Kevin Bronson on September 20th, 2024

0

Here’s where I invite you to check out Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 308).

Here’s where I name-check some of artists featured herein: Father John Misty, Near Beer, Gwen Stefani, Nico Vega, FIDLAR, Jesse, Tomemitsu, Glasser, ASHRR, Bishop Briggs, Dawes, Flames of Durga, The Holy Knives and Orion Sun. Here’s where I add: And more.

Here’s where I muse that this playlist has one song that spans 9 minutes and three more that linger past the 6-minute mark — as well as one that does its business in just 39 seconds. Here’s where I blame our proximity to the autumnal equinox.

Here’s where you are invited to monitor all Buzz Bands LA’s playlists here and read our notes on those tracks in our past posts.

Note: Anita Wills contributed to today’s roundup.

■ Father John Misty, “Screamland” — After teasing with the single “I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All,” Father John Misty announced that his sixth album, “Mahashmashana,” will be out Nov. 22 via Sub Pop. Spanning almost 7 minutes, “Screamland” features Alan Sparhawk from Low on guitar. Estefania Kröl directs the (vertical) video here. Go big or go home. Live Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 at the Kia Forum, opening for Kacey Musgraves.

■ Nico Vega, “Make It Out Alive” — L.A. rockers Nico Vega pull back the curtain on the title track to their forthcoming album. The retooled lineup of Aja Volkman, Rich Koehler, Dan Epand and Michael Peña resurfaced this spring with “$5” and “Crazy Things We Do for Love” followed in July. “Make It Out Alive” is less of a belter, more nuanced, and just as powerful. Here’s the video. Live Nov. 14 at the Troubadour.

■ The Holy Knives, “Damned” —  Avant-garde rock duo the Holy Knives’ new single “Damned” touches on the importance of escapism, “Whatever it is that takes you beyond your anxieties and allows you to be free is heavenly,” says Kody Valentine, one-half of the brother duo. “It allows you to stop wondering if you’re damned or blessed and you can just be.” Their new EP, “I Don’t Wanna Win” (produced by Jamie Hince of the Kills), will be available Dec. 10.

■ Wallice, “Gut Punch Love” — The latest single from Wallice’s debut album, “The Jester” (out Nov. 15), “Gut Punch Love” has its origins in the story of the disappearance of her mother’s boyfriend in the 1980s, Not until two years later did her mother learn of the death of her beau. “You can’t necessarily hear the amount of tragedy in the song, because it feels like an alternative-rock song,” Wallice says. “But it is tragic, and I think it’s an important story.”

■ Dawes, “Surprise!” — The follow-up to “Still Strangers Sometimes,” “Surprise!” comes billed as the centerpiece of Dawes’ forthcoming ninth album, “Oh Brother” (out Oct. 11). “The things you hope for never arrive as anticipated, if at all,” songwriter Taylor Goldsmith says. “The things that scare you are not what you should have actually been worried about. The person you were wouldn’t recognize the person you are, but not in the ways you’d expect. It’s a song about getting older and taking stock in how elegantly (or not) we’ve all navigated the terrain.”

■ Bishop Briggs, “Good for Me” — “Tell My Therapist I’m Fine” is the title of the third Bishop Briggs album, arriving Oct. 18. Dreamier seems good for her. Live Oct. 17 at the Troubadour.

■ ASHRR, “Please Don’t Stop the Rain” — After Electro-soul/dance-pop trio ASHRR (Steven Davis, Jopsh Charles and Ethan Allen) returned today with their second full-length, “Sunshine Low.” If the title track doesn’t hook you, try the beguiling lead-off song, “Please Don’t Stop the Rain.”

■ Alisa Xayalith, “Boys & Guitars” — The follow-up to “Roses,” the dreamy “Boys & Guitars” is the second single this year from Alisa Xayalith (The Naked and Famous), who has an album in the works for Nettwerk.

■ Sleep State, “Beware!!!” — Pop duo Sleep State (Parker Jackson and Troy Ritchie) pick up where they left off — catchy. “Beware!!!” is the band’s first release in more than five years.

■ Gwen Stefani, “Somebody Else’s” — Gwen Stefani announces the Nov. 15 arrival of her fifth solo album, “Bouquet,” by releasing the single “Somebody Else’s.”

■ Gliss, “Alaska” — Transcontinental duo Gliss follow-up July’s “21st Century” by releasing “Alaska,” with Martin Klingman taking leading vocals this time.

■ Near Beer, “Pax Americana” — Ahead of a handful of Midwestern dates in October opening for the Airborne Toxic Event, indie-punk outfit Near Beer return with “Pax Americana.”

