Kevin Bronson on July 19th, 2024

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Like last week’s playlist (39 songs, 2-plus hours), we could hardly bring ourselves to stop when compiling Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 299).

This week’s L.A.-centric sound explosion features songs that accompanied album announcements from Starflyer 59, The Linda Lindas, The Airborne Toxic Event, Dawes and Gallant, along with new singles from soon-to-arrive full-lengths by Amy Allen, FIDLAR, Temme Scott and Angela Muñoz. Plus, new cool things from Nico Vega, Jesika von Rabbit, Widows Gold, Clara-Nova, Faux Prix, Magic Bronson, Militarie Gun, Lily Kershaw, Theo Moss and more. Like Save Ferris (!).Go ahead, explore.

Keep up with our playlisting here and find all the notes/info on the tracks here.

■ Starflyer 59, “909” — “Lust for Gold” (out Aug. 16) is the 17th full-length from Jason Martin’s Starflyer 59. And judging from the single “909” (a hat tip to Martin’s native Riverside), it could be SF59’s first. “909” would not be out of place on “Silver” (1994) or “Gold” (1995), the two heavily shoegaze-inspired records that put SF59 on the map. The titular lust should not be read as greed. Instead, Martin says, “It’s a longing to return to youth, to that time when music felt new and exciting, where it felt like the future was wide open.”

■ The Linda Lindas, “All in My Head” — Pop-punk cherubs the Linda Lindas have announced that their sophomore album, “No Obligation,” will be out Oct. 11. You don’t have to be their age to find everything about “All in My Head” completely relatable. Live Sept 14. at SoFi Stadium, supporting Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid.

■ Nico Vega, “Crazy Things We Do for Love” — Resurgent L.A. rockers Nico Vega return with the follow-up to “$5.” “Crazy Things We Do for Love” (see the video, directed by the band’s Dan Epand) is the latest from the quartet’s forthcoming album, “Make It Out Alive.” Live Nov. 14 at the Troubadour.

■ Jesika von Rabbit, “Gotta Keep My Buzz Going” — Jesika von Rabbit, Queen of the High Desert, energizer bunny of subversive, left-field pop and, likely, all the rage at alien discos in remote corners of the Mojave, will release her third solo album next year. “Gotta Keep My Buzz Going” is the follow-up to her madcap May single “Dog at a Human Party,” and of course there’s a wacky video for it. The desert comes to East Hollywood when JvR does a residency on Saturday nights in October at Harvard & Stone. Don’t forget your bunny ears.

■ Faux Prix, “That Looks Like a House” — Bradley Hanan Carter (who formerly fronted Echo Park faves NO) returned in May after a long hiatus from music. The same week brought the the first single from the new band Faux Prix, as well as a track from the Butch Vig-Andy Jenks-James Grillo project 5 Billion in Diamonds on which Carter takes lead vocals. Now Faux Prix is back with their second single from a forthcoming full-length, “From Metric to Imperial.” RIYL: The National.

■ Theo Moss, “Autopilot” — Theo Moss is the new nom de tune of Sam Valdez, who released an excellent album and a slew of singles between 2017 and ’22. The new project’s debut is “Autopilot,” made with producer Gabe Wax (Soccer Mommy, Palehound, et al), a tune that the songwriter says “is about someone hurting the person you love, and feeling angry and powerless. You know you can’t save them but you want them to feel safe again.”

■ The Airborne Toxic Event, “Glory” — The Airborne Toxic Event go full-on Boss on “Glory,” the title track of the band’s seventh full-length album (and first in four years), coming out Sept. 6. Live Oct. 18 at the Ford and Oct. 19 at the Wiltern.

■ WOLVES & Kat Meoz, “Empire” — Once the frontwoman of garage-rock outfit Grit, Kat Meoz teams up with WOLVES (Amit Ofir) on the hard-rock banger “Empire.”

■ Magic Bronson, “Good Time” — “Stuck in this fun house / like Iggy Pop …” The duo of Matt Lieberman and Michael Nicastro return with “Good Time,” with Nicastro’s deadpan lyrics leading the way and an “everybody-at-the-bar-sing-along” chorus topping it off. Tip your server.

■ Temme Scott, “Contract Killer” — “We all break promises, this song just illuminates how good I’ve been at it,” Temme Scott says of the new single from her third album, “A Long Year,” coming in September. “‘Contract Killer’ speaks to the assumed contract between two people in love — one of trust, intimacy and unfailing honesty. Being a contract killer means you’ve broken such a contract implicitly.”

■ Gallant, “Fly on the Wall” (Osaka Version) — The follow-up to “Coldstar,” “Fly on the Wall” introduces Gallant’s new album (and first for Mom + Pop Music), “Zinc.” The album is out Sept. 27.

■ Dawes, “House Parties” — “House parties and local bands / that’s where I belong,” Taylor Goldsmith sings on Dawes’ new single, and in the digital age that seems almost quaint. Me, I’d proudly wear a QUAINT AS F*CK” T-shirt. Dawes’ ninth album, “Oh Brother,” is out Oct. 11.

■ Beachwood Sparks, “My Love, My Love” — Friendly reminder that cosmic Americana torchbearers Beachwood Sparks today released the Chris Robinson-produced “Across the River of Stars,” their first album in 12 years. Live July 27 at the Lodge Room.

■ Primer, “Round and Round” — Title track from the new EP from Primer, the musical vehicle for songwriter/producer Alyssa Midcalf.

■ Militarie Gun, “Thought You Were Waving” — Melodic hardcore dudes Militarie Gun have done nothing but make friends and influence people since releasing their album “Under the Gun” a little over a year ago. With festival dates and a European/U.K. tour still ahead this year, they send another blast with “Thought You Were Waving.” Live July 25 at the El Rey Theatre.

