today’s rock picks turn up the drama: atmospheric alt-rock tension, a dark wave rush of instant chemistry, a theatrical slice of classic rock myth-making, and a laid-back rootsy gut punch about what’s left after love falls apart. four tracks that all know exactly how much weight they’re carrying.
open mic – gunshots or fireworks
gunshots or fireworks serve up a spiky, suffocating rock banger that makes for a genuinely great listen
open mic layers thick atmospheric guitars over driving, insistent rhythms, and it never really lets that tension go. which is exactly what makes it work. the melodies cut through all that noise without smoothing it out too much, so it stays uneasy in a good way. there’s a real wall of sound quality to the production, silversun pickups and pixies fans will feel right at home. my fave part is the distorted vocal production, mixed with the spiky guitars that just keep piling on without ever tipping into mess.
gunshots or fireworks are a phoenix based alt-rock band putting out désordre, their second ep, entirely on their own steam. across four tracks they dig into uncertainty and the tension between connection and isolation, themes open mic wears right on its sleeve. it all feels like the sound of a band taking their time to get the atmosphere right rather than rushing a single out. and this is 100% a band worth keeping an eye on as désordre rolls out.
thank u for making this gunshots or fireworks 🌫️
a kiss like this – magenta ray
magenta ray craft a kiss like this into one of the most cinematic dark wave tracks we’ve heard all year
a kiss like this leans hard into moody, garbage and portishead style atmosphere, all lush guitar textures and vocal storytelling that feels properly cinematic. lisa hart’s vocals carry a mystical, full-spectrum quality that suits the dark wave production perfectly, nothing here feels thin. it captures that instant romantic chemistry rush without ever getting sappy about it. it’s wonderfully melodic considering how much moodiness is stacked on top.
magenta ray started as an experimental electronic fusion project between founding duo lisa hart and mark larson, and has since grown into a full female-fronted rock band with alan parks, joe shotwell and frank acosta rounding out the live sound. a kiss like this leans into their mystical, cinematic side, and it’s a genuinely strong showcase for where the band’s headed. if this is any indication, their evolution’s heading somewhere special.
thank u for making this magenta ray 💋
brave, rough, and ready to go – sgt. splendor
sgt. splendor turn brave, rough, and ready to go into a wickedly entertaining slice of classic rock theatre
brave, rough, and ready to go is propulsive classic rock dressed up in myth and dark comedy, all swagger and hallucinatory imagery. it plays like a journey that’s equal parts heroic and doomed, and there’s a real fierce emotional current running underneath all the theatricality. the production leans cinematic without ever losing its rock and roll grit. my fave part is how the absurdity and urgency sit right next to each other without one undercutting the other.
sgt. splendor is the duo of kate vargas and eric mcfadden, two musicians with wildly different backgrounds who found unexpected common ground after meeting at a songwriting festival in 2018. their identity has grown increasingly tied to circus and immersive performance, having toured with a family run circus show and collaborated with san francisco’s vau de vire society. this one’s a taste of their upcoming fourth album, electric idol, and it’s got us properly curious about the rest.
thank u for making this sgt. splendor 🎪
bird that used to sing – the sunmills
the sunmills land their most quietly devastating single yet with bird that used to sing
bird that used to sing trades the sunmills’ usual funk swagger for something looser and more rootsy, and it suits the subject matter perfectly. there’s no big revelation here, just the quiet, unglamorous work of existing after a relationship has completely fallen apart, and the laid back arrangement lets that sit without forcing melodrama. the hooks are sharper than you’d expect for something this understated. it’s a genuinely moving listen once it settles in.
the sunmills are a utah based alt-rock trio known for blending hendrix style guitar work with red hot chili peppers swagger, though this single leans into a more intimate, character driven side of the band. they’re currently working on their second album with producer jed jones, who’s worked with the killers and post malone, so expectations are understandably high. second album can’t come soon enough.
thank u for making this the sunmills 🐦
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