Kevin Bronson on June 19th, 2026

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Dive in to Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 392), which boasts new music from Carolina Chase, Bitter:Sweet, Jensen McRae, Josh Ottum, Maudlin Strangers, Syd, The Garden, Shannon Lay, Soft Palms, Izzy Outerspace, Eels, Jordan Patterson, Boycomma and more.

Anita Mills contributed to this roundup.

■ Carolina Chase, “Have You Let Go Yet?” (feat. Tyler Lyle) — Carolina Chase is a 15-year-old singer-songwriter with music in her blood and, increasingly, on the playlists of anybody with a love for affecting pop songs. She was just 11 when she released her debut EP, “Eleven,” and, like many a teenage prodigy, the granddaughter of Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler is trading on her unbridled emotions and already formidable musicality. On her new single “Have You Let Go Yet?,” a collaboration with Tyler Lyle, she wrestles with putting bad relationships and grudges behind her.

■ Maudlin Strangers, “The Westside” — Going from Western (the spaghetti variety) to out yonder beyond the 405, “The Westside” the new single from the Maudlin Strangers. Live July 18 at the Den Studios in DTLA.

■ Jensen McRae, “Just Like You” — Jensen McRae has announced a deluxe version of her 2025 album — “I Don’t Know How But They Found Me … Again!” is out digitally on July 24 and on vinyl on Oct. 9). “Just Like You” (video here) is one of a dozen bonus tracks.

■ Bitter:Sweet, “The One” — A little over a year after her triumphant return album, “Baby Is Back,” singer-songwriter Shana Halligan shows she’s got ore in the tack. “The One,” made in collaboration with Max Bottini of Italian trip hop outfit Gabin, is the title track to a new Bitter:Sweet album out late this summer. “‘The One’ came to me after the recent passing of my biological mum and the view of myself I have battled with based on her own feelings about herself,” Halligan says. “It was instilled upon me at a young age that once I no longer have youth and beauty, I will no longer have a reason to be loved. In this song, I had been so desperately longing to be loved, accepted and cared for, for as long as time will allow, realizing time is now fleeting …”

■ Eels, “Cap In Here” — Eels will drop their new album “Cookie Happened” on Oct. 16. The album name references a lesser-known philosopher, the Cookie Monster. Front an Mark Oliver Everett says of “Cap In Here”: “I wanted to sound kind of worn out for this one too, like someone who’s messed up their life but now sees the error of their ways and is trying to make amends with their tail between their legs.”

■ Izzy Outerspace, “Impossible Thing” — Izzy Outerspace has beamed the lonely denizens of this planet her first new music of 2026; “Impossible Thing” is yet another shogaze-adjacent jolt of adrenaline, with some trippy mixed in (see the video).

■ Soft Palms, “Garbage in the Sand” — Five years in the works (background), ““In Echo” is the biting new album from Long Beach-based married duo Soft Palms (Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya). “Garbage in the Sand” opens the reverb-soaked collection of garage-pop-cum-surf-rock. Catch them July 18 at Hobie Surf Shop in Dana Point.

■ 16 Underground, “Glimpse of You” — 16 Underground are a quartet exploring electronic music influenced by ’90s art-pop, trip-hop and ambient music. “Glimpse of You,” the new single from the band (Hannah Campbell, Christian Ramos, Edward Barraza and Andy Sanchez), is one of those tracks you could fairly bathe in. It’s the first song on their new EP, “Without a Trace,” arriving Aug. 14.

■ Josh Ottum, “Light Depression” — The bulletin here is that San Luis Obispo-based Josh Ottum has designs on releasing a new album/EP every full moon for the next three years. “Yellowband,” released May 31, was the first. “Light Depression” (out June 29) will be the second. There promises to be much to explore on his Bandcamp page — we could fill the page with Ottum’s past and present music associations and exploits. The six-song “Light Depression” was made with Frank Lenz (Aaron Lee Tasjan, Starflyer 59), Tyler Cash (Devendra Banhart, Lord Huron), Davin Givhan (Leon Bridges, Chris Cohen, Diiv), James McAlister (Sufjan Stevens, Taylor Swift, The National) and engineer James Riotto. Also worth your time: Ottum’s Substack, “Sounds Like You.” Stay tuned for more.

