When TV Dog released their latest single Feminine Subject a couple of weeks ago, I was absolutely sure that I’d posted about them here already. I’ve To paraphrase Letterkenny, it’s somewhat embarrassing.

Anyway, TV Dog is a four-piece, guitar-forward alt-rock band from Toronto and you should give them a spin. To me they’re a modern take on the mid-late 90s alt-rock sound, with varying degrees of grit and heaviness. Here’s the new song, it’s not on YouTube or Bandcamp yet:

I mean this as a compliment: the first time I heard this song, it hit me like a song I already knew, like a playlist classic from the era of the Empire Records soundtrack. Catchy melody and warm production hooked me, but when the time signature changed, it stopped me cold and I had to start it again. It’s a killer song.

It’s also the third solid single from these guys this year. The other two are much more grungy. Always Autumn came out back in May, and the simple melody and lyrics sound directly influenced by Kurt Cobain.

The first of 2024 Phoebe Bridgers was released in January. It’s definitely got the Nirvana sound, and it sounds like it would absolutely rip in a small club:

I’ve had their 2023 album Circus Rehearsal in the rotation for a long time. It’s excellent, melodic alt-rock with some grit, psychedelia, and great musicianship. If you like the stuff above, definitely check it out. Here’s my most-listened-to track from that release:

On their website they tease a new LP in early 2024, so there’s likely a lot more to come real soon.

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