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 

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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