Top New Tracks
5) Pigeon Pit – Leash Aggression (2025)
What began as a solo project by lead vocalist Lomes Oleander, Pigeon Pit is now a six-piece country punk outfit specializing in sonic maximalism. The folk-punk group uses their DIY sensibilities to create intricate and layered instrumentation that expresses their love and grief, accompanied by their poetic lyricism. Pigeon Pit has performed in a broad swath of different environments, from basement DIY shows to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. Utilizing the pedal steel, fiddle, and banjo, the group has carefully cultivated a unique and fully realized style in their latest release, “Leash Aggression”.
This week’s chosen track, “people on the bus” is fast and honest, with a slight country twang and a mellow guitar texture.
4) Yukimi – Yume (2025)
Most well known as the vocalist for Little Dragon, Swedish songwriter and vocalist Yukimi Nagano released her “Yume” EP earlier this month. Her career began with her collaboration with Swedish jazz duo Koop, working with them on their tracks and their tour in the early-2000s. She formed Little Dragon in 1996, which focused on electronica and trip-hop, releasing seven albums altogether throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Many listeners may recognize her vocals from her work on Gorillaz’s Plastic Beach album, in which she sang on “Empire Ants” and “To Binge”. This latest EP comes after her first solo album, “For You” which was released in March of this year.
This week’s highlighted track, “Career Climbing” is funky and harmonic with an electronic synth bassline.
3) Planet Giza – The Sky Is Recording Me (2025)
Montreal-based hip-hop trio Planet Giza released their first album in 2019 under their COVID-19 lockdown. Though they’d been releasing a steady stream of singles, this marked their first full-length release. The group consists of rapper Tony Stone, along with Rami B and Doom X as producers. Their style fuses a multitude of different genres and rhythms, pulling influence from funk, R&B, and soul, along with jazz and electronic elements. Their hip-hop sampling style grew in the Montreal underground scene, breaking out with their connection to producer Kaytranada.
This week’s selected track, “Lonely” is soft-spoken and downtempo, creating a soothing atmosphere.
2) The Beths – Straight Line Was A Lie (2025)
Hailing from New Zealand, indie pop group The Beths have spent their past eleven years exploring the ins and outs of joyful alternative rock. Current members include lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Elizabeth Stokes, lead guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and Tristan Deck on percussion. On their journey for collective peace, the quartet utilizes serene harmonies and catchy guitar licks.
This week’s highlighted track, “Metal” is upbeat and joyful, with classic indie rock guitar riffs.
1) The Last Dinner Party – From The Pyre (2025)
The Last Dinner Party is an art rock band hailing from London, England that originally formed in 2018, though they only released their debut single “Nothing Matters” in 2023. Later that year, they performed at Glastonbury and supported Hozier on his tour. In 2024 they won the BRITs Rising Star Award. The group draws inspiration from Queen and St. Vincent and comparisons to Sparks and Fleetwood Mac.
This week’s chosen track, “Count the Ways” features a grungy guitar with eclectic Kate Bush-esque vocals.
Top Tracks of the Week
5) ABBA – Voulez-Vous (1979)
Swedish pop supergroup ABBA formed in 1972, later rising in popularity after their win at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with “Waterloo”. Their name being an acronym for each band member’s first name, ABBA (Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad) continued to stay in the public eye with their following releases. Their singles continued to hit the top of the European charts (“Mamma Mia”, “Fernando”) and albums like their self-titled and “Arrival” and were highly sought after, reaching the top of the charts as well. The widely successful jukebox musical titled after their hit “Mamma Mia” hit Broadway in 1999, which in 2008 was made into a feature film.
This week’s selected track, “Chiquitita” tells the story of a friend consoling and lifting up her friend when she is down, or alternatively describes us at the station before everyone donated during DJ-athon and lifted our spirits. Thank you to our best friends in the community and beyond!
4) Star 99 – Gaman (2025)
Aligning with alternative, indie, pop, and punk at all at once, Star 99 moves effortlessly along wild energy intervals. The group can shift back and forth between bright 2000s power pop and then pull back for their more meditative quiet moments. Star 99 released their first EP in 2019 then toured along the west coast, performing alongside other emerging alt-rock groups. Their newest album, “Gaman” draws comparisons to 2000s rock groups like Green Day and Weezer with 21st century sensibilities and experimentation.
This week’s highlighted track, “IWLYG” features heavy 2000s guitars and some pop punk vocal stylings and chord progressions.
3) Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk (2024)
Composed of singer/songwriter Mica Tennebaum and producer/songwriter Matthew Lewin, Magdalena Bay specializes in otherworldly aural sensations. Through a combination of synths and Mica’s airy vocals, the Miami-based duo has experimented with electro-pop, alt-pop, and indie pop. Originally in a group called Tabula Rasa, the two met in high school in 2011. Their debut studio album, “Mercurial World” was released to high acclaim in 2021, performing at both Coachella and Lollapalooza in 2023.
This week’s selected track, “Watching TV” is digital and groovy, effortlessly building to a crescendo at the song’s conclusion.
2) Destroyer – Dan’s Boogie (2025)
Founded by frontman and vocalist Dan Bejar, rock group Destroyer formed in Vancouver in 1995. Bejar’s debut album under the Destroyer name “We’ll Build Them a Golden Bridge” is a lo-fi collection of tracks, serving as a precursor to the band’s sound. His following 14 albums were released with steady pacing, each one produced about two years apart. The group’s most acclaimed album, 2011’s “Kaputt” was reminiscent of yacht rock stylings while retaining the independent rock sound. The album made it to multiple music outlet’s album of the year, including Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NME. Destroyer’s most recent album, “Dan’s Boogie” was released in April and is an expansive, jazz-influenced album with an immense piano presence.
This week’s highlighted track, “Bologna” features vocals from solo artist Fiver and sophisticated piano melodies.
1) Venna – Malik (2025)
Debuting with his first ever studio album, saxophonist Venna presents a collection of soulfully crafted R&B soundscapes. The London-based artist started experimenting with music at age 12 when he started playing the saxophone. His first big recognition was a Grammy nomination for Burna Boy’s album “African Giant” in 2020, to which Venna contributed. This was followed by the award of a Grammy for Burna Boy’s 2021 album “Twice as Tall”, which Venna also worked on. His music finds influence from artists such as Terrace Martin and Kendrick Lamar.
Our Gem of the Week is “Eternal Reflections” featuring award-winning Afrobeat and jazz drummer Yussef Dayes, with accompaniment by the acclaimed bassist Ben Williams.