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Recommended if you like Parquet Courts, Sheer Mag, Royal Headache
Up next Holy Cross Tigers out later this year
Not one but two of the year’s best albums so far are authored by a ragtag, deeply charismatic band from Louisiana named Twisted Teens, who bear Pynchonian names – Caspian Hollywell and RJ “Razor Ramone” Santos – a console steel guitar and, in Hollywell’s case, one of rock’s greatest, most soulful voices in many years. Virtuosic when it counts, ramshackle when necessary, Twisted Teens feel like they could slot nicely on to a bill with Parquet Courts and the late, great Royal Headache – crunchy, literary rock bands who seemed to shyly conceal their music’s anthemic nature.
Twisted Teens broke through earlier this year with their second album Blame the Clown, a set of 12 country-punk tracks that’s hooky and effusive enough to give any major-label pop record released this year a run for its money. A couple of weeks ago, they released its followup, the rangier and slightly more introspective Florida Water Blues, and before the year’s out they’ll have dropped Holy Cross Tigers, a release schedule befitting a band on a hot streak.
The pair’s origin story is foggy – the most one can glean from interviews is “they were neighbours, then Santos travelled cross-country to buy a steel guitar” – which feels appropriate for this kind of grimy, mythic music, which is raw and self-consciously handmade. Part of that feeling can be put down to Hollywell’s voice, a gritty and pockmarked thing which he uses to great effect, interspersing deadpan meditations on life and love with a rich, almighty howl that’s ostentatious but unpretentious. In other words, Twisted Teens are two of 2026’s true originals – a breakout band whose kooky, ultra-clarified vision outstrips the hype. Shaad D’Souza
This week’s best new tracks
John Glacier – Bond Girl
The peerless UK MC’s most club-ready cut to date: a hip-house track with a Detroit-ish bassline, topped with Glacier airily pronouncing her fashion bona fides. BBT
Jeffrey Silverstein – Portland Works
Silverstein was raised in New Jersey, based in the Pacific Northwest and, here, inspired by a Sheffield factory – yet this radiant cosmic Americana smear of pedal steel, acoustic and honeyed synths exudes pure wild west. LS
Protomartyr – Sounds We Cannot Hear
With a central riff like a siren sounding through a hurricane of hail, this is an enormous return for the Detroit post-punks, who as usual get to the heart of today’s ennui and horror. BBT
Namesbliss x Paul Stephan – Run It
The two London MCs engage in a back and forth of fluid flows on brotherhood, faith and dreams, over a stuttering, saxophone-laced beat by producer T.o. CE
Murex – Flock of Swans Fly in V’s
From her thrillingly innovative debut album, the Swedish artist offers the delightful vision of sprites playing hide-and-seek around a glitching harp. LS
Chad Hugo – Jumpupw!nya (ft Tierra Whack and Leikeli47)
The non-Pharrell half of the Neptunes brings every ounce of his considerable production nous and sense of funk to these aerobic breakbeats, with both guest MCs on equally oxygenated form. BBT
Cole Pulice – The Limits of the Frame
Even when deconstructing their trademark sax – this track was somehow made without using the mouthpiece or breath – Pulice makes reliably soothing, detail-laden sound miasmas to take a moment in. LS
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