Provoker, courtesy.

This week’s column features post-punk from Provoker, groovy summer pop by Myd with Channel Tres and Trueno, invigorating alt-pop from The Happy Fits, jazzy Bossa nova by Marc Ribot, Southern soul from Lamont Landers and some punk-inspired folk courtesy of Trevor Sensor.

Provoker, “Germaphobe” — The Bay Area’s own Provoker has just released a double-single to preview its third album, Mausoleum, due May 9. “Germaphobe” and “Tears In The Club” both feature the band’s dark, driving sound. Christian Crow Petty’s deep, echoing vocals blend seamlessly above Jonathon Lopez’s and Wil Palacios’ looping instrumentals. The background effects serve as the final touch, completing an eerie atmosphere.

“Tears In The Club” doesn’t match the speed of “Germaphobe” but matches its energy. The slightly slower pace paints the scene just as vividly. Both songs explore isolation. “Germaphobe” is about being left alone, while “Tears In The Club” is about dancing alone in a crowd. Provoker wraps up its summer tour at home at The Independent on June 27.

Myd featuring Channel Tres and Trueno, “All that Glitters is not Gold” — French producer, vocalist and DJ Myd is at it again with his newest single, with Channel Tres and Trueno. They rap bars over Myd’s bright instrumentals and funky rhythm, creating a fun and lighthearted atmosphere. Channel Tres opens with a verse in English before Trueno, who’s Puerto Rican, takes over for his verse in Spanish. This juxtaposition amps the energy further.

The Happy Fits, “Everything You Do” —  This tune is the first by The Happy Firs  in about three years, and their first with new guitarists Raina Mullen and Nico Rose. “Everything You Do” showcases plenty of good reasons for frontman Calvin Langman’s excitement. The celebratory song features vocals from the entire band. With its building dynamics and head-bobbing hooks, it has all the makings of a proper summer anthem and is ultimately a song about choosing love. The Happy Fits are on tour this fall, and play the Fillmore on Nov. 16.

Marc Ribot, “Daddy’s Trip to Brazil” — Guitarist Marc Ribot is setting the stage for the release of his first vocal album, Map of a Blue City, which is set to drop on May 23. This song pulls from Bossa nova, folk and jazz, creating an intriguing blend without leaning too heavily on any one style. You’re taken on a journey through Ribot’s storytelling, soft saxophone lines and slow moving strings.

Ribot describes its as “a hungover post-punk echo of Antônio Carolos Jobim’s famous ‘Wave’ importing the ennui of a late-capitalist touring musician into the tropicalismo paradise.” It does sound like Jobim’s work draped in gray after being beaten down by the world. It is not an uplifting song, but “Daddy’s Trip to Brazil” paints an alluringly sorrowful picture. The sound of Ribot’s voice telling its story over the slow guitar and flute is well worth the listen.

Lamont Landers, “Lotta Love” — Hailing from Alabama, Lamont Landers carries on the torch of Southern soul and blues with his powerful vocals and bold brass lines. His voice effortlessly soars over the smooth, organ-sounding keys, bluesy guitar licks and the propulsive rhythm groove. All this comes together to create a track that’s perfect for dancing the warm nights of summer away. It’s a short burn but it makes an impression. You can Otis Redding and Al Green in the song. Landers is setting out on tour this summer with Gary Clark Jr., Oakland’s Fantastic Negrito and The Revivalists.

Trevor Sensor, “The Farm” — The folk-punk infusion of Trevor Sensor shines through on “The Farm.” A preview of his upcoming album, A Few Tears of Eros, the single starts with a folk rock groove before it erupts into a guitar-shredding solo. The introspective lyrics give insight into Sensor’s mind, and also the lives of many working-class Americans who give it their all every day just to scrape by. The song came to him while he was working digging holes in a field in midsummer. “I looked around and thought, ‘How’d I end up working on the farm?'” he said in a news release.

“Barn dog die/ I vomited and cried,”he sings. “Another long day/ A day without rain /What can I say?/ At least I got paid.” The words encapsulate a common struggle: trying to find the silver lining at the end of one exhausting day after another.

Peter’s pick: I usually gravitate toward energetic, carefree songs as the summer approaches, and about half of these songs fit that description. That said, Provoker’s “Germaphobe” is my favorite. It has the energy, but is by no means a celebratory summer anthem. The deep vocals and grungy post-punk instrumentals help capture the theme of isolation. Admittedly, it might say something about me choosing this song as the summer sun finally begins to settle in, but objectively, the song just hits. It also pairs perfectly with “Tears In The Club,” as both focus on in their own unique brands of isolation. Provoker has made the dark, driving sound its own, and it’s definitely worth checking out.