Kevin Bronson on July 13th, 2022

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Midweek roundup of songs that are making our midweek better: Here are fresh singles from Goon, the Only Ocean, Saint Christopher and Junior Mesa …

GOON, “Emily Says”

We interrupt your Wednesday for this positively breathtaking moment from Goon’s album, “Hour of Green Evening,” which is out Friday. The album was introduced by the singles “Ochre” and “Angelnumber 1210,” both excellent but neither of which quite ascended to the emotional peaks (or yielded the vaguely Floydian vibes) of “Emily Says.” The song is about Goon frontman Kenny Becker’s wife, Emily Elkin (a cellist who currently plays in Angel Olsen’s band), and features her along with Spoon’s Alex Fischel. “This song is about how her and I meeting each other was the most joyful thing to ever happen to both of us, but also didn’t cure either of us from our anxieties or depression,” Becker says. “I wanted to focus on the heart-wringing conflict between those two things.” Goon plays the Lodge Room on Sept. 2 along with Wajatta and Draag. Tickets.

THE ONLY OCEAN, “Nice + Close”

“Nice + Close” is the title track of the new EP from L.A. alt-rock trio the Only Ocean (Wesley Hill, Jonathan Palmquist and Jordan Kaufman). It’s the band’s first new music since the 2020 single “Wasted Days” and builds on their ’90s-indebted sound — surging, almost shoegazing guitars that cascade into the choruses. “‘Nice + Close’ is an isolation anthem,” songwriter Hill says, adding that it centers on “the feeling that no one needs you, that since you don’t hear from anyone, that must mean they don’t want you in their lives. You eventually start to believe you’re better alone. Even though you know you need them more than you and they really know.” Stream the whole EP here; support the release here.

SAINT CHRISTOPHER, “Fire Season”

The follow-up to “Winners,” “Fire Season” is the dreamy second single from and the lead track on Saint Christopher’s forthcoming debut album, “Pop Shit,” out Oct. 7. The work of L.A.-based Christopher Kalil (ex-Arms Akimbo), “Fire Season” is wistful, atmospheric track about a shift in perspective. “Where I grew up, we would get days off from school every fall when the hills would catch fire,” Kalil says. “Nowadays, I have to stay in my seat and finish my work. Back then it felt like the bad times would come in seasons. Same with the good times. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that the good times and the bad times happen all at once. Fire season is all year.”

JUNIOR MESA, “Bleacher Blues”

Almost a year after dispensing his own trippy take on the psych-pop and soul of yesteryear, the “Cirque du Freak” EP, L.A.-via-Bakersfield artist Junior Mesa is back with a pair of new singles. He’s in full emotional wobble on “Bleacher Blues,” which, the songwriter explains, “is about sexual trauma and healing. It’s about learning to move on and enjoy something that was once ruined.” “Bleacher Blues” arrived with a more sonically sunny instrumental track, “Buta Fly,” which free-falls to happier place.