Last we checked in on the works of Charlie Abbott, he had released an album entitled Nirvana that sounded, quite intentionally, like an ode to the grunge movement’s primary ringleader. Since that release in early 2018, Abbot released two additional records; mise en place, a collection of nine rock songs brimming with restraint and breezy hooks and the Technicolor Dream EP, four songs of feel good pop-rock and one high-energy blast of summertime vibes.

All that catch-up is to give some context that Abbott isn’t afraid to wear his influences on his sleeve but also isn’t lacking in embracing different styles. So, with the premiere of his brand new track “Ugly Little Sunflower” we get a taste of what he has in store for his forthcoming album of the same name set for release this summer.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, this new track continues the trend of keeping things fresh, stylistically. The press release informs us that the recording was produced by Don Bates and that “Almost all of the tracking was single takes, even the vocals.” While that statement would generally sound cautious alarm bells, it gives the bombastic energy of the track a looseness that makes it fun, instead of the presumed train wreck it might be. The video is an equally enjoyable romp, depicting Abbot and a masked thief making their way through various East Nashville landmarks.

There’s no telling what the full Ugly Little Sunflower record has in store but there’s a promise of “baritone and seven-string guitars in a kamikaze approach to bastardize blues guitar” that sounds nothing short of perfectly intriguing.

The latest Jonie single for “Orpheus” (featuring Bantug) is a fine mixture of smooth, dance-y, a bit warbly and a dash of melancholy. While we openly admit to our ignorance of the Nashville Pop scene as a whole, this track is clear evidence that great things are happening.

For a track containing the refrain “Don’t worry about it, you were my favorite possibility, fall back on my own” you’d think there’d be a great deal of lamenting and self-inspection surrounding the track but the official video spices things up a bit by injecting a delightful bit of fun into the mix. Jonie himself finds his way through a dinosaur park, measuring and tabulating the creatures that he finds while, occasionally, hiding inside of an egg. It’s a none-too-subtle reminder that Summer is around the corner and much fun is to be had.

Let this serve as a reminder that Dinosaur World is a scant 90 minutes away and that you’ve got a full world of Jonie and Bantug to explore on the drive.

While details are still TBA on exactly when to expect their full-length debut with Frenchkiss Records, Twen have released the second single from said album in the form of this official video for “Holy River.” Directed by Casey Pierce, the video depicts the primary Twen members frolicking in the woods in full red garb (and I do mean full, face and body paint included) while some modern dance occurs nearby. It’s baffling but in that “I don’t know what I’m seeing but I like it” kind of way.

The song itself confirms that we can continue to expect some well-formed shoegaze pop from the aforementioned album. It’s languid and reverb-y but with a welcome sliver of optimism running throughout.

It’s unclear if special societal meaning should be drawn from the video; should we take special note of the use of cameraphone to record unique self-expression while we ourselves are uniquely expressing ourselves? Is it a call to arms that our lifeblood is most joyous and refueled by spending time in nature? A commentary on the futility of technology? Probably not but it’s an enjoyably odd viewing that I’ll certainly be back for more of.