Category: Playlist Review

  • In Case You Missed It Vol. 2

    In Case You Missed It Vol. 2

    October has been a pretty wild month for releases. There have been several great albums that we have covered here on the blog and even more no doubt that have slipped past my gaze. There have also been an incredible amount of singles that were released this month. In this volume of, In Case You Missed It, I am going to spot light some of those releases that I really enjoyed. 

    Temperance” by Mega Infinity; released October 7, 2025: Mega Infinity is a four piece ska band from New York City. They lean to the harder side of the genre and this song puts that on display. It’s the first single released in the run up to their newest album, releasing sometime winter of next year. The song uses the moon as a metaphor for personal empowerment. Michi’s vocals are powerful and maybe even a little angry. Especially as they scream, ‘I am the tide’. Something wholly appropriate for this kind of hype song. The guitar solo that sits almost directly in the middle of the song goes hard, and brings the hype up to an insane degree. Temperance hasn’t been this hard since the 1920’s. 

    Heart Attack” by Cold Wrecks; released October 10, 2025: Cold Wrecks is from Brooklyn, New York, delivers a surprising up beat song about the struggles of dealing with anxiety and crisis. It is refreshing when artists engage with these kinds of topics in a way that can be uplifting rather than in a gloomy manner. While gloomy is valid, upbeat is good as well.  I have been a fan of Cold Wrecks for quite a while. If you have been following me since back when this blog was a ‘radio’ show streamed on twitch, you know I played them frequently. This is the second single they released this year. I hope this is a sign of a new album hitting the internet at some point in the near future.

    Daydream” by Underneath The Lookout; October 14, 2025: Underneath The Lookout consists of the duo Suzy and Craig and hailing from the UK. They produce a unique blend of reggae dub and ska. Their newest single came out mid-October and clearly demonstrates that reggae and ska do indeed belong together with dub. This song has a lot going on in a way that makes it a wonderful cornucopia of sound. It’s got horns, melodica, some (I assume) synthesized ‘ska’ organ, and bass. And let me tell you, that bass is so good. It’s got a low rumble about it and beat that underpins the whole song. While I definitely think the musical composition is the star of this song, I do think that Suzy’s vocal performance is great as well and the message of the song is very much relevant to today. I too frequently despair about the downfalls of modern life. 

    Time Warp” by Bad Mary; released October 21, 2025: This song made this list for multiple reasons. First of all, is that I have been wanting to write about Bad Mary for a while now. They are a great glam-punk band from Long Island, New York. Then there is the fact that it is Halloween today, so not including this spooky classic from my favorite musical felt wrong to me. It is an incredible rendition of the song. I could barely keep myself from singing along and grooving while listening to it while taking my kid and his friend to school this week. It was hard, but I think i succeeded. 

    Radio Player” by Josaleigh Pollet//Crowd Shy; released October 28, 2025:  SLC musician, Josaleigh Pollet, just released this song and the moment I heard it I knew I had to write about it. The song starts out with the sound of a single beating heart and slowly is accompanied by this creepy, swirling, wispy, ethereal ambient noise. It is the perfect set up for a feeling of seclusion and loneliness. Moments later the synthesizer hits and it is also amazing at crafting the chilling ambiance. Then Josaleigh’s vocals kick in and they are soul-stirring and beautiful. The lyrics are cryptic and make you feel even more isolated and perhaps lost in time. The second half of the song is a reference to the famous scene from the movie poltergeist. It is at this point that you realize what you are experiencing is a haunting and it hits you with a shudder. The question then becomes, is Josaleigh talking to you about the ghost? Are they  talking to the ghost? Are you the ghost? Oh, lord, It is so good. 

    These songs are not by any stretch of the imagination the only good singles that dropped this month but they are a selection that I think you all should check out. I hope that y’all enjoy them as much as I have. 

    If you liked the songs I reviewed here and want to support the artists as well as this blog please consider picking them up digitally via these Amazon affiliate links—>

    Temperance 

    Heart Attack

    Daydream 

    Time Wrap

    Radio Player

  • In Case You Missed It

    In Case You Missed It

    Volume 1

    DIY music is interesting in that it produces a situation where you both seemingly wait forever for your favorite band to release their next new thing, while a countless number of great musicians release new stuff at a breakneck pace that it seems almost impossible to keep up. This, of course, creates an interesting juxtaposition between hurry up and wait. It is with that in mind, that I will share a selection of great music that I wanted to cover when it was released but for whatever reason was unable to.

