These LITM Rock Picks range from gentle and airy to heavy and powerful, coming to you from artists like The Cloud Pilot, Plans to Sand, Andy Smith, and more!
1. The Cloud Pilot – I Chose to Be Free
“This song is dedicated to all those who choose freedom, who stand for dignity and independence, and who refuse to kneel.”
These powerful words open the Cloud Pilot’s I Chose to Be Free. A heavy track that still soars high, it blends anthemic energy with hard-hitting lyrics, leading to a message that settles into your body by the time it ends. It’s strong, resilient, and defiant – it lands almost like a challenge, daring you to try and disagree. With a sound that’s as empowering as it is smouldering, it lifts you up, making you truly believe you can set the wrongs of the world right.
2. Plans to Sand – The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
Breathing a gentle, new life into The Postal Service’s classic The District Sleeps Alone Tonight, Plans to Sand and Lia Menaker create an atmosphere that’s soft, intimate, and resonant. Where the original is electronic and synth-forward, this version is driven by light, hauntingly beautiful, almost angelic notes. This doesn’t feel like just a cover – it’s a completely different direction whose beauty lies in the fact that it doesn’t try to outdo the original. The harmonies and interplay between the various vocal layers give the song a depth that’s generally hard to pull off – but is done beautifully here! Listen to the song here.
3. Andy Smith – How Do We Keep Moving On
How Do We Keep Moving On is a rich, powerful track that’s filled with anthemic qualities: you can easily imagine its headbang-worthy drumming, charged electric guitars, and Andy Smith’s uninhibited vocals resounding live through a large arena as you sing along. It’s all about resilience in the face of difficulties – about continuing to forge your path ahead and never giving up, regardless of any past wounds that may be holding you back. A carefully thought-out blend of classic rock motifs and emotional sincerity, this track is sure to make you want to get up and get things done – give it a listen here!
4. MancUnion – Never Wanted
Buzzing with electric guitars and just-there drums acting as a driving force, MancUnion’s Never Wanted hits all the right notes. While we wait for the complete track to drop, this preview promises guitar work that’ll transport you right back to the classic rock hits that fill you with a sense of nostalgia while also retaining a sound that’s fresh and contemporary. The central repeating line, “She never wanted, never wanted me, till I’m gone,” is a sneak peek into the song’s central theme, creating an atmosphere of melancholia that strikes a balance between despair and nonchalance. Listen to the preview here!
5. Wired Euphoria – Lifestyle
By now, Nottingham-based Wired Euphoria has established its alternative grunge-rock sound well: raw, confident, alive music that’s made for high energy, loud volume, and carefree headbanging. Lifestyle is no different – it’s rough around the edges, uninterested in sounding polished, and invigoratingly honest. Throughout its almost 5-minute runtime, the energy never drops, not even for a single second. It knows that your attention isn’t going anywhere else, and it’s unconcerned with gimmicks or surprises to keep you engaged, and that gives it an unbeatable emotional pull. Wired Euphoria doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but what makes their music so magnetic is what they end up doing with it – check it out here!
Follow the playlist for all new artist updates!
If you would like to submit your music for playlist or review consideration, please submit here.