Category: NEWS
- HOME
- Category: NEWS
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases from Peaches, Gorillaz, Rob Zombie and Nothing
Rob Shepyer
February 27, 2026
Happy Janky Fresh Friday! We hope you are transcending the societal madness today. We’d like to present to you 4 tools to do so. Today we have new releases from Peaches, Gorillaz, Rob Zombie and Nothing- four albums from iconic artists who have already established themselves well as weapons of mass destruction in fighting facism and repression. related: Janky Fresh Friday – Angel Du$t, Converge, Charli XCX and femtanyl Peaches: No Lube So Rude (released February 27, 2026): Kill Rock Stars related: Photo Recap – The Teaches Of Peaches at Observatory North Park Peaches is an electroclash institution, a pillar of feminist punk in the 90s, a Canadian. Peaches is still going strong, still putting on the most spirited shows in any genre, still releasing albums that are relevant additions to her discography and to the culture at large. No Lube So Rude may not be her most lyrically profound album, it may not be the densest with singles that will explode on the radio, but it is full of sex anthems that will assuredly pop off live and inspire sexual experiences across the spectrum. I remember the last time I saw Peaches live. I recall thinking, some artists age
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: Angel Du$t, Converge, Charli XCX and femtanyl
Rob Shepyer
February 13, 2026
Happy Valentine’s Day to all Janky Smooth readers! Today is an absolutely unhinged day for new releases; with alternative power-pop Angel Du$t bringing us their newest album COLD 2 THE TOUCH right before their upcoming 1720 Warehouse show on 3/21. Angel Du$t is collectively one of Janky Smooth’s favorite bands and they have been for years; but we also have the highly anticipated return of Boston metalcore legends Converge, an unexpected dramatic shift in tone from Charli XCX in her original soundtrack for the Wuthering Heights film also released today, and our favorite current hyperpop outfit femtanyl finally releasing their debut album after bringing us such a great year with their Danny Brown collaborations. While many of you are out celebrating Valentine’s Day with your lovers, today is not a day to be slept on for new music releases. related: Janky Fresh Friday – She Past Away, KMFDM, Mayhem, and Puscifer Angel Du$t: COLD 2 THE TOUCH (released February 13, 2026): Run For Cover Records related: L.A. Buffs Up – Angel Du$t at The Lodge Room Angel Du$t is an anomaly of hardcore history. Created by Justice Tripp to explore another side of his creativity apart from his efforts in
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: She Past Away, KMFDM, Mayhem and Puscifer
Rob Shepyer
February 6, 2026
The new year for music is finally starting to kick up again with anticipated new releases and exciting new shows already stacking the first quarter of 2026. Today is no exception with Turkish goth group She Past Away dropping their new album Mizantrop right before their upcoming show at the NOVO in Los Angeles on 2/7. To celebrate the year starting to pick up more steam, Janky Smooth is reviewing four albums today instead of just two; with anticipated new releases from black metal founders Mayhem, Maynard James Keenan’s freaky side project Puscifer, and kings of industrial dance KMFDM as well. No matter what your taste in the darker side of music is; February 6, 2026 has you covered from every angle. related: Janky Fresh Friday – New Releases From Joyce Manor and (Young) GUV She Past Away: Mizantrop (released February 6, 2026): Creature Comfort Turkey’s She Past Away has long led the resurgence of true goth and death rock music. The tones and vibes of the soundscapes utilized by the duo feel like updated versions of the infectious, moody, macabre, and danceable tracks of the 80s. Now, many years into She Past Away’s career, long after the ripples of the initial
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases From Joyce Manor and (Young) GUV
Danny Ryan
January 30, 2026
Today’s Janky Fresh Friday for January 30, 2026 brings us two of the most anticipated returns in alternative punk music: The undisputed kings of garage emo, Joyce Manor, and the return of Ben Cook from No Warning’s ambitious rebranding of his jangle-pop folk project Young Guv into simply GUV (very Prince-esque on its surface, but actually makes a lot more sense upon hearing his new album). Both artists delivered us ambitious explorations into new terrains while also being tested in how to stay authentic to their original sounds. Joyce Manor: I Used To Go To This Bar (released January 30, 2026): Epitaph Records Joyce Manor has one of the most signature pop-punk sounds out of any band of the post 2010’s, and that aspect alone made them one of the most significant alternative bands that were active throughout my high school years. Sure, Barry Johnson’s strained vocals can sound a bit whiny as he belts about depression and awkward hook-ups during their verses – and I even felt that they had their moments of cringe when I was at the age they were catering to. However Joyce Manor have always been raw and vulnerable at their core, and even these more