■ Jordan Patterson, “Cinderella” — Friendly reminder that Jordan Patterson’s new EP “Songs From A Valley Girl” has arrived via Secretly Canadian. Following “Just My Friend,”  the unusual instrumentals and haunting harmonies of “Cinderella” would fit in any Tim Burton film.

■ Shannon Lay, “Horizons” — The follow-up to the title track, the astral “Horizons” is the second single from Shannon Lay’s new album “Past the Veil,” out July 28. Live Aug. 13 at Pappy & Harriet’s and Aug. 14 at the Lodge Room, both opening for Alela Diane.

■ Alex Cameron, “Jesus Never Had No Porno” — “‘Jesus Never Had No Porno’ is a song that happened to three men in a room,” Aussie singer-songwriter Alex Cameron says. “Afterwards there was a loud bang. The next day L.A. caught on fire.” Cameron’s new album “Late to Set” is out July 24. Live Nov. 6 at Zebulon.

■ Syd, “2 Many Days” — “2 Many Days” sees Syd’s vocals riding the flawlessly — “Callin” as the second single from Syd’s new album, “Beard,” out July 17.

■ Renee & Jeremy, “Happening Right Now” — Indie-folk duo Renee & Jeremy (Stahl and Toback, respectively) return with a harmony-laced gem, “Happening Right Now.” Summer’s almost officially here, right?

■ Last Chance for a Slow Dance, “Sideways” — Last Chance for a Slow Dance combines the talents of scene vets John David Greenwood and Harris Pittman, who debut with a slice of mellow alt-folk, “Sideways.”

■ Tart Vandelay, “Spin” — Northeast bred indie-pop duo Tart Vandelay (Kate Halligan and Marty Lofaso) drop “Spin,” a high-energy dance track meant to put you in a good mood. The duo’s debut album drops this August.

■ Swamp Dogg, “Final Approach” — Veteran soul man Swamp Dogg today released his new album, “Swamp Dogg Contemplates the Afterlife” and he’ll celebrate it — and his 84th birthday — on July 11 at Venice West.

■ The Garden, “Eve of Nothing” — “Eve of Nothing” is the latest single from art-punk duo The Garden (brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears), whose new album “Bootleg” is out July 10. Live Sept. 2 at the Palladium.

■ The Howling Faith, “World Of Hurt” — Female-fronted duo The Howling Faith peg themselves as “garage-desert-surf-rock.” Their stand-alone single “World Of Hurt” is a dark and moody rock track that sways with ease. Watch the music video directed by Garcy Locicero here.

■ Boycomma, “Comme Ci Comme Ça” — Meet Boycomma, O.C’.s newest emo band, fronted by Brad Warriner. When Warriner’s carnal vocals sync with the angsty guitar in “Comme Ci Comme Ça,” it’s damn satisfying. Live Sept. 7 at The Astro Pad.

■ Moonraker, “Find Your Fangs” — Skate-punk band Moonraker (David Green, Nick Schambra, Matt Sampson) drop their first single under Punkerton Records “Find Your Fangs,” a hard-hitting self-aware punk anthem.

■ Glass Generation, “Colors” — L.A. quartet Glass Generation (Stefan Kennedy, Lo Kuei “Kiwi” Na, Aiden Joo and Angel Campos) make hard-hitting punk rock that’s a hedge against the challenges and disillusionment with modern life. The band will release a new EP, “C’est La Vie” (produced by Ben Hughes of Stateside), on Aug. 14, and “Colors” is the first single. Live July 10 at Transplants Brewing in Palmdale.

■ Pride Month Barbie, “Self-Titled” — Art-pop duo Pride Month Barbie (Tyler Holmes and Josephine Shetty) return with “Self-Titled,” their first single since the 2024 album “All the Girls in the Room Say ‘Sorry.’” Live June 25 at Non Plus Ultra.

■ Joh Chase & Monte Chase, “Once in a Lifetime” — Joh Chase makes cover songs a family affair, teaming up with little brother Monte for Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.” Live July 31 at the Lair.