Stream: Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 394)

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Cover image by Puscas Adryan via unsplash.com

Here’s Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 394) — because of the holiday approaching it’s not as mammoth as our recent playlist have been.

So check out new singles from Slothrust, Susy Sun, Truman Sinclair, Mirrorball, Stella Lefty, Allah-Las, Josh da Costa, Windser, UGHH, Mexico City Heartbreak, Alicia Blue, Mara Connor and more.

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

Anita Mills contributed to this roundup.

Slothrust, “Burn the Deck” — L.A.’s Slothrust (Leah Wellbaum and Will Gorin) have linked up with rock label Equal Vision Records, scheduled a massive tour and punctuated that news with the new single “Burn the Deck. Gorin says of the new song: “It’s a surrealist disruptor’s anthem that beckons listeners to carefully consider what they are consuming and challenge their notion of who is really driving.” Live Nov. 18 at the Bellwether.

UGHH, “Cruel Master” — Punk quartet UGHH (Matt Scotch, John Reid, Lexi Bonin and Greg Settino) are back with a roar; “Cruel Master” is their first single since 2024 and introduces their new EP, “Little Angels,” out Aug. 7. Animated video here. Live Aug. 7 at Zebulon, opening for Distrends.

Mexico City Heartbreak, “Reason” — Mexico City Heartbreak is an East L.A. five-piece indie-rock band fronted by singer-songwriter Rudy Torres. There’s a soaring, atmospheric air to much of the music on their debut alum, “Luz Infinita,” released in May. Live Aug. 12 at the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa, Aug. 13 at Que Sera in Long Beach and Aug. 16 at the Woodbrige, all along with Gabacho.

Truman Sinclair, “4th of July” — It’s that fireworks time of year, and classic rock artisan is back with a song for it, “4th of July.”

Stella Lefty, “Good at Leaving” — Pop-Americana artist Stella Lefty released a heralded EP in mid-May. Now there’s already an expanded edition of “Is This Heaven?,” and “Good at Leaving” is batting leadoff. We use a baseball metaphor there because we keep seeing press photos that were shot at our favorite yard, Pote Field in Griffith Park. By now you’ve heard her home run “Boston,” perhaps? Live Aug. 23 at the Greek Theatre, opening for Tucker Wetmore.

Brice Blanco, “B Here” — Brice Blanco is a Houston-born, L.A.-based singer-songwriter whose sophomore album, “AFRO URF,” arrives Sept. 28. New single “B Here” sounds like the mantra it is; follow the bass line to your happy place.

Hayley Law, “Last Summer” — Canadian-born singer-songwriter Hayley Law’s debut LP “Last Summer” drops Aug. 14, co-produced with Jesse Boykins III and MeLo-X. Law says of the power anthem title track: “This song was so much fun to write. It came from Jesse and I chatting about running into people from our past and how things change so quickly. ‘Last Summer’ is a story of what appeared to be an amicable break up and then I found out that my ex was bad mouthing me. I never said anything to retaliate and let karma do her thing. This song is my karma.” Live Aug. 20 at the Silverlake Lounge.

Mirrorball, “Dream Dancer” — Friendly reminder that “Red Hot Dust,” the new EP from L.A. duo Mirrorball (Alexandra Johnstone and Scott Watson), is out today. See also: “Devil Mirror.”

Windser, “Lose My Breath” — Following up his April single “Better Left Unsaid,” Jordan Topf (dba Windser) returns with the lovestruck “Lose My Breath,” recorded in DIY fashion in his backyard studio. “Sometimes romance catches you so off guard so much that you feel intoxicated by someone,” Windser says. “Out of body and out of your own mind.”

Josh da Costa, “96 Year Old Girl” — Josh da Costa’s genre-mashing album “New Wave Graveyard” comes out July 24 via Stones Throw. Da Costa says of “96 Year Old Girl,” the follow-up to “Proving Me Right”: “The verse’s vocal melody is a riff on what is known in some musical circles as ‘the lick’ – an extremely common motif in jazz music that became a meme in itself – and the chorus was an old idea that I was kicking around for years and finally found its home here.” Watch the experimental music video directed by Skellyot here. Da Costa is one of a host of the label’s artist performing at Stones Throw 30, running Oct. 16-17-18 in and around Lodge Room in Highland Park.

Allah-Las, “Pt. Concepcion” — Oh, if guitars could talk. … Oh, wait. Eavesdrop on this conversation: “Pt. Concepcion” introduces L.A. quartet Alla-Las’ new album, “Sirenas,” out Aug. 28. Live July 31 at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, along with Real Estate.

Susy Sun, “All the Things” — The follow-up “Ride the Wave” and “Nothing’s Ever Right,” “All the Things” is the latest single from Susy Sun’s new album, “Pisces Dream,” out July 24.

Waldo Witt, “Moonlighter” — Solo artist Waldo Witt has been dropping singles since his 2022 debut album “Long Daze, Dark Nights.” His new stand-alone single “Moonlighter” is a dreamy and chill track perfect for hot summer nights.

Marvin Dark, “Body” — Marvin Dark is a silky-voiced L.A. native whose latest album, “Up in Smoke,” came out in 2023. “Get at Me,” released in May, was his first single in three years, and now he’s back with “Body.” Live Aug. 20 at the Mint.

Alicia Blue, “Rose of Tennesee” — SoCal native Alicia Blue has moved on to Nashville to move along her songwriting career. Her album “Country Desire,” produced by Shooter Jennings, is out Aug. 28.

Mara Connor, “Joe” — Speaking of Nashville, that’s where Mara Connor has alighted. “Joe” is the songwriter’s first release since the memorable (and still relevant) “American Dream” in 2024. Watch the video.

Sunset Crave, “If I Dream” — Sunset Crave is a Huntington Beach four-piece fronted by singer-bassist Mark Verbz. A little bit funky, a little bit ’80s, “If I Dream” is the band’s latest single.

Sara Melson, “How Deep Is the Ocean” — Our playlist-ending cover song of the week is Sara Melson’s version of a song nearing its 100th birthday, Irving Berlin’s “How Deep Is the Ocean.”