Welcome back to Top8! We here at the station just celebrated our 9th year as the world's finest radio station, and I personally want to thank each and every one of our amazing supporters. We would not be here without you. It was also great to see all the radio family and our friends who came out for the anniversary party. It was a lowkey thing this year, but it's always a huge thing for me to see these people.
There is a ton of great music to talk about this week. Sometimes the moment I hear a new track, I immediately add it to the playlist for Top8. This week, they were all like that. If you ever run across a great new track, send it on over to wtsq.org/contact.
Noun - Wanted
Starting out this week with the track I am the most excited about. Noun is the solo music project of Marissa Paternoster. Noun actually predates her more famous band, Screaming Females by a few years. When Screamales split up last year, a lot of us were really devastated. I honestly could not imagine what my life would be like without that band. And while we may always miss Screamales, it's really, really nice to see Marissa carry on with Noun. Especially when it's a track as good as this one.
"Wanted" feels a lot like classic Screaming Females with crushing, shredding guitars and Marissa's iconic vocals. Noun is definitely its own thing though. It has always been just a little more socially diverse and adventurous. A little more willing to be restrained and soft. In fact, my friend Sbowe contributes a little cello on this track. None of which means that this track will not absolutely grind you to a fine powder. Wanted was actually released as a single with an also stunning track called "Consumed". Both of these, simply put, fucking RIP.
NØ MAN - Can't Kill Us All
We live in dark days. The US, like many other liberal democracies, is careening toward totalitarianism. Americans are extorted by a plutocracy to fund a genocide unfolding in Gaza, while being told there is no money available for basic services like universal healthcare. It's not clear when, how, or even if, things will ever get better. Even if they never do, we still have each other, and we still have hardcore. Bands like NØ MAN speak directly to this anxiety. Vocalist Maha Shami is the daughter of Palestinian refugees. The new track, "Can't Kill Us All" is soaked in the anguish of families like hers, but also hardens in resilient certainty that, no matter what happens, they will never be able to kill all of any group they hate. I needed this as much as anyone.
SPACED - Landslide
Another hardcore track here. This time with more of a d-beat sound. "Landslide" also offers a slow breakdown and shout-along parts. Find a nice alley, spill bleach on your jeans, and crank this one. Also, don't miss the excellent and hilarious video.
Snõõper - Company Car
Snõõper is an aggressively weird post-punk act out of Nashville. The new track "Company Car" is from a split that came out last winter, but just hit streaming services. If you like bands like Devo, you'll like Snõõper. This is a furious blast of fuzzy, distorted parts and an almost hysterically silly lyric. I have a feeling that Snõõper is the most fun band to see live.
Hello Mary - 0%
Hello Mary is a Brooklyn act which is a couple of albums into a terrific body of work. They remind me a little of Veruca Salt, but with a heavier, screamier side. The new song "0%" smashes you with a low-end riff that really should be too simple to work. But it does. What really works on this track is the snap between sections that the band manages. There's something that sounds kind of like a glockenspiel and then this bass riff that rattles your bones.
Clario - Sexy to Someone
Last time we talked about how pop is really having a moment. Here's another example. "Sexy to Someone" is the slow, sauntering, summer song you've been waiting on. Clario has yearning and universality on this track. Also, it feels like it was performed by a real band rather than being entirely assembled in a computer program. Who knows, maybe I am wrong about that. I am not wrong about this being one of the songs of the summer.
jasmine.4.t - Skin on Skin
"Transwoman releases sapphic bop featuring Phoebe Bridgers on guitar and produced by Boygenius" was always going to get my attention. To hold it, it needed to be actually good. And it is. There's a reason why jasmine.4.t was signed to Phoebe's record label, Saddest Factory.
Molchat Doma - Ty Zhe Ne Znaesh Kto Ya (You Don't Know Who I Am)
Good lord, what do you even say about this band? Molchat Doma is the final boss in the darkwave revival. The Belarusian band has been at it for a little while now, and they really just do not miss. Every time this band comes up, you know you're going to get the synth-heavy post-punk you're looking for. On "You Don't Know Who I Am" they channel classic Depeche Mode on a track with an insistent drum machine and vocalist Egor Shkutko's dramatic low croon. He seriously sounds a lot like Dave Gahan, especially here. It looks like this is being released ahead of a new album, so look forward to that. There is a previous single called "Son" which is also great.
And this week's extra innings. Just a few more things I have been listening to.
Lana Del Rey - Did You Know There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Avenue
Yumi Arai - Lipstick Message
Summit Point - Back To Earth
And a playlist with everything!
Thanks for reading and listening.
-emily