Kevin Bronson on October 10th, 2025

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Here’s Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 359), arriving on a Friday with a bundle of album/EP releases: Jay Som, Not for Radio (María Zardoya), Lauren Ruth Ward, Massage, Avery Tucker, LANY, Sophia Center, NoSo and Electric Guest among them. Also check out new singles from Joyce Manor, Kelcey Ayer, Haim, Veronicavon, Finneas, Dollar Kisses, Grace Inspace and more.

Find our past playlists, with liner notes, here.

Note: Anita Wills contributed to today’s roundup.

■ Jay Som, “Past Lives” (feat. Hayley Williams) — “Belong,” singer-songwriter-producer Melina Duterte’s first Jay Som album in six years, arrived today — and with a cherry on top. The release-week single is “Past Lives,” featuring Paramore’s Hayley Williams. “I still can’t believe it happened,” Duterte says of the collaboration. “She’s one of the kindest artists out there and she graciously accepts and uplifts the people around her.” See also: “Cards on the Table,” “What You Need” and “Float.” Live Nov. 23 at the El Rey Theatre.

■ Massage, “Without Your Love” — “Coaster,” Massage’s the first album in four years and third overall, is out today, offering manna from heaven for fans guitar pop (especially the Britpop variety). Throughout, the quintet — Alex Naidus, Andrew Romano, Gabi Ferrer, David Rager and Natalie de Almeida — nail the vagaries of coming of age in their keen melodies, textures and lyricism.

■ Lauren Ruth Ward, “Love Goggles” — Today brought the release of Lauren Ruth Ward’s new EP, “Medicine,” a six-song spirit quest that kicks off with the two-fools-in-love confessional “Love Goggles.” “You were pathetic and obsessed / I was sexy and depressed,” Ward sings at the outset, setting the tone for songs of raw honesty told with her typically formidable vocals.

■ Kelcey Ayer, “Before You” — “‘Before You’ is about the feeling of being forever changed,” Kelcey Ayer says of his new single. “There are these moments in our lives that divide us into before and after. … Our son being born was one for me. I have trouble remembering what I was doing every day before he came.” Ayer, the former member of Local Natives who also has two albums from his first solo project Jaws of Love to his credit, this summer released the first EP under his own name, “No Sleep.” His second, “Hand Me Downs,” will be out Nov. 5.

■ Not for Radio, “My Turn” — Not for Radio is the solo project (or “alternate reality,” as she calls it) of María Zardoya (of The Marías), who today released the album “Melt.” Slow grooves, lighter-than-air atmospherics, velvety vocals — all conspire to give “Melt,” a collaboration with songwriters-producers Gianluca Buccellati (aka Luca) and Sam Evian, a warm intimacy.

■ NoSo, “You’re No Man”— Friendly reminder that Baek Hwong’s sophomore album as NoSo, “When Are You Leaving?,” is out today. Whether in ballads, rockers or nuggets of dance-pop, NoSo’s penchant for self-reflection rings true. Live Nov. 12 at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever.

■ Sophia Center, “I Don’t Mind” — Featuring the singles, “Decade,” “Somewhere” and “Signals,” “The Kids’ Table,” the new EP from South Pasadena native Sophia Center, is out today. Here’s the video for “I Don’t Mind.”

■ Avery Tucker, “Angel” — Friendly reminder that Avery Tucker’s debut solo album “Paw” drops today. “Angel,” a duet featuring vocals and violin by MUNA’s Katie Gavin, follows “My Life Isn’t Leaving You.” Tucker and Gavin sing on a mountain top in the music video here. Live Nov. 6 at Zebulon.

■ Lucius, “Thick As Thieves” — Lucius releases “Thick As Thieves,” a B-side single to their 2024 self-titled album, following “Joyride.” The band says: “This song is one for the misfits; who often found themselves in marching band (as we did). I had part of the chorus to this for a song I wrote in college called “Bleachers,” and then rewrote in 2012 until we finally found its home in “Thick as Thieves” in 2024.” Live Nov. 21 at the Wiltern.

