Bodega Pick up the Check

Bodega – ‘Pick Up the Check’


Bodega have returned with new single ‘Pick Up the Check’, a song that guitarist/vocalist (and director of this song’s video) Ben Hozie says is ‘set at an imagined date at a faux fancy restaurant w/ art deco wallpaper and fish-tank ambience. I know too many friends who tolerate unfulfilling relationships (either romantic, platonic, artistic, or…

Jawdropped band photo

Jawdropped – ‘Monday’


Los Angeles band Jawdropped have shared new single ‘Monday’ and announced they’ve signed to Transgressive Records/Canvasback. Regarding the subject matter of the song, the band say: ”Monday’ is about treading the waters of anticipation, but deciding to face your feelings head on. The truth will set you free, even if it’s just the Sunday scaries.’…

Shark School – ‘Don’t Trust a Man’


Galway trio Shark School have shared ‘Don’t Trust a Man’ ahead of the release of their debut album ‘Selachimorpha’, via Strange Brew on 26 June, 2026. The band say ‘’Don’t Trust A Man’ is an abrasive and raw track lamenting the desperation for women to comfortably just be; to just exist free of the burden…

A cat in infra-red imagery. Basement's Wired album artwork

Basement – ‘Wired’ album review


Basement return with ‘Wired’, the Ipswich five-piece’s first new album in over eight years. Released via their original label, Run For Cover Records, the record is the result of all the band members collaborating during the songwriting process and working with producer John Congleton (Sharon Van Etten, Death Cab for Cutie, St. Vincent). The atmospheric…

Death Cab for Cutie – ‘Punching the Flowers’


Death Cab for Cutie have shared new single ‘Punching the Flowers’ ahead of the release of their eleventh studio album – and first on ANTI- (Wilco, MJ Lenderman, Tom Waits) – on 5 June, 2026. Inspired by a real-life experience of a toddler punching flowers while having a tantrum but applying it to a man…

Beck – ‘Ride Lonesome’


Beck has returned with ‘Ride Lonesome’, a gentle break-up ballad that evokes the spirit of his more restrained and refined albums ‘Morning Phase’ and ‘Sea Change’. He laments how ‘She is gone’ and reflects on turning memories into worst enemies over sparse acoustic and electric hooks before reassuring himself – or the subject – ‘You’ve…

Basement – ‘Head Alight’


Basement have shared ‘Head Alight’ ahead of the release of new album – and first in eight years – ‘Wired’ on 8 May, 2026 via their original label, Run for Cover Records. Vocalist Andrew Fisher says: ‘What started out as a love song quickly evolved into something a lot more ethereal.’ Proudly wearing its early…

Jesca Hoop – ‘Long Wave Home’ album review


Drawing on the political landscape and her personal experiences, Jesca Hoop’s seventh album ‘Long Wave Home’ finds the California-born. Manchester-based songwriter examining the value of relationships, community and the strength of solidarity. Album opener ‘Adam’ is a restrained affair with Jesca pleasing to stay together with the subject of the song (‘Only the wrong clothes,…

Ben Auld – ‘Loserdom’ album review


Ben Auld’s second album ‘Loserdom’ is named after a term said by Walter Becker in a Steely Dan documentary and finds the Norwich-based singer-songwriter celebrating the relief that comes when you accept your losses and start to move on in life. The appropriately titled ‘Opening’ starts the record with gentle guitar strums and then later…

Civil Villains – ‘Punching Down’


Civil Villains have shared ‘Punching Down’ ahead of the release of their second album ‘A Sleeper, Underneath’ via Thundersnuff Records on 8 May, 2026. Opening with woozy, mathy riffs the band offer ruminations on power, corruption and collective complicity and how it’s not too late for all of us with a conscience and compassion to…