■ Flames of Durga, “Bicker” —  Veteran rock trio Flames of Durga’s new stand-alone single “Bicker” is an intense rock ‘n’ roll roller-coaster of guitar-solo highs vs. crooning-vocal lows. Catch Flames of Durga at the Belasco for L7’s Fast and Frightening Takeover on Nov. 23 (which also features Redd Kross, Surfbort, Adult., Speed of Light and more).

■ FIDLAR, “Hurt” — “Hurt” is the closing track on FIDLAR’s new album, “Surviving the Dream,” a volley of the skate-punk band’s usual potty-mouthed insouciance colored by, dare we say, the maturity gained from having survived the dream. Live Oct. 31 at the Bellwether.

■ Sleek Teeth, “Operating” — Sleek Teeth is a darkwave duo whose debut EP drops Oct. 4. “Operating” is an electronic song paired with soothing vocals. Sleek Teeth will be performing at Substance Festival Nov. 2 in DTLA.

■ Caroline Kingsbury, “Take My Phone Away” — As a follow-up to “Alabama”, “Take My Phone Away” is a song about queer heartbreak. Kingsbury’s new EP, “I Don’t Really Care!,” is out Oct. 18. Live Oct. 17 at the Moroccan Lounge.

■ Half•Alive, “Sophie’s House” — Pop tarts Half•Alive inject a little cinema into their dance-pop on “Sophie’s House” (here’s the video). The song  introduces the band’s third album, “Persona,” out Nov. 15.

■ Noelle Sucks, “Copy Ur Keys” — Noelle Sucks is back with a duet featuring Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath for her third single “Copy Ur Keys,” off of Gravityboy Records (see also: “Nonchalant”).

■ Dive Time, “DTLA” — Friendly reminder that Dive Time” new self-titled album is out today, and among it is the short yet effective song “DTLA.” Clocking in at under 40 seconds, “DTLA” proves to be a hardcore banger. (See also: “Number One Priority,” which features Yungatita.)

■ Stolen Nova, “Eclipse” — With disco vocals and a funky bass line, “Eclipse” is the fifth lead-up single from Stolen Nova (aka Josh Landau) whose debut EP drops Oct. 3.

■ Natalie Del Carmen, “What Should’ve Been (By Now)” — Valley native Natalie Del Carmen returns with another helping of twang; “What Should’ve Been (By Now)” is the Americana artist’s fourth single of 2024, and she plays Madame Siam on Sept. 24.

■ Jesse, “Sorry” — Friendly reminder that “Wanted?,” the new solo album from Jesse Rutherford (of The Neighbourhood, going by Jesse® here), is out today. It’s not just the Americana-tinted “Sorry” that will give you classic crooner vibes.

■ Syd Taylor, “Love of Your Life” — Syd Taylor (previously of Stereo Jane) has released her debut single, “Love of Your Life,” is a rock ’n’ roll tear-jerker with a danceable chorus. Catch Syd Taylor tonight (Sept. 20) at the Viper Room.

■ Senses, “Every Little Thing” — With five previous stand-alone singles released this year (see “Maybe”), pop duo Senses return with their debut single for Hopeless Records, “Every Little Thing,” a high-energy emo-punk thrasher.

■ Bondo, “Bibbendum” — One of the instrumental tracks on “Harmonica” — the forthcoming album by post-rock/slowcore quartet Bondo — “Bibbendum” displays the band’s sprawling range. Live Oct. 18 at Zebulon.

■ The Swords of Fatima, “Mai Tai Sunrise” — L.A.’s exotic punk rock duo the Swords of Fatima have returned after a 10-year hiatus with their new LP, “Himalayan Freakout.” “Mai Tai Sunrise” is a unique blend of sensually mesmerizing guitar hooks, luscious vocals, and several different drum time changes.

■ Windowsill, “Lasting” — Clocking in at a leisurely 9 minutes, “Lasting” appears on “Dwindlesill” (out Oct. 18), the third full-length from L.A. artist Matt Maruskin’s solo project Windowsill. For those who like it when songs kind of disassemble.

■ Glasser, “Dying Light” — “Dying Light” is the latest three minutes of magic from Cameron Mesirow, who will release an expanded version of her Glasser album, “Crux Deluxe,” on Sept. 27.

■ Tomemitsu, “Do You Dream Too?” — Well, to answer songwriter Martin Roark’s question, yes. And sometimes, but not often enough, our reveries are as pleasant as this track from Roark’s new album as Tomemitsu, “Dream 2,” out today via Friends of Friends.  

■ Orion Sun, “These Days” — Today brought the release of “Orion,” the new album from Orion Sun (Philadelphia ex-pat Tiffany Majette’s ethereal pop project). Live Oct. 20 at the Observatory (sold out) and Nov. 23 (sold out) and Nov. 24 at the Fonda Theatre.

■ The Kills, “Happier Than Ever” — Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince put their own twist on Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever.” It’s the cornerstone of the Kills’ new digital EP, “Happier Girl Sessions.”