Oh, hey! Yes, Monthly Picks still exists. Except this time it’s for Q2 and Q3 (second and third quarters of the calendar year). I haven’t talked about many new releases this year, so here are some of my favorite albums, EPs, and singles that I think you oughtta check out. Let’s jump into it!
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Taylor Swift – folklore
Taylor Swift unleashed the best record of her career as a mid-July surprise, and it immediately swept critics and fans alike off their feet. Taylor retreats to her guitar-playing roots with an almost folk album, tugging at the heartstrings with lyrics that read like a diary. With minimalistic production, candid lines, and cultivated vocals, folklore is without a doubt Taylor’s shining moment. Standout tracks include “august,” “seven,” “peace,” and “this is me trying.” folklore will appeal to fans of Bon Iver, The Civil Wars, and Julie Byrne. Click here to listen.
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All Time Low – Wake Up, Sunshine
Wake Up, Sunshine has been received as a return to form for the pop punk veterans All Time Low. 2017’s Last Young Renegade was quite the departure from the band’s trademark rock style, but Wake Up, Sunshine reels it back in and better than we could’ve expected. This album is what a solid pop punk LP should sound like in 2020, and it’s nice to have the boys from Baltimore back. Standout tracks include “Safe,” “January Gloom,” “Clumsy,” and “Basement Noise.” Wake Up, Sunshine will attract listeners of State Champs, blink-182, and 7 Minutes In Heaven. Click here to listen.
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The Aces – Under My Influence
Under My Influence, the most recent LP from The Aces, is the opposite of a sophomore slump. This triumphant record displays the Utah band expanding their sound and trying out new styles with it rather than sticking with the same old, same old or switching things up entirely. This more refined approach certainly offers up some ’80s-inspired pop rock bangers you don’t want to miss. Standout tracks include “Kelly,” “Daydream,” “Not Enough,” and “Can You Do.” Under My Influence is sure to capture fans of Fickle Friends, Scavenger Hunt, and Neon Trees. Click here to listen.
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The Magic Gang – Death of the Party
Looking for some indie rock that isn’t watered down or boring? Here’s your album. UK band The Magic Gang’s second LP Death of the Party is a refreshing release and another great hit in the group’s discography. Buoyant guitar riffs, catchy choruses, and bright horn sections dominate Death of the Party, as well as thought-provoking lyricism. Standout tracks include “Make A Sound,” “Death of the Party,” “I Am Sunshine,” and “Make Time For Change.” Death of the Party is bound to satisfy followers of The Vaccines, Lady Legs, and Driver Friendly. Click here to listen.
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Neon Trees – I Can Feel You Forgetting Me
No, Neon Trees, we haven’t forgotten about you and we missed you so damn much. Six years after their last full-length Pop Psychology, Neon Trees finally return with their latest record. Filled to the brim with gleaming synths, syrupy hooks, and heartfelt lyrics, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me is a melancholic yet joyous mixture of spirited indie pop and soulful songwriting. Standout tracks include “Mess Me Up,” “Everything Is Killing Me,” “Nights,” and “Going Through Something.” I Can Feel You Forgetting Me will please fans of The Aces, MOBS, and Twin XL. Click here to listen.
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Charlie Barnes – Last Night’s Glitter
Gentle plucking of an acoustic guitar and tastefully ardent vocals characterize Charlie Barnes’ latest LP Last Night’s Glitter. This most recent outing is primarily a redux of Charlie’s past tunes, transitioning them from piano ballads or upbeat indie pop songs to stripped-down acoustic schlepping and operatic voice performances. Standout tracks include “The Weather,” “All I Have,” “Last Night’s Glitter,” and “Ruins.” Last Night’s Glitter will attract followers of Chris Dupont, Sean McConnell, and Ralph Pelleymounter. Click here to listen.
MORE GREAT ALBUMS
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Lady Legs – Off Days
Breezy indie rock begging for replays. Standout tracks include “Idle Hands,” “Quit Bringing Me Down,” and “Not Right.” Off Days is for fans of The Magic Gang, Steppes, and LEDGES. Click here to listen.
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Movements – No Good Left To Give
Another gut-wrenching outing filled with impassioned vocal performances and ripping guitars. Standout tracks include “Skin To Skin,” “Don’t Give Up Your Ghost,” and “Moonlight Lines.” No Good Left To Give is for fans of Citizen, Turnover, and La Dispute. Click here to listen.
