their signature big choruses and I’ll hopefully catch them on their first headline tour this summer.

 

04) Glass Beams – Mahal: Another Melbourne act, they have two Eps to date, this is the title track to their March 22 release of this year and it’s a hypnotic, groovy, psychedelic treat.

 

05) Bad Bad Hats – TPA: Minneapolis’ Bad Bad Hats will release their latest album (self-titled) on the 12^th of April on Don Giovanni Records. I saw the band open for The Beths in 2019 and enjoyed their deadpan humour in addition to their quirky tunes.

 

06) DEHD - Mood Ring: Chicago trio are releasing their fifth album, Poetry, on Fat Possum Records on the 10^th of May (it still feels a bit weird they aren’t on Fire Talk Records, alas) and the two singles from the record suggest they have another great record to add to the discography. There’s some about that guitar tone that’s so beautiful.

 

07) Cloud Nothings - Running Through Campus: Another Ohio band on the mix, Cloud Nothings will release their eighth record, Final Summer, on the 19^th of April via Pure Noise Records. I haven’t seen the band in six years so feel like I’m due to fix that! This song has their signature sound down to a tee.

 

08) Porcelain – Disgrace: The surprise discovery of the year so far for me is Porcelain’s self titled debut which came out in February on Portrayal of Guilt. The Unwound influences seem like they are worn fully on their sleeves but obviously for me that is a massive plus point for me and it’s my favourite record of the year to date. I sadly had to miss their NYC show recently so I’m hoping they come back soon!

 

09) Frail Body – Refrain: Screamo trio Frail Body’s second album, Artificial Bouquet just came out at the end of March, which is new enough that I haven’t actually listened to the whole album yet. This was the lead single from the album and if it’s half as good as their 2019 debut A Brief Momentum then it’ll be one of the best of the year.

 

10) METZ - Entwined (Street Light Buzz): Toronto trio METZ have released four incredible albums since their 2012 self-titled debut and are one of the best live bands I’ve ever experienced (seven times to date, soon to be eight). On their fifth album, Up on Gravity Hill, which comes out on the 12^th of April via Sub Pop, the singles so far show a degree of subtlety and layers of atmosphere that they’ve only hinted at on occasion.

 

11) The Smile - Read the Room: I have to confess, I haven’t spent as much time with The Smile’s second album, Wall of Eyes, as I dedicated to their debut, I think that’s largely because the album was released in January while our kitchen renovation was in full swing so I couldn’t play records (for better or worse, I feel a bit weird about hearing an album digitally before the physical release if I’ve paid for it).

 

12) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Your Worst Song is Your Greatest Hit: Glenn Donaldson has been pretty prolific in the last five years, with numerous records and Eps (I wish he’d compile the Eps into a physical release, however!), and his latest record, Unwishing Well, is out on the 12^th of April. I’ve ran out of ways to describe The Reds, Pinks & Purples, but I am starting to wonder if between this song, and having a tune called Don’t Come Home Too Soon, that he might be a Del Amitri fan…

 

13) Fruit Bats - On the Avalon Stairs (live): For the last couple of tours, Fruit Bats have been recording shows where possible and they’re about to release a 20 song live collection called Starry-eyed, in Stereo, on the 10^th of May. So far this is just a digital release and this is the only tune that is available on it, but I’m sure it’ll be good!

 

14) Joyer - Drive All Night: Brooklyn band Joyer’s third album, Night Songs, comes out on the 26^th of April, their previous records were fairly entrenched in slowcore (which is why I came on board!) and the new songs sound a little more expansive, so I’m really intrigued to hear the full album.

 

15) Asian Glow - Unwired Detour: The bedroom shoegaze scene from South Korea has given us some great music, but one of the most prominent artists, Asian Glow, has just released his fourth and final album as Asian Glow, Unwired Detour, which came out on the 4^th of February. It’s a typically ambitious record which jumps around all over the place. Hopefully he (real name Shin Gyeongwon) continues to make music in another name.

 

16) The Polvos - In to the Space: If there are Chilean psych rock bands out there, I will find them. The band are from Concepción and this is from their second record, Floating, which was released in December. This track opens the album and is a little faster than the rest of the record, which is a little more space-rock/jammy.

 

17) L.O.G. – Om: Another Chilean psych band! L.O.G. stands for Low Oniric Guidance, and this track opens their self-titled (and only, to my knowledge) album which was released in 2016.

 

18) Torrey - No Matter How: With another thanks to Felix here who sent me this track, I’d had this band on my bandcamp wishlist but had not gotten around to listening to them before he sent me this track. This Oakland quintet just released their self-titled album on the always reliable Slumberland Records.

 

19) Jess Cornelius - People Move On: I heard about this artist via Mikal Cronin, who plays on and produces her upcoming album, Care/Taking, which comes out in June. Cronin himself is well overdue a record at this point with his last full album being Seeker in 2019.

 

20) Bnny - Good Stuff: Fire Talk artist Bnny’s second record One Million Love Songs was released by Fire Talk on the 5^th of April. I liked debut album Everything (2021) a lot but on the first couple of listens, this album seems to be more confident and I haven’t noticed it get many reviews which is a shame.

 

21) PACKS – Honey: Another Fire Talk artist, Madeline Link’s latest album as PACKS is called Melt the Honey and is a pretty breezey garage rock record, it kinda feels like it should have come out in the spring rather than January, but what do I know?

 

22) Arushi Jane - Imagine an Orchestra: I was utterly besotted by Arushi Jain’s 2021 masterpiece Under the Lilac Sky, so immediately pre-ordered her new album Delight, and I just received the vinyl, which I haven’t had the chance to play yet! Suffice to say, this felt like it had to close the record out. She goes by the name Modular Princess, which really almost tells you all you need to know.

 

Really hope there’s plenty to like on here, please do let me know!

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q