Category: Single Of The Week

Single of the Week: “Barstow” by Jena Malone

It’s March 6th. Spring is blossoming. And now you know why the name Jena Malone is familiar. That’s all I’ll allude to her childhood job. I will also skip over her country music career, because this track is about as far away from country as you can get. “Barstow” is a dissonant piece of melancholia that calls to mind Meredith Monk or Imogen Heap- stunning layers of vocals, processed into despair, and it’s just plain chilling. A gorgeous piece of work, and an amazing way to reintroduce the world to Jena Malone. 

“Barstow” is the first song off the upcoming and brilliantly named Flowers For Men, May 8th. She’s also hitting the road, and tickets are available here. 

Single of the Week: “You Went Way Too Long” by The Womack Sisters

It took me less than 5 seconds to pick this as single of the week. That organ line immediately sent shivers down my spine. The classic Stax buildup brought you straight into some stunning, emotive vocals by three women who are, yes, Bobby Womack’s nieces. 

“You Went Way Too Long” is the latest single from new Daptone Records signees, The Womack Sisters. They are headed out this Summer playing amphitheaters with Thee Sacred Souls, which is impressive for a group with only 3 tracks out. 

Single of the Week: “My Life” by Julia Cumming

Sunflower Beam had been progressively getting heavier with each record. So, when this track dropped as the solo debut from Julia Cumming, I was surprised to hear a delightful, almost musical theater-referencing gem of a piano pop song. “My Life” is an infectious earworm, driven by piano and complete with an Edgar Wright-directed video that might be a little too twee for some folks, but just enough bubbly joy for me. 

Julia, the debut full-length from Julia Cumming, is dropping April 24th. Preorders are happening NOW! 

Single of the Week: “Cult Daddy” by ill peach

ill peach is a songwriting trio that has written songs with Hayley Kiyoko, Miya Folick, and Big Freedia, to name a few SP favourites. Despite all these names, I wasn’t prepared for the emotional and sonic thunder that is “Cult Daddy.” A brutal satire of religious cults that hits very hard in the face of the scariest Christian right movement in modern history. 

“CULT DADDY” is available for streaming and purchase here. I look forward to hearing more from them. 

Single of the Week: “BLEACH” by Ecca Vandal

Yup. This is Ecca Vandal’s second single of the week appearance in less than a year. AND STILL NO ALBUM NEWS!??!?! AND STILL NO BAY AREA DATE?!?!?!?!?! “BLEACH” is a little less metal yet, somehow a lot heavier and harder. Ecca Vandal is the reigning queen of industrial music, keeping it chaotic, dark, and weird. And that lofi, pre-rock piano breakdown at the 2:30 mark before it turns into a rap song? CHILLS! 

You can access “BLEACH” via all the usual places. NOW MAKE HER FINISH THAT RECORD SO SHE CAN COME TO OAKLAND! WE WILL MOSH FOR HER!!!

 

Single Of The Week: “Funny Music” by Gelli Haha

An odd thing about getting older- I used to be heavily averse to electronic music. However, in the last few months, I have kept hearing electronic music with a solid amount of humanity, and I LOVE IT. This Gelli Haha track snuck out last year, and I totally missed it. This song is really making my week, and energizing me in all the right ways. I also get the feeling that this one is gonna be a really fun live show. 

“Funny Music” is off Gelli Haha’s latest record, Switcheroo, which is available to bring joy to your eardrums AND your booty  NOW. The band is also hitting the road for their first ever headlining tour, and tickets JUST WENT ON SALE TODAY! 

Single of the Week: “Ultivatum Cultivation” by plantoid

So, I have no idea what’s going on with that song title. I googled “Ultivatum” and can only find, um, this song. That being said, the pretentious, overtly prog-rock song title is hiding what can only be said is a glorious psych-pop song. Somewhere, swimming in the LSD-infused lake alongside The Flaming Lips and Spacemoth (the latter I’m 90% sure has never touched a drug in her life) is plantoid, and their latest single, “Ultivatum Cultivation,” is giving me the energy to make it through a mad, busy mid-January. 

“Ultivatum Cultivation” comes from plantoid’s upcoming LP, Flare, due out January 30th. Preorders are ongoing! 

Single of the Week: “Sexistential” by Robyn

It’s been a very long, very sad eight years since Robyn last graced us with new music. And with “Sexistential,” we learned exactly what she’s been up to: having a baby via IVF. You know what pop music is sorely lacking? Music about the struggles of reproduction. But we are also lacking like, I really, really sexy song about how IVF can actually have a positive impact on one’s sex drive. So,God Bless Robyn. This song is fire, and I’ve never heard anything like it. 

“Sexistential” comes from Robyn’s upcoming album of the same name out March 27th. Preorders are available here!

Single of the Week: “Lydia” by The Floor Is Not Lava

Honestly, I can’t believe that it’s nearing the end of 2025. Rock & Roll has existed for around 75 years at this point. Somehow, The Floor Is Not Lava has not been selected as a band name until now. And they deserve to take one of the best names ever. “Lydia” is a dramatic journey, taking the listener on an emotional journey that recalls fellow Seattleites Heart AND Sunny Day Real Estate (at the same time, believe it or not). 

The Floor Is Not Lava’s latest release is It’ll Go To My Grave. You can enjoy that and more here! Hoping to convince them to hop in the van and head south! <Fingers Crossed>

Single of the Week: “The Dock (Bill’s Song)” by Lila Wolfe

Life is weird. I’ve been waiting for Lila Wolfe to follow up “Seafarm” for a really long time. And I had no idea this was specifically in the queue. “The Docks (Bill’s Song)” is hitting hard for me today… I’m not sure the writer’s original intent, but a week and a half out from my mother’s abrupt passing, hearing a heavy song about the complex relationship you can have with someone who is no longer with you? 

Phew! 

Thank you for gifting this song to me and to the world. Stream this single here. And you can send her encouraging messages to keep her putting out music via Instagram.