New Music Monday: Five high-voltage tracks you should listen to

Monday, 27 July 2026 08:35

New music from Cage the Elephant, Dexter and The Moonrocks, Beck, Fiona Apple, and Queens of the Stone Age

As mid-summer reaches its peak, the modern rock and alternative landscape is delivering a razor-sharp batch of new singles to fuel your week. This Monday’s curated rotation skips predictable pop formulas, leaning instead into raw personal confessions, southern-drenched grunge, desert-baked roots, and unpredictable art-rock defiance. Whether you are navigating a humid afternoon drive, unwinding on the back deck, or setting the mood for a late-night campfire, these five standout releases provide the definitive soundtrack for the road ahead.

Cage the Elephant – "Beaches in Tennessee"

Alternative heavyweights Cage the Elephant return with "Beaches in Tennessee," an invigorating, lean track produced alongside Justin Raisen and SADPONY. Fresh off massive stadium dates, the Kentucky outfit uses surreal imagery and a driving groove to process frontman Matt Shultz’s recovery from a severe mental health crisis. Rather than over-polishing the arrangement, the band keeps the instrumentation raw and direct, letting surging rhythm guitars carry Shultz's soul-bare vocals. It stands as a powerful, cathartic declaration of moving past personal turmoil through genuine experience.

Dexter and The Moonrocks – "If You Could Talk"

Rising alternative act Dexter and The Moonrocks deliver a patient, heavy-hearted slice of grunge-infused rock on "If You Could Talk". Channeling the melancholic, spacey guitar textures of '90s alternative music, the single balances slow-burning verses with a massive, arena-sized chorus. Vocalist James Tuffs delivers a raw, relatable performance about the painful quiet of life on the road and leaving family behind. It is a deeply honest, atmospheric anthem built for late-night drives and open airwaves.

Beck – "Ride Lonesome"

Previewing his highly anticipated return to cinematic folk and acoustic textures, Beck drops the title track from his upcoming album Ride Lonesome. Reunited in Hollywood with the same core band that helped craft classics like Mutations and Sea Change, the song relies on sprawling slide guitars, dusty rhythm sections, and lush analog production. Beck’s weary, sun-cured vocals float above a hypnotic country-blues arrangement that feels both familiar and refreshingly timeless. It is an exceptional piece of widescreen roots-rock tailored for endless highways.

Fiona Apple – "Horns of a Bull"

Art-pop icon Fiona Apple makes a brief but electrifying return with "Horns of a Bull," recorded as the theme song for the series Lucky. Compressed into a short, punchy burst, the track features Apple’s signature syncopated piano chording, unpredictable vocal cadences, and razor-sharp lyricism. Her performance bounces between tense whispers and booming vocal leaps over a stark percussion track, proving once again that she can command complete attention in under two minutes. It is a striking, theatrical highlight that snaps the listener wide awake.

Queens of the Stone Age – "Easy Street"

Desert rock mainstays Queens of the Stone Age close out the week with "Easy Street," a swaggering, delightfully flawed single featuring guest vocals from country artist Nikki Lane. Recorded live to tape with human mistakes intentionally left intact, Josh Homme and company embrace a loose, tempo-shifting groove anchored by handclaps, gritty slide guitars, and sharp vocal duets. The track trades pristine studio polish for raw rock 'n' roll humor and swagger, offering an unbeatable reminder that life’s best moments—and songs—happen inside the imperfections.

From cathartic alternative anthems and dusty roots-rock to unpredictable television themes and unfiltered desert swagger, this week’s selection highlights the immense variety thriving across guitar music. Wherever the week takes you, these five tracks ensure your playlist stays bold, authentic, and completely dialed in.

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