Kevin Bronson on May 29th, 2026

0

What a delight it is to bring you Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 389), featuring a bevy of new songs to help you swing into summer.

Check out songs from Josh da Costa, Ian Sweet, Eleni Mandell, Cheekface, Talk Time, Nick Kivlen, Girlfriend Wife, The Army The Navy, WILLOW, Almost Monday, Talker, Syd, Salem Darling, Tomorrow Tomorrow, Susy Sun, Chris Pierce, Obli, Joey Quiñones and more. With a cover by Olivia Rodrigo on top.

Previous Buzz Bands LA playlists, with liner notes, here.

Anita Mills contributed to this roundup.

■ Wilt, “Nothing Good to Cry About” — L.A. quartet Wilt (Chelsea Rifkin, Aaron Liebman, Andrew Vance and Dan Bermudez) debuted in late 2022, and, with one EP and a handful of singles to their credit, they are well on their way to world domination. Or a spot on the 2001 Warped Tour. “Nothing Good to Cry About” (Jacqueline Justice’s video) showcases the surging melodies and muscular guitars of their sound, a hybrid of ’90s alternative and pop-punk. RIYL: Hole, The Donnas, L7 and (for deep-divers) The Reputation. Live Sept. 23 at the Wiltern.

■ Josh da Costa, “Proving Me Right” — Josh da Costa’s almost giddy affection for a wide array of genres really shines on the first two singles from solo album “New Wave Graveyard,” out July 24 via Stones Throw. Da Costa (whom you might know from his bands CMON or Regal Degal, or as drummer for Drugdealer and MGMT, among others) considers the album his “greatest hits from a parallel universe, classic songs from an alternate reality. … Instead of trying to home in on one specific vibe or sound, I chose to sort of chameleon my way through my own taste and record collection and try out different approaches to songwriting — as if I were more than just one artist.” So behold “Proving Me Right” (video here), which he calls a “tribute to bands like Japan, Sparks, ELO, Associates, and Cleaners From Venus.” Compare/contrast with the other single, “Skygirl,” something of a Madchester fever dream.

■ Eleni Mandell, “Flirtatious Friend” — “Tailspin,” Eleni Mandell’s first album in seven years, this week officially joined the singer-songwriter’s deep catalogue of noir-pop, folk, jazz over the past 2 1/2 decades. No matter the style in which she chooses to work, Mandell never fails to engage; here, on an album backgrounded by divorce, the passings of her father and her music mentor, single motherhood and self-doubt (“I didn’t know if I’d ever make another record,” she admits), she waxes smart, tender, loving and at times gently and heart-rendingly humorous. “Go Look at the Sky,” she sings, and here is your soundtrack for that. Live June 2 at 2220 Arts + Archives.

■ Nick Kivlen, “Starlight” — You know Nick Kivlen as co-leader of the band Sunflower Bean. A self-described “New Yorker in Los Angeles,” Kivlen on July 7 will release his first solo album, “Addicted to the Sunset,” made in his digs in Beachwood Canyon. Of the first single, the dream psych-pop song “Starlight,” he says: “A lot of the lyrics are reflecting on the perspective I had when I was 20—the possibilities of the future, the yearning for a better world, and the fallout from chasing your dreams.”

■ Girlfriend, Wife, “Focus” — After a string of seductive singles (“Straight Show,” “Send Me a Sign” and “Fly Away”), dream-pop duo Girlfriend, Wife this week announced that their debut EP, “God Made me a Star,” will be out June 26.

■ Eyedress, “Alone At Night” — Effortlessly cool solo artist Eyedress (Idris Vicuña) drops “Alone At Night,” a new single of featuring Filipino-American musician Loren Rivera. Vicuña says: “I might not always show it but I definitely think it’s important for Filipinos to work together. I originally made the instrumental back in my old studio in Altadena before the fires went down, so I felt like the music was special because it was made there before everything burned down.” The shoegaze track that follows “Stoner Olympics,” marks the first release under Psychedelic Industries, Vicuña new company that acts as a record label and skateboard collective.

■ Talk Time, “Party’s On Its Way” — A pool party, and we weren’t invited. We kid. We are actually the alien presence in the Tsunami Brothers video for “Party’s On Its Way,” the first single from Talk Time (Edson Choi, Jon Bradley, Mike Nissen and John Ransom Tucker) since … checks calendar … 2022. Nice to hear them again.

■ Ian Sweet, “Jilian” — Memo to self? The follow-up to “Criminal Kissing,” “Jilian” is the second single from Ian Sweet’s new album “Shiverstruck,” out July 24 via Polyvinyl. “It’s about all the moments that make life feel cruel and hilarious at the same time,” says the songwriter, real name Jilian Medford. Live July 24 at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater.

