Kevin Bronson on June 13th, 2025

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Maybe you need a respite. Or some salve. Or a distraction. Maybe some new music can help.

Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 342) kicks off with a run of songs from albums that came this week. Then it gallops off in a genre-unspecific way before ending with a great cover song.

Press play to hear new music from Rocket, The Undercover Dream Lovers, Buckets, Ramonda Hammer, Julia Jade, Mating Ritual, Annahstasia, Alex Amen, Self Improvement, Jesika Von Rabbit, Field Medic, Double Wish, Petey USA, HLLLYH, Gelli Haha and a bunch more. Stay for Imaad Wasif at the end.

Find all our playlists, and the notes we scribble about each song, here.

Note: Anita Mills contributed to this roundup.

■ Annahstasia, “Believer” — Friendly reminder that “Tether,” the debut album from folk seductress Annahstasia, is out today. Boasting singles such as “Villain,” it’s a tour de force that ends with the 6-minute rock anthem “Believer,” about which the songwriter says is intended to be “the kind of song some teenager in the Midwest plays on repeat for two hours straight high off his mind laying on the shag rug, staring at the basement ceiling, dreaming and crying. This song is a whole fantasy for me, it actually came to me fully formed in a dream. I cherish making records because this song sounds entirely different from how I have been playing it live the last two years. Now I have this version that I blast in my headphones and play air guitar and pretend I’m performing it for 100,000 people while the rain gently mists down. The year is 1972 and the internet is barely a thought. My natural hair is out and the cables kinda buzz, I’m at the peak of my career and the sea of people are screaming my name as the band calmly camps before we dig into the hook at which point everyone absolutely loses their mind.” Indeed, by the end, I have my lighter aflame, held high. Live June 28 at Pico Union Project.

■ Mating Ritual, “Two Steps Forward (Then I Step In)” — Brother duo Mating Ritual (Ryan and Taylor Lawhon) specialized in smart, party-starting pop over the course of their five-album, five-year run between 2017 and ’21. Their reflective sixth album, “Shangri-blah” (out today), acoustic guitar-driven and adorned with twang, feels like an inventory. Rife with the duo’s typical melodic and lyrical hooksd, it’s moving — just in a different way than their disco-cum-indie-rock was. Among the singles, “Lower East Side” and the title track are “Shangri-blah’s” strongest calling cards. Plus, the vinyl comes with an 11-recipe cookbook. Live Nov. 15 at the Lodge Room.

■ Jesika Von Rabbit, “Desert Rain” — Friendly reminder that “Bunnywood Babylon,” the third solo album from Jesika Von Rabbit, is out today. Dating to her days fronting Gram Rabbit, she has been, as we’ve said, the energizer bunny of subversive, left-field pop and you only need to sample her music videos to see that she puts the “high” in High Desert. Or, see her live: tonight at Pappy & Harriet’s and June 20 at the Redwood.

■ Self-Improvement, “Settle Down” — Shouldn’t we all feel nervous? Here’s the soundtrack: “Syndrome” (out today), the new album from next-gen post-punk outfit Self Improvement. Live July 8 at Zebulon.

■ Triptides, “More Than a Friend” — “More Than a Friend” is but one of the trippy highlights on “Shapeshifter,” the new album released today by Triptides.

■ Osnova, “Blue and Green” — “Blue and Green” is the lead track on atmospheric rockers Osnova’s new album, “Rise the Sun,” out today.

■ Alex Amen, “Hello Old Man” — Alex Amundson, dba Alex Amen, has quickly been embraced by the folk music universe, earning an invites to perform at Willie Nelson’s Ranch and festivals in the U.S. and U.K. beginning in July — although he only released his first single last October. The Texas native has lived a vagabond life in recent years, eventually joining the bohemian denizens of Altadena’s Zorthian Ranch artists colony. There, he began work on his first EP, “The Zorthian Tapes” (see the documentary here). “The experience was deeply life-defining, and the energy of Zorthian — its people, its history, its magic — flowed through the entire experience and came through what was captured there,” Amen says. “It was so impactful that some of us actually ended up moving to Altadena afterward, where we lived together as a band for the next two years. We moved out of Altadena just one week before the Eaton Canyon Fire that destroyed most of the neighborhood last fall — including Zorthian. It’s still hard to process that. Altadena, to me, was the most grounded, beautiful corner of Los Angeles — a place that caught me during a big transition in life and gave me the space to land and grow. Those recordings are a time capsule — not just of the songs, but of the feeling of that time, in that town, and within us as a band. It’s a moment I feel lucky to have experienced, that now lives forever in the music.” Featuring singles such as “California Blues,” and “Got to Go,” “The Zorthian Tapes” is out June 20, but this week Amen released a non-EP track that’s been a favorite at his shows, “Hello Old Man.”

