Top8 - 03/31/25 - WTSQ 88.1 FM

March 31, 2025 - 02:27 PM

Welcome back to Top8 where I am refreshing my grades every five minutes to see how my semester went. I was lucky enough to spend the weekend in Columbus, OH with WTSQ family Mya, Brad, and Bug seeing Deftones. So, basically, the best weekend ever. If you're in Columbus make sure you check out Seitan's Realm, one of the best vegan diners I have ever been to. Also, Deftones were unbelievable live. Really one of the best big shows that I have ever been to. If you haven't seen them, I highly recommend it.

I also want to mention that 03/31/25 is Trans Day of Visibility. A million hugs going out to all my trans and enby siblings out there. We have always been here and we are not going anywhere.

Columbus is probably my favorite city. It's a damn shame it's in Ohio. They really should do something about that. Send your favorite city to wtsq.org/contact

The Pill - Problem

The Pill are a self identified "girl band" from the Isle of Wight. This is straight ahead pissed off femme punk in the vein of Lambrini Girls. The Pill has actually been around for a little longer though. They have a couple of new singles out and "Problem" is my favorite. With dual vocals and a driving punk sound, this would probably be something you'd hear blasting out of my car at a stop light. If I had a car.

Sorry Mom - Youngstown

More punk from women and queer folk here. Sorry mom are a punk trio out of New York. "Youngstown" starts out sounding sorta like The Beths, before absolutely losing it in the chorus. Excellent. The only thing that bothers me here is that Sorry Mom swears they will never go back to Ohio. Seriously? Not even Columbus??

Lemon Generation - The Diner at the End of the Universe

I don't think that we, as a people, are making enough list songs. Lemon Generation is here to fix that. And "The Diner at the End of the Universe" one is a proper banger.

Alabaster Boxer - The Holiest of Ghosts

Alabaster Boxer are a WV band with a new EP coming out soon. The lead single is "Holiest of Ghosts" and it's the sort of thing you might drunkenly sing while swaying with your arms around a couple friends. This feels a bit like a sad song at first, but it becomes defiantly hopeful. This is a mindful message; like Ram Dass says, "be here now". The lyric that ends the song sums things up – "Don't forget to enjoy every song, every word, every note."

This is a strong EP in general. It holds to the band's specific sound and delivers the kind of Lucero-style, americana barroom poetry that anyone who has seen them expects. Check this band out if you can catch a show, and make sure to give this EP a spin.

Men I Trust - I Come With Mud

I love a band who can do a lot of things. Men I Can Trust have been kicking around out of Canada for about a decade now. In that time they have been called electropop or indie. Then they hit you with "I Come With Mud" that carries a strong Mazzy Star feel.

Panic Shack - Gon Wak

Maybe you're asking yourself "will Emily add ANOTHER angry punk track from some femme punks???" Yes. Yes, I will. "Gon Wak" is about the whole body shaming, eating disorder, male gaze Industrial Complex.

Kae Tempest - Statue in the Square

Kae Tempest is a British spoken word artist, although you'd be forgiven for just calling them a rapper. The important thing is that you listen to their message. Tempest rages at a world that tries to stigmatize and marginalize queer people, but then also celebrates their work. Kae is an amazing lyricist and performer who always wraps their words up in music that is interesting and compelling. Anything from this artist is a must listen.

No Conscription League - A Knife Fight

Out of Cincinnati, we have No Conscription League. This is post-punk but with a lot of garage energy and maybe a little psych. Or maybe it's garage with post-punk energy. In any event, "A Knife Fight" finds its way into a proper fever pitch. This is a song to play as an encore. Big, shouty, cathartic finish. 10/10, no notes.