Thanks for joining me for Beat The Delete #0208, bringing you 22 tracks of jangle-pop and jangle-pop adjacent tracks from all the bands that have got past the Editors burning desire to just delete everything into a cyber-bin.

He is bad…but this music isn’t and as always we hope you find a new favourite or become re-acquainted with an old one.

Puppy Angst

Track: TKO From: TKO (single) Label: Fire Talk Out: Now

When I reached the tail end of my senior year of high school, I became obsessed with an EP called We Have No Future, We’re All Doomed by a newly-minted dream pop outfit called Kississippi. Kississippi was my gateway into the classic slacker indie rock staples like Pavement, Built to Spill, and Yo La Tengo. That band also exemplifies the exceptional creative seeds that indie artists are sowing in Philadelphia. Philadelphia gave us Mannequin Pussy, Spirit of the Beehive, Hop Along, Empath… the list goes on.

Flash forward five years, and I find myself logging onto a zoom meeting with a former touring member of Kississippi, Alyssa Milman (they/them), to discuss their latest project Puppy Angst. Talk about full circle…real full review at A Grrrls Two Cents here.

Diners

Track: The Power From: Domino (album) Label: Bar/None Records Out: Album out 18 August 2023

In recent years, power pop has enjoyed a triumphant resurgence in independent music. Nilson, Rundgren, and Wilson are the reference points for a new generation of highly talented songwriters.

Bands like The Lemon Twigs sound like they arrived in a time machine from mid-70s Los Angeles, their rich and clean analog recordings extracted straight from a studio on the Sunset Strip, while others like Mo Troper dip their melodies in more acrid sonics, thereby highlighting the perfectly imperfect 4-to-8 track recording format.

Much to the delight of guitar pop enthusiasts, there are countless others who draw influence from the golden age of AM radio, including Los Angeles’ Diners, who are rapidly ascending to the top of the pop heap thanks in large part to their latest single,  “The Power.” …Read full review at Look At My Records here

Tomten

Track: Caterpillar Hill From: Artichoke (album) Label: Plume Records Out: Now

Seattle’s baroque-pop quartet’s latest goes more psych-folk & power-pop with pastoral edges reminiscent of the vintage Scottish multi-instrumentalist Robin Williamson’s Incredible String Band. Their musical adventure has vividness & Tomten is appealing with reservations.

They are innovative & the 12 tunes on their latest CD Artichoke (Drops April 28–Plume Records) show their Americana delicacy but at times may grate the ear of a traditionalist. Sometimes, there’s a little too much-added pop sugar

Sonny & The Sunsets

Track: Waiting From: Self Awareness Through Macrame (album) Label: Rocks in Your Head Records Out: Album out 01 September 2023

Quite a nice surprise to find a new Sonny & The Sunsets album on the way this year. It’s been a while and there’s always something reassuring about Sonny’s sun-warmed strums. The album’s first single is inspired by his son — watching him waiting for a change among static life, sewing garments that Smith imagined might be worn when the collective progeny of this damaged world finally board the UFO out of this dystopian delusion. The song is laced with Sonny’s usual humor and hubris…Read the full review at Raven Sings The Blues here.

The Radio Field

Track: The Version (feat. Robert Stadlober) From: The Version (single) Label: Less Records Out: Now

Düsseldorf based The Radio Field was originally the bedroom project of Lars Schmidt. However, The Radio Field have now expanded to a full line-up or a “real band” as it says on their Bandcamp page, with The Version being the first single as a result.

It’s a nice slice of 1960s influenced indiepop with lyrics describing an individual who is waiting for something, that right moment, in order to express themselves fully. There are some lovely brass sections courtesy of a trumpet & trombone, whilst the backing vocals of Robert Stadlober enhance that retro feel even further…read full review at Records I Like here.

Sandra’s Wedding

Track: The Hopeful Boy Replacement Service From: The Hopeful Boy Replacement Service (album) Label: Subjangle Out: Album release date July 2023

Goole, East Yorkshire alt-rock band Sandra’s Wedding are working on their next album with a working title of The Hopeful Boy Replacement Service, which they will release around June.