■ Emily Brimlow, “Lil Bit” (feat. The Elovaters) — Emily Brimlow is a native British Columbian who has found a home in the sun and surf of Huntington Beach. Her latest single features an assist from Jackon Wetherbee of the Elovaters. Live July 17 at the Wayfarer.

■ Field Medic, “Melancholy” — Kevin Patrick Sullivan, aka Field Medic, introduces his new album “Surrender Instead” (out Aug. 8), with “Melancholy,” a song that dips into doo-wop for its emotional heft. Live Nov. 8 at the Fonda, supporting Ritchy Mitch & the Coal Miners.

■ Soft Palms, “Radio” — “Radio” is the latest single from Soft Palms (Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya), who besides making cool indie-rock are the people behind the Happy Sundays free music festival in Long Beach, which recently announced the lineup for this year’s event (Aug. 23-24). Oh, and Soft Palms also play June 22 at Gold-Diggers.

■ HLLLYH, “Flex It, Tagger” — HLLLYH (The Mae Shi, reincarnated) have been marching noisily toward the June 27 release of the new album “URUBURU.” The follow-up to the single “Uru Buru,” “Flex It, Tagger” arrived today along with a B-side, a cover of Elvis Costello’s “The Other Side of Summer.” Live Aug. 8 at Permanent Records Roadhouse and Aug. 9 at the Smell.

■ Rocket, “Crossing Fingers” — “Crossing Fingers” is the third single from rock quartet Rocket this year, following “One Million.” The band continues their signature ’90s sound in “Crossing Fingers,” which also contains a killer breakdown. Rocket plays Nov. 22 at the Roxy. Watch the gang rock out in the desert in the music video here.

■ Buckets, “Slipping” — L.A. quartet Buckets (Tanner Houghton, Sasha Massey, Mitch Rossiter and Hiram Sevilla) haven’t lost a beat since releasing their debut album, “Good Luck Bad Dog,” in late 2023. Swirling and riffy and noisy with charm, “Slipping” is their first new original since. Director Brandon Tasker’s video, which stars Sarah Harris (of Dolly Creamer) and Branden Wilbarger (of Bonavega), is a hoot. Live June 28 at Zebulon as part of Eastside Fux Vol. III, with Jagged Baptist Club, Ughhh and more.

■ Ramonda Hammer, “The Panic” — Ramonda Hammer are known for their muscular neo-grunge. Now a trio (Devin Davis, Justin Geter and Andy Hengl), the stretch out on new single “The Panic,” which metes out some widescreen catharsis and which the band says is “probably the most visceral song we’ve ever written.” That, folks, is saying something. Live June 20 at Gold-Diggers, with the Dumes and Fime.

■ Supergloom, “Shimmer” — The latest single from Supergloom (Shane Graham, Drew Aron and Ian Stahl), “Shimmer” comes at you in waves. That’s a good thing. Supergloom is assembling their debut album, and with recent singles “Kingfisher” and “SideFX” joined by “Shimmer,” it’s off to a good start.

■ Rose Haze, “Love From Death” — Following “The Möbius Oblivion,” Kate Ramsey aka Rose Haze is back with “Love From Death,” another single honoring her late band mate Ruben Gonzales. Ramsey plays Gonzales’ personal guitar in the crunchy shoegaze track, while singing sentimental lyrics, “In the new moon you brought me love / Now you’re answering my prayers from the sky.”

■ Double Wish, “Tattooed Heart” — O.C. duo Double Wish (Adam Sabolick and Philippe Andre) introduce their self-titled album (out Aug. 22) with the fever-dreaming single “Tattooed Heart.” Check out the video here.

■ Gelli Haha, “Normalize” — Gelli Haha continues to be the most fun you can have while chuckling at somebody’s stage name. “Normalize” is her fourth single, following “Spit,” “Funny Music” and “Bounce House,” all of which will appear on her debut album “Switcheroo,” produced by Sean Guerin (De Lux) and out June 27. Live Aug. 8 at Resident.

■ Robert DeLong, “Switchblade” (feat. Luna Aura) — On June 20, electro-pop maestro Robert DeLong will release a deluxe version of last September’s “Playlist of Doom” album. “Playlist of Doom: After Dark” arrives with eight bonus tracks, including the caffeinated banger “Switchblade,” featuring Luna Aura. DeLong will be partying in Silver Lake in celebration of the release, with free shows at El Cid on June 19 and on July 3.

