Our favorite new holiday songs come from The Philly Specials (Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata and Jason Kelce) with guest Travis Kelce; Josh Groban, David Shaw of the Revivalists, Ben Folds, Emile Mosseri and Julianna Barwick, Lyn Lapid, Kurt Vile, Yächtley Crëw, Jonathan McReynolds, Fantastic Cat and The Boy Detective.…

Composite image. Original photo of My Chemical Romance by Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. Traditionally during this time of year, I either write about the best (2020, 2022) or worst (2019, 2021) of Christmas music. I had a whole pattern going but I didn’t write one last year so I find myself…

DragonWulf (Eman Esfandi), courtesy. This week’s column has synth-pop by DragonWulf (actor Eman Esfandi), alt-pop by Leo Lauren, highlife music by The Cavemen, grunge by BERRIES, troubadour rock by Josh Gilligan and power pop by Ben Kweller. Leo Lauren, “Damage Drop-Off Site” – This dancey alt-pop track by L.A.…

Arima Ederra, courtesy Samone Kadine. This week’s edition has nostalgic vibes and feelings from Arima Ederra and Mereba, Sebastian Schub, Fusilier and Anna Shoemaker, while Chlothegod delivers quirky energy and Kyra Machida has us moving with a pop banger. Arima Ederra with Mereba, “Oh God” — The soulful harmonizing…

AMÉMÉ, courtesy Patrick Ames. The first Tuesday Tracks column of December features Afro-house from AMÉMÉ and Franc Fala, uplifting pop by Dylan Cartlidge, neo-soul by UMI, a jazz tribute to drum and bass music by Kuna Maze, deep dance-pop from Joey Sachi and AKINAT, and a reflective lullaby by…

Elliot James Reay, courtesy Em Cole. This week we’ve got a ’50s flashback from Elliott James Reay, a ’70s flashback from Robert Jon & the Wreck, ’90s flashbacks from Peter Landi and Blood Lemon, and some sounds without precedent from Nico Vega and Lambrini Girls. Lambrini Girls, “Love” —…

Kraftwerk performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, on July 6, 2022. The band is slated to play Coachella next spring. There’s a post making the rounds on Bluesky that shows the Coachella lineup and says, “Your real age is 70 minus the number of musicians you…

Sunny War, courtesy Joshua Black Wilkins. This week we dive into an emotional musical rollercoaster to help relieve post-election blues. You’ve got euphoric pop by Ben Hazlewood, funky dance music by Flight Facilities and DRAMA; melancholic downtempo jazz by Out Of/Into, dark pop by Bay Area locals Decant, angsty…

The publisher makes a new best friend on a recent trip to Alaska while running from all of his problems. Don’t worry, I’m not writing about the state of the country yet. I don’t have it in me. There’ll be plenty of time to rant and lament, but not…

Celeste Epiphany Waite. Photo: Siam. This week, we bring you a soul-stirring tune by Celeste, dreamy pop by Alice Phoebe Lou, folk from Myles Smith, rock by Matt Pond PA, jazzy funk by Butcher Brown and electronica from Rare DM. Celeste, “This is Who I Am” — This song…