Needle Drop Friday: 6/26/2026
It's Friday, which means it's time to drop the needle on another batch of fresh music. Welcome to this week's edition of Needle Drop Friday!
This week is going to be a little on the longer side - a lot of stuff came out. So I’m just going to dive in.
First off, there is a 2-song single that was released by Girl and Girl. They are an alternative/punk/garage rock band from Queensland, Australia. The single “Hell / It’s Dead” was released yesterday (June 25) by Sub Pop. There is a cool 80s almost post-punk vibe here. Perhaps a little bit of a Talking Heads vibe.
Here is some new punk rock for you. In the Hands of an Angry Mob is the debut full length from Triple Lutz. They are based out of Portland, Oregon. The album was released on SBAM Records (or Dirt Cult Records if you want it on cassette). The band has a male/female singer dynamic that is pretty cool. It is worth checking out.
This next one is from an indie band based out of Munich, Germany. supberiosa was released on Spaceship Denmark Records and comes from the band John Galaxy I think there is a bit of a folk thing going on too. If you like Andrew Jackson Jihad, this might be up your alley but I’m not 100% sure about that.
This next one is a little different. The band is Spacemoth and the album is Inward Eye. Spacemoth is one of the recording projects for songwriter Maryam Qudus. This is what can only be defined as space rock, or maybe just simply electronic. She is from Oakland, CA and the album was released on Greenway Records.
This next punk release is a 3-song EP by Boston’s Fiddlehead. Baby I’ll Change was put out by Run For Cover Records. The name of this band sounds familiar but I can’t remember whether or not I’ve ever listened to them. This EP was recommended to me by Justin of Punk Lotto Pod. There are elements of punk as well as some indie rock and some 90s post-hardcore to this band. They have been around since 2014 and have released 3 full length albums plus (including this one) 3 EPs. The title track on this one is its highlight in my opinion. This might be good for fans of Sugarcult or Drug Church…..maybe even some Jawbreaker.
This next indie rock gem comes from Chicago’s own Sincere Engineer. Probable Claws was released by Hopeless Records and is the band’s 4th full length. It is the follow up to 2023s Cheap Grills. If you have never heard of this band, first off, what the hell is wrong with you. But seriously, you can get vibes from bands such as The Lawrence Arms (a little bit) and Future Teens. I think I might like this one more than the previous album.
So Denver, Colorado’s Dead Pioneers put out a new album without telling me. I would like to have a word with you guys! Wagon Burner, the follow up to last years Po$t American, was released on Hassle Records. If you aren’t familiar they mix punk with some elements of spoken word poetry. Not surprisingly, this one is another album full of socially conscious lyrics. You shouldn’t have it any other way from these guys. If you like Dead Kennedys, this is certainly something you should check out.
There is almost always some good stuff to hear that comes out of the Chicago area. Consensus Madness comes at us with Endeavors, released by Iron Lung. This one was recommended by a friend. Some hardcore elements, along with some garage rock and post-punk vibes. If you are looking for other bands that they sound like for a comparison….maybe Amyl and Sniffers?
We are going to bring it down a bit. This one is a more mellow. It is some indie rock/indie folks that comes to us from New York City’s Tasha. You Are Spring! was released by Bayonet Records.
Change Life released a self-titled album via Meritorio Records. This is the project of Portland, OR-based indie rock multi-instrumentalist Lawton Browning. I’m kind of getting a bit of a Talking Heads groove on this one too. To be fair, I’m not sure if some of you will like this but you never know.
Speaking, again, of the Talking Heads. There is a heavy Talking Heads vibe on this one. CS Cleaners, a Brooklyn-based art rock outfit released What’s This? via Wharf Cat Records. This is the band’s debut full length. 11 tracks of abrasive guitars, post-punk manic energy.
If politically charged punk rock is your thing and the new Dead Pioneers was not enough to scratch that itch, check out Downtown Boys. This band started in Rhode Island in 2011 but are now based out of New York City (although I could be wrong about that). Sub Pop Records released their new album, Public Luxury. The politics on this one are front and center and is as ferocious as the music itself. This album is their 3rd. Musically, there are some Fugazi elements on here. Vocally, Victoria Marie comes across to me with an X-Ray Spex vibe….actually, as I listen to more of this album there is a huge similarity (at least in my opinion to) Exene Cervenka.
This next one is an EP (sort of?) put out by Falls Church, Virginia based indie/emo/punk Samuel SC. I say sort of because if you go to Spotify or Apple, you will find the EP, titled I Need a Moment. However, if you go to their Bandcamp page, you will only be able to find the 6 songs individually as singles. I can honestly say that I don’t remember ever hearing this band but I’m glad that I got the press release for this one because I am really enjoying it. I am really digging the vocals of Vanessa Downing. Like a lot. She has a quality in her voice and delivery that reminds me of someone but I can’t quite place it. Also, I did some digging and apparently this is a collection of a monthly single series they have been doing the past few months. The EP was released by Art Monk Construction but the individual singles were released by Sweet Cheetah and Expert Work Records. Why haven’t I heard of this band before?!?!?
And finally…….New Jersey punk veterans The Bouncing Souls released their 13th full length album Born to Be. 10 new tracks of familiarity. Energetic guitars, sing along melodic hooks. Everything you’d expect from these guys. Enjoy it!
And there you have it. The latest edition of Needle Drop Friday! I told you that it would be a long one. And still, I probably missed some stuff. In any case, these are the tunes that caught my ear this week and I wanted to share them with you all.
Thanks for reading. I hope you like these things.
Samuel SC is releasing a track at a time for their album. It’s annoying, but they are a good band.