■ Cheekface, “I Don’t Work Here” — Cheekface is never not at least amusing. Better, the L.A. chatterboxes are frequently spit-take funny, so wipe off my computer screen for “I Don’t Work Here” and its chorus “You can put away the cuck chair / It’s just you and me tonight.” Which was our favorite line in the new single until Greg Katz later declares “There’s two Noahs on the Ark / That’s why everyone is gay!” The song (along with recent entries such as “MFT,” “Black Site” and “Hostile Street”) appears on Cheekface’s sixth album, “Podium,” out July 28. Live Oct. 24 at the Teragram Ballroom.

■ Violet Grohl, “Bug in the Cake” — Friendly reminder (even if you don’t need one) that Violet Grohl’s debut album, “Be Sweet to Me,” is out today. Live Oct. 29 at the Constellation Room (sold out).

■ Almost Monday, “Skinny Dip” — Indie-pop trio Almost Monday continue to bring in the summer vibes with the energetic rock track “Skinny Dip,” following “No More Regrets.”

■ Talker, “Truck” — “This song is about the patterns that we sometimes unknowingly fall into, the ones that you don’t notice until you’re right back in the same place — just maybe with someone else, or in a different season.” Celeste Tauchar says of her latest Talker single. “It takes place in a truck, but it could have been anywhere else that I’ve already been.” The follow-up to “Happy Birthday” and “Gold Rush,” “Truck” is the latest single from Talker’s sophomore album, “Runaway Jane,” out July 17. Live July 17 at Permanent Records Roadhouse, opening for Alex Lahey.

■ Cade Hoppe, “Still Turn This Around” — Cade Hoppe is an indie-pop singer-songwriter who is a former college basketball player at NYU who decided to pursue music instead. His new stand-alone single, “Still Turn This Around,” is an atmospheric track featuring breathy vocals. Hoppe says of the atmospheric track: “You don’t know where you’re going or how to get there, and every added mile is an extra mile if you ever decide to turn back.”

■ Tomorrow Tomorrow, “Rearview Mirror” — Friendly reminder that “Dwelling,” the debut album from DIY indie-rocker Nico Ludwig-Stock’s solo project Tomorrow Tomorrow. Here’s the video for “Rearview Mirror”; be sure to check out “Indelible” and “Wreck Less, Venture Some;” and prepar to be engrossed in Tomorrow Tomorrow’s waxing ethereality.

■ Young Lovers, “Mourning Routine” — Young Lovers deliver another tearjerker from their new LP “The Circle’s End,” dropping June 26 via Anxiety Blanket Records. The band says of “Mourning Routine,” following “Ross”: “Mourning Routine” started as our attempt at writing a short, classic pop song. Which eventually turned into a seven-minute slow burner. As the entire album is about breaking a cycle, this song describes actively being stuck in a slow, vicious cycle of self-destruction and self-sabotage following grief, and even choosing to stay stuck there. Stylistically, this follows the structure of a conventional song, but at a tempo that seems to alter and confuse traditional perceptions of the passage of time, events, and emotions themselves.” Watch the music video here, directed, produced and edited by Devonte Johnson.

■ WILLOW, “Talk on the Hill” — Willow Smith (who is only 25 years old, we keep reminding ourselves) introduces her ninth album, “The Thread” (out July 24), with the exuberant “Talk on the Hill.”

■ Chris Pierce, “This Sunlit Morning” — Folk singer Chris Pierce dials in to the socio-political zeitgeist on his new single “This Sunlit Morning,” the first taste of this week introduced his new full-length, “Songs for the Heavy Hearted.” It’s out Aug. 22 as the follow-up to his 2023 LP “Let All Who Will.” “This Sunlit Morning came from holding the weight of the times we’re living in,” Pierce says. “Every day, we’re staring into some new kind of chaos, division, or corruption, and if we’re not careful, it can start to pull us away from what is right in front of us. This song is about remembering to pause and reflect on what we’ve been blessed with.”

■ Susy Sun, “Ride the Wave” The follow-up to “Nothing’s Ever Right,” “Ride the Wave” is the latest single from Susy Sun’s fourth LP, “Pisces Dream” (out July 24). Henry Wolfe produces, and among the players on the album are guitarist Aaron Embry and drummer Kyle Crane.

■ Obli, “Loving You” — “In a way, this album is about trying to hold onto something,” Chris Null says of the new Obli LP “Soft Speak.” “Whether that’s a feeling, a memory, or just a moment of stillness.” In the latest release of his ambient electronic music project, Null, the onetime bassist of rock quartet Dead Sara, has crafted a thoroughly immersive immersive album of substantial depth. “Loving You” is more of a dancefloor cut, but most of “Soft Speak” converses with your deeper recesses.

