I chose a meme title because I know it would make you want to read. I’m in your head.

Safety Training – Way Out (post-hardcore)

Post-hardcore is a genre that somehow encapsulates everything from Taking Back Sunday to Eidola, so it might be best to say that Safety Training pulls inspiration from mid-00s riff-heavy-but-clean-vocal-centered acts, all while giving nods to modern bands like Bilmuri. The result is interestingly commercial. On “Way Out”, the group’s riffs waver between technical melody brutal chord chugging. It’s yet another powerful addition to the group’s blossoming discography and you’ll definitely want to check it out.

Dan Bauer – Stratosphere (indie/singer-songwriter)

I first discovered Dan Bauer while doing research for a New Hampshire artist article. Since that time, Bauer has moved away and back, released a couple more conceptual records, and an arc of personal transformation out of addiction and destruction. It’s not often where I can look upon an artist and see clear changes in lyrics in topics, but Bauer has gone from writing about doing drugs to releasing a song about regretting the abortion of his child. You may not agree with his views, and it goes without saying that there’s definitely some hefty subject matter on this record. Still, has blend of orchestral elements and nonchalant vocal delivery feel adjacent to the likes of U2 and The Verve Pipe (not to be confused with The Verve, who I guess would also be an appropriate comparison to some degree).

Faded Paper Figures – Forget All the Days We Died (electronica)

I’m not an avid listener of The Postal Service, but they’re the first mainstream comparison that comes to mind for this group. I guess there’s also a bit of post-punk mixed in, where even the lyrics speak about wishing The Cure was on the jukebox. Elsewhere, I can’t help but be reminded of Mew if they had dialed back their time signature changes a bit. Faded Paper Figures immediately have a familiarity, even if it’s hard to place (as I’ve just demonstrated) and the result is a pretty beautiful number that mixes the best part of glistening guitar with shining synths.

Wheelwright – Live Forever (alt-country)

Every now and again, I’m reminded that one of the worst things about modern country is the accents. Look, I live in the South, I get that some people sound that way. But when you’ve got Australians faking it (and ones who don’t – shout out to Siobhan Cotchin), it’s clear that it can be a money-making gimmick. Wheelwright, the spiritual successor to Jared and the Mill, leans more into a singer-songwriter approach than its predecessor but moves forward with the same Western tendencies, rounded of with vocals that you’d typically find in emo genres. The lyrics remain as clever and confessional forever, and now that the debut Wheelwright LP is out, this is a great time to get acquainted.

Slow Coast – Take You for a Ride (slow dance surf rock)

I’m not typically big on surf rock, but Slow Coast gets it right. This track has plenty of energy and dodges the temptations of sleepiness with ease. I immediately think of Born Without Bones and Graveyard Club as comparisons. The clap-like drum pulse and backing vocals might seem cheesy to some, but I’d argue that they round the song out quite well.

Stephen Kellogg – The Waitress (singer-songwriter)

Stephen Kellogg’s music is a refreshing take of the singer-songwriter format, dancing with the fringes of alt-rock and heartland all at once. His lyric-forward approach is evident on this track, a vignette of a waitress and her journeys in life. There aren’t a lot of frills, but Kellogg doesn’t need bells and whistles to drive his point home.

Self Esteem – The Deep Blue Okay (bombastic pop)

Self Esteem is the kind of artist that admittedly is left-field from what I typically listen to. As a whole, I’m divided on her discography. At the same time, “Wizardry”, “Moody”, and “I Do All This Time” all hold special places in my heart. Sometimes, the overt sexuality gets to feel like too much. But Self Esteem has a vulnerable side, a side that leans into living longer than expected, about overcoming personal barriers, and about discovering dignity in the midst of failed relationships. “The Deep Blue Okay” is this kind of a track. “In the end, I’m coming clean. I spent my whole life lying,” the lyrics admit. Strings and piano build in the background. There’s a whole cloud of voices belting the lyrics for beautiful effect. This is type of song that keeps me following Self Esteem.