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Q's Compilations
Vol #164 – October to
November 2025
Welcome
to the last mix of 2025! I’m starting to write these notes on Thanksgiving day
and there’s a lot to be thankful for (my wife, friends and family, great music
and shows). As usual, this mix is almost entirely new music I think only Don
Martin Three is not from 2025. Then of course, the next compilation will be the
best of the year. I hope everyone finds some joy during the holiday season.
01)
Gladie - Car Alarm: Hopefully this new song is a sign of an upcoming album, the
band’s previous record, Don’t Know What You’re In Until You’re Out was
released in late 2022, so they’re due! They’ve featured on a number of Q-Comps,
coming from the ashes of the great Cayetana. Another great tune that includes a
classic Augusta Koch line “Complaining about the traffic when I’m part of it”.
02)
Dust – Drawbacks: Hailing from Newcastle (Australia), the band’s latest album, Sky
is Falling, was just released on the 10th of October. The album
hits a number of post-punk plot points but there’s a varied texture to it,
anchored with the rarely spotted saxophone providing another layer (at least in
post-punk). They’ll be touring next year with fellow Aussies The Belair Lip
Bombs, who featured on Q#151.
03)
Vuelveteloca - Carretera De La Muerte: Chilean psych great Vuelveteloca just
released their latest album, Metales Pesados, five years since their latest
effort, Contra. The record only came out on the 21st of
November so I’m still digesting it. It’s a little less groove-based than their
other work and this might be the most aggressive tune, but on early listens it
sounds like another triumph.
04)
Camp Trash - Signal Them In: Two Hundred Thousand Dollars was released
on the 31st of October and it’s really just a fun sounding record. The
bandcamp page notes that the album is the product of years of obsession with
Fountains of Wayne and Guided By Voices, which certainly comes through.
05)
The Cords – Fabulist: The Cords are Eva Tedeschi and Grace Tedesch from
Glasgow, but it won’t shock you to read that they’re signed to Slumberland
Records in the US, this is the pure, unadulterated jangle pop that the label
excels in.
06)
Ratboys – Anywhere: Chicago’s Ratboys have been gracing the Q-comps since I
used Alien with a Sleep Mask On back in 2021 (Q#136) and they’ll be
releasing new album Singin to an Empty Chair in February, now signed to
New West Records, produced by Chris Walla, who also helmed their previous
record, The Window.
07)
Snocaps – Heathcliff: A nice surprise to indie fans was a surprise album from
the Crutchfield sisters (Katie and Allison) as new band Snocaps, which
also features MJ Lenderman. The record has a nice jangle to it and is more in
my wheelhouse than the last couple of Waxahatchee records, I have to confess.
I’m also seeing the band play a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom which also
features recent favourite Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band as openers.
08)
The Mountain Goats - Cold At Night: Through This Fire Across from Peter
Balkan is the Mountain Goats’ 23rd studio album, a good Mountain
Goats album isn’t surprising, you can get a little numb to a band’s quality
when they keep producing good work, but the more I listen to it the more I
think it’s one of their best, the concept works and the album ebbs and flows
like a good theme should. It almost seems a shame to pluck one song out of it,
but here we are.
09)
Robber, Robber – Talkback: I used this band on Q#158 and they’ve just been
signed to Fire Talk Records, which seems like a great fit to me. This track was
released in conjunction with the news and I’m looking forward to hearing what
the record will be like!
10)
Mandy, Indiana – Magazine: Speaking of Fire Talk Records, I was a big fan of
Mandy, Indiana’s debut album, I’ve Seen a Way from 2023, they’ve since
signed to Sacred Bones and will release URGH, in February. It will be
interesting to see if a new label brings a change in direction at all but on
the basis of this lead-single, things will stay weird.
11)
They Are Gutting a Body of Water – Trainers: I really thought I’d used this
band on a mix before as I enjoyed their album S, from 2022, but alas,
this is their Q-comp debut, taken from their new album, LOTTO, which was
released on the 17th of October. I need to dive into the back
catalogue a bit more too but there’s a lot to like if you’re into shoegaze with
some odd sprinkles on top.
