New Music Monday: 5 tracks for a slow thaw

New music from White Denim, The Pretty Reckless, Bleaches, Gorillaz, and Courtney Barnett

The transition into spring always feels more like a marathon than a sprint, and this year is no exception. While we wait for the first real signs of green to poke through the stubborn frost, the slow start to the season gives us a little more time to hunkered down with a pair of headphones. At Hunters Bay Radio, we believe the best way to endure a lingering chill is with a playlist that challenges the ears and warms the soul.

Here are the five tracks defining this week’s New Music Monday:

The Pretty Reckless – "When I Wake Up"

Taylor Momsen has long since traded her TV persona for the mantle of a rock priestess, and "When I Wake Up" feels like a gritty morning-after confession. The track leans into a heavy, psychedelic blues influence, swirling with a disorientation that perfectly mirrors the feeling of opening your blinds to a grey, sluggish morning. Momsen’s vocals remain some of the most powerful in the genre, slicing through the thick, distorted riffs with a raw vulnerability that demands your full attention before the first cup of coffee is even poured.

White Denim – "God Created Lock and Key"

If you need a sonic heater to jumpstart your heart, White Denim is the spark plug. "God Created Lock and Key" is a frantic, jazz-flecked garage rock masterclass that refuses to sit still. The Austin-based outfit excels at "controlled chaos," blending intricate, math-rock guitar intervals with a soulful, boogie-inducing groove. It’s the kind of track that makes your brain work as hard as your feet, providing a complex, high-energy counterpoint to the slow-moving transition of the season outside.

Bleachers – "Dirty Wedding Dress"

Jack Antonoff continues his reign as the architect of modern nostalgia with "Dirty Wedding Dress." This track feels like a lost VHS tape from a 1980s roadside diner—hazy, romantic, and driving. Built on a foundation of echoing percussion and shimmering saxophones, the song captures that specific brand of manic New Jersey energy Antonoff has perfected. It’s an anthem for the messy, unpolished parts of life, delivered with a cinematic sweep that makes even a damp, late-March commute feel like the climax of an indie coming-of-age film.

Gorillaz – "The Moon Cave"

Damon Albarn and his animated cohort retreat into a subterranean, electronic dreamscape with "The Moon Cave." Moving away from the bright pop-funk of their recent outings, this track is a moody, atmospheric slow-burn. It utilizes hollowed-out synthesizers and a dub-heavy bassline that feels like it’s vibrating from deep within the earth. It is a lonely, beautiful piece of music that matches the quiet isolation of a lingering winter evening, proving that the Gorillaz universe is at its most compelling when it explores its darker, more experimental corners.

Courtney Barnett – "Mantis"

Closing out our list is the deadpan queen of Melbourne, Courtney Barnett. On "Mantis," Barnett’s signature stream-of-consciousness lyricism is paired with a surprisingly lush, hypnotic instrumental arrangement. The song unfurls slowly, like the very garden life currently buried under the mud, focusing on the small, observational details that make her songwriting so relatable. It’s a meditative, mid-tempo crawler that encourages us to slow down and find the poetry in the mundane—a perfect companion for those of us staring out the window, waiting for the real spring to finally show up.

While the season might be taking its sweet time to arrive, these tracks provide the perfect soundtrack to wait out the frost. Keep your dial tuned to the Bay, where the community stays connected—no matter what the thermometer says.

Sources:

• Rolling Stone
• Pitchfork
• NME
• Hunters Bay Radio