Here are some topical, confrontational rock and dreamy, escapist pop songs to lift you out of your stress/funk while doing the social distancing/self-isolating/surviving thing during these deeply unsettling and life-changing times.
1. Gina Volpe – “Don’t Touch Your Face”
Punk/rock icon Gina Volpe of NYC legends Lunachicks hits short, sharp, and timely – and fun – on this track that is a perfect PSA for the COVID-19 crisis. The cat-tastic animated video is also a riot:
2. The Elected Officials – “Death For Sale”
Austin, TX punk rock band with something relevant to say – always – this time about nuclear warfare, gun proliferation, the military, and the NRA that’s gonna blow us away. Their incendiary new album of the same name came out in March via Grimace Records.
3. Sheafs – “Thinking Out Loud”
Sheffield, UK punk/indie rock outfit that also has something relevant to say about the near-8 billion people on Earth and the social disconnect and self-centered nature of most of us. Their debut EP Vox Pop is out on Blood Records.
“This Is Not A Protest” video from 2017:
4. Permanent Collection – “Blurring The Lines”
Fuzz-/noise rock project of Jason Hendardy. New album Nothing Good Is Normal is due June 19th. The video for the song speaks to the self-sabotaging nature of most of us, and how we we basically just do what we want, to the detriment of progress and positive evolution:
5. Luke Rathborne – “Ordinary Woes”
NYC fuzz-rock/psych-pop singer-songwriter delivers the fuzzy and melodic goods.
6. Fake Names – “Brick”
Brooklyn punk rock supergroup (Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace, One Last Wish), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, International Noise Conspiracy, INVSN), and Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside) delivers a brisk, tuneful, and emotive single. The band’s self-titled debut album comes out May 8th via Epitaph.
7. Ringo Deathstarr – “Just Like You”
No need to introduce this warped ‘n’ woozy shoegaze/noise rock band, right? The Texas new wave shoegaze act with their new album Ringo out via Club AC30?
8. Houses of Heaven – “Sleep”
Squee! (Bet you haven’t heard that in a while!) I’m a long-time fan of Oakland’s Kevin Tecon (Veil Veil Vanish, Vaniish, Soft Moon, Wax Idols), so it’s a pleasure to hear about, and hear, his new darkwave/industrial/electro hybridized album Silent Places, out May 1st via Felte, and a follow-up to Remnants EP
9. Choir Boy – “Complainer”
Bring on the synth-pop/synthwave ’80s, please, if done right! SLC’s Choir Boy, fronted by singer/songwriter Adam Klopp, does so in spades, with Klopp’s malleable and yearning falsetto the icing on the proverbial cake. New Album Gathering Swans out May 8th via Dais.
10. Forever Honey – “Christian”
NYC dreampop/indie rock band that was formerly know as Queue. Their debut EP Pre-Mortem High is out now. Golden guitar jangle and sweetly airy vocals on this tune. The nostalgia factor is high (The Smiths-like guitar flow) for the dreamy chorus sections…
