"Off The Wall"/"Butterfly" by The New Tigers

 

According to our records department, we first covered Turku, Finland's The New Tigers in 2011, so the band and WYMA have been in a non-exclusive relationship with each other for 14 years (how very modern, of us). While the band's musical endeavors don't fall into a rigid compartment, they generally play a densely melodic brand of guitar pop -- perhaps a more shimmering, shoegazey Yo La Tengo. While they haven't been as active as we would like in recent years, they have dropped a thrilling surprise in the form of new single, "Off The Wall"/"Butterfly". The lead track is robust and best played loud, while the second song shimmers with no percussion and the guitars taking the front of the stage. We think these songs are among the band's best work. And that gives us happy hints about the planned 2026 album which will include both of them.

The New Tigers are Appu Jasu, Valtteri Virtanen, Janne Kauppinen, and Nico Kivikangas. The recording is out now as a digital release via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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Great Lakes - Don't Swim Too Close

 

What musical obsessions have occupied us the last few days, you (should) ask? Thanks for asking. The answer is frequent replans of Don't Swim Too Close by Great Lakes. Featuring songwriter Ben Crum's weathered vocals and introspective lyrics, the album's 12 tracks are an indie rock, Americana, alt folk tapestry that has become one of our favorite albums of the year, so far. The arrangements are richly constructed with piano and guitars shining brightly and evince muscle and bruised beauty..

Crum's Great Lakes has been going for nearly three decades -- from Athens to Brooklyn to upstate New York. But it still sounds vital and inspiring. If you don't get this album you are missing an important piece of 2025's musical tapestry. 

Don't Swim Too Close is out now via Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records.

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Telephone Numbers - Scarecrow II

 

One of the many wonderful things about the current Bay Area indie pop scene is the scope of the output. Whether one is looking for delicate, whispered folk pop, lo-fi jangle, punk, shoegaze, hardcore, psychedelic or, really, whatever, you can find it well done. One project that captures a special place in our musical hearts is Telephone Numbers. The band -- Thomas Rubenstein with Morgan Stanley, Phil Lantz, and Charlie Ertola -- plays a jangling college rock that evokes cherished memories while still managing to be fresh and exciting. On their recently released second album, Scarecrow II, the guitars chime, jangle and chug, the rhythm section rumbles in your chest and the vocals speak the truth. The tempos vary, inviting bouncing in some tracks and softly saying in others. Without hesitation, we can recommend that these Telephone Numbers should be in your music contacts list.

The band features members of Neutrals, Chime School, The Reds, Pinks and Purples, and The Umbrellas. For this recording they also received contributions from Alicia Vanden Heuvel, Andy Pastalaniec, Tony Molina, Anna Hillburg, Lewis Gallardo, and K. Dylan Edrich. Scarecrow II is out now via Slumberland Records.

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Bubblegum Lemonade - To Surf With Love

 

Trying to choose a favorite album of the seven recorded by Glasgow's Bubblegum Lemonade is an effort so fruitless that even we wastrels at WYMA won't do it. Infused with jangle, infectious melodies and sincerity, this project's music fits perfectly in our channel of cozy delights. But having written that, we have to admit that the recently released To Surf With Love has impressed us beyond our pre-release expectations. For this album chief cook and bottlewasher Laz McCluskey has been inspired by the mid-'90s French romantic comedy A Summer's Tale and has arranged his creations with a seaside vibe. His witty title puns on that theme and the famous '60s hit by Scots artist Lulu. The result is a delightful collection of connected tunes with emotional depth and, while true to Laz's jangling semi-shoegaze path, a range of tempos and stylistic expressions. Take a dive into the world of Bubblegum Lemonade, you will find the water to be the perfect temperature.

Bubblegum Lemonade is the solo project of musician and songwriter Laz McCluskey whose other musical endeavor is Strawberry Whiplash (which also recently released an album). To Surf With Love is out now in digital and CD formats via Matinee Recordings.

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"Here Come The Rugby Boys" by The Just Joans

 

When Scotland's The Just Joans announce an upcoming album titled Romantic Visions of Scotland we can draw several conclusions. First, we know we will like the album because, well, it is The Just Joans and we love them. Second, the album will have good songs with lyrics worth our attention. Third, those lyrics often will be snarky, humorous, self-depreciating, gloomy, bitter and sarcastic. Fourth, the visions of Scotland depicted in the song may well not be romantic, at least not in any traditional manner. Since the album isn't due until January 23, we won't say a lot more now. But we invite you to feast your ears on the first single, "Here Come The Rugby Boys" recounting songwriter David Pope's less than favorable memories of a season of youth rugby. Its like Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields fronting The Kinks covering Tullycraft, and who can't appreciate that?

Romantic Visions of Scotland will be released via Fika Recordings.

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