The bumper final part of the January singles round up… including a link to the playlist for all January’s singles.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Stitches
As another taster for their forthcoming album Death Hilarious following up last years Detroit, the Black Sabbath-esque pulsating doom metal throb of Stitches is a tempting aural amuse-bouche, whetting the appetite for what auricular delights the album will serve up.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
Ian Donaldson – Just Another Rock n Roll Song
January’s offering from the ex H2O frontman comes from his latest album, Dreams From Tenement Land, Just Another Rock n Roll Song once again focuses on a subject familiar to his solo work, with Donaldson in reflective mood once more, this joyous celebration of life and music, looking back on his love for Glam Rock, glamming away his Saturday nights, the impact and influences on him in his youth forming the basis for his career in music.
The Faint – Zealots (Unrealized)
I was a late adopter when it comes to The Faint, first coming to the band in the early noughties with their Danse Macabre album. The band have recently announced the re-release of early albums Blank-Wave Arcade and Wet From Birth. The politically charged Zealots (“they will know we are zealots from our guns…”) is an unreleased track from the Wet From Birth era.
Julia and the Squeezettes – Cue Cards
A supergroup of sorts covering Lync’s 2023 Cue Cards. The band features Julia Kugel of The Coathangers, Staz Lindes of The Paranoyds and Bonnie Bloomgarden and Rikki Styxx of Death Valley Girls, and their version of the single comes on a AA single with Lync’s own version. Death Valley Girls played a monster set in Glasgow’s Broadcast last year, Under the Wire’s is bringing the band to Edinburghs Bongo Club this year with Bela and the Bizarre
M’dou Moctar – Funeral for Justice (Injustice Version)
One of a few different versions of previous songs in this part of the round up and it’s M’dou Moctar’s acoustic take on the powerful title track from last years Funeral for Injustice album. They have re-recorded an acoustic version of the whole album in Tears of Injustice, a title that unfortunately is an accurate reflection of the state of the world in 2025.
Kneecap – H.O.O.D. (2025 Remix)
An updated version of the high energy, heavy on the violence, 2019 single from the controversially passionate advocates of the Irish language Kneecap. If you haven’t seen their docu-movie yet, I’d highly recommend it, you’ll never have seen anything like it.
Sparks – Do Things My Own Way
Do Things My Own Way. Pretty much a song title that sums up the music of Sparks in a nutshell. A band who have stuck to their own thing for the entirety of their career and are celebrating their longevity as a result. This town ain’t big enough for another band like this.
J Mascis – Breathe
The Dinosaur Jr frontman is on top broodingly contemplative form with this gorgeously reflective Spanish/acoustic guitar heavy cover version of The Cure song.
The Armory Show – Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton is the first single from the 2025 version of Richard Jobson’s Armory Show, and their new album Dead Souls. The dramatic opening breaks into an insistent driving rhythm which underpins the song, before Jobson’s distinct vocal kicks in and textured guitar lines soar into the ether.
Viagra Boys – Man Made of Meat
Leftfield Swedish punks return with another top tune including the usual quotient of eccentric outré lyrics, if you’re a fan of Friends and in particular Chandler Bing, you’d probably be best to side swipe. Man Made of Meat is classic Viagra Boys continuing to plough their own furrow with their not one fuck given attitude.
Tough on Fridays – Nosedive
An emphatically earnest rock song. An omnipresent rumbling undercurrent provides the backbone of the song which reaches its clamorous and anthemic zenith during its chorus.
Divorce – Pill
The epic Pill comes from the hotly anticipated debut album from Divorce, Drive to Goldenhammer due to be released imminently. This is a song of several parts, at first packed with the familiar Divorce vocal harmonies paired with some jagged riffs and a sense of anxious urgency, mid song the tempo comes down, and the Tiger Cohen-Towell’s vocal takes centre stage alongside a bewitching piano accompaniment which feels like a moment of clarity before the song closes in soaring carefree style, like all troubles have been lifted.
Kirsty Millard – The Patriarchy
I know this single was released in January but as I’m typing this in the aftermath of the debacle of the Trump and Vance press conference with Zelenskyy, it’s easy to see why we need songs calling out the failings of The Patriarchy. As it’s plucked string intro opens up into an expansive refrain, Kirsty Millard’s single sounds like it has the magic of Stevie Nick’s influence sprinkled over it.
Lightnin’ Truck – Postcard/Shabby Chic
Two beauties to close out January from Scorpio Leisure lyricist/vocalist Hettie’s other project Lightnin’ Truck with Postcard and Shabby Chic landing at the end of the month. Postcard has a pacey intensity to it, with an initial lyrical couplet delivered in a manner which recalls XTC’s Senses Working Overtime, acoustic guitars make way for distorted electric riffs before opening up into a searing anthemic groove. Shabby Chic is an altogether more laid back affair, a hypnotic rhythm backing Hettie’s vocals displaying a level of coolly unperturbed nonchalance.