MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 7/9/2025
Reviews by: Alexandra Haynes, Writer @xalexonlinex
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Daphne Jane "House in the Hills"
“House in the Hills” is Daphne Jane’s latest release, a single dropped in May 2025. It’s pure and true folk pop, beginning with a charming sound bite of Jane talking to her lover, half-muffled: “Are you sure we can be here? It’s getting pretty late.” She paints a picture of freedom-seeking, roaming girlfriends disenfranchised by the lifestyles of those in the upper echelon of LA. Continuing to refine the message throughout with sweet, clean vocals over acoustic, plucky guitars, rootsy percussion, and space-filling synth that reinforces the song’s touch of whimsy. Jane invokes Lana Del Rey at times with her vocal delivery, especially on the playful ad-libs. The subject matter partnered with the subversively cottage-core, film-camera baked filtered music video aesthetic - the anti-capitalist leaning of Jane and her lover craving freedom and individuality away from “the Hills” with all the “million dollar houses [that] will make [them] crazy” - is perfectly coming-of-age coded.
The Mood Swings "Hooked"
Saturated with early 2000s pop-punk vibes, “Hooked” (released to Spotify by The Mood Swings in January 2024, but originally available on Bandcamp in July 2023) has a spunky, indie soundtrack feel. The band is playing classic sounding riffs, baked in fuzz, and notably, bells (on a tambourine? Perhaps mounted onto the drumkit?) add texture to the rhythm section. The vocals are bright and playful, prominently enunciated - the “And now I’m hooked!” refrain is catchy and sharply sang. Telling the story of being “hooked” on a lover all night long — whether they’re good news or not for our protagonists, they “don’t wanna go home.” You can picture their young adult daydream as the feel good melodies swirl together and rise, conjuring heartwarming feelings of connection when the party’s over, but their story has just begun.
honeygrl "Lillie"
Self-described “sad girl rock,” honeygrl serves punk rock pining in “Lillie,” the artist’s new single released in April 2025. “Lillie” names the song’s muse, the object of honeygrl’s affections that does her wrong. The lyrics are full of want (“Cos you just did your makeup / Did you want to mess up mine?”) and woe (“I’ll be here waiting, the regret is so draining / The feeling of being alone,”) with anticipatory grief over their loss of connection. Honestly? Lillie sounds like she’s playing MAJOR games, and honeygrl’s overarching frustrations with this player are hammered home excellently by the song’s instrumental, rock’n’roll clamor and crescendoing bridge of truths half-yelled by honeygrl, “Use me… / Seems you don’t give a fuck!” The band is loud and in charge, but honeygrl’s vocals are never drowned out by the righteously rambunctious atmosphere.
Lovehouse "I Am Not Young"
Anthemic yet solemn, Lovehouse’s “I Am Not Young” (released as a single in February 2025) has a haunting duality to it, gritty with fall-away, psychedelic riffs and pauses that invite head banging and entranced dancing in equal measure. The rock’n’roll rises throughout are satisfying and attention-grabbing. Lovehouse’s lyrics are confessional here, sang cleanly and strong in the mix: “Stumblin’ around and there’s booze on my shirt / I talk before I think, and I drink before work.” An acknowledgement of a certain stage in life, a release and a declaration of “I don’t want to change,” this brand of vulnerability is refreshingly welcome, albeit not descriptive of a happy kind of contentment.
Nasty Boys "Enough"
Although they go by Nasty Boys, there’s nothing nasty about how “Enough” sounds. This composition is sweet indie pop with plenty of folk inspiration baked in. Warm vocal melodies that are expressively controlled are matched to an uplifting instrumental melody, layered with shakers, plucky guitar progressions, and plenty of backing vocals that make the track feel incredibly full. Despite its sound, though, the lyrics are incredibly dark, describing a negative spiral centered around falling out of love with someone and the inner turmoil of having “had enough” and not “[having] the guts to tell [them.]” There it is, the nastiness woven into the track - the headspace is tragic, but it’s all an exercise in honesty. This is the band’s latest single, having been released in February 2025.
she's green "Figurines"
“Figurines” is dreamy, scintillating shoegaze that gets heavier as the song reaches its close. It never loses sight of its magical bent, though, nor gives in to the temptation to forgo melody and devolve into noisy chaos. she’s green have mastered cleanliness in their noise walls - each instrumental factor is always distinct and melodic, even when whipped up together under layers of fuzz. Precision rules the roost in their soundscape and has a massive, all absorbing pay off. Powerfully soft with the vocals to match, she’s green are at their best on this new single, which released in April 2025.