■ The Undercover Dream Lovers, “Deja Vu” — The past few months have seen a handful of new singles from Matt Koenig, aka the Undercover Dream Lovers. Are you a fan of thoroughly infectious, airy pop? Here’s “Deja Vu” all over again.

■ Magenta Moon, “You Like Me” — Magenta Moon, the duo of Elaina Whitesell and Joey Petrarca, return with the alluring single “You Like Me,” the follow-up to “Pick Up.”

■ Harmless, “The Bluff” — Harmless (Nacho Cano) is a solo artist who was born in Mexico City. “The Bluff” (music video here) is the second single from his upcoming album “By Them, By You, By Me” out Oct. 17. Cano says the title of the song reflects the burden of endlessly wanting more as an artist: “We have to constantly want more without giving any thought to what we have and love. This is a side of this career that I feel not many see. We play the bluff while we play the show.” Harmless plays the Constellation Room on Oct. 17 and The Echo on Nov. 2.

■ Julia Jade, “Actually, I Have Time” — Julia Jade’s indie-pop ministrations reveal a deft touch, sharp and self-aware, such that many of her songs comes off as affirmations. With a wink, she describes her music as “involuntary twee,” and allows as how her new single “Actually, I Have Time” is inspired by the tone of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” When her pals join in for the affecting gang chorus, you’ll be won over.

■ Petey USA, “Breathing the Same Air” — “Petey USA (Peter Martin, who previously released music as just Petey) has never confined himself to a single genre. “Breathing the Same Air” is the third single from his upcoming concept album, “The Yips,” out on July 11 via Capitol Records. Much like his tendency to play at different musicalities, each song on the album tells a different story about dive bar regulars. In the mellow rock song “Breathing the Same Air,” Martin tells the story of two people who are there solely for the sake of company: “Sometimes breathing the same air / Has gotta be enough.” Martin is a man of many faces (literally) in the music video here. Live at the Troubadour on July 15.

■ Fox Sinclair & Plus, “Smart” — Fox Sinclair teams up with songwriter-producer Kyle McCammon, aka Plus, on the sassy affirmation that is “Smart.” Live Saturday at Gold-Diggers.

■ Beauty School Dropout, “Fever” — High-energy rockers Beauty School Dropout follow-up “On Your Lips” with the announcement of their upcoming debut LP, “Where Did All The Butterflies Go?,” and a new single, “Fever.” “Fever” is a fun and danceable rock song with an impressive vocal performance featuring tasteful screams by vocalist Cole “Colie” Hutzler. Watch the band play a party in the music video here.

■ Your Favorite Color, “Less In Love” — Your Favorite Color follows up “Forever” with the bass-driven single “Less In Love.” The band says: “This song is about refusing to change for someone else and owning your true self without apology.”

■ The Violent Hour, “Hell Or Hollywood” (feat. Zakk Wylde) — The Violent Hour is the solo project of Butcher Babies Vocalist Carla Harvey. Her high-energy hard-rock stand-alone single “Hell Or Hollywood” features Zakk Wylde via Megaforce Records. Watch Harvey have fun in Hollywood in the music video here.

■ Gale Forces, “Exits” — Aptly named riff lovers Gale Forces, who in late 2023 released their second album “Highlights of Existence,” returned today with the double-single, “Exits” and “Losing to Win.” Live (early show) Saturday at the Redwood.

■ Faetooth, “White Noise” — Faetooth (Jenna Garcia, Ari May and Rah Kanan) bring fairy-doom to L.A. with their second single, “White Noise,” off their new LP, “Labyrinthine,” dropping Sept. 5. Guitarist Ari May says: “Performing the song always takes me back to a specific place, even if just for a moment.”

■ Imaad Wasif, “I See a Darkness” — Imaad Wasif will be touring as Yeah Yeah Yeahs second guitarist this summer — and he’ll be the opening acy on some dates, including July 9, 10 and 11 at the Orpheum in DTLA. Our playlist-ender today is his cover of Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s “I See a Darkness,” which Wasif recorded with assists from Bobb Bruno and Brian Chase. “Songs like this don’t come around but once in a lifetime,” Wasif says. “I started covering it live in 2024 when I was going through some huge life changes, and then after the Eaton fires in Altadena had displaced me from my home, it resonated even louder. So in February 2025, I recorded this version at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, while I was there working with Yeah Yeah Yeahs amidst the bright stars and the wintered bare pecan trees.”