Three unique tracks testing the limits of contemporary rock music

Audio Book Club – “The Post Party”
-My unofficial band of 2025 has actually been Vulfmon, so when I heard this new track from Audio Book Club that has a similar poppy funk rock flavor, I was hooked immediately. It’s a little silly to label a pop track as having some “pop” but that’s the best word for it. The way both the percussion and the bass hit with staccato energy is a great fit for the vibe of this song. Even the effect on the vocal feels just right, a bit of fuzz to obscure the sound slightly while making it cut through the overall mix well. The whole sound feels like it was crafted around mood and vibe as much as message; it’s not your grandparents’ rock n’ roll, but it captures the experimental essence of the genre well.

Arctic Wave – “God Ain’t Through”
-If you’re looking for a chill, understated funk sound with a pocket that gets your toe tapping, look no further than this new track from Arctic Wave. The style of the vocal permeates through the track with a smoothness that feels a bit like Rod Stewart. I appreciate how the timeless mix has elements of classic smooth rock but there’s enough of a pop that feels fresh and new. It’s a sound that is rooted in a spirituality encouraging the listener to stay on the straight and narrow, but something about the pop funk style with that message reminds me of 90s Christian Contemporary Music. In the venn diagram of people who enjoy Ben Rector in 2025 with people who grew up with mid-90s CCM, Arctic Wave sit right in the middle of the overlap.

Jamsoe – “Big Deal”
-I never pass up a good harmonica solo to introduce a bluesy rock tune. There’s an understated energy to this track that I absolutely dig. Think Beck… even a dash of Jack Johnson… for a chill energy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. There was a time in the 90s where guys stood around in circles hitting hacky sack in entirely-too-baggy pants listening to bands like Reel Big Fish, Dave Matthews, and Phish. I think this track would fit on that playlist real well. It’s the kind of music that fits a chill mood and really helps with that vibey energy we need when we kick back with the boys. If you’re putting together a summer playlist, this track would be right at home.