Guitar Pop For Now People—Part 26

10 Recent Tracks + Music Reviewers/Publications (+ Playlist)

Apr 01, 2025

April 1, 2025.

You’d be a fool to ignore all of the great new guitar pop being released these days. The production tools, distribution platforms, influences, styles, and aesthetics have evolved since the ‘60s, but dedication to the genres we all love remains strong.

The youngsters, the oldsters, and the everything-in-betweeners? They just want to rock out with their hearts (or their demons!) on their sleeves, and I’m here for it. If you are too, then you’re in the right place. Great music is timeless, after all.

Here’s your mission, should you choose to accept it:

Give these 10 songs a listen.
Click through to support the music writers and musicians.
Share this link far and wide.

PLUS: Enjoy the comprehensive Guitar Pop For Now People Spotify and YouTube playlists located at the bottom of the page.

⚡️ What Are Your Favorite Tracks Below? 💥

10 Recent Tracks and Music Reviewers/Publications

“There’s no denying that the DIY spirit is part of Sharp Pins’ charm, but Slater also proves the band has substance. On Radio DDR, Sharp Pins follow a long line of lo-fi artists who found inspiration in music from the 1960s and use a similar palette to deliver songs as catchy as they are rewarding.”—Patrick Gill, PopMatters

“Bowerbirds and Blue Things opens with the bright jangly power pop of ‘Sit and Wonder,’ in which Jetstream Pony manages to sound laid-back and like they’re pulling out all the stops to make a pop anthem at the same time.”—Rosy Overdrive

“Armstrong wears his influences like a badge of honor. We’re talking the cream of the crop: Pete Townshend’s swagger, Alex Chilton’s cool, Matthew Sweet’s melodic chops, and a touch of Redd Kross’s playful bite.”—Aaron Kupferberg, Powerpopaholic

“Livin’ On A Prayer On The Edge dials down his usual levels of crunch and distortion to favor melody. You can hear the difference on album opener ‘I Should (But I Don’t Really Wanna)’ with guitars that sound like a more dissonant version of Teenage Fanclub.”—Dennis Pilon, Poprock Record

“This new one, ‘Car Rainbow Record,’ is an unabashed pop song which I kinda saw coming by the title, but damn.....this cut is good.”—Tim Hinely, Daggerzine

“A passionate exploration of all that is corrupt in today’s world which is continually surrounded by ‘Fake news …. conspiracies, everybody’s got their own version of the truth.’”—Ian Corbridge, Louder Than War

“‘Call Me Up,’ the new rocker from Julez and the Rollerz hits much of what worked on their EP Is This Where the Party Is? Badass guitars, playfully horny lyrics, and melodic bass lines abound, while the synth, tambourine, and backing vocals fill out the space richly to give the song a huge sound.”—Aaron Eisenreich, The Alternative

“‘Lover’ is simple rather than sophisticated, graceful rather than grand, accessible rather than ornate, and these are always the right sonic choices, creating an understated eloquence, elegance, and accessibility, which is always the preferred way forward.”—Dave Franklin, The Big Takeover

“This is a debut from a band I suspect might get the ‘industry plant’ treatment soon enough, if they haven’t already. Young newcomers with an all-female, all-star production team rarely escape unscathed. But even with a bit of suspicion, I keep returning to this blend of ‘70s glam, ‘90s grunge, and 2000s sleaze.”—Gabbie, New Bands For Old Heads

“This song, while ostensibly a love song, could very well be the affirmative-thinking can-do anthem that a world plagued by spiritual malaise is dying for. Shouldn't we all resolve to be in if it's on and down if it drops down?”—Lord Rutledge, Faster and Louder