twenty one pilots – “My Blood”: Is the “Tear in My Heart” of Trench? I don’t just say this because of the title also getting into a biological theme. Following the straightforward hip-hop banger that was “Levitate,” Trench takes a left turn firmly into pop territory that invokes a sense of nostalgia and doesn’t carry the same weight that the other songs do. The accompanying visual to the sound of Tyler sitting in a home studio in the dark seems to indicate that the song is a bit more casual and not to be taken in a theatrical context. Expect the falsetto in this chorus to be all over the radio in the coming weeks.

Michigander – “Tunnel”: Michigander has mastered a brand of down to earth music in a relatively short period of time. The unsigned artist isn’t content to sit still for long, taking a dreamier, more electronic direction in a single that sounds like it was lifted straight out of the Black Bear sessions of Andrew Belle’s recording adventures. When I call out album references 99% of the time I am not saying that an artist is ripping off another, and I’ll maintain that notion here. Any comparison of Michigander to Andrew Belle is meant to be flattery, and that’s it! But seriously, this sort of melancholy yet groovy style is something I wish I had more of in my life, and I fully expect it to be dominating my listening habits this fall.

The Cordial Sins – “Not Enough”: The end of summer and start of fall is a unique time of year. You can notice the days getting shorter, but it’s still hitting 90 degrees outside. This song captures that feeling perhaps the most of all the songs we’ve mentioned in this article. A big chorus finds Liz Fisher’s vocals buried in a swath of warm guitars in a way that is perfectly complementary. This might be The Cordial Sins’ loudest and most emotional song yet, but it has the capability to move you to be still or to literally move. Both are equally acceptable responses. Another thing I’d like to add is that this song, perhaps the most of any singles I’ve heard recently, leaves me with a feeling afterward that leads me to pensively zone out. And that’s good.

Advance Base – “Your Dog”: A dreampop (or maybe bedroom pop? Both?) track where the visuals are merely user submitted pictures of dogs? This theme is so failsafe that in the context of Advance Base’s music it’s actually genius. This reminds me of old Youth Lagoon, Majical Cloudz, and even Mount Eerie at times. But take out the depression, and add in a lot of comfort without the corniness, and you’ve got a heckuva track. Also, I know I just mentioned this isn’t a super sad song, but I could see this existing in the same world as Sufjan’s “Carrie and Lowell,” in the sense that it exists in quiet nostalgia and contemplation.

Light Years – “Back Then”: The theme of this writeup seems to be nostalgia, and I went back and changed the title just now to reflect that. Each passing autumn and start of the school year signals the inevitable passage of time more than anything to me, and this song sonically reflects that mood well, wrapped in a nice little pop punk bow. This song reminds me of a band called The Wedding that I used to listen to back in high school. Look up “Song of the Broken,” and you’ll see what I mean. Also, I find it really funny that the autoplay on YouTube went from the music video for this song to New Found Glory’s appearance on MTV Cribs. Talk about a throwback! Enjoy the throwback vibes here as you sit and bob your head.

Talk Time – “Desperate Weather”: I clicked on this song link because the press email compared the band to St Lucia, and “Elevate” has been my jam lately! So I was hungry for more of the same. “Desperate Weather” delivers, with a danceable, dreamy, psychedelic chorus that sounds like it could have come from the desk of Tame Impala just as much as from the diary of MGMT in their less weird moments. If  harmony soaked in reverb is your poison, “Desperate Weather” is for you. I look forward to hearing more from this LA-based quintet.