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases From A$AP Rocky and Sleaford Mods
Janky Smooth Central Command
January 16, 2026
The beginning of each year can often feel a bit stagnant for new albums with many artists waiting until the Spring or Summer to release their work to the public, especially in genres based around youthful party cultures such as hip-hop. With how crazy the world feels in 2026 however, there isn’t a better time to completely subvert audience expectations and act as a trailblazer within your genre. The world needs art more than ever, and it’s needed as soon as possible. Thankfully, we have two very unexpected hip-hop releases to kick off the year with A$AP Rocky and Sleaford Mods blessing us with two albums full of unpredictable excitement just when we need it the most. A$AP Rocky: Don’t Be Dumb (released January 16, 2025): AWGE, A$AP Worldwide, RCA Records Hip-hop is almost completely unrecognizable from the 2010’s when A$AP Rocky first rose to prominence. At the time, it was almost hard to keep up with new releases every month from both veteran rappers and brand new artists seemingly coming out of nowhere. In 2025 however; this is nowhere near the case considering the major gap between Gen Z’s Soundcloud generation and the DatPiff mixtape culture that came
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases from Dry Cleaning and Bad Beat
Janky Smooth Central Command
January 9, 2026
This January is a pretty fun month for new releases which makes it harder to choose what to disseminate for our very first Janky Fresh Friday of 2026. We thought we had it easy with Dry Cleaning releasing new music and we decided to go with Bad Beat’s Xmas day release as the split single of this article. But it’s not always easy when you have mixed feelings about something new from a band you love and that is a first for Janky Fresh Friday…. I’m sure it’s not the last. related: Top Artists to Watch in 2026 Dry Cleaning: Secret Love (released January 9, 2026): 4AD Records The kings and queens of deadpan post punk are back with Dry Cleaning’s kickoff to 2026, Secret Love. When Dry Cleaning first appeared on the scene, I was all about it, making it a point to catch their highly anticipated Teragram Ballroom introduction to Los Angeles. Seeing them again at Primavera Sound, they had refined their music by then and fully manifested everything anyone could’ve wanted from a deadpan, vocal driven post punk band. That style of vocal was something I was wanting to hear from a modern band for a long
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases from Nas w/ DJ Premier & Danny L Harle
Janky Smooth Central Command
December 12, 2025
Here at Janky Smooth, Friday’s are for nerding out on new releases. This week, we dive deep into new music from Nas and DJ Premier VS Danny L Harle w/ Rachika Nayar-artists that are rarely mentioned side by side. In contrast to the two reviewing them, Rob Shepyer and Danny Ryan should ALWAYS be side by side- especially when discussing new music. Nas and DJ Premier: Light-Years (released December 12, 2025): Mass Appeal Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones aka Nas is one of hip hop’s most legendary and authentic children. His seminal album Illmatic still slaps, sounding like it was recorded in ancient history, 1994, yet carrying forward through time like a hip hop heirloom. Something passed down from generation to generation, almost like an oral bible or a survival guide to help people endure the insanity that is New York City. Illmatic remains true so long as New York remains chaotic, and as America’s greatest city, neither will ever change whether it is Giuliani or Mamdani as mayor. This is 2025 though, and Nas’ relevancy far surpasses his classic efforts. When paired with producers from newer generations he inspired, Nas shines to new audiences that may not have been
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases From Oneohtrix Point Never and Home Front
Danny Ryan
November 21, 2025
Today’s new albums for Friday, November 7th, 2025, are two releases that may come from genres known for their simplicity, but both completely throw all preconceived notions about said genres out the window with how innovative and forward thinking each of these artists have consistently been throughout their careers. Oneohtrix Point Never almost needs no introduction in the conversation of avant-garde experimental music, being a trailblazer for Warp Records and arguably taking Aphex Twin’s place as King of IDM over the past few years. On the flipside, Home Front has been making waves in Oi punk since they first stepped on the scene with their ambitiously insane incorporations of new-wave, post-punk, and arena rock elements to the normally barebones genre. related: Janky Fresh Friday – New Releases from Orville Peck and FKA Twigs OPN’s album is a return to form in a lot of ways, shoving every element of his artistic identity in your face and sticking a flag in the sand of his place in experimental electronic music. Being a much newer artist, Home Front, is conversely finding their identity more and more with each release and creating their own brand of