    Harper killA Taste of Harper kill– May 6 2024

    This 6 song EP by Michigan band Harper Kill is the prefect example of early to mid 2000s pop-punk being alive and well in 2024. Its upbeat and somewhat grim at times but still manages to be inspirational while shining a light on the realities of our times. The stand out song for me on this album is “Death and Taxes”. It’s an upbeat look at a world where you finally are free to do the things you like and no longer have uninspired and pointless responsibilities thrust upon you. The only catch is, in order to get to this world of freedom, you kind of have to die first. I think it is a scathing examination of our current society that operates without a concern for the hopes and desires of most individuals and how that’s not likely to change without something drastic happening.

    How I Became InvisibleSadness is Rebellion– June 5 2024

    This particular 7 song album from Philly artist How I Became Invisible, didn’t get a full article because it is a collection of covers. I am very much a sucker for covers so I have to show a little restraint to ensure this blog doesn’t become a pure cover song publication. That being said, I will allow myself an indulgence every now and then especially for an album such as this. Each song stands on its own and is extremely well done. I particularly enjoyed, “I’ll follow the Sun” and the rendition of “1979” caps the album off in a way that makes a complete listen through more than worth it.

    The Galaxy Has EyesSneaky Link– July 2 2024

    The Galaxy Has Eyes, is a high octane female fronted punk band from central Pennsylvania. If you don’t know about them, their newest single, “Sneaky Link” is a great intro. It’s packed full of more energy than any one song has the right to. Angry lyrics, fast guitar, and a baritone sax accompaniment gives you the feeling that you could punch a mountain.

    Apes of the StateWhat Am I doing with My Life– August 21 2024

    Folk has a very strong tradition of taking old melodies and setting it to new and relevant lyrics for the current day. “What am I doing with my life” by Folk Punk legends Apes of the State does just that by re-imagining a classic to ask the question I think everyone has asked more than once throughout the course of their life. April Hartman has an amazing self deprecation humor that comes out in the lyrics. It’s a great song. I honestly love everything about it especially the mandolin.

    The Sensations//Hans Gruber and the Die HardsTokyo Two Step – September 3 2024

    This wonderful EP is a split with Texas Skacore band Hans Gruber and the Die Hards and the Tokyo based ska band The Sensations. Hans Gruber’s track, “Trepanation” has bombastic horns and creepy lyrics that speak of spirits and possession. Next, they offer up a very good rendition of “I Put a Spell on You”. Both are fantastic especially considering this was released in the lead up to spooky season. This split was my introduction to The Sensations and I will tell you that I am very glad for it. The two songs they contributed to the EP are both simply amazing. They are upbeat, catchy, and packed to the brim with fast guitar. For me, they are a solid reminder of why I love Japanese Ska, something that I am ashamed to admit I may have forgotten about. The stand out song is “Magic Call”. It has everything I mentioned above plus a great guitar solo followed by a little horn piece that left me wanting more. This album really personifies why I like splits so much. You get a band you like to get you in the door and then you get a bonus band to fall in love with. In short, I came for the Hans Gruber, but I stayed for The Sensations.

    Brianna CarmelI never said (a platonic love song), October 4 2024

    This new single from Brianna Carmel takes their page from a diary writing style to new heights. The ukulele driven indie sound that Brianna is known for is finely tuned here with a sense of bitter sweet honestly that is intensely refreshing. The message of the song is of mutual support, camaraderie and friendship and ends on a empowering note, stating “from the Valley to New Mexico, you got people behind you.” Interlaced with the final lyrics is a series of bell notes that accentuate the ending in an incredibly enduring way that rounds out the bitter sweetness of the song into something more hopeful. If you are not familiar with Brianna Carmel, this song is a great entry point to their work. I highly suggest everyone check it out.

    This playlist review was originally posted on November 12, 2024 on the former LFDH substack.