Madonna returned, Charlie xcx put out the follow-up to ‘BRAT’, and The Strokes took Auto-Tune to a new level.
Is there anything stronger than Julian Casablancas’ love for Auto-Tune? Forget his partnership with Albert Hammond Jr.; this one’s coming in hot. Elsewhere, Avenged Sevenfold surprise-dropped four new songs under the name Statica without so much as an implication.
Leeds’ staples Yard Act released You’re Gonna Need a Little Music; The White Stripes’ Jack White surprised fans with Frozen Charlotte; Nia Archives turned things up a notch with Emotional Junglist, and debuts came from mary in the junkyard, MOULD, Baby Smith, Ebbb, Swapmeet, Max Subar, Josh Da Costa, Opus Kink, Buffalo Traffic Jam, Spike and Joyeria.
Singles:
1. Nell Mescal — Settles
In Winter of 2025, Nell came out to her friends and family, and Settles details her relationship with Irish internet personality Madison Cawley, who hard-launched their relationship in July with a video of her reuniting with Nell at the airport. Settles aptly soundtracked the video, of course.
“I can’t stand to leave you crying at departures / Drop my bags and be the reason that your heart hurts.”
Label: Warner Music UK
2. Jack Kaye — The Weight
It’s been a good few years since The Magic Gang went their separate ways, yet the band are still close friends and collaborators. Frontman Jack Kaye is gearing up to release a debut EP, and The Weight feels far away from the sound he once fronted, and very much like a natural progression.
Label: Fascination Street Records
3. FEET — Odessa
FEET, whose last album Make It Up delivered some exceptional tracks like I’m Wrong, Why Would I Lie? and Goodbye (So Long, Farewell), are mainstays on the indie circuit, with each show of theirs being high-energy and entirely unmissable. It’s no surprise then that Odessa, their first track in two years, is an addictive and catchy track demanding to be repeated.
Label: Submarine Cat Records
4. ROLE MODEL — Joy
Dropping a near-perfect album like 2024’s Kansas Anymore and having to follow it was never going to be an easy task, yet first singles from the upcoming album (Chuck Timely & The Hourglass), High Hopes 3000 and Joy, do just that. With Sally firmly in the past, we can only look forward to the release of Tucker’s next album — it’ll have big shoes to fill.
Label: Interscope Records
5. strongboi — think twice
Led by none other than Alice Phoebe Lou, strongboi always feels like a band simply having fun, delivering enchanting songs time and time again. Ziv Yamin and Alice are a force to be reckoned with. Every time they drop a new song, it’s bound to go straight into daily rotation.
Label: Independent
EPs:
1. Saint Clair — Something To Be Said
Rating: ★★★½☆
Standout Track: Warm
Label: Black Butter
2. she’s green — swallowtail
Rating: ★★★½☆
Standout Track: empty house
Label: Photo Finish Records
3. The Healing Power of Horses — Summer Indoors (or outside wearing black)
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Standout Track: i wait, i sink
Label: section1
4. Oxford Comma — Tether
Rating: ★★★½☆
Standout Track: Tether
Label: Independent
5. Ciaran Quigley — Is This A Problem Darling?
Rating: ★★★★☆
Standout Track: Long Way Home
Label: CastOver Records
Albums:
1. Babe Rainbow — Acid and Honey
Rating: ★★★★☆
Standout Track: Special
Label: Eureka Music
2. Jaco Jaco — On the Levee
Rating: ★★★★☆
Standout Track: Levee
Label: GREMLIN
3. Lucia & The Best Boys — Picking Petals
Rating: ★★★½☆
Standout Track: Better For The Worse
Label: Communion
4. Swapmeet — Zero
Rating: ★★★½☆
Standout Track: I Know!
Label: Winspear
5. mary in the junkyard — Role Model Hermit
Rating: ★★★½☆
Standout Track: Blood
Label: AMF Records