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Vistas – Everything Changes In the End
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Hayley Williams – Petals For Armor
The pensive singer/songwriter solo project from Paramore’s frontwoman. Standout tracks include “Cinnamon,” “Leave It Alone,” and “Crystal Clear.” Petals For Armor is for fans of Soccer Mommy, Maggie Rogers, and Julien Baker. Click here to listen.
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Stand Atlantic – Pink Elephant
Solid pop punk with strong vocals and catchy riffs. Standout tracks include “Wavelength,” “Blurry,” and “Like That.” Pink Elephant is for fans of Seaway, With Confidence, and State Champs. Click here to listen.
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A. Swayze & The Ghosts – Paid Salvation
Rowdy, punk-tinged garage rock. Standout tracks include “Nothing Left to Do,” “Mess of Me,” and “Connect to Consume.” Paid Salvation is for fans of WAAX, Bad//Dreams, and White Blanks. Click here to listen.
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PVRIS – Use Me
Tasteful amalgam of electronics, acoustic guitars, and layered vocals. Standout tracks include “Dead Weight,” “Loveless,” and “Death of Me.” Use Me is for fans of Deaf Havana, Maggie Lindemann, and Emarosa. Click here to listen.
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IDLES – Ultra Mono
Dude, it’s IDLES. Standout tracks include “The Lover,” “Model Village,” and “Mr. Motivator.” Ultra Mono is for fans of Protomartyr, Girl Band, and Heavy Lungs. Click here to listen.
Extended Plays
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Pinkish Blu – there’s no such thing as good people
Best EP you’ll hear all year. Standout tracks include “Calm Down” and “Red Hot Moon.” there’s no such thing as good people is for fans of LANY, Heart of Gold, and MILKK. Click here to listen.
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Troye Sivan – In A Dream
Standout tracks include “Rager teenager!” and “Take Yourself Home.” In A Dream is for fans of Ruel, Years & Years, and Lorde. Click here to listen.
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Go For Gold – Color Me
It’s pop punk. Standout tracks include “Forget About It” and “Tone.” Color Me is for fans of Neck Deep, Gold Steps, and The Story So Far. Click here to listen.
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Day Wave – Crush
Standout tracks include “Potions” and “Starting Again.” Crush is for fans of Surf Rock Is Dead, Craft Spells, and Plastic Picnic. Click here to listen.
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American Authors – Counting Down
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Bears In Trees – I Want To Feel Chaotic
Standout tracks include “Permanence” and “Cobwebs.” I Want To Feel Chaotic is for fans of spookyghostboy, McCafferty, and Beach Bunny. Click here to listen.
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Until We Get Caught – Surface
A splendid maturation of sound. Standout tracks include “Fading Out” and “Ghost.” Surface is for fans of Outwaves, Bring Me the Horizon, and A War Within. Click here to listen.
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hellocentral – HEATWAVE
Standout tracks include “Lsof” and “One More Sunrise.” HEATWAVE is for fans of A Will Away, Less Than Jake, and Oh, Weatherly. (I think?) Click here to listen.
Featured Singles
Dream Jacuzzi hits another homerun with this single, filled with up-tempo guitar strumming, hazy vocals, and playful percussion. Most notable may be the striking guitar solo or the personal yet relatable lyrics.
Chance’s most recent LP portraits was crowned our best album of 2019, and after a string of solid singles, “Bad To Myself” is an empowering and emotional catharsis as Chance explores his recovery from anorexia.
For the first time, Local Natives has an EP on the horizon, and its lead single “Statues In the Garden (Arras)” is a chill, mellow contemplation contrasted with sweet melodies and soaring backing vocals.
Dan Burke, former lead vocalist of Off the Record, hits the ground running with his newest project. Among his first few singles, “flights” is a heartfelt yearning that sets the tone for this band’s direction.
The debut solo single from 5 Seconds of Summer’s Ashton Irwin is a reflective look into Irwin’s personal struggles with body dysmorphia, delivered via an acoustic ballad void of his signature instruments: drums.
The Vamps kick off their new LP with the lead single “Married In Vegas,” a jaunty pop rock tune charged to the brim with sky-high vocal peaks, dashing piano melodies, and spirited percussion.
Blake’s farthest step into an acoustic folk direction is a shining ballad characterized by vivid lyrics that are as painful as they are beautiful.
Bastille’s “survivin'” is a breezy reflection on the band’s career thus far and a testament to their resilience, as well as their openness to explore new styles and sounds.
