Needle Drop Friday: 6/12/26

Hey kids. Time for another Needle Drop Friday. I’ve got some good stuff for you this week.

Not a bad amount of new releases for this week. I’m sure there is something in here that you’ll like….hopefully. Let’s get this thing started.

First up, this EP called Grief Hospital from Supermilk. This one actually came out on Tuesday for some reason. Bands and labels need to pick a fucking day to release new music. It’s either gotta be Tuesday or it’s gotta be Friday. Pick on damnit. Anyway, Supermilk is an indie rock band from London. I couldn’t remember where I had heard of this band from before but I think it was from when the guys over at Punk Lotto Pod talked about their most recent previous release High Precision Ghosts that came out in 2024. This one was released by Specialist Subject.

Next up is New Self by The Bobby Lees. The Bobby Lees are an indie rock/garage rock band from Woodstock, New York. New Self is the band’s 4th full length album. There are some sounds reminiscent of Amyl and the Sniffers on here. Definitely worth checking out. This album was put out by Epitaph Records.

The next release is an EP called Swallowtail from Minneapolis-based shoegaze/indie rock band She’s Green. This one was released on Wednesday the 10th by Photo Finish Records. Apparently another label/band that can’t pick the right day to release music. Ugh. It’s still good. The music is airy and atmospheric. Kind of calming. I get hints of Mazzy Star on this record. This is the band’s 3rd EP.

Hissy Fit of Destruction is another indie rock release (there is a lot of indie rock this week, be warned). It comes from Nashville, Tennessee’s Upset Boys and the Queens. Kind of gritty and garage rock-ish. I think if you like The Strokes, you will probably like this band.

Piebald is, you guessed it, an indie rock band. They are from Andover, Massachusetts. They were originally a hardcore/post-hardcore band. They’ve been around since the mid-90s. They signed with Iodine Recordings in 2024. The new album is Tales for the Rages. To me, they sound somewhat similar to a lot of other bands. They have been compared to acts such as Saves the Day, Jimmy Eats World, and The Get Up Kids (among others) but within the scope of all of those bands I think I prefer them over the others.

Residue is the next album I submit for your interest. It was released by Dandy Boys Records and is the newest release from Yea-Ming and the Rumours. I have never heard of this band before but this isn’t their first outing. They are based out of Oakland, California and is another indie rock band to throw on today’s pile. They have a kind of 60s folk pop sound with hints of jangle pop along with a strong indie rock influence. At times, there are hints of Yo La Tengo and maybe some Belle & Sebastian. I can’t think about Belle & Sebastian without being reminded of the reference to them in the movie High Fidelity. “…go ahead - put on your old sad bastard music…”

This next one is a release that I was not aware of. I only found out about it because my friend Justin from Punk Lotto Pod mentioned it. It is a new EP titled Honeydew from Grumpster. I like Grumpster. They are a punk band from Oakland, California. This EP was released by Asian Man Records. I don’t know why but some of this reminds me of The Rentals. They have also been compared to The Breeders, Joyce Manor, and Green Day. I can see the Breeders reference but not Green Day.

Oddfellows is the self-titled album from this Denton, Texas based band. They are a garage rock band that also throws in some new wave and power pop sounds.

Here’s one that I knew nothing about for some reason. And I’m kind of a little irritated that I was not aware of it. Tim Barry put out a new album called Clear Blocks Ahead. First off, if you don’t know who Tim Barry is, he was the singer for the Richmond, Virginia based punk band Avail. If you have never heard his solo stuff, you need to get your head out of the sand and listen to it. Anyway, I haven’t completely absorbed this new album but what I have heard from it from listening to it today, I am liking it. This one was released by Chunksaah Records. Go give it a listen.

Finally, we have the new album from Canadian songwriter Matt Goud, aka Northcote. His latest offering is To Cherish. Reminiscent of other artists/bands such as Chuck Ragan, Dave Hause, and The Gaslight Anthem, Matt’s grizzly voice once again shines on this release. It is intimate sounding yet still well produced. If you are a fan of Bruce Springsteen or other Americana acts that blend folk and a punk aesthetic with heartland rock, you should enjoy this. This is probably my favorite release by him so far. Go check it out.

Okay that’s it for this week. Not a bad batch of tunes to get you through your weekend. Go check them out and let me know what you think. Or go check them out and don’t tell me what you think. Or don’t go check them out at all. It’s a free country. Do what you want to do.

See you next time!