■ Electric Guest, “Till the Morning” — Today brought the release of “10K,” the first album since 2019 from L.A. duo Electric Guest. “Till the Morning” kicks off the 12-song collection. Live Nov. 6 at the Regent Theater.

■ Joyce Manor, “Well, Whatever It Was” — South Bay stalwarts Joyce Manor have announced that their seventh LP, “I Used to Go to This Bar,” will be out Jan. 30. Lance Bangs directs the video for “Well, Whatever It Was,” a hilarious send-up of cooking shows that has the Joyce Manor guys competing against Morrissey, Kate Bush, the Gallagher brothers and Robert Smith

■ Out In Front, “Float” — L.A. trio Out In Front debuted in early 2024 as the musical vehicle of three tennis pros, Madie Renner, Ryen Wagner and Isaiah Volk. Ever since, they’ve been ramping up the intensity and their output, and today brought the release of their debut EP, “Straight Up to Space,” produced by Joel Ferber (True North). “Float” is a blast of pop-punk that opens the six-song release. Live Saturday at the Paramount, along with Aurora View and Pretty Pity.

■ Magdalene, “Tough Love” — Magdalene (aka Maddy Boyd, who previously made music under the name Your Angel) is a grime-pop solo artist. “Tough Love” is a stand-alone club-pop single reminiscent of early ’00s pop glory days. Boyd says: “This song is a desperate plea to a lover begging for them to save themselves so you can be together.” Watch the gritty music video here.

■ WARFIELD, “Black Halloween” — In March, Justin Warfield (She Wants Revenge) released the first EP from his solo project WARFIELD, “Deathrock Devotionals, Vol. 2.” A second volume is in the works, but he’s pausing to issue this one-off, “Black Halloween.” “For years,” he says, “I’ve dreamed of writing a Halloween song which could not only be the kind of song I wished existed for my own playlists and listening, but so that I could contribute something to the pantheon if you will. Like, why can’t I write an evergreen holiday song for the goths, punks, death rockers and freaks who live it before and after October?”

■ Faerybabyy, “Home Alone” — Faerybaby is the nom de tune of native Texan Payton Morse, whose music is an off-kilter mix of post-punk, goth and lo-fi pop. She released the album “Jabbermouth” early this year, has collaborated with Zzzahara and this week released the new single “Home Alone.”

■ Hether, “Images of Love” — Heather drops “Images Of Love,” following “Company,” from from his self-produced debut album “Holy Water” out Oct. 24. “Images of Love” is a charming souldies-type song. Watch Hether sing his heart out in the music video here. Live Nov. 5 at the Lodge Room.

■ Veronicavon, “Dipped” — Indie-pop duo Veronicavon, the project of Chris Hackman (Human Barbie) and Xuan Nguyen (Xuan), have announced the Dec. 12 release of their sophomore album, “Ice Cream.” It’s the follow-up to “Deep End,” released in early 2024, and on the new album’s first single the duo stays in the lane of airy, alluring bedroom pop. Live Nov. 2 at Gold-Diggers, with Beauty Queen and San Gabriel.

■ Spencer Hoffman, “Dandelions” — “‘Dandelions’ was written in a particularly tough time when I was splitting my time doing construction, session playing and art assisting on fashion shoots,” Spencer Hoffman says of his new single, a poignant slice of workingman’s blues (lyrics). “The long hours started taking a toll on my body and chasing down invoices was taking a toll on my mental health and housing stability. After a tour drained my bank account and there was no work in sight I was feeling particularly wistful of simpler times and more than a little indignant at other people’s privileges who tend to crowd the music space.” Meg Duffy plays slide guitar on the track, and Sharon Silva (ex-Wild Reeds) contributes backing vocals.

