Kevin Bronson on April 18th, 2025

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This week’s overabundance manifests itself in the 2 hours of music in Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 334), which features new songs from Together Pangea, Goon, Kristiane, Runnner, The Tulips, Morgan Nagler, KennyHoopla, Bouquet, Your Grandparents, Illuminati Hotties, Jade Bird, Annahstasia, Liam Finn, Shunkan, Youth Code, Windser, Sedona, Jessy Fury, Kat Meoz, Deb Never and many more. With a cover of a 1967 classic at the ends, as the bow on top.

So many playlists, so little time.

Anita Mills contributed to today’s roundup.

■ Together Pangea, “Little Demon” — Timed for release between their weekends playing Coachella, “Little Demon” is the new single from Together Pangea, who spent much of last year trumpeting the anniversary/deluxe reissue of their album “Badillac.” “Little Demon” hits as hard as the bangers on that record; singer-guitarist William Keegan say that “I wanted to write a song that was both pretty and heavy,” and mission accomplished.

■ Morgan Nagler, “Orange Wine” — The follow-up to “Cradle the Pain,” “Orange Wine” is Morgan Nagler’s second King Tuff-produced single of 2025. Sip liberally.

■ Runnner, “Chamomile” — “Chamomile” is Exhibit C that we have entered a new era of Runnner, the solo project of Noah Weinman. Widescreen and yearning in a way no unlike the British anthemists of 1990s, Runnner’s run of singles — “Coinstar” and “Spackle” preceded “Chamomile” — surely augurs an album or EP, but there’s no word of it yet.

■ The Tulips, “Lisa on a Sunday Afternoon” — Something pretty this way comes. “Lisa on a Sunday Afternoon” is the new slice of ethereal folk from the duo of Jared Petrich and Dana Rogge, aka the Tulips (not to be confused with a lot of other Tulips).

■ Sedona, “Every Once in a While” — The pride of Chatsworth, Sedona this week gave fans a double-barreled taste of her debut album, “Getting Into Heaven” (out May 23). The lustrous single “Every Once in a While” arrived with a second, more placid song, “The Culprit.” Sedona (Rachel Stewart) already turned heads with the album’s first single, the Claud collaboration “She’s So Pretty.” Fans of West Coast-styled pop-Americana have more to look forward to. Live May 8 at the Moroccan Lounge, opening for Girlpuppy, and May 22 at the Troubadour, opening for Goldie Boutilier.

■ Windser, “These Days” — We’re a month out from the release of Windser’s self-titled debut album, and “These Days” follows “Shut Up and Kiss Me” and “Abandon” as the latest single. The song itself is bright, even if it’s rooted in bummerdom: “I’m so bored / I’m depressed / I’m a mess / these days,” Jordan Topf sings.

■ Bouquet, “Moon Was Made” — “Moon Was Made” is the new slice of sophisti-pop from Bouquet (Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs and Max Foreman), who will release their sophomore album, “Spellbreaker,” on May 16. Here’s the video.

■ Kristiane, “Good & Ready” — Since bursting on the scene with “Wish I Could Be your girl” in 2021, Kristiane Alphson has released two EPs (including last year’s “Stray Dog”).

■ Mt. Joy, “God Loves Weirdos” — Wildly different from their darker single “Coyotes,” “God Loves Weirdos” is an emotional and uplifting single from Mt. Joy’s fourth album, “Hope We Have Fun,” out May 30. Mt. Joy plays Beach Life Festival in Redondo Beach on May 4.

■ Liam Finn, “The Howl” — L.A.-based Kiwi Liam Finn has already released (for Record Store Day) the vinyl version of his new album, “Hyperverse.” The LP — on which he performed every instrument and handled mixing and production — arrives digitally on June 20. “Howl” is a song penned for his father Neil’s band, Crowded House (in which Liam has played since 2020), and it appeared on Crowded House’s 2024 record, “Gravity Stairs.” Of his reimagined version, Liam says: “‘The Howl’ is like speeding down the road through a perpetual blue dusk. It’s about the Groundhog Day-like cycles we repeat in relationships, hoping for a different outcome. Isn’t that the definition of madness?”

■ Your Grandparents, “Conversations” — L.A. R&B/rap trio Your Grandparents are back with “Conversations,” the latest single from their forthcoming album “The Dial” (out May 16). It follows their fan-favorite “All Dem Times.” Vocalist DaCosta says: “‘Conversations’ becomes a reminder that true transformation begins from within, urging us to listen closely to our inner dialogue and take the necessary steps toward self-discovery and healing.”

