Kevin Bronson on May 3rd, 2024

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Our fat and fine Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 289) covers a lot of ground stylistically, so thanks for making it a playlist of choice.

Press play to hear new songs from Redd Kross (!), Hana Vu, Mehro, Fana Hues, 5 Billion in Diamonds, Faux Prix, Illuminati Hotties, MILCK, Chris Cohen, Superfan, Sasha Alex Sloan, Evangeline, Death Lens, Veers, Channel Tres, La Luz, Guppy, Thomas Powers, Angélica Garcia, Gracie Gray, COQUÍ, Spencer Hoffman and more. Clouds will part. Tip your servers.

Past playlists here.

■ Redd Kross, “Candy Coloured Catastrophe” — A top-3 L.A. sibling band (hat tip: Sparks, Haim), Redd Kross released their first album in the early days of the Reagan Administration. The McDonald brothers, Jeff and Steve, are well into their AARP memberships now, yet they sound ever the rambunctious bubblegum punks on their new single, “Candy Coloured Catastrophe” (Gilbert Trejo’s video). It’s something to behold; I mean, somebody should make a movie about these guys. … Wait, what? Somebody has? “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” tells the story of Hawthorne’s top-3 musical product (hat tip: Beach Boys, Emitt Rhodes) and has its L.A. premiere on May 23. Plus, there’s a book, author Dan Epstein’s “Now You’re One of Us,” on the way. And last but certainly not least, Redd Kross will release a self-titled double-LP on June 28.

■ Hana Vu, “Airplane” — “Airplane” is the fourth single from Hana Vu’s album “Romanticism” (out today) that we have featured on our weekly playlists since February. Sorry, not sorry. The record has a rich vein of boldness sorely missing in today’s overly mopey indie-rock world. See also: “Care,” “22” and “Hammer” — and see Hana Vu play live on Aug. 9 at the Lodge Room.

■ COQUÍ, “Today” — The follow-up to “Spun,” “Today” is the new single from Samuel Jacob Lopez Jr.’s solo project COQUÍ. The song, his first for Dream Records, strikes a note of positivity. “’Today’ is all about navigating through the shadows of worry and doubt,” Lopez says. “I really hope this song resonates with anyone looking for a new direction or simply just a reminder to stay grateful, even when times are tough. More than anything, I want it to bring a bit of light to anyone who might be in a dark place.”

■ Illuminati Hotties, “Can’t Be Still” — Singer-songwriter-producer (and Grammy winner for her engineering work on the Boygenius album) Sarah Tudzin returns with her first Illuminati Hotties single since last summer’s release of That Catchy Song We Couldn’t Play on the Radio. Another winner, here. Live Sept. 25 at the Constellation Room and Nov. 1 at the Teragram Ballroom.

■ Chris Cohen, “Damage” — Warm and breezy, with its lyrical weight counterbalanced by some heavenly sax, “Damage” introduces Chris Cohen’s new album, “Paint a Room,” out July 12 via Hardly Art. Live July 27 at 2220 Arts + Archives.

■ Angélica Garcia, “Gemini” — Chicano Batman’s Carlos Arévalo and Eduardo Arenas are among the players on experimental pop artist Angélica Garcia wildly fun new romp, “Gemini.” It’s the follow-up to the equally bright “Color De Dolor,” and both are from her album “Gemelo,” out June 7.

■ 5 Billion in Diamonds, “Waiting to Land” — Transatlantic supergroup 5 Billion in Diamonds features Garbage drummer/rock producer Butch Vig, Bristol, U.K., producer Andy Jenks and DJ James Grillo. They’ve released two full-lengths, and their new desert rocker “Waiting to Land” was made in part at a session at Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree. It features Landers-based singer Bradley Hanan Carter (who fronted the L.A. band NO and New Zealand’s Steriogram before that), along with Dave Catching (Queens of the Stone Age) and Alex Lee (Goldfrapp, Massive Attack) on guitars and Brian Aubert (Silversun Pickups) on bass. “The song is about feeling trapped,” Bradley says, “and realizing you need to possess insane levels of patience, humility and tenacity to survive.”

■ Faux Prix, “Walking in the Rain” — Speaking of Bradley Hanan Carter, today brought the release of the first single from his new solo project, Faux Prix.” Carter, who now makes Landers his home base, hadn’t released any music since 2014. That’s Devon Lee doing backing vocals on “Walking in the Rain,” the first song from a forthcoming EP, “Rhymes With She.”

■ Guppy, “IDK” — “IDK” is a delightfully wry, pop-drunk song from Guppy’s third full-length, “Something Is Happening …,” produced by Sarah Tudzin (Illuminati Hotties) and out May 17. Previously released singles “Texting & Driving,” “Dog (Made Me Do It)” and “American Cowboy” give you an idea of what you’re in for … which is a lot.

■ Thomas Powers, “Empty Voices” (feat. Julien Baker) — Songwriter/producer Thomas Powers (The Naked and Famous) introduces his solo album, “A Tyrant Crying in Private,” out May 17. (See also: “Sleep and/or Rest.”)

■ Ryan Ritual, “Marcel, Don’t Run” — Ryan Marshall Lawhon, one-half of the brother duo Mating Ritual, has released a deluxe edition of his debut solo album, “The Weight of Love.” Among its four bonus tracks is the dreamy indie-pop number, “Marcel, Don’t Run.”

■ Jessica Pratt, “Better Hate” — Friendly reminder that local treasure Jessica Pratt today released her new album, “Here in the Pitch.” Her June 20 show at the Teragram Ballroom is sold out.

