Hello Rockstars!
I’m so excited about today’s top 5 list, I think all of these songs are killer and you should definitely check them out right fucking now!
Some of these songs are from brand new albums as well, so I encourage you to go listen to the full experience! Today I will be reviewing bands Wyatt and the Ashes, The Dirty Hooks, VA VOOM, Paige and the Overtones, and Artists テレビ君 and Dixon Hill. Enjoy! 🙂
Song: “Cantina“
Band: Wyatt and the Ashes
Release Date: July 25th, 2025
Overview: Wyatt and the Ashes is back with a full tour de force song that shows that this band just keeps getting better with each release. I have been a long term Wyatt and the Ashes listener, and I am happy to report how strong they get with each new song, and also how they always keep giving me a pleasant surprise each time. Every time they release a new chapter in their music I am always blown away by how much they continue to grow as artists and their new release “Cantina” is definitely not an exception.
What I love about their songs and this one as well is how raw, real, and how much this song just fucking rocks lol. They have a beautiful sadness to the way they connect with the listener with their music and lyrics, I feel I can hear the longing in the singers voice, there is a beautiful vulnerability to what they sing, and I can truly feel the emotion behind it. I feel that’s why Wyatt and the Ashes is such an interesting band to me. they are not afraid to talk about complex issues, they wear their heart on their sleeve and they always push themselves to be better versions each time. If you are not listening to Wyatt and the Ashes you are definitely missing out on some incredibly wonderful music. I can’t wait to see the next evolution of this already amazing band.
Song: “NightCrawler“
Band: The Dirty Hooks
Release Date: August 1st, 2025
Overview: The Dirty Hooks are back with an amazing balls to the walls album titled “Western Gothic” and while I loved the whole album, it’s definitely a must listen and purchase, the song that really stuck out for me personally was “NightCrawler”. It’s a beautiful combination of gritty rock, beautiful harmonies, and gives a very ethereal hook, showing off everyone’s strengths in the bands. I have been obsessed with this song ever since it was released as a single, and you know it’s a great song when I just keep it on repeat constantly. lol. I love its desert western theme, which lyrically is to be expected with the album titled “Western Gothic”, which is a perfect way to summarize this album but more how this song makes me feel.
I have always loved everything The Dirty Hooks put out, it’s wonderful to see their musical evolution, but I feel they have something truly magical with “NightCrawler”. This has everything I love about music in general; wonderful lyrics, catchy hook, and an overall beautiful music experience, if this is not in your rotation and in your library, you are truly missing out.This song makes me feel all the emotions and keeps me coming back for more. I can’t wait to see where the future will take The Dirty Hooks, thank you for always giving your listener a truly one of a kind experience.
Song: “FRUS“
Band: VA Voom
Release Date: August 2nd, 2025
Overview: Va Voom has released some pretty awesome and catchy songs this year that I highly recommend checking out on their Spotify, but of course the one I really gravitated towards was the song with no lyrics (lol) but I absolutely love this incredible track “FRUS”. I feel it truly shows the strengths of every one in the band, and honestly sounds so fucking sick listening to it on my headphones at full blast. I appreciate the musical journey they take with this song, you can tell they truly have a love and passion for what they do, and all of that is front and center with this Rockabilly masterpiece. I absolutely love lyrics, but sometimes it’s nice to get lost in the journey of the music, and that is front and center with this song.
I have been incredibly impressed overall with everything Va Voom does, but I feel they created something truly amazing with “FRUS”. It musically hits all the right emotions, with their gritty guitar and pulsating rhythm, it just makes me feel so much joy and keeps me coming back for more. I can’t wait to see the next musical adventure they decide to take us on, I know I am definitely sticking around for the ride.
Song: “Bulleit“
Band: Paige and the Overtones
Release Date: July 30th, 2025
Overview: I feel it is safe to say that Paige and the Overtones truly has not only one of the best voices in Las Vegas, but also one of the best bands in the music industry. I have always loved their classic honky tonk roots and how they are so incredibly good about keeping that classic sound alive, all while keeping it fresh and modern at the same time. She has such a wonderful sweet sound, but a bite to what she sings about, and her newest song is no exception. With lyrics about being love scorn, I truly feel the emotion of what she sings, and everyone in the band is so wonderful at what they do as well, with those amazing guitar riffs, and top notch rhythm section, everyone compliments each other beautifully. If you ever get a chance to see them live I strongly recommend it, they always put on one hell of a show. I absolutely love this new song and think it’s a wonderful step in the right direction, of an already solid and amazing band. I can’t wait to see the natural evolution of Paige and the Overtones, I just know that it will be an amazing ride.
Song: “Lost Again (And Again)“
Artists: テレビ君 and Dixon Hill
Release Date: July 14th, 2025
Listen and Purchase their music on Bandcamp:
Bandcamp “Lost Again (and Again)”
Overview: “It’s Never Dark When You’re Here” is a brand new amazing concept album, and I will at a different time be delving more into an in depth conversation with the creators of this album テレビ君 and Dixon Hill and how all of these songs are absolutely gorgeous, and just struck a nerve with me. But for now, I wanted to talk about the song that I just personally keep coming back to again and again, titled “Lost Again (and Again)”. It’s an incredibly touching song, that makes me feel an interesting combination of joy and sorrow.
The whole album has a melancholy vibe, but this song just really spoke to me personally, and I just can’t stop listening to it. Between the beautiful melody, and perfect mid tempo beat, they have created something truly gorgeous with this track, and sometimes I find it hard to describe how music makes me feel, but this song just has everything for me. It makes me feel love, joy, sadness and hope. I genuinely don’t know how they managed to create such a beautiful and complex song, but I’m grateful they did. It’s one of those perfect songs to listen to when you need to be uplifted a little, it has a wonderful therapeutic quality to it, and it just makes me feel a certain way.
I hope you guys get the same or a similar experience listening to this song but also the whole album as well. It is a beautifully tragic look into the human psyche and I greatly encourage you to put this in your playlist and of course buy this wonderful album. I have no idea what the evolution of テレビ君 and Dixon Hill will be, but all I know is they have created an incredibly gorgeous soundtrack and song and should be very proud. I know I will definitely have their music on repeat for years to come.
—-VMS