Oh, hey! Yes, Monthly Picks still exists. Except this time it’s for Q2 and Q3 (second and third quarters of the calendar year). I haven’t talked about many new releases this year, so here are some of my favorite albums, EPs, and singles that I think you oughtta check out. Let’s jump into it!
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Taylor Swift – folklore
Taylor Swift unleashed the best record of her career as a mid-July surprise, and it immediately swept critics and fans alike off their feet. Taylor retreats to her guitar-playing roots with an almost folk album, tugging at the heartstrings with lyrics that read like a diary. With minimalistic production, candid lines, and cultivated vocals, folklore is without a doubt Taylor’s shining moment. Standout tracks include “august,” “seven,” “peace,” and “this is me trying.” folklore will appeal to fans of Bon Iver, The Civil Wars, and Julie Byrne. Click here to listen.
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All Time Low – Wake Up, Sunshine
Wake Up, Sunshine has been received as a return to form for the pop punk veterans All Time Low. 2017’s Last Young Renegade was quite the departure from the band’s trademark rock style, but Wake Up, Sunshine reels it back in and better than we could’ve expected. This album is what a solid pop punk LP should sound like in 2020, and it’s nice to have the boys from Baltimore back. Standout tracks include “Safe,” “January Gloom,” “Clumsy,” and “Basement Noise.” Wake Up, Sunshine will attract listeners of State Champs, blink-182, and 7 Minutes In Heaven. Click here to listen.
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The Aces – Under My Influence
Under My Influence, the most recent LP from The Aces, is the opposite of a sophomore slump. This triumphant record displays the Utah band expanding their sound and trying out new styles with it rather than sticking with the same old, same old or switching things up entirely. This more refined approach certainly offers up some ’80s-inspired pop rock bangers you don’t want to miss. Standout tracks include “Kelly,” “Daydream,” “Not Enough,” and “Can You Do.” Under My Influence is sure to capture fans of Fickle Friends, Scavenger Hunt, and Neon Trees. Click here to listen.
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The Magic Gang – Death of the Party
Looking for some indie rock that isn’t watered down or boring? Here’s your album. UK band The Magic Gang’s second LP Death of the Party is a refreshing release and another great hit in the group’s discography. Buoyant guitar riffs, catchy choruses, and bright horn sections dominate Death of the Party, as well as thought-provoking lyricism. Standout tracks include “Make A Sound,” “Death of the Party,” “I Am Sunshine,” and “Make Time For Change.” Death of the Party is bound to satisfy followers of The Vaccines, Lady Legs, and Driver Friendly. Click here to listen.
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Neon Trees – I Can Feel You Forgetting Me
No, Neon Trees, we haven’t forgotten about you and we missed you so damn much. Six years after their last full-length Pop Psychology, Neon Trees finally return with their latest record. Filled to the brim with gleaming synths, syrupy hooks, and heartfelt lyrics, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me is a melancholic yet joyous mixture of spirited indie pop and soulful songwriting. Standout tracks include “Mess Me Up,” “Everything Is Killing Me,” “Nights,” and “Going Through Something.” I Can Feel You Forgetting Me will please fans of The Aces, MOBS, and Twin XL. Click here to listen.
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Charlie Barnes – Last Night’s Glitter
Gentle plucking of an acoustic guitar and tastefully ardent vocals characterize Charlie Barnes’ latest LP Last Night’s Glitter. This most recent outing is primarily a redux of Charlie’s past tunes, transitioning them from piano ballads or upbeat indie pop songs to stripped-down acoustic schlepping and operatic voice performances. Standout tracks include “The Weather,” “All I Have,” “Last Night’s Glitter,” and “Ruins.” Last Night’s Glitter will attract followers of Chris Dupont, Sean McConnell, and Ralph Pelleymounter. Click here to listen.
MORE GREAT ALBUMS
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Lady Legs – Off Days
Breezy indie rock begging for replays. Standout tracks include “Idle Hands,” “Quit Bringing Me Down,” and “Not Right.” Off Days is for fans of The Magic Gang, Steppes, and LEDGES. Click here to listen.
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Movements – No Good Left To Give
Another gut-wrenching outing filled with impassioned vocal performances and ripping guitars. Standout tracks include “Skin To Skin,” “Don’t Give Up Your Ghost,” and “Moonlight Lines.” No Good Left To Give is for fans of Citizen, Turnover, and La Dispute. Click here to listen.
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Vistas – Everything Changes In the End
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Hayley Williams – Petals For Armor
The pensive singer/songwriter solo project from Paramore’s frontwoman. Standout tracks include “Cinnamon,” “Leave It Alone,” and “Crystal Clear.” Petals For Armor is for fans of Soccer Mommy, Maggie Rogers, and Julien Baker. Click here to listen.
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Stand Atlantic – Pink Elephant
Solid pop punk with strong vocals and catchy riffs. Standout tracks include “Wavelength,” “Blurry,” and “Like That.” Pink Elephant is for fans of Seaway, With Confidence, and State Champs. Click here to listen.