The band comprises Joe Hodgson (guitar and vocals), Jonny Hughes (guitar), Luke Harrison (drums) and Corey Jones (bass). They got together in Goole about six years ago and Hughes is from a town nearby (Castleford), having been introduced via a mutual friend. Of their name, Hodgson said: ‘It’s a bit of a deflating moment (laughs). I had an idea of us as a fictional band at a wedding. There isn’t a Sandra, sadly. We should come up with a better fake story!’

Your Heart Breaks

Track: These Old Haunts From: The Wrack Line (album) Label: Kill Rocks Stars Out: Album out 07 July 2023

Today Glide is premiering the video for the standout tune “These Old Haunts,” which features guest appearances from Kimya Dawson and David Christian of Comet Gain. Musically, the tune brings to mind the late 90s and early aughts indie rock while also carrying an ominous western vibe. Indeed, Clyde aimed to give it a haunted sound. The straightforward instrumentation allows for the vivid and at times darkly humorous lyrics to really shine, with each artist contributing verses to give the song the feel of being sang around a campfire…Read full review at Glide Magazine here.

Noah Lefgren

Track: But in the End It’s Not From: But in the End It’s Not (single) Label: Self released Out: Now

Noah Lefgren is the vocalist, producer and multi-instrumentalist behind the project Noah Lefgren. One may wonder – what is Noah Lefgren? This is a question many individuals have asked. Is it a pseudonym used by some Orem, Utah-based creative (or group of creatives, perhaps? We may never know) to release art very influenced by an apparent caffeine addiction and well-established mental illness? Or could it simply be the birth name of the man many know as Noah Lefgren? Regardless, it is here and it makes unique music…promo submission

Cole Crawford

Track: Molly From: Tree House (album) Label: Self released Out: Album release date TBA

Molly is the first single off my album Tree House, coming later this summer. I wrote, recorded and mixed this song at home in Connecticut. Inspirations for this one were Pale Saints, Alex G and Lush…from promo submission

Hotplug

Track: Mass Transit From: Mass Transit (single) Label: Self released Out: Now

With simple, catchy verses and a garage-y, psychedelic chorus, “Mass Transit” is the grungy chimera that emerges when you throw a bunch of indie rock subgenres in a blender without a surge protector. From the engine room of our homemade Sacramento studio, with love. xoxo…from the bands promo submission

Johmen

Track: Bum!!! From: Garbage For Cats (EP) Label: Happen Twice Records Out: Now

…struggling with depression and almost failing out of college, I found myself unable to leave bed or even eat most days. my professor once wrote me an email calling me a “bum” for missing too many class periods, and although I found it quite hurtful at the time, I have embraced the new label and found myself using it to motivate myself out of my depression. Now I am better, going to therapy, and the most productive bum the world has ever seen…artist (Joshua Mendiola) words about the track in the promo submission.

Kindsight

Track: Tibet From:  Tibet (single) Label: Rama Lama Records Out: Now

You know I was about to categorise ‘Tibet’ in the foothills of twee pop because that is the way it set out its stall but I was glad I resisted in jumping to quick classifications because there is just so much more to the temple of sound. Not least in the way this Danish act ensure that it bursts into absolute Primitives circa ‘Crash’ and all the joy in the world such things bring…read full review at mp3 Hugger here.

The Julies

Track: Symmetry From:  Symmetry (single) Label: Lost In Ohio Out: Now

Way back in 1996, The Julies released the Lovelife EP on Flying Tart, a six-song collection of rollicking indie-pop gems influenced by shoegaze and Britpop. And then they disbanded.

Since then, a cult following has developed around the band, and earlier this year, Lost In Ohio released some previously “lost” mixes from the Lovelife recording sessions….And now they’ve released an honest-to-goodness new Julies single. “Symmetry”…read full review at Opus Zine here.

Saint Stacy

Track: Warm Beginning of November From:  Warm Beginning of November (single) Label: Self released Out: Now

“The single “Warm beginning of November” is true to its name – it oozes with the warm essence of a summer love transitioning into its next season. Simple vocals combined with a vibrant guitar and synth background give this song a chill and relaxing vibe…see full review at Melodic Mag here.