■ KÁRYYN, “Further We Fall” — Today brought the release of “Physics Universal Love Language (PULL),” the new album from experimental synth-pop artist Kárin Tatoyan, dba KÁRYNN. It’s as heady as the songwriter makes it sound. “‘PULL’ is about the invisible forces that hold us, break us and pull us back together,” KÁRYYN says. “It’s a framework for understanding my relationship with Self. This record is the sound of my human revolution.”

■ Reza Safinia, “Kiss U on the Way” — The title of Reza Safinia’s first album in five years is “1/∞,” a double-LP with each side representing the four elements, fire, water, air and earth. The veteran songwriter/producer fans some flames on the new single, “Kiss U on the Way.”

■ A/S/L, “Powder Hour” — Today brought the release of A/S/L’s new EP, “Burnt Out Disco for Club Kids.”

■ Paper Pools, “Night Days” — Friendly reminder that the aptly titled “Everything,” the new album from Paper Pools (Allen Orr), is out today.

■ Pearl & the Oysters, “Mandarin Moon” — The follow-up to “Doom Mood” and “Wide Awake,” “Mandarin Moon” is the latest single from Pearl & the Oysters’ new, Jonathan Rado-produced album “Monkey Mind” (out June 26). Live Aug. 20 at the Lodge Room.

■ Cisco Adler & Mihali, “Mango Tree” — Find a breezy tropical beach for “Mango Tree,” the new single from Cisco Adler (Whitestarr, Shwayze), a collaboration with Mihali.

■ Syd, “Callin” (feat. Blu June) — Syd has announced the July 17 release of “Beard,” her third album and first in three years. Blu June, featured on the new single “Callin,” is among collaborators on the LP including Raphael Saadiq, Big Sean, Rodney Jerkins, James Fauntleroy, Van Hunt, and Jordan Ward.

■ The Strike, “Edge Of The World” — The Strike drops “Edge Of The World,” in preparation for their big summer tour. The band says of the reverb drenched, could be in an ’80s movie track: “A mysterious connection pulls two people into a journey filled with discovery, uncertainty, and unexpected twists. However, every story eventually reaches a crossroads.” Live Aug. 8 at Pacific Electric.

■ Love Spells, “Keep It to Yourself” — Love Spells, the solo vehicle of L.A.-based Houston native Sir Taegan Harris, will release their debut album, “Love Is the Law,” on July 24. Got falsetto? “Keep It to Yourself” does. Live Oct. 14 at the Constellation Room and Oct. 16 at the Roxy.

■ Salem Darling, “They All Said” — Starting with January’s “Ban PDA,” singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Salem Darling (Salem Meade) has maintained a single-per-month pace. Every catchy thing she releases meets her stated goal of writing “songs that are great for screaming in the car.” Roll your windows down.

■ Joey Quiñones, “Bolsita” — Friendly reminder that Joey Quinones’ highly anticipated debut solo album “Inna Soul Steady Situation” has dropped. “Bolsita, following “Don’t Let Go,” is an instrumental track, reminiscent of exotica beatnik dance parties, in the best possible way.

■ The Army, The Navy, “Down Debbie/Reservoir” — The Army, The Navy follow “2 Collide” with “Down Debbie/Reservoir,” from their upcoming LP “Fake Brave Life,” out June 12 via Independent Co.. The band says: “”Down Debbie” is a lush R&B track that dives into the tension between craving deep connection and the instinct to protect yourself from it. The track captures a truth that is rarely spoken about, that sometimes the warmth of another person can feel more stifling than their distance.”

■ Liam Horne, “Everywhere” — Native Scotsman Liam Horne has been a behind-the-scenes songwriter for years. Stepping out on his own, he’s released two singles this year, “Paradise” and now “Everywhere.”    

■ Hailey Picardi, “Double Edged Sword” — Today brought the release of “Scars to Prove It,” the debut EP from 19-year-old Bay Area native Hailey Picardi, the latest indie-pop siren in a constellation of them.

■ The Toxhards, “Alligator Crocodile” — Ahead of a big year of touring, the Toxhards follow up their album “Your Neighborhood” (released in the spring of 2025) with the new rocker “Alligator Crocodile.” Live Oct. 31 at House of Blues Anaheim and Nov. 1 at the Moroccan Lounge.

■ MEGG, “Idiot” — “Idiot” is the first single from pop-punk artist MEGG since last fall’s EP, “Low Life Club.” There’s a deluxe version of the EP on the way, and a show to celebrate it: July 2 at Deep End Live in Redondo Beach.

■ Where’s West?, “Kitchen” — Classic-rock guitar meets funk bass in “Kitchen,” the new stand-alone single by indie-rock group Where’s West? via East Iris Records. The band says: “This song is about a relationship that wasn’t meant to be, but is still missed.”

■ Olivia Rodrigo, “The Book of Love” — Our playlist-ending cover song features Olivia Rodrigo taking on the Magnetic Fields’ “The Book of Love,” as part of the occasionally jaw-dropping 23 trakcs on the benefit album “HELP(2).”