■ Kilo Kish, “Negotiate”— Kilo Kish premieres “Negotiate,” an electronic track, ahead of her upcoming EP “Negotiations” (May 16), building on the momentum of “Digital Emotional.” The track features vocalist Miguel. Check out the music video, choreographed by Kish herself, which puts movement center stage.

■ KennyHoopla, “Northern Lights” — KennyHoopla (he of the 2020 EP “How Will I Rest in Peace If I’m Buried by a Highway?” and the 2021 Travis Barker collaboration “Survivors Guilt: The Mixtape”) returns with a visceral track that speaks to his affection for two of his ’90s heroes. “Northern Lights,” he says, “is probably a tribute to Sonic Youth and Ride for saving my life … No shiny shit or production, just a journey. At this point in my life, since losing my mom and becoming an independent artist, I’ve somewhat lost a compass. I’ve become so free that I’ve gotten lost which is a blessing and curse. This is what I called ‘outer heaven.’”

■ Shunkan, “Prettier” — Shunkan (Marina Sakimoto) releases “Prettier,” a new single that builds on the momentum of “Usual Suspects,” ahead of her May 6 album “Kamikaze Girl.” Sakimoto says: “‘Prettier feels like an exposed nerve, but I hope it resonates with anyone else who feels like they don’t fit into conventions.”

■ Youth Code, “In Search Of Tomorrow” — EBM duo Youth Code are back in typical no-holds-barred fashion. They slame their way through their new single, “In Search of Tomorrow,” the follow-up to “No Consequence.” Both appear on Youth Code’s new EP, “Yours, With Malice” (out May 16). Youth Code plays June 7 at The Echo.

■ Faetooth, “Death of Day” — Faetooth are the doomgaze (they call their sludgy metal sound “fairy-doom”) trio of Arianna May, Jenna Garcia and Sarah Kanan. They released their debut album, “Remnants of the Vessel,” and now they’re casting spells in anticipatio of a follow-up. “Death of Day,” says singer-bassist Jenna Garcia, “came to be after reading into the deity, Lilith. I was initially transfixed to the myth of her spawning from the ‘dregs,’ or lowest realm of evil. I perceived that as her coming from the dirt, the earth, and having to confront a life where her very existence is viewed as malevolence, as ugliness. She is cast out into isolation from the moment she came into being. I began to view that as a strong parallel to the existence of queer and trans people in a world that is constantly trying to exterminate and diminish them.” Live Sept. 20 at the Teragram Ballroom, opening for Slow Crush.

■ Goon, “Closer To” — Goon have announced the July 11 arrival of their third full-length, “Dream 3.” “Closer To” is the woozy first single … a downright fever dream, if you dive into the lyrics. Goon perform June 12 at the Lodge Room, opening for Preoccupations.

■ Militarie Gun & Dazy, “Tall People Don’t Live Long” — L.A. rockers Militarie Gun teamed up with Dazy in 2022 on the single “Pressure Cooker,” and the collab has spawned a second single, “Tall People.” It’s a song about “how sometimes people who have reached certain heights in life begin to look down on others,” says Militarie Gun’s Ian Shelton, who points out that Dazy’s James Goodson is the taller of the two. “‘Tall People’ became our tongue-in-cheek term for anyone that’s lost so much perspective that they think it’s alright to make someone feel less-than.” Shelton and Goodson looks sharp in the video.

■ Illuminati Hotties, “Wreck My Life” (feat. PUP) — “Your favorite band is full of shit / They’re the nouveau riche fronting as socialist” is a helluva way to start a confessional, but stick around to see where Illuminati Hotties’ new single takes you. It’s a punk track and a collaboration with PUP and will appear on IH’s new EP, “Nickel on the Fountain Floor,” out May 30.

■ Jessy Fury, “All of the Above” — Friendly reminder that “Hollywood Forever,” the new EP from Jessy Fury, came out today.

■ Kat Meoz, “When You Fall” — Kat Meoz returns with one of those old-school rockers you wanna sing from the rafters, “When You Fall.” It’s produced by WOLVES (with whom Meoz released a collaborative single last summer). In January, Meoz released “Gold” in collaboration with the Filthy Souls.

■ Chime Oblivion, “Neighborhood Dog” — Chime Oblivion is the latest project from the (very active) universe of John Dwyer (Osees/Oh Sees/Thee Oh Sees/OCS/etc.). Teaming up with drummer David Barbarosa (Bow Wow Wow, Adam & the Ants, Fine Young Cannibals), vocalist H.L. Nelly, guitarist Weasel Walter, Tom Dolas and Brad Caulkins, Dwyer and gang today released a self-titled album.
For all your proto-punk/no-wave needs. Osees play the Teragram Ballroom on Sept. 30.

