Something for a range of tastes, that’s what we’re looking for in this first twist of the dial for 2026. From power pop to indie rock to sixties retro to something else again. Buckle up for the tour.

You don’t have to dig very far into Tommy Marolda’s bio to know he’s no spring chicken. But you’d never know he wasn’t some fresh young thing after spinning The Toms new LP Sound Bytes. It’s got that unmistakeable note of youthful energy. Opening cut “Summer Without You” treats us to a fabulous blast of rock melody and jangling guitars. “Multiple Personalities” then moves things into a plush, sophisticated direction. “One Day” sounds kinda timeless, its sonic attack could be comfortably dropped into a variety of musical eras. As should be obvious by this point, you can’t tie Marolda down to just one genre. “I Love a Girl” almost shades into a disco kind of booty shaker. Almost. “Me and You” has got a great sixties pop swing. “She Can’t Let It Go” is pure seventies AM-ready poprock. But for contrast, check out how “Time and Time Again” insinuates a degree of sonic menace throughout the tune. Personal faves – I love how “Check Out Time” chugs along, pushing its subtle melody forward, while “houseflies hum in the key of F” is fun ditty that adds up to highly listenable song.

Get ready for a sonic departure from Boy Wonders on their recent album Character Study. Gone is the almost slacker punk ennui colouring their last outing Happy Days Are Here Again. In its place is a band driving a harder melodic bargain. Opening cut “We Could Be Yours” bristles with a kind of poprock determination, riffing into a bit of discord near the end. “Little Black Shadow” rolls out with some classic rock riffs before turning on the vocal hooks. Clearly the band summon a greater variety of styles on this outing. “Loss Adjustment” rides some wild electric guitar arpeggios worthy of early REM. “Polygraph” and “Enfant Terrible” are something else again, vibing a distinctly 1980s English-sounding mood. “Sister Suzie” is just straight up power pop while “Dreaming in B/W” gives off a sad pop feel. Accent on wonder with this new Boy Wonders LP. This is a band that has really upped their creative and performative game.

Is the most remarkable thing about Tony Molina’s 21 song epic LP On This Day that it runs only 23 minutes long? No. Obviously it’s the consistent quality and breadth that gets packed into these pop miniatures. That 18 of the tracks are 90 seconds or less doesn’t mean they pass by unnoticed. The record is divided amongst contributions in four registers: jangle, Lennonesque Beatles, folk rock, and Brian Wilson, with a number of short solo guitar pieces in a classical mode. The Brian Wilson set includes “Faded Holiday,” “Been Wronged,” and “Out of the Dark,” all leaning into the keyboard strong side of the Beach Boys, though the last really vibes the vocal dynamics. Then “Lie to Kick It,” “Broken Down,” and “Don’t Belong” offer different shades of lush jangle. The lion’s share of tracks here touch on folk or folk rock. “Despite the Sun” is a gentle McCartney-somewhere-in-India acoustic number. “Take Some Time” speeds up the folk pop pace. “Just As the Time Was Flowing” starts sounding very really sixties folk group. Then we get the cross-over folk rock that mixes in a good measure of jangle. The cover of Eric Anderson’s “Violets of Dawn” is just such a great treatment. Carrying on, “Livin’ Wrong” and “Ghosts of Punishments Past” inhabit a Byrdsian universe. The Beatles influences lurk everywhere. “FC’ 23” has classic beat group harmonies and hooky single-note lead-guitar lines whereas “Transplant Blues” and “Inside Your Mind Pt 2” evoke a late Lennon Beatles, the latter with a bit of Elliott Smith. For something out of step (but not unwelcome), check out the bashing rock style on “Have Your Way.” It borders on a TMBG sound.

Chasing September are like a bunch of bands combined into one on their long-player Talking Circles. There’s a pop punk band banging out tracks like “Hurts More” and “Unhinged.” There’s a more strummy guitar pop band delivering “Literally” and “Close to Me.” You even get a lull-your-kids-to-sleep band with the aptly named “Lullaby” and “Purple Moon.” The cover of the Korgis’ soft rock hit “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” is revelatory, casting the song into a totally new register – tougher and meaner than before. “Before You Know” is another original departure with its ominous melodic development. I also really like “Anniversary” a McCartney-esque ballad in style and form.

Our fictitious radio dial nonetheless beams out should-be hits for the here and now. Add these acts to your playlists via whatever medium works for you.

Photo courtesy Joe Haupt Flikr collection.