Let us know what you think of Q2 and Q3’s releases down in the comments below!
Our Alt Col Picks are curated lists of the best albums and EPs for each month! We keep a schedule of upcoming releases and pick our favorite ones at the end of the month, giving them a spotlight here and on Twitter. To be featured in one of our lists, hit us up on our contact page or Twitter, though nothing is guaranteed. (We occasionally include past releases, so for instance, if your album came out in June, we might be able to feature it in our post for July or August.)
A lot of great albums appeared in August, so here are our favorite records of the month! (In no particular order.) 
Eight years since their most recent full-length release, alt-rock veteran group Brand New returns with their final effort, Science Fiction. Science Fiction is transcendental and otherworldly at times with psychedelic guitar melodies, biblical allusions, and therapeutic dream analysis tapes. The band still unleashes their ferocity through fiery breakdowns and also showcases their softer side with gentle balladry. Standout tracks include 
PVRIS is recognized for their mesmerizing blend of piercing rock and colorful electronic music, as well as frontwoman Lynn Gunn’s soaring vocal performances. That trend is continued and expanded upon on their new album, All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell, in which the band utilizes the synthetic production even more candidly throughout the latest LP. Standout tracks include 
Energetic percussion and gritty guitar riffs characterize Neck Deep’s newest album titled The Peace and the Panic, and it’s nothing short of a triumph. The band explores some new timbres, like early 2000s emo on “In Bloom,” and improves upon their solid pop punk proficiency with catchy hooks and memorable lyrics. Standout tracks include 
Turnover recrudesces with their trademark daydreamy tonality and spellbinding assonance on their new record Good Nature. The band comfortably dominates the floaty, gossamer sonic style they have established, and the lighter lyrical content is a step in a more buoyant direction from their previous long-player. Standout tracks include 
The intimate intricacy and roisterous abandon exhibited on Grizzly Bear’s latest release proves what this band is capable of crafting. Painted Ruins is a familiar yet fresh approach in the outfit’s catalog between its indie attitude, warm guitars, and thumping percussion. Standout tracks include 
Metalcore band Wage War unleashes their sophomore full-length detailed by thunderous guitar refrains and melodic vocal performances. Through impassioned screams, hard-hitting breakdowns, and electrifying lyrics, Deadweight is gripping and a must-listen for any metal fan. Standout tracks include 
Delectable melodies and lively musicality outline The Accidentals’ latest long-player, Odyssey. This jaunty album is construed by thoughtful libretto, distinct vocal delivery, and palatable guitar playing, making for a timeless indie rock listen. Standout tracks include 
Pensive and refined, (but with a granular edge), this indie alt-rock project delivers fervor and competence. Busybody Lazybones is intense and rousing through its boisterous, spirited anthems and hearty choruses, but the more relaxed moments provide this album its effectiveness and diversity. Standout tracks include 
The War on Drugs lets the music speak for itself on A Deeper Understanding. Lengthy guitar solos are strewn throughout the track listing, which is balanced with the heartfelt lyricism to create a perfect blend of instrumentation and vocals. From downtrodden ballads to rollicking, vivace tunes, A Deeper Understanding never grows monotonous. Standout tracks include 
Forever Starts Today releases an enthusiastic debut characterized by gutsy rock anthems and poignant acoustic ballads. Always Hope is an unforgettable display of musical aptitude, reverberate singalong chants, forthright guitar refrains, and upbeat percussion beats that give the album a driving sense of conation and eagerness. Standout tracks include 
The pungent, charismatic intonation of Everything Everything’s latest indie rock LP is undeniably enchanting and nearly hypnotizing. The introspective and politically-minded lyrical content is veraciously coupled with the savory instrumentation and musicianship on A Fever Dream. Standout tracks include 
With biting distortion and raucous percussion, Villains finds a comfortable home in the Queens of the Stone Age discography. Four years since their last album, the rock band returns with energy, excitement, and a pop sensibility, evident from the production work of Mark Ronson. (“Uptown Funk.”) Standout tracks include 
Contemplative singer/songwriter goodness. Standout tracks include 
Vociferous rock with firm vocals. Standout tracks include 
Unique and expressive indie rock. Standout tracks include 
Experimental, mesmerizing indie rock. Standout tracks include 
Earnest rock with a fervent bite. Standout tracks include 
Profound, unfeigned indie rock with interesting styles and instrumentation. Standout tracks include 
Thunderous rock with impassioned songwriting. Standout tracks include 
Alt Columnist 