■ Brad Byrd, “Every Other Day” — The follow-up to “Night Dream,” “Every Other Day” is the latest luxurious, open-road rocker from Landers-based Brad Byrd. Get your mellow on.

■ Jade Bird, “Dreams”— Building on her earlier track “Who Wants,”  singer-songwriter Jade Bird unveils “Dreams,” a vocally driven single produced by Grammy winner Greg Kurstin. Bird’s new album, “Who Wants To Talk About Love,” comes out July 18.

■ Ali Mills, “Mercury Rising” — The follow-up to “Canyon,” “Mercury Rising” is the second solo single from Ali Mills. File under Western-tinged warm-heartedness.

■ Marcus Buser, “Plastic Stars” — Marcus Buser, who in October released his sophomore album, “Where or When,” returns with the stripped-down single “Plastic Stars.” That’s Priscilla Perry on backing vocals.

■ Kirsten Izer, “Electric Blue” — New Jersey native Kirsten Izer will release her debut EP, “The Perfect Hire,” on June 5. After releasing the ethereal single “You” in February, Izer returned this week with “Electric Blue,” her cloudborne harmonies reflecting the ache of coastal push and pull, and past vs. present. Live June 7 at Bar Lubitsch.

■ Annahstasia, “Silk and Velvet” — The latest single from Annahstasia’s debut album, “Tether” (out June 13), “Silk and Velvet” swirls into the conflicted emotions to which she speaks in the song. “‘Silk and Velvet’ is a nod to the fourth wall between performer and consumer. Dream and reality …” she says. “Yes, this is a game, a game I would rather not play and I do not entirely enjoy it. As an artist, I sell parts of myself to the world, begrudgingly sometimes. All so that I can have what most people want and chase their entire lives, some level of comfort and security, to cultivate beauty and joy in peace. I maintain self-awareness of my place in the matrix with the end goal being to always find my North Star, to get to the mountain peak and see the view and still remember the version of myself that started the journey.” (Also check out “Villain.”) Live June 28 at Pico Union Project.

■ Alexandra John, “Me & You” —  Liza and Weston Friga-Cain are twins who make music under the moniker Alexandra John (their respective middle names). The siblings make pristinely produced dance-music, and their new single arrived today, on their birthday. It’s a dose of feel-good. The duo performs May 3 at the Bellwether as part of David Archuleta’s Afterhours.

■ Able Machines, “Identity Theft” — Tay Côlieé ain’t falling for no pop star. No chance. Nope. “There’s not enough auto-tune in the world,” she sings (hilariously, tweaked by a touch of electronic effects) in “Identity Theft,” the new single from Able Machines. It’s typically what the Able Machines (Côlieé and producer-songwriter Linus of Hollywood) do — couple relentless hooks with spiked lyrics. By the way, she wants her Pixies T-shirt back.

■ Austin Gatus, “Don’t Want This to Change” — Singer-songwriter and saxophonist Austin Gatus’ new single “Don’t Want This to Change” is a love song featuring Sophia James. James and Gatus are both credited as writers on the soulful track, ” I wake to you / Held in your embrace / And you say my name / No I don’t want this to change.” Gatus plays April 22 at Hotel Cafe.

■ Deb Never, “Know Me Better”—  Deb Never shows her musical range with “Know Me Better,” a mellow stand-alone single accompanied by an infectious drum beat that follows  her previous slow jam single “This Alive.”

■ Dennis Davison, “Putting Up With People” — Perhaps the best advice you can get while bordering on curmudgeonliness, “Putting Up With People” is a brisk power-pop jam from Dennis Davison, who fronted L.A. stalwarts the Jigsaw Seen for nine albums. How hard is it, whilst doom-scrolling, to remember that “there is no room for misanthropes and cynics …”? Damn hard.

■ Maeve Riley, “Oops!”— Maeve Riley is a solo pop artist from Rancho Cucamonga. Riley’s immense vocal talent shines in “Oops,” but the generic pop framework and jarring hair metal guitar solo feel like a misfit for her exceptional abilities.

■ Hello Valkyrie, “Hold My Breath” — Lady Valkyrie is the musical vehicle for L.A. native Olyvia Fiorentino and native Londoner Olivia Samara, who earlier this month released their debut album, “These Violent Delights.” The duo trades in easily digestible ’70s-styled ballads, power and piano.

■ Phlotilla & Andrea Wasse, “Reflections” — It was the fall of 1967 when “Reflections,” by Diana Ross & the Supremes, reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts. Here’s a remake, from Phlotilla (Topher Mohr) and Andrea Wasse (of Nightjacket).