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A. Swayze & The Ghosts – Paid Salvation
Rowdy, punk-tinged garage rock. Standout tracks include “Nothing Left to Do,” “Mess of Me,” and “Connect to Consume.” Paid Salvation is for fans of WAAX, Bad//Dreams, and White Blanks. Click here to listen.
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PVRIS – Use Me
Tasteful amalgam of electronics, acoustic guitars, and layered vocals. Standout tracks include “Dead Weight,” “Loveless,” and “Death of Me.” Use Me is for fans of Deaf Havana, Maggie Lindemann, and Emarosa. Click here to listen.
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IDLES – Ultra Mono
Dude, it’s IDLES. Standout tracks include “The Lover,” “Model Village,” and “Mr. Motivator.” Ultra Mono is for fans of Protomartyr, Girl Band, and Heavy Lungs. Click here to listen.
Extended Plays
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Pinkish Blu – there’s no such thing as good people
Best EP you’ll hear all year. Standout tracks include “Calm Down” and “Red Hot Moon.” there’s no such thing as good people is for fans of LANY, Heart of Gold, and MILKK. Click here to listen.
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Troye Sivan – In A Dream
Standout tracks include “Rager teenager!” and “Take Yourself Home.” In A Dream is for fans of Ruel, Years & Years, and Lorde. Click here to listen.
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Go For Gold – Color Me
It’s pop punk. Standout tracks include “Forget About It” and “Tone.” Color Me is for fans of Neck Deep, Gold Steps, and The Story So Far. Click here to listen.
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Day Wave – Crush
Standout tracks include “Potions” and “Starting Again.” Crush is for fans of Surf Rock Is Dead, Craft Spells, and Plastic Picnic. Click here to listen.
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American Authors – Counting Down
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Bears In Trees – I Want To Feel Chaotic
Standout tracks include “Permanence” and “Cobwebs.” I Want To Feel Chaotic is for fans of spookyghostboy, McCafferty, and Beach Bunny. Click here to listen.
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Until We Get Caught – Surface
A splendid maturation of sound. Standout tracks include “Fading Out” and “Ghost.” Surface is for fans of Outwaves, Bring Me the Horizon, and A War Within. Click here to listen.
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hellocentral – HEATWAVE
Standout tracks include “Lsof” and “One More Sunrise.” HEATWAVE is for fans of A Will Away, Less Than Jake, and Oh, Weatherly. (I think?) Click here to listen.
Featured Singles
Dream Jacuzzi hits another homerun with this single, filled with up-tempo guitar strumming, hazy vocals, and playful percussion. Most notable may be the striking guitar solo or the personal yet relatable lyrics.
Chance’s most recent LP portraits was crowned our best album of 2019, and after a string of solid singles, “Bad To Myself” is an empowering and emotional catharsis as Chance explores his recovery from anorexia.
For the first time, Local Natives has an EP on the horizon, and its lead single “Statues In the Garden (Arras)” is a chill, mellow contemplation contrasted with sweet melodies and soaring backing vocals.
Dan Burke, former lead vocalist of Off the Record, hits the ground running with his newest project. Among his first few singles, “flights” is a heartfelt yearning that sets the tone for this band’s direction.
The debut solo single from 5 Seconds of Summer’s Ashton Irwin is a reflective look into Irwin’s personal struggles with body dysmorphia, delivered via an acoustic ballad void of his signature instruments: drums.
The Vamps kick off their new LP with the lead single “Married In Vegas,” a jaunty pop rock tune charged to the brim with sky-high vocal peaks, dashing piano melodies, and spirited percussion.
Blake’s farthest step into an acoustic folk direction is a shining ballad characterized by vivid lyrics that are as painful as they are beautiful.
Bastille’s “survivin'” is a breezy reflection on the band’s career thus far and a testament to their resilience, as well as their openness to explore new styles and sounds.
Let us know what you think of Q2 and Q3’s releases down in the comments below!
Our Alt Col Picks are curated lists of the best albums and EPs for each month! We keep a schedule of upcoming releases and pick our favorite ones at the end of the month, giving them a spotlight here and on Twitter. To be featured in one of our lists, hit us up on our contact page or Twitter, though nothing is guaranteed. (We occasionally include past releases, so for instance, if your album came out in June, we might be able to feature it in our post for July or August.)
Local Natives is one of my top three favorite bands of all time, so of course I might be a bit biased here. The California band has yet to disappoint me; all of their albums have a special spot on my shelf and I love each one so, so dearly. Their previous record Sunlit Youth, released in 2016, displayed a more experimental approach to their indie rock orientation by introducing synths and programmed percussion, as well as some politically-charged lyricism. For some fans, this style was a turn-off, but for me, I enjoyed the hell out of that LP. So how does Violet Street shape up? Local Natives dial their tone back to a more organic sound, fairly reminiscent of their debut album Gorilla Manor. Piano melodies, lively drumming, and twangy guitars constitute Violet Street, strengthening the authenticity of the album’s libretto. Heartstring-tugging subjects and impassioned vocal performances (those harmonies!) show no mercy for a weathered soul—the band never fails to deliver a captivating, affective listening experience. Violet Street is without a doubt another home run in Local Natives’ discography.