■ St. Kio, “Softly” — Today brought the release of “Infinity Mirror,” the new EP from St. Kio, aka songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Nicole Bandoquillo. Immersive shoegaze, just the way we like it.

■ FIDLAR, “Down N Out” — FIDLAR are nothing if not reliably recalcitrant. “Down N Out” is the fourth single from their forthcoming fourth album, “Surviving the Dream,” out Sept. 20. Listen closely, and you’ll see the point behind all this song’s attitude. “This is a song about growing up, seeing yourself change, and not giving a fuck,” Zac Carper says. “I gave up drugs to fall in love and I’ve gotta say: Love is better than drugs.” Live Oct. 31 at the Bellwether.

■ Amy Allen, “Even Forever” — The follow-up to “Girl With a Problem” and “Darkside,” “Even Forever” is the latest single from Amy Allen’s self-titled debut album, out Sept. 6. Allen has a ton of heavyweight songwriting credits, and hearing the songs she’s kept for herself, it’s easy to see why.

■ Save Ferris, “Lights Out in the Reptile House” — Nothing like a new single from Save Ferris (their first non-holiday release since 2017) to put spring in your step. Live tonight at the Wiltern, opening for Goldfinger.

■ Little Bit, “Lead You On” — Little Bit is the solo project of Boston-reared, L.A.-based Hannah Liuzzo (formerly of Lilith). Little Bit’s debut EP, “Talk a Blue Streak,” is out Sept. 20.

■ Tomemitsu, “Losing My Mind” — Martin Roark, aka Tomemitsu, is back with some light and light-hearted pop. “Losing My Mind” is the latest single from his new album, “Dream 2,” out Sept. 20 via Friend of Friends. Somehow we missed his March single, “Pizza With You,” but it’s worth a slice, too.

■ Clara-Nova, “Summertime” — Sydney Wayser, abetted by co-writers Dan Molad and Harlan Silverman, returns with a new Clara-Nova single that’s summery, nostalgic and somehow, someway, not sappy. It’s a miracle. Like air conditioning.

■ LA LOM, “San Fernando Rose” — The latest single from the album “The Los Angeles League of Musicians” (out Aug. 9), the beguiling “San Fernando Rose” sounds like something from a distant time, playing on an AM radio. Live Sept. 28 at Pappy & Harriet’s and Sept. 29 on Day 3 of the Ohana Festival at Doheny State Beach.

■ Widows Gold, “Gaslighter” — The title of the new single from SoCal rockers Widows Gold (Madeline Star, Ben Sauer, Ian Zamora and Alex Oñate) speaks for itself. You know who you are. Live July 27 at the Stowaway in DTLA, with Rilo Wye and Lonely Richard.

■ La Bonte, “Marching in a Field of Wheat” — Here’s the elegiac opener on Garrett La Bonte’s new EP, “Economy Play” (out today). File under Y2K-era viscery (and also check out the cover of Arthur Russell’s “I Couldn’t Say It to Your Face.”)

■ All Things Blue, “Sleep Through” (feat. Mini Trees) — Two L.A. faves, India Coombs (All Things Blue) and Lexi Vega (Mini Trees), team up with writer-producer Jon Joseph on a ’90s-styled rocker.

■ Amindi, “Fine With Me” — Inglewood’s Amindi this week released a new EP, “Luvr.” She’s come a long way since she worked as Amindi K. Fro$t, and “Fine With Me” is warm all over.

■ Jaake Castro, “Reality” — Singer-songwriter Jaake Castro, prepping a full-length that will be released this fall, crafts a breezy pop number about “a relationship [that] has impending doom but wanting to stay in a fantasy that everything is fine.”

■ Lily Kershaw, “Call Whoever This Makes You Think Of (Except Your Narcissistic Ex)” — C’mon, with a title like that, there’s no way you can’t check out the new single from Lily Kershaw, right? Live Nov. 7 at the Troubadour, opening for Genevieve Stokes.

■ Angela Muñoz, “Stay Up” — The follow-up to “Forest Fire,” Angela Muñoz’s “Stay Up” arrives with the news that her first EP for Stones Throw Records, “Descanso,” will be out Aug. 16.

■ Only Twin, “Love of a Lifetime” — Only Twin is the solo project of Seattle-bred Thomas Dutton, who was one-half of the synth-pop duo Cardiknox (who broke up in 2021). Only Twin’s sophomore album, “It Feels Nice To Burn,” is out today.

■ Fiona Grey, “Beer Drunk Glory Days” — Pop singer Fiona Grey tugs at the heartstrings — and ow!, that hurts — on her new single “Beer Drunk Glory Days.” Watch director Justin Hogan’s video.

■ Glass Spells, “Without You” — “Without You” is the lead track on “Crystals,” the new album from the synth-pop/new-wave/’80s electro duo Glass Spells. Live tonight at the Observatory.

■ Animals Over People, “Genesis / Best Friend” — Also releasing today: “Cybur World,” the new album from Animals Over People, aka songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ace Correa.

■ Kirsten Izer, “I Want It All” — New Jersey-bred Kirsten Izer airs her growing pains over spare, nimble keys on the new single “I Want It All,” made with producer Randall Belculfine.

■ Automatic, “New Sensations” — Time for our playlist-ending cover, this one courtesy of L.A. trio Automatic, taking on Lou Reed’s “New Sensations.” The track appears on “The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed,” a compilation released by Light in the Attic. Automatic opens for the Marías at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23.