Top8 - 10/27/25

Welcome back to Top8. I am really happy to say hello to a bunch of new sustaining members. I have no idea how I haven't managed to scare you away from the station, but I am really glad I haven't.

One of the best things I've done recently was join Mornings With Lou for last week's Sustaining Member Drive. I hope you guys liked "Schrödinger's Lou" as much as we did.

I can't think of anything funny or cute to say here, so the hell with it. Send comments to wtsq.org/contact. Or don't. This is going to be quick and late this week because of reasons.

Louella - Gimmick

When I saw there was a new Louella track I immediately dropped everything I was doing and listened to it. I loved their first single "Pedestrian" so much that the bar has been set kind of high. I am happy to say that "Gimmick" delivers on the promise. Not only that, but it really excites me for whatever comes next. The Morgantown band is playing noisy but sweet music with a lot of grunge and gaze elements here. Two songs in and we have a fair idea what their sound is, but we can also tell that there's diversity in the palette. I really want to see these guys live.

This is, mysterously, not on Youtube, so here's a bandcamp link. You should buy it anyway.

Ekko Astral - horseglue

"Horseglue" is an absolute lightning bolt of tense, building energy. This builds for most of the 2 minute run time and then kinda breaks down in a satisfying way before suddenly cutting off. You expect more, and they didn't give it. Awesome. I hate it when bands give the audience what they want.

Shaki Tavi - Lip

Shaki Tavi's Bandcamp says that they are the loudest band in LA. Imagine me thinking "lol, citation needed" and then hearing "Lip". This track reminds me of Nothing or TAGABOW but with Sisters of Mercy vocals. This one will blow your hair back like that dude in the chair listening to something on a Maxwell cassette. I'd explain that reference, but I'd have to explain what a cassette is first, and it is late already.

Killgurls - Cake

We spoke about Killgurls a while back. Riotous girls playing punk rock with an emphasis on the rock and the girls, and, hell, I guess the riot part too. If you like Mannequin Pussy or Destroy Boys, you'll probably find it worth your trouble to barely move your thumb, tap with a level of force that can scarcely even be described as an action and listen to this "Cake". Who knows though, we're all pretty busy these days.

What's Up Betsy - Least Cool

I know that we had What's Up Betsy on the air and I know that they played at Folklore and I think at the Glass, but I missed all of that because I am in school and working fulltime and most of what I do daily is just cry and feel momentary spasms of panic that I have forgotten to do an assignment. Which is a shame because this is a really fun song and I bet I'd like to see this band.

"Least Cool" is self-consciously pop-punk and fits into the well-worn trope of cool-person-in-a-band-sings-about-not-being-cool. This is meat and potatoes pop punk / power pop stuff done well. Looking forward to more from this band. Maybe I'll see them at some point.

Closed Tear - City Love

"City Love" is a darkwave sleepwalk up the alley drunk and alone at night. Seriously sounds like one of the songs that would get played on the third season of Twin Peaks. Which is to say, I loved it.

Prewn - System

If Marianne Faithfull were still living and did an arty collab with Joanna Newsom and Wednesday, it might sound like "System" by the excellent band Prewn. This one has really stuck with me. It's moody as fuck and has this intricate but trippy string element which eventually stretches itself into a full on rock catharsis. Go ahead and listen to everything from this band.

Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover - Fluorescent Light

Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover have a history of collaborating. Happily they have continued that here. This is decidedly modern folk that still evokes earlier times. On "Fluorescent Light", Heynderickx sounds more than a little like Joni Mitchell. It feels an apt comparison to me – both write and perform music which is exquisitely poised and even careful but still intimate and personal. Heynderickx is more pastoral though, and many of her songs feel as if they must surely have been composed while surrounded by Chlorophyll. The collaborations expand this into more of a Laurel Canyon vibe, which, again, seems appropriate. Haley Heynderickx is in the top tier of modern folk with people like Adrianne Lenker or Lomelda. I really can't wait to hear the rest of the new album. 

And this week's extra innings. Just a few not new things I have been into.

First of all, the new one from Emmalea Deal. I would have featured that in Top8, but I have featured the last few and I probably should give someone else a chance. Damned if this isn't ANOTHER amazing track though. Also, the video fucks. 

Emmalea Deal & The Hot Mess - Thankful

Chet Baker - I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes) (Vocal Version)

And a playlist with everything. 

Thank you for reading and listening.

-emily