Monthly Music Recap: July ‘25
As though sensing the collective drear of record high humidity and dread as summer’s clock ticks, the music gods were extra kind this month.
Fan-favorite band reunions, buried hatchets and surprise albums abounded in July, adding extra excitement to recent New Music Fridays. Here are some of Off The Record’s need-to-know earworms from this month of pop culture prevalence.
Shelly checks back in with two groovy singles
Waking up to new music from recently-revived band Shelly this month felt like “coming from a high on the first of July.” Consisting of Clairo, Claud, Josh Mehling and Noah Frances Getzug, Shelly dropped singles “Steeeam” and “Natural” in 2021, but retreated almost as quickly as they emerged (sporadic spam posts aside). After a four-year hiatus, the beloved quartet released another pair of singles this month, filling a void for those of us who just couldn’t get enough of Shelly.
“Cross Your Mind” and “Hartwell” ooze with nostalgic sound, making the tracks a cohesive pair apt for a summer stroll. Both songs have retrospective themes, with Clairo and Claud taking turns singing of past relationships, old habits and Suburbia. In “Cross Your Mind,” the strum of a lush guitar transports listeners to the beach, where remembrances of rocky days of old replay in our narrator’s head: “I’ll be honest I wasn’t perfect / I’ll be honesty you weren’t either / I draw my line in the sand.” “Hartwell” approaches nostalgia with more grit, its strong bass line rumbling throughout the track. With lyrics like “I wanna swim in the lake that I grew up in / Wanna spend half the day high in Boston Common” and “Driving past the fountain by the alley / Where I’d wait for hours for you to come and get me,” the band tells stories rooted in specific memories, but still with the universal relatability of reflection.
Though it’s unclear if the quartet will ever release more music, Shelly’s brief comeback was certainly a sweet surprise to kick off July.
Wet Leg solidifies their sound in sophomore album, closing track
English band Wet Leg made a grand entrance to the scene in 2022 with their unabashedly brash self-titled debut album. Now, with the addition of two new band members, the duo-turned-quartet is back with a more refined and nuanced sound. Their sophomore album, moisturizer, is still plenty-full of quippy bangers, but carries a lighter air than their debut. The record’s closing track, “u and me at home,” is a fittingly endearing end to an album that finds the band in a more loving mood than ever before.
While the song opens with a major chord progession and jubilant bass line, the pre-chorus ushers in a discordant guitar line and a more urgent drum beat, reminiscent of songs like “Convincing” on Wet Leg. Yet, lead vocalist Rhian Teasdale’s smooth lilt as she sings “If I should get sad along the way / Remind me it’s not so bad / When I’m with you it’s all okay” acts as a lover providing comfort among chaos. Never letting themselves take things too seriously, lyrics like “Maybe we could start a band as some kind of joke / ‘Well, that didn’t go quite to plan,’ I say on the radio” make listeners feel like friends. The gang vocals that carry the song to its end further the feeling, as the heartfelt repetition of “You and me at home again” makes it impossible to not sing along.
“u and me at home” is an anthem that not only has the potential to be a Wet Let classic, but also reminds us all that there’s power in the little things.
Post Animal redefines “the good life” in new album
Watch the music video for “What’s A Good Life” on YouTube.
Unless my listening habits are simply more depressing than I thought, it feels like the Spotify algorithm is full of downcast recommendations. Don’t get me wrong — most of my favorite songs rip my heart out. But, it seems like it’s increasingly more difficult to optimistic tracks that aren’t full of cliches or excessively upbeat. Enter Post Animal. From their sixth studio album, “What’s A Good Life” provides a refreshing take on, well, the good life.
“For the first time in my life / It’s fine that I’m not perfect” Joe Keery — the Stranger Things star and solo artist who reunited with his former band on the record — sings in the chorus, a message that truly speaks for itself. As the band takes turns singing lead vocals, guitarist Javi Reyes cut deep with a verse of pure introspection on life’s true meaning: “When I’m older and I’ve stayed on track / And death gets me with a heart attack / No more keeping up with the Joneses / Trimming hedges on the cul-de-sac / What’s a good life? / What’s your favorite thing you’ve done?” What I love about this track is that it relays this message of hope without being too gloomy or euphoric, musically. With its groovy yet mellow synth melodies and lush accompaniments, “What’s A Good Life” lays in that sonic sweet spot of elevated easy listening.
