This edition of LITM Rock Picks carries fresh sound with nostalgic spirit; featuring Tom Minor, REVERSE REVOLUTION, Leazes, and more!
1. Tom Minor – Next Stop Brixton
Through Next Stop Brixton, Tom Minor carries a story that’s both playful, comedic, and poignant in a way that’ll take you by surprise. For anyone familiar with the London Underground, this track is a goldmine of wordplay and allusion, each line filled with references that move the story forward. No spoilers, but at its core, the song is about reconnecting with a long-out-of-touch childhood friend, and the plethora of contrasting emotions that can come with it (pay attention to the soundscape!). The decision to frame the song using the train – a space that exists only in limbo – as a vessel for the story is inspired, showing Minor’s songwriting abilities off with an endearing cockiness. Safe to say, Tom Minor has produced what can be a major hit!
2. REVERSE REVOLUTION – Sweet Honey Smoke
At first, Sweet Honey Smoke sounds like a soundcheck coming from the other side of a wall – muffled vocals, distorted chords, rhythmic drums like a metronome. As soon as they believe you’re lulled, REVERSE REVOLUTION breaks the wall down, all guns blazing, daring you to keep up with its headbanging-worthy drumming and power chords. There’s no better way to say this: Sydney-based REVERSE REVOLUTION is… cool. Oh, and its members are three preteens.
Bursting with youthful defiant energy, full of conviction and confidence, Sweet Honey Smoke’s every second screams of being alive. This is the sound of a band pushing itself into the spotlight, and if this is just the warmup, the full sprint will be a thrill to watch!
3. Leazes – Melissa In Action
Indulge me for a moment and imagine a musical baby of Arctic Monkeys and girl in red. That baby would probably have Leazes’ sharp songwriting, jangly guitar, and high-energy backbeat, all on display in Melissa In Action. Dripping with the nostalgia of summer evenings as a teenager, it bursts forward with a momentum that’ll make you want to crank the volume up and lie down under a pink and orange sky. Its production strikes a refreshing balance of clear yet not too overpolished: this restraint is what gives the song its character and liveliness. With Melissa In Action, Leazes has found the sweetest spot in the world of modern indie rock, and they’re sure to have much more to come!
4. Phil – Mind at Ease
Mind at Ease immediately grabs you with its upbeat freshness and simplicity. It’s easy to imagine it soundtracking the protagonist of a high school movie getting ready for the day: it’s steady, uplifting and aspirational in a way that doesn’t seem at all preachy. The song thrives on its straightforwardness – the simple (but effective!) rhyme and the variations in lyrical length and pacing make the song instantly memorable and satisfying. Phil’s confident and clean vocals are the focus of the track, lying on a bed of focused, tight instrumental arrangements, and the guitar solo at the end adds just the right bit of flair to wrap up a song that’s just showy enough, understated, and undeniably foot-tapping!
5. Westsuit – Cider
Cider opens with the fuzziness of old speakers, giving it a certain calmness – until Allison Becker’s rich vocals make their entrance, and the contrast is electric. Wetsuit – comprising Becker (vocals), Anders Nils (guitar), Tess Kramer (drums), and Paul DeSilva (bass) – crafts music that feels whole, fluid, and effortless. Cider’s vocals have an instrumental quality to them in the way they glide from note to note, and the restrained instrumentals keep pace and contrast beautifully, guiding the track without overwhelming it. Mellow yet emotional, it feels like a summer picnic, and the accompanying one-take music video captures this perfectly. With its delightful blend of campy flair, indie-rock composition, and Chappell Roan–esque Midwest princess energy, Wetsuit revels in its unique character, and Cider makes a strong case for them as ones to watch.
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