On “Angelina,” the new single from the L.A. band Kitten, they build a breezy pop sound and deploy a burrowing, irresistible hook to create a perfect song of summer. And why shouldn’t they? The summer never ends where they live, … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Kitten, “Angelina”

I worked at a little college in the mountains for several years, mostly working with a student crew to book shows and other programs into our little coffeehouse. Those students definitely had their favorites, and, because they had excellent taste, … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Mal Blum, “Nobody Waits”

What am I supposed to do? Not be enthralled by performer who’s tapping into to tuneful grin of Veruca Salt and poppy brashness of Letters to Cleo, but updating the whole sound to feel shiny and new as we careen … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Beabadoobee, “Together”

“Stupid boys with broken hearts/ Love to watch you fall apart” is a pretty irresistible chorus, especially when delivered with the bright brio Bleached bring to their songs as a default. There are more tumultuous undercurrents to the sentiment, though. … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Bleached, “Stupid Boys”

I think it’s the probing, slightly spooky synth line opening the song that takes me back to the college wonderments of decades past. And yet “Sad Cowboy,” the new single from Goat Girl, doesn’t sound like a throwback to me. … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Goat Girl, “Sad Cowboy”

Seventy-one candles make for an awfully bright birthday cake. When I was sitting in my basement bedroom back in high school, studying Bruce Springsteen lyric sheets like they were holy documents (and, to me, I guess they were), I wasn’t … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Bruce Springsteen, “Ghosts”

Two guys. Drums. A guitar. And a song that is just right, that roars, that grinds, that slinks, that practically flecks sweat with every sonic bend. Sometimes, that’s all you need. This week, the Blue Stones’ “Let It Ride” is … Continue reading This Week’s Model — The Blue Stones, “Let It Ride”

Janelle Monáe does not stand down. Throughout this tumultuous year, she has taken her prominent platform as a responsibility. She may be on the entertainment talk circuit to promote an Amazon series or a psychological horror film, but she takes … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Janelle Monáe, “Turntables”

“I tried so hard/ Not to let you all down,” Jessica Dobson sings on the new single from Deep Sea Diver, deeming the heavy burden “an impossible weight.” There’s only one reasonable conclusion: “So I’ll let you down now.” With … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Deep Sea Diver, “Impossible Weight”

Bashy, clashy, and gnashy, the new cut from Mourn couldn’t have arrived at a more ideal time. “This Feeling is Disgusting” addresses the experience of living in uncertainty. According to the band, the questions they had in mind were the … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Mourn, “This Feeling is Disgusting”