Weekly Roundup: 8/21/2025
Hey, it’s my first weekly roundup! With this series, I just want to share some of the albums I’ve been listening to over the past week. Will it be on the latest releases, or something old that I’m hearing for the first time? You’ll never know…
But! You will find a playlist with my favorite tracks at the end of the post.
Pool Kids - Easier Said Than Done
This new effort from Pool Kids blows their last record out of the water. With choruses that sound built for the radio, math rock flourishes, and dreamy production, this one is just a joy to listen through. If you’re not hooked from the opening track, then there’s something wrong with you. I don’t make the rules.
Standouts: “Easier Said Than Done,” “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Not Too Late”
Motorbike - Kick It Over
Never has a band name captured a sound so perfectly. Kick It Over feels tailor-made for a road trip—in the best way possible. Listening to this makes me want to throw on a leather jacket, slick my hair back, and cruise on an endless highway. Well, for 29 minutes, at least.
Standouts: “Currency,” “Jungle Land,” “Western Front”
Knives - Glitter
I can see Glitter not being everyone’s jam, but holy shit, this post-punk album clicked for me. From the thick, sludgy guitars to the aggressively shouted vocals, there’s never a dull moment.
Standout tracks: “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Phd,” “You Think You Know”
The Dirty Nil - The Lash
I’ve been a fan of The Dirty Nil for a while, and this might be my favorite of theirs yet. From the opening track, you’re hit with epic choruses and earworm riffs that don’t let up. A bit darker in tone than their last, and it really works.
Standouts: “Gallop Of The Hounds,” “Do You Want Me?,” “They Won’t Beat Us”
slo/tide - The Blur
After a long wait, we finally got the first slo/tide record from Spencer Chamberlain (of Underoath fame). As a longtime UO fan, I was really excited to see what he’d do with this solo project—and I’ve got to say, I love it. He does the indie pop sound surprisingly well, blending electronics and guitars with a lot of finesse. It’s also nice to see him touch on some lyrical topics you wouldn’t hear in a UO track. I’m excited to see what’s next for slo/tide.
Standouts: “Blood Hungry,” Don’t Trip,” “It Always Seemed Easier”