Post Animal’s newest LP, Iron, is a treat for the ears and the mind and the perfect record to carry into any season of your life.
Forth Wanderers return with addicting flair
For fans of alternative band Forth Wanderers, the release of a new album after the quintet’s seven years of radio silence is like Christmas in July. On The Longer This Goes On, Forth Wanderers make an emphatic 10-track comeback infused with everything from sizzling guitar riffs to swung, jazz drumbeats. Though guitarist Ben Guterl made it clear that “we’re not back,” the band has provided the perfect album to relish in for another seven years.
The track “Barnard” is an especially addictive tune with timeless qualities. An unpolished production envelopes the clean, layered guitar melody and fill-heavy drum beat, giving the track a sunny feel. To top it off, lead vocalist Ava Trilling’s drawling inflection couples perfectly with lyrics like “I met you when I was so young / And you were so young / And I was so blunt,” further honing in on the carefree vibe of the song. But as the track goes on, we’re reminded that nostalgia isn’t always so pretty. “You looked back with nothing to say / But you were okay / And I was far from it,” Trilling sings, for example, before repeating “I want / I want / I want to forgive.”
If The Longer This Goes On proves anything, it’s that a seven-year hiatus doesn’t erase the chemistry forged by five talented musicians. If anything, it might make it stronger.
Staff Picks:
Jackie Fortis - “Good Swimmer” by Carol Ades
Logan Goettemoeller - “LIVE RIGHT” by Joey Valence and Brae
Jack Kolpitcke - “girl don’t cry” by livingthing
Chloe Kapoor - “Original” by Malcolm Todd
Madison Avery - “eclipse” by Michael Clifford
Nymisha Mattapalli - “With You” by Jorja Smith
Cece Faulkner - “one of the ones” by Maggie Lindemann
Cassidy LaPointe - “Taxes” by Geese
Check out some of our July coverage!
Live Shows:
“Self-described as ‘tripping out on tequila and cumbia,’ a Los Bitchos concert feels more like hanging out and jamming with friends. The crowd happily dances through the setlist, laughing along with the band on stage as they take turns on different solos, whether it's guitar, the drums, or the bongos.” - Alex Stefan on Los Bitchos in Toronto.
New Music Reviews:
“If anyone has ever said romance isn’t rock and roll, or rock and roll can’t be romantic, then they have been sadly mistaken. After a whirlwind rise to fame with hit songs ‘Wet Dream’ and ‘Chaise Lounge’ and their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album that followed, Wet Leg welcomes us back to a grungier, sexier, and brilliantly chaotic world full of passionate declarations of love and romantic secrets only shared between the closest of friends.” - Sullivan Jordan on Wet Leg’s moisturizer
“Throw in a touch of Cage the Elephant and Pan Arcadia, and Mossheads’ got an indie rock classic on their first release.” - Cassidy LaPointe on Mosshead’s “Easy”
“On her latest EP Voyeur, Alessi Rose delivers a collection of tracks that feel like late‑night confessions whispered into a glowing phone screen. It’s an intimate, atmospheric project that blends bedroom‑pop vulnerability with pop‑rock confidence, showcasing her knack for turning tangled emotions into memorable hooks.” - Arna Churiwala on Alessi Rose’s Voyeur
Interviews:
“Well, the first thing I'd say is don't Wikipedia me because it's a fucking shit show. It's like a Stephen King novel. I'm basically a guy that's blown a lot of chances, has lived a very, very flawed life. And I’ve put myself through some very, perhaps unnecessary circumstances, but has always made really honest music and connected to a portion of the populace that perhaps feels things very deeply.” - BC Camplight in an interview with Emma Hug Rosenstein
“The full circle of the creative process for me is when I’m performing them live.” - Charlotte Sands in an interview with Cece Faulkner