12)
Bloodsports – Rosary: A little slowcore, a little shoegaze, Brooklyn quartet
Bloodsports just released their debut album, Anything Can Be A Hammer,
on the 17th of October via Good English Records. I wrestled between
a few songs but ultimately this is probably the most immediate track, but
you’ll be hearing more!
13)
Shallowater – Sadie: Sticking with some slowcore (the band tag themselves as
Dirtgaze on their bandcamp profile), Houston trio Shallowater released God’s
Gonna Give You A Million Dollars in September, I can’t recall where I heard
it but if you like this track then check out the whole album.
14)
Don Martin Three – Transistor: The only song on this mix not from 2025, Number
Group just released the band’s entire 42 minute discography, the reissues was
my first exposure to their music (which is not uncommon when it comes to
Numero!). This short-lived American emo-hardcore band from St. Augustine,
Florida knew when to jangle and when to turn up to 11.
15)
Deathcrash – Triumph: London slowcore act Deathcrash have released two great
records to date (2022’s Return and Less from 2023), they’ve just
released this song as a single which is hopefully a sign of a new record. The
guitars are a little brighter, almost a tad shoegazey, compared to previous
songs.
16)
Ryan Allen - Bloody Gums: This record, One Week Off, is just that, Ryan
Allen had a staycation week and decided to record an album! As with the other
record he put out this year, Livin’ On a Prayer On the Edge (released in
April), he plays all the songs on the album as well, quite impressive for a
week off!
17)
The Telephone Numbers - Goodbye Rock and Roll: It won’t shock you to hear that
this band is also on the great label Slumberland Records. The San Fracisco
four-piece just released their second album, Scarecrow II, on the 10th
of October, and their byline reads as “pure pop for sad people”, which is hard
to argue with!
18)
Slonk Donkerson - Reinvent the Wheel: I did not have the return of Slonk
Donkerson on my bingo card for 2025, but the band released their first album in
10 years on the 17th of November, called Upgrade to Premium,
and I was delighted to catch their record release show at a very sweaty Nightclub
101.
19)
GUV - Let Your Hands Go: Formerly known as Young Guv (featuring on six Q-comps
as such), according to the man himself (Ben Cook), “I’m not so young anymore,
three letter band names are cool, and I’m tired of being mistaken for a
rapper,”. His new album, Warmer than Gold, comes out on the 30th
of January 2026 on Run for Cover Records. The two songs released so far
definitely have a bit of a Madchester vibe, which is a departure from his
straight power-pop to date.
20)
Good Luck - Into the Void: I don’t know much about this trio from Bloomington,
Indian, but Big Dreams, Mister is their first album since 2011 and I heard
about them because Oceanator kept featuring them on her Instagram stories. I
love the little guitar flurries on this track.
21)
$500 - Logos vs Gnarly Wave: Another band I will struggle to remember where I
first heard them, it’s hard to google $500… but I bought this album, Twelve
Eyes, on bandcamp, which was released on the 12th of September. There’s
something about this song that keeps me coming back for more.
22)
Moly Tuttle - Everything Burns: I saw The Mountain Goats live (a duo set) at
Sony Hall recently and Molly Tuttle opened the show. I’d given her album, So
Long Little Miss Sunshine, a brief listen or two and enjoyed it without it
really sticking, but seeing her play a solo set where her guitar skills really
shine through was a lot of fun. She’s since been nominated for a couple of
grammies.
23)
Matt Kivel - Tidal Wave: Another artist who has appear on 6 or 7 Q-Comps over
the years, he’s always exceled at delicate singer-songwriter-type albums, I’ve
been a fan since 2013’s Double Exposure, and have pre-ordered upcoming
album Escape From L.A., which I assume is not a concept album based on
the John Carpenter movie…
As
always, Peace and Love, see you in 2026 - Q
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