What We’re Listening to This Week (8.7.26)

Alien Dance Music Articles Drum & Bass Electronic Experimental Experimental Hip-Hop Hip-Hop Intelligent Drum and Bass Nu-Metal Rock Ska Techno
James Krustofski
August 8, 2026
13 minutes read

Archives:

Two Kings And A Skink by Twenty One Children

The production on this record is fantastic and it caught me off guard. I say that because there is so much punk/alternative/fuckthegovernmentcore out there that lives by this gospel of shoving as much crunchy sound as possible through a speaker, leaving your ears rattling like a lone ice cub shaken up inside of a shitty plastic cup. Two Kings And A Skink is different all together. It’s crisp, it’s fresh, and it’s full of love. “Warriors” is the standout track for me – a sweet tribute to family members who no doubt shaped the artists; they’re wizards who give birth to music, don’t you know. The album is infectious, too. I’ve had “Looney Bin” stuck in my head for two hours, rattling around in the same part of the skull where “Good Good Things” by the Descendents lives forever. Definitely give this a listen.

Redemption by Retro Champ

Ever feel guilty listening to Nu-Metal? Well now you don’t have to. The combination of hip-hop and metalcore (haven’t really delved too deep into that) shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. A record like this is a perfect addition to this website, because it warps between genres, sometimes in ways that shouldn’t work, but honestly that’s kind of the appeal. Redemption is so well produced that the quick back-and-forth in styles feels intense and almost like that’s how it’s supposed to be. I mean, Nu-Metal artists have normally bored the shit out me, but honestly it looks like Retro Champ is proving that those other Nu-Metal artists just weren’t creative enough. Amazing record.

Aubfest VI (March 22st, 2025) with Blxck Sheep

I fucking love Living Colour. Like most people, my first foray into their music was the song “Cult of Personality” and after that I was off to the races. I found this video of an awesome punk band, Blxck Sheep, playing Cult of Personality live in front of a bunch of people in … Auburn, Alabama. Do you know how fucking hardcore this is? I have been to Auburn dozens of times and I have been through all the backroads of towns in between Auburn and Atlanta. I can tell you that performing anything out in the middle of woods in Alabama is about as punk rock as it gets. Plus their rendition is so fucking awesome. Been listening to this version for a few days now.

IF THESE STARS COULD TALK by GEOTHEORY

I can always count of GEOTHEORY to help bring some clarity into my life. I haven’t kept up with them over the past few months, a slight oversight on my part, but man if it isn’t giving me the same feeling as coming back to a table to see that’s food waiting for you. If these stars could talk, what would they say? I think this EP gets close. And while it is an EP, the short runtime still carries a fantastic amount of melodic information. Very nourishing, especially Galaxy Garden (the standout track) with those beautiful, sympathetic synths and rhodes. Give it a listen.

Zeitchopomp by Jayniac Jr.

Man, I’ve discovered some really fun shit over the past week or so. Zeitchopomp is a mixture of ska, nu-metal, alt rock, hip-hop and much more. The album is teeming with creativity, and I was genuinely happy to find the lyrics posted elsewhere because the writing deserves attention. Jayniac Jr. has a lot to say, and the pleasure here comes from following how that language collides with the music’s shifting forms – but at the end of the day, I’m just here to listen. I have no clue why I’m being drawn to track 10 Costco Goth, but it’s delightful. The first two tracks (one featuring Ivy Marie) hooked me immediately, though, and that is usually a sign (even before I finished this album) that a full discography dive is now required. Put this on your list immediately.