Alternative Nation: The Fediverse's Alternative and Indie Music Community

A favourite of mine is the radio show, It's a Jangle Out There, which is on a small, community station in regional Australia.

The host, Josh, just presented a show listing his top 30 songs of 2025, with this song from Toronto act, Rec Centre, at No.1. You can listen to the whole selection here.

What are your top picks of the year? Let's start a thread.

The MV for Polly and Andy:

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From origins as a teenage punk in the late-70's in Dunedin, NZ, Shayne Carter progressed through numerous bands, including one of the most legendary alternative guitar bands in New Zealand music history, Straitjacket Fits. They were admired by publications like the NME and Melody Maker in the UK and Rolling Stone and The New York Times in the US. It's said that Thurston Moore was spotted wearing a Straitjacket Fits t-shirt at one point in the 90's.

I was lucky enough to see Shayne play a solo set, recently. There, I picked up a copy of an album he just released along with the NZ Symphony Orchestra that has this song on it. The whole album sounds great. Crystalator was first released by Carter's band, Dimmer in 1995.

My previous post about this band from Buenos Aires was an A-Ha cover.

I just realised their latest album was released in October, so I had a listen. I thought it lacked some of the rougher edges that I liked on their first album but it's probably worth another listen. This is the only song with Spanish vocals, and I think I prefer it to the version with English vocal that is also on the album (Just No Fun).

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cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/51048131

lyrics video https://youtu.be/kxi6naUowk8

also the description credits are to "Noelle S" but as far is I know her full name is Noelle Mansbridge, so idk if the credit is correct 🤷‍♀️

I picked up a vinyl copy of the 1994 album, What's That Sound?, that this song is the title track of. Previously only released on cassette and CD, I think it still sounds great, and enjoyed giving it a spin.

This new, vinyl release is on Melbourne label, Cheersquad Records and Tapes, that is run by Wally who was/is in The Meanies (see this previous post). That band was one of the more prominent on the now defunct Au-go-go Records and their lead singer is the brother of Ross, the singer from Snout.

See also: Snout - Cromagnonman [1996]

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The Blue Hearts / ザ・ブルーハーツ「リンダ リンダ」were Japan's answer to The Clash, The Ramones and The Sex Pistols. This song is my friend's wife's song of choice at karaoke.

Worth seeking out is a 2005 movie called Linda Linda Linda. It's a coming of age story about a high school band who covers Blue Hearts songs. The soundtrack was by James Iha. I believe the movie is the source of the name of The Linda Lindas. Here is the version of the song from the movie.

cross-posted from: https://piefed.blahaj.zone/c/nin/p/432733/various-artists-best-of-nine-inch-nails-redux-released-today

Along with a redux version of The Downward Spiral, Redux Records have released a compilation of noise rock/doom/sludge bands covering some of Nine Inch Nails' hits.

Enjoy!

cross-posted from: https://piefed.blahaj.zone/c/nin/p/432730/various-artists-the-downward-spiral-redux-released-today

One of my favourite albums covered by noise rock, sludge and doom bands?

Yes please!

I mean, when I like a track and the band has a fediverse presence, I kinda have to share it :)

If you dig this give @friendsinreallife@mastodon.social some love.

Also known as Inaichi (イナイチ)、171 are three piece band from the Osaka area. The video has English subtitles available.

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But seriously, don't drink and drive.

I've been thinking about this for a while, and the longer I've sat with it the more uncomfortable I feel about the lyrics in Thirteenth Step.

I've loved the music on the album ever since I first heard it, and A Perfect Circle have been one of my favourite bands since I was a teenager. But the older I get, the more I hear a cruelty and vindictiveness in Maynard's lyrics on this album.

In the context of the album's theme of addiction and recovery, the lyrics of songs like The Outsider don't sit comfortably with me. It's something I've noticed more and more with Maynard's lyrics in general: they're often about his disappointment in other people, his judgement of them. On an album about addiction and recovery, there doesn't feel like there's much empathy or compassion.

I think I'm falling out of love with Thirteenth Step.

They say you've got a bad reputation. But I say it's their imagination. You're an angel. Oh oh, oh oh.

A performance by The Rezillos on Top Of The Pops in 1978.

Taken off their second full length ‘File Under: Easy Listening’, the official music video for the Sugar track ‘Your Favorite Thing’ released in 1994.

Having posted a song by this band last year, here's a recent one from them.

This one tickles 2 of my fancies. 1) A local (Melbourne, AU) band writing good indie tunes who are doing good 2) Their music video has places I recognise and sometimes visit.

They have an album out on Third Man at the end of the month.

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