“I Woke Up in a Fucked-Up America”
Even two years later, the vibrations from our last presidential election still ring under our feet. It’s not hard to imagine that some cosmic calamity aligned on that day, like some flurry of meteorites in a distant galaxy. That chaos can be felt especially here, where Southern sage Lonnie Holley invites thunderous horns to blare like the four horsemen as he laments about the country’s fate. – LA
“Wade Into the Creek”
One of the most spastic songs from Material Girls’ frenetic full-length debut, Leather, “Wade Into the Creek” strikes with restless intensity. Somebody tell Nick Cave that it’s possible to do the whole crazy carnival thing and still sound catchy as hell. – RR
“Sometimes”
Picking a single highlight off Midnight Larks’ dark, rippling debut is no easy task. The record’s dozen tracks featured everything from psychedelic surf jams to spooky ballads, so perhaps that’s why “Sometimes” managed to squirm its way to the top of the list. The driving single offers a bit of everything that makes the band so captivating—sharp hooks, Spaghetti Western guitars, and spellbinding vocals, all capped off by a haunting organ outro that dissolves like a billowing cloud of desert dust. – GC
“Safe and Sound”
In their relatively short existence, Mighty have displayed a tremendous knack for conjuring tense, knotted songs that linger on the edge of implosion. On the fiery “Safe and Sound,” bandleader Angelo Fiaretti sings with an uneasy balance of twangy grit and caustic aggression; you never know exactly where a hook will take him or how he’ll lean into a particular phrase. It all makes for all makes for an aura of gripping suspense while the band’s blistering riffs crash and burn in roaring waves. – GC
“Justice” [feat. Linqua Franqa]
It’s been a wild year for Mariah Parker, but there’s still work to do. In this stately epic with Athens-based horn ensemble Misnomer, the young rapper and activist turned County Commissioner shows us how this nation’s broken sense of “justice” targets people of color and tears working class families apart. – LA
“North of the Wall”
I’m pretty sure the world wasn’t hankering for a new fantasy metal group, but then Moonshield showed up and, holy crap, what a rush. With its galloping riffs and anthemic leads, “North of the Wall” delivers a titanic blast of thunderous metal fury that will make you want to strap on your armor and sword and leap into battle. – GC
“Surfer”
How could I not put a Nag track on this list? The second of two singles from their split with Baltimore punks Lip, “Surfer” is razor sharp, but just frantic enough to keep the melody staggering behind Brannon Greene’s irascible vocals. – RR
“Fine”
It’s been five months since I cracked open the scarlet email that introduced me to Neighbor Lady, and still I can barely breathe in their presence. Both of the Athens-via-Atlanta band’s knockout singles evoke the terrifying lust that nearly sunk me in February, but “Fine” was the first, and so “Fine” shall prevail. Though the gang of veteran musicians has backed Emily Braden for years, they unloaded their first LP, Maybe Later, through Friendship Fever back in May. This one, though, speaks to me and my dumb heart more than anything else. – LA
“Solids (No Tint)”
Drawn from Matthew Lambert’s (All the Saints) second solo EP as Night Cleaner, “Solids (No Tint)” is the spookiest song on this list. There’s no hint of daylight here, only shadowy post-punk with some Jesus and Mary Chain swagger. – RR
“Confessional”
Less herky-jerky than most of Omni’s previous efforts, “Confessional” sees the post-punk trio riding an ecstatic groove with more jittery bounce than a quadruple shot of espresso. Generally speaking, it’s been the band’s endless array of rhythmic contortions that have captured my attention, but here Philip Frobos’ normally detatched vocals get a energetic shot of melodic pep, and the results are equally enthralling and cathartic. – GC