Maggie Rogers was bubbling under the surface in the indie pop scene for quite some time before releasing her debut LP Heard It In a Past Life. After the success of her 2017 extended play Now That the Light Is Fading, followers were on the edge of their seats for a full-length record. Finally, in 2019, Heard It In a Past Life certainly delivered without disappointment. This album is characterized by buoyant indie pop, dripping with syrupy sweet melodies and intellectual lyricism. It’s a dynamic listen, an array of upbeat pop anthems as well as more serious moments making up the tracklisting. Heard It In a Past Life is not a perfect album (some strange production decisions here and there), but it’s definitely an enjoyable spin.
Boy, I had been waiting for this album for a hot minute! Ever since MILKK released their single “Less Than 3” in 2018, I was anticipating more material from the indie pop trio. Their EPs Sad Girls and If You’re Reading This, I Love You cemented MILKK’s sound and left our mouths watering for a full album. HEADRUSH provided us with introspective indie pop, combining fun melodies with meaningful lyrics that explore the band’s intrapersonal struggles with anxiety and other mental health issues. HEADRUSH doesn’t hold back the earnest romantic balladry, showing a loving soft side and vulnerability. Musically, the LP presents catchy pop tunes defined by glistening synths and sleek guitar work, as well as slower pieces in contrast. MILKK’s sound is reminiscent of the California dazed vibe of bands like LANY or joan, paired with a darker, moodier image. All in all, HEADRUSH is bound to be on repeat for a long time.
To be honest, Emarosa was never really a band I paid much attention to. Their sound didn’t appeal to me much and the songs failed to stick with me. But man, Peach Club turns all that on its head. Emarosa trades in their post-hardcore-tinged rock style for a more poppy direction. While the band holds onto their guitars and distortion, it’s certainly a bit more “cleaned up;” Peach Club is a sweet, delectable bite of ’80s-influenced rock with a coat of polish and neon lights. Really, when I saw that Emarosa announced a new record, I wasn’t all that intrigued. Until I hit play on the first few singles. Tunes like “Givin’ Up” and “Cautious” blew me away upon first listen, and I found myself being genuinely excited for the new material. Once the full album released, it certainly met my expectations. If you’re skeptical like I was or uninterested by Emarosa’s past catalog, I truly recommend giving Peach Club a shot. You might just fall in love with it.
Local Natives is one of my top three favorite bands of all time, so of course I might be a bit biased here. The California band has yet to disappoint me; all of their albums have a special spot on my shelf and I love each one so, so dearly. Their previous record Sunlit Youth, released in 2016, displayed a more experimental approach to their indie rock orientation by introducing synths and programmed percussion, as well as some politically-charged lyricism. For some fans, this style was a turn-off, but for me, I enjoyed the hell out of that LP. So how does Violet Street shape up? Local Natives dial their tone back to a more organic sound, fairly reminiscent of their debut album Gorilla Manor. Piano melodies, lively drumming, and twangy guitars constitute Violet Street, strengthening the authenticity of the album’s libretto. Heartstring-tugging subjects and impassioned vocal performances (those harmonies!) show no mercy for a weathered soul—the band never fails to deliver a captivating, affective listening experience. Violet Street is without a doubt another home run in Local Natives’ discography.
The Maine offer up another helping of emo-tinged pop rock teeming with variety and ardent observation. You Are OK assures the listener that it’s okay to be human, it’s okay to be imperfect, all wrapped up in an exciting pop rock listen.
After transitioning labels over to Epitaph Records, indie rockers Bad Suns don an edgier style on their third full-length record Mystic Truth. Raucous guitars and animated percussion make for an effervescent spin.
Following the sleeper hit success of her 2016 single “No Roots” and the 2018 EP of the same title, Alice Merton finally unleashes her debut long-player titled Mint. Fresh, cool, and smooth, Mint lives up to its name with sleek indie rock with a pop appeal.
It’s fucking Hozier, for crying out loud. We’ve been waiting on this legend to drop another album for nearly five years. Soulful vocal delivery and vibrant, organic instrumentation expertly define Wasteland, Baby!
This quasi-supergroup’s debut record delivers irrepressible energy, angst, and guts through hard-hitting instrumentals and politically-charged lyricism. This hip-hop-meets-punk amalgamation is exactly the medium for their message.
With some contribution from The 1975’s Matty Healy, Good at Falling by The Japanese House fulfills the expectations that fans held for this long-awaited debut. The sleek indie pop and entrancing vocal performances will have you falling in love with this LP.
Ex-R5 members and brothers Rocky Lynch and Ross Lynch formed The Driver Era, an alternative pop rock project that certainly departs from their previous R5 style. X, their debut record, cements their rollicking rougher sound coupled with softer, more serious moments.