■ MILCK, “Oh, Mother” — Here’s your Mother’s Day song. Connie Lim allows as how she wrote it back in 2018, and she sent it, “alongside four other songs about my family,” to her label, suggesting that she create “a ‘Family Album’ EP, which would be a collection of love songs for my family, through the lens of an immigrant daughter. I was told that this was not universal enough, and the project got shelved.”

■ Mehro, “Cynical” — “Ketamine,” “Dopamine” … Mehro’s new album, “Trauma Lullabies,” has a lot of chemistry on it, and not a lot of reasons to be cynical. (Unless you think “Cynical” is a fat bass line away from being a Cure song.)

■ Sasha Alex Sloan, “Kids” — Sasha Alex Sloan’s new album, “Me Again,” is out May 17.

■ Fana Hues, “Paper Tigers” — Pasadena R&B singer Fana Hues calls out the fake lovers on her new single “Paper Tigers.” There’s a release celebration tonight at the Paper Tiger Bar (where else?) on Beverly, and she opens for Lucky Daye on Aug. 28 at the Greek Theatre.

■ Veers, “Belt the Sea” — The L.A. quartet fronted by transplanted Englishman Andrew James has done some heavy-duty touring since releasing their debut album “Universe Reversal” in 2022. Like the album, Veers’ new single “Belt the Sea” has arena-sized ambition.

■ Zig Zags, “Brainded Warrior” — Long-running L.A. rock warriors Zig Zags are back with a new album, “Strange Masters,” produced by Osees’ John Dwyer and out May 17.

■ 2070, “Larf Finds a Way” — “Larf Finds a Way” offers a taste of “Stay in the Ranch,” the new album (out today) from lo-fi noisemeisters 2070. Live May 10 at the Lodge Room, opening for Slow Hollows.

■ Superfan, “Twilight Living” — Songwriter Kali Flanagan’s Superfan will release their new album, “Tow Truck Jesus,” on June 28. (See also: “75 Germany” and “Sewn Up and Handsome.”) Just announced: Live at the Echo on July 17.

■ Channel Tres, “Berghain” (feat. Barney Bones) — Compton’s Sheldon Young introduces his hew Channel Tres album, “Head Rush” (out June 14), with the Barney Bones collaboration, “Berghain.”

■ La Luz, “I’ll Go With You” — The oh-so-sweet “I’ll Go With You” is the latest single from La Luz’s new album, “News of the Universe,” out May 24 via Sub Pop. Live Nov. 8 and Nov. 9 at the Lodge Room.

■ Winnetka Bowling League, “America in Your 20’s” — The follow-up to “Handsome,” “America in Your 20’s” is the latest single from Winnetka Bowling League’s debut album, “Sha La La,” on May 31. Live June 29 at the Troubadour.

■ LØLØ, “Kill the Girl” — The follow-up to “Poser,” “Kill the Girl” is the latest single from Toronto native Lauren Mandel’s debut album as LØLØ, “Falling for Robots and Wishing I Was One,” out June 7. Live opening for for Jxdn on July 27 at the Belasco.

■ Death Lens, “Bruised” — Friendly reminder that Death Lens’ new album, “Cold World,” came out today, featuring “Disturb the Peace,” “Limousine,” the title track and this excellent sing-along. Tickets go on sale next week for their Aug. 2 date at the Teragram Ballroom.

■ Evangeline, “The Last Song” — Friendly reminder that Evangeline’s new EP, “When Demigods Go,” came out today, featuring “I Wanna Be There,” “You and Me” and this lovely, dialed-back closing song.

■ Molly Miller Trio, “66 West” — Molly Miller is a player. The USC-educated guitarist, now on the music faculty at the school, has been a side player for a host of renowned artists (including, currently, for Jason Mraz, for whom she will open on an upcoming tour), and her Molly Miller Trio has played prestigious jazz festivals. The band’s new album, “The Ballad of Hotspur,” is out today. Catch them live Saturday at Motivo in Atwater Village.

■ Kamasi Washington, “Get Lit” — Friendly reminder that Kamasi Washington’s collaborator-juiced new album, “Fearless Movement,” came out today, and George Clinton and D Smoke appear on “Get Lit” (video). Live June 16 at the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Fest.

■ Spencer Hoffman, “Goat’s Head” — The title track on Spencer Hoffman’s new EP, “Roses Fly” (made with an assist from Nik Freitas), “Roses Fly” is a gentle, gorgeous crooner and a reinvention of the jazz standard “Stardust.” “Love is yesterday’s stardust / the music of yesteryear …” Indeed.

■ Gracie Gray, “Burden” — “Burden” introduces Gracie Gray’s third full-length, “Magnet,” out July 26. Live Aug. 3 at Permanent Records Roadhouse.

■ Quiet Canyons, “Chairs” — In February, Tim Williams released an album from his Faire Osciller project (see “Flaunt What You Got”). Williams, who’s also released albums under his own name and as part of the indie outfit Soft Swells, is back with a genteel but uplifting record as Quiet Canyons. It’s titled “Chairs,” and Williams remains keen narrator of time’s passages.

■ Brijean, “Roller Coaster” — Brijean — singer-songwriter-percussionist Brijean Murphy and producer Doug Stuart — deal is nimble psych-disco. For groove-seekers, their album “Macro” arrives July 12. Live Aug. 1 at the Lodge Room.

■ Ian Sweet, “Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl” — “This song hits different for me now than it did when I was actually 17, and I imagine it’ll hit a little different each year I get further away from that version of myself,” Jilian Medford says of her new Broken Social Scene cover. “It so poignantly nails the difficulty of trying to exist within the moment of being a teenager while you’re simultaneously looking towards the inevitable transitions looming on the horizon. You want to cry … and you should cry.” Live May 10 at Brain Dead Studios.