■ Blondshell, “Arms” (feat. Gigi Perez) — Blondshell has announced the Nov. 14 release of “Another Picture,” a companion album to her sophomore album “:If You Asked for a Picture,” released in May. “Another Picture” finds Sabrina Teitelbaum assembling one new original, re-imagined versions of album tracks (including “Arms,” which features Gigi Perez) and covers by the likes of Coor Oberst, Sami and John Glacier. Blondshell has already been announced as part of the Coachella 2026 lineup.

■ Imaginary Persons, “Lush” — It’s been four years since Tommy Alexander released “Born in Time,” the sophomore album from his solo project Imaginary Persons. Now he’s back with more desert-baked psychedelia in the form of new single “Lush.” There’s an full-length on the way in January.

■ Dollar Kisses, “Bleach” — Dollar Kisses is the solo project of Cherry Halvey, having debuted this spring with the single “Silver Works.” Dollar Kisses’ third effort, “Bleach,” is a snotty, noisy punk-rocker … which is to say, I to dig out my old leather jacket.

■ Tombstones in Their Eyes, “Under Dark Skies” — Long-running psych-rock torchbearers Tombstones In Their Eyes (John Treanor, Stephen Striegel, Courtney Davies, Phil Cobb, Paul Boutin, Nic Nifoussi and Clea Cullen) are back with the widescreen “Under Dark Skies,” the title track to their first album (out Dec. 5) for Little Cloud Records. Watch the video here.

■ Broken Sound, “National Trauma” — Broken Sound is the collaboration between Fernando Perdomo and A. Michael Collins, who today released their sophomore album “DOS.” There are a lot of rippers here, starting with “National Trauma” and including “Everybody Wants to Screw the World,” “Constellation” and “Melt the Bots.”

■ Stereobliss, “Driving” — Stereobliss (Jaxon Toombs, Dominic Christiansen, Atticus Boone and Jimmy Walker) is an alt-rock band from West L.A. “Driving,” a slow-jam rock song, features killer drums and an audacious guitar breakdown, from their sophomore album “500” which was released in late August.

■ Grace Inspace, “Unrivaled” — “‘Unrivaled’ is about the torment of loving someone you know is wrong for you — you try to pull away and yet they pace in every corner of your mind,” L.A.-born, London-bred Grace Inspace Garner says of her new single. “It’s an internal war, where the part of you that aches to stay collides with the part that knows if you don’t leave, you’ll lose yourself entirely. This song is about fighting your way out of the deep end, finding the courage to walk away, and piecing yourself back together.” It’s the artist’s second single since her 2023 EP, “Sunshine Kid.”

■ Finneas, “”Palomino” — The new Finneas single “Palomino” appears in Season 2 of the Netflix rom-com “Nobody Wants This,” the full soundtrack for which will be released Oct. 23.

■ LANY, “Soft” — If nothing else, LANY’s new LP “Soft” has the cutest album art in recent memory. Of course, the duo of Paul Klein and Jake Goss, bring more to the table — the pristine, emotiion-drenched balladry that they’ve refined over their previous five albums.

■ Haim, “Tie You Down” (feat. Bon Iver)” — Haim’s new collaboration with Bon Iver, “Tie You Down,” will appear on the deluxe edition of their latest album, “I Quit.”

■ Polartropica, “Shiny Things” (feat. Gilbert Louie Ray) — Polartropica, known for making kaleidoscopic pop, dials it back for a good ol’ duet with Gilbert Louie Ray on “Shiny Things.”

■ Cheekface, “Sucked Out” — We’ll bring this playlist in for a landing with a double-dose of cover songs. First up: Cheekface gets all cheekfacey with Superdrag’s “Sucked Out.” …

■ Jesika Von Rabbit, “Werewolves of London” — And speaking of Halloween, Jesika Von Rabbit (whose latest album “Bunnywood Babylon” came out in June) has some fun with Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London.” Which, apparently, was spotted in downtown Joshua Tree.