Staff Pix 4/11: New Releases

Finals season’s roaring in on two wheels, but thankfully the music overlords up above have gifted us with plenty of wonderful music to keep those finger’s a-typin’!

“Catch these fists” by Wet LEg

I once had a friend ask me why I play the “same song all the time.” Unknowingly, she was actually referring to a sizable collection of tunes…all from Wet Leg’s stellar debut. Yeah, a lot of their stuff sounds very similar to each other, but that’s the charm. I don’t queue Wet Leg for ambient noise or esoteric sensibility, I listen to dance wildly in front of my mirror and to vigorously tap my toes that makes the person across from me on the train ponder, “What could she be listening to?” I know what I'm getting every time, and for that I’m an addict. It’s freakin’ girls who freakin’ rock, for crying out loud! “catch these fists” is another easy hit from the group that instantly saturated my brain, repeating itself over and over during moments of otherwise silence. There’s something a little grittier this time around, a full three years out from Wet Leg. It’s aggressive, but not in a kitschy way like “Oh No,” yet choppy and self-reflective, on par with the brilliant “Wet Dream.” And with the announcement that their LP moisturizer is coming this July, I have at least one more thing to stay wet for. —Sofia Giarrusso

“Stay all summer” by Momma

“I know it's wrong but remember I told you / I'd do something bad for you / I would stall and stay all summer / But tell me you want me to.” Momma returns to rock with their latest album, Welcome to My Blue Sky, and among some of my new favorite songs is “Stay All Summer.” It deliciously entertains the urge to wreck chaos and to admit those longings that can’t be hidden any longer. There’s something terribly tempting about making bad decisions during the dog days of the year, and this track perfectly captures this surge of desire, giving in to those underlying feelings you just can’t push down. It invites you to make a mess of your life and indulge in feelings that don’t make sense. The song is perfectly pining and pins down a raw (and chaotic) edge of love with its desperately yearning harmonies and pulsing guitar. “Stay All Summer” is a summer anthem about the yearning you can either sing about or act on, and Momma does both. —Heather Thorn

“CCF (I’m gonna stay with you)” by Car SeAT HEADREST

A new Car Seat Headrest song is always a (rare) treat and to say I’m excited for their upcoming album would be an understatement. Out of the two singles they’ve put out so far, “CCF” is my favorite by far. With intro vocals reminiscent of that of Panda Bear/Animal Collective and a danceable synth beat, I’m intrigued to see how their five year break from studio recording influences their new music. In the end, it gets me moving and grooving and that's what counts! —Sophie Parrish

“big time” by mustard Service

Miami’s own Mustard Service returns “Big Time” with a new single of the same name. It’s hard not to bop to the groovy guitar intro or Marco’s iconic vocals that swoon the listener each play. It’s exciting to see the trashy yet wholesome boys offer up a new cut just in time for the warmer months, breaking the year and a half drought since “Variety Pack” in August 2023. The indie tune checks all the boxes to be tossed onto the pile of the gang’s modern surf-rocking classics. —Sam Shipman

“Yr not invited” by TV girl and george clanton

Why would you want lames at the most exclusive party ever thrown? “Yr Not Invited” pushes this question into top gear and makes it known that you, yes you specifically are NOT invited. First teased four months ago at the Fauxlinnium record release "Rave," Live at Zey Zey, Miami, the song is three minutes and forty-five seconds of unshameful rejection, not willing to let the listener down easy. Even going so far as to saying, “Jesus fucking Christ himself was there and he said a prayer for all the losers stuck in line with a friend.” Officially released on the Fauxllinium (Japanese Deluxe Edition) as one of the seven new songs included, it makes the perfect send off for that one friend who always cancels last minute. —Salem Ross

“You don’t have one hope” by operelly

As her second single after signing with deadAir, “You Don’t Have One Hope” is Operelly at her most playful and elastic. “I guess it’s for solace? Why else would they impress people now?” She chirps over snapping symbols. Efficiently darting through verse and chorus over a two-minute run time, Operelly jumps right into the cynical refrain, “I guess you don’t have one hope for now…” The song reads like a leer over the shoulder at an old lover, mixing all the frustration and confusion with good ol’ acoustic heartache, all trapped in digital amber. Joining deadAir’s line up amongst Dazegxd, quannnic, and diamond-of-the-season Jane Remover, Operelly is perfectly poised with “You Don’t Have One Hope” for a launch into cavernous underground fame. —Nathan Hilyard

“afternoon” by aster

Nestled in the mountains of Vermont is Bennington College, the birthplace of the five-piece band aster. I had the joy of catching one of their electric live performances and immediately started counting down the days until they released music. The time has come! “afternoon” begins with a gentle melody, allowing us to relish in the intimate grittiness of the electric guitar. Then, reminiscent of bands such as Wednesday and Horse Jumper of Love, layers of vocals flawlessly blend with a driving beat and an epic wave of sound. It’s as if each voice is pleading with the listener; deliberately drawing out the vowels in each word. The instruments sing as well, establishing the ebbs and flows of energy; drums and guitars crash to life as words build upon each other. With less than a minute left, Olivia, one of aster’s vocalists, passionately sings a gorgeous chord progression, making space for a new height in the song. “afternoon” is like tree bark, rough yet soft, chaotic yet structured. aster, I’m ready for more!! —Izzie Claudio