Essential Tracks

Pill Essential Track fruit

Pill’s “Fruit” is transcendent art punk

The Brooklyn band builds more layers of nuance into their dark, cool dance-punk sound.

Horrendous Devotion Essential Track

Horrendous’ “Devotion (Blood for Ink)” is death metal that’s both dirty and triumphant

The Philly death metal outfit offers a reminder of why they’re one of the best at what they do.

Foxtrott Essential Track

Essential Track: FOXTROTT crafts her heartbreak song on “Deliver”

MH Delorme crafts a vulnerable but lovely synth-laden tune.

Gouge Away Ghost essential track

Gouge Away’s “Ghost” redefines melodic hardcore

A furious blend of melodic hooks and emotionally intense throat-shredding.

Geotic Essential Track

Geotic’s “Gondolier” is laid-back, tranquil and fun

Will Wiesenfeld presents a more tranquil side of his musical persona.

Boygenius essential track

boygenius (Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus) are breathtaking on “Me & My Dog”

Three gorgeous voices in perfect harmony, pushing through the heartbreak.

Eric Bachmann essential track

Eric Bachmann crafts a deeply moving track on “Jaded Lover, Shady Drifter”

A simple, emotional new standout from the Crooked Fingers/Archers of Loaf songwriter.

john nocturnal manoeuvres review

Idles remain optimistic in post-Brexit punk anthem “Great”

Bristol post-punks remind us that we’re all in this together.

The Field Essential Track

The Field’s “Who Goes There” is a breath of robotic air

The first single from Axel Willner’s sixth album melds organic with AI sounds.

Bliss Signal essential track

Bliss Signal’s “Swarm” pairs aggression with dreamlike beauty

James Kelly and MUMDANCE team up for something brutal and beautiful.

Restorations channel all-too-familiar frustrations in “Nonbeliever”

A bummer anthem from a band who taps into a genuine contemporary angst.

Adrianne Lenker essential track cradle

Adrianne Lenker’s new solo single “cradle” is a thoughtful sentiment for troubling times

The Big Thief frontwoman strikes a soothing, yet still dark path of her own.

Pig Destroyer essential track Torture Fields

Pig Destroyer provide their nastiest grooves in “The Torture Fields”

The band are still the best at destroying, whatever the BPM.