Morph

Track: Second Act From:  Second Act (single) Label: Self released Out: Now

“You can live in a box, or a castle,” morph opens on the more rock-forward “second act.” The “it’s all you’ve ever known,” escalation stirs amidst the twangy guitars and hazy key-laden illumination, reminding fondly of Deerhunter’s quainter efforts. “second act” is an easily catching rock charmer. These two successes have me firmly anticipating morph’s upcoming EP….see full review at Obscure Sound here.

Artist Running Club

Track: Bloomfield From: After The Fall (EP) Label: Self released Out: Now

… 80’s sitcoms were decidedly corny, even downright dumb but the emphasis was, in the end, that kind of pals for life mentality and that sentimentality works, easily pulls on your heartstrings because who among us have real intimate friendships that span for years and years.

I thought about this while listening to the endearing, even heartwarming “Bloomfield” by Artist Running Club, I mean it is dripping in the earnest love and hope of fulfillment beyond shiny cars and other baubles. Maybe because the seeds of this cool track are auto-biographical. Singer-songwriters / multi-instrumentalists Sam and Stevie actually, no lie, met in kindergarten and have been together ever since as friends and creators…See full review at American Pancake here

Bloomr

Track: After The Fall From: After The Fall (single) Label: Self released Out: Now

Produced by the legendary J. Robbins, “After the Fall” is informed by frontman Brian Scott’s (formerly of Fall Back Plan) love of 60s classics, 80s post punk, and 90s guitar-heavy alt-rock. Bloomr packs as many moods and influences into a single three-minute track as many bands do across several songs, all while retaining a tight pop sensibility…read full review at I Am Tuned Up here

The Creepy Crawlies

Track: Every Little Thing From: Weeds (album) Label: Self released Out: Album release date TBA

Every Little Thing is the second single from the forthcoming album “Weeds” by The Creepy Crawlies, a Los Angeles based Jangle Pop / Indie Rock project led by artist Chris Donlon. It started with a question – can you dance to derealization?

About Every Little Thing, Chris says, “I experienced a pretty severe bout of depersonalization and derealization after my freshman year of college and it’s something that’s informed a lot of the art and music I’ve made since. This song is maybe the most direct reference to that time while also being weirdly the most almost danceable?

Vagrant Sabbatical

Track: No Prophets From: Banshee (album) Label: Making New Enemies Out: Now

Introspective, dulcet, melancholic coursing Fine style fragile indie-pop sensibilities through and Eels sense of lethargic despair and beauty.

Burnt Sugar

Track: Delicate Man From: Delicate Man (single) Label: Self released Out: Now

“Delicate Man” by Burnt Sugar, the musical moniker of New Orleans musicians, Spencer Nessel and Mac Folger (from Lawn) with added assistance from Nick Corson and Duncan Troast (Video Age and Convenience), is a genre blended crooner.

Moving along with light jazz tones, faint country and western noir gallops, doo wop atmospheres, lounge pop moved via an utterly compelling guiro propelled rhythm (the use of the guiro is everything here) as a gorgeously made bed for Nessel to lay his vocals in is as sweet as the black and white cookies at Canter’s Deli in L.A…See full review at American Pancake here

Mox

Track: Green From: Heart (album) Label: Cherub Dream Records Out: Now

The beautiful washed out jangle-chillwave of Tony Molina wafts amid slightly melancholy aural textures in AN album that sits alongside the listener like a loyal friend.

John McAteer And His Demands

Track: Green From: Mid-Century Mod (album) Label: Self released Out: Now

Veterans of the Little Rock, Arkansas punk and indie rock scenes of the ‘90s and ‘00s, the Demands came together in the summer of 2021 to flesh out recent demos by vocalist and guitarist John McAteer (The Baileys, Stifft Beat, The Reds). Rounded out by Josh Bentley on bass (The Big Cats, Il Libretina, Substance) and Ryan Scott on drums (Ashtray Babyhead, Marigold), John McAteer and his Demands released their first record, Mid-Century Mod, on Cinco de Mayo 2023 through Max Recordings. You’ll find the band lost somewhere at the intersection of punk, jangle, mod, and art rock, probably not looking for a way home….from the promo submission

Grund

Track: Spillror From: Odledammen (EP) Label: Self released Out: Now

Built to Spill fuzz, Pavement flat stringed riffs and a Pixies sense of perfectly deranged melodic rock is the wonderful 90s mix of this Swedish artiste.