These LITM Rock Picks come to you from artists like Sean Macleod, Wired Euphoria, Mind Riot, and more, bringing in warmth, energy, and honesty.
1. Sean Macleod – Light Up The Sun
Sean Macleod’s Light Up The Sun, from his album New Start, is warm and real in its acoustic sound, infusing your day with a brightness and optimism that’s hard to find. Balancing sincerity with a laid-back energy, the song blooms open about a minute in, going effortlessly from gently uplifting to a little more insistent and emphatic in the best possible way. On this track, Macleod turns to lived experience to ask (and answer) questions about authenticity and being your whole self, unapologetically. Lyrics like “What’s all this running for?” and the chorus’ refrain to “never let it die,” only reinforce this idea. Listen here!
2. Wired Euphoria – Poltergeist Shopping
Poltergeist Shopping expands on Wired Euphoria’s established sound – unpolished, gutsy, energetic, and honest – with an ease that tells you they’re comfortable in their craft. From the moment it comes bursting out of your speakers (and ‘burst’ is an understatement), everything is buzzing with electricity, wrapped in layers of distortion. The whole song grabs your attention and holds it, making you pay attention till your own surroundings slip away and you’re listening to them with no care for what anyone says or thinks – a state of mind Wired Euphoria seems to have mastered. A song that pushes boundaries of the alternative punk-rock scene, Poltergeist Shopping is a must-listen!
3. Mind Riot – Big Talker
Mind Riot’s debut single, Big Talker, is confident and energetic, leaning into classic rock influences to give the song a sense of familiarity without it ever sounding like something you’ve heard before. Using punchy guitars and driving drums as the foundation for an exceptionally strong vocal performance, the track is gritty and raw; instead of sanding away the small imperfections of the track that make it real, Mind Riot fully embraces the feeling of authenticity and immediacy. An especially solid guitar solo just after the middle section rounds it all up nicely, leaving you feeling like you’ve found a hidden gem from a different era. Check it out here!
4. Mattock – Daughter
From Mattock’s latest album of the same name, Daughter walks the line between strong and spontaneous. It comes to you with confidence, a self-assuredness that comes with experience, when you find that you don’t always need to be loud and in-your-face to be listened to. Blending Americana rock influences with a myriad of other influences to create a sound that’s uniquely theirs, Mattock delivers Daughter with restraint and calm, keeping things moving while still maintaining a tone that’s laid back and relaxed. With jangly, slightly fuzzy guitars and drums that keep everything grounded laying the foundation for a vocal performance that knows it has your attention, this will keep you hooked!
5. MUTE TV – Drag Me Down
From its opening, MUTE TV’s Drag Me Down surges forward, creating a sense of tension and momentum. Clocking in at two and a half minutes long, the track wastes no time in getting started with an aggressive guitar-drum combo, building an atmosphere that walks the line between vulnerability and combativeness. Each and every element of the song feels 100% human with no hint of unnecessary theatrics that’d only detract from the song’s mood; instead, it sits with the tension it creates, making the whole thing all the more authentic and direct. Balancing an unpolished sound with clarity, Drag Me Down establishes MUTE TV’s sound with ease. Listen to it here!
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