Rubber Band Gun • “Eyes Above” • 2025

I got turned onto the work of Kevin Basko through the people he rubs around with: The Lemon Twigs, Foxygen, Uni Boys, etcetera. Basko makes pop-rock like all of them, the sticky, howling dogs kind that’ll clog up your noggin, and he also makes a lot of it. In fact, he’s already put out three albums under the Rubber Band Gun banner in 2025 alone, a follow-up to the three albums he put out last year! And that’s not even including the three-part collection of demos he unveiled sometime in there, too. I dig that, and I dig the new Rubber Band Gun record, Record Deal With God. It’s a whole lot of fun, especially a firecracker track like “Eyes Above.” I mean, we’re talking about a potential favorite song of the year here!! With a glint of McCartney in his eye, Basko breaks through with some delirious, rabble-rousing rock and roll timelessness colored by his striking, catchy flavor of modernity. I credit Emily Moales’ backing vocals for yanking “Eyes Above” through the tides of retro. If there ever were a present-day example of Ram’s lasting influence on us young folk, look no further: —Matt Mitchell

Hand Gestures • Justin's Funeral • 2025

"a warm and spirited blend of indie rock that has elements of bands like Woods, Real Estate, and The Feelies" - We All Want Someone to Shout For

“Hand Gestures could actually become your new favorite band.” - We Love That Sound

“Hand Gestures doesn't feel like a new band, but rather a new chapter in American songwriting.” - Lost in the Manor

“pulsing with urgency but anchored in heart” - Fame Magazine

“For fans of reflective, melody-driven indie-rock that blends warmth with tension, this single is a quiet triumph.” - FLEX Magazine

“warm and breezy indie-rock textures, lofty atmosphere, and spellbinding hooks layered throughout” - Mystic Sons

“It is a spontaneous yet intricate exercise of guitar driven psych pop, a reality check wrapped in a quilt of gently shifting instrumentation.” - Here Comes the Flood

“What stands out most to me is the atmosphere they create. It’s simple, but not in a lacking way, it’s more like they know exactly what to leave in and what to leave out. That balance makes the whole thing feel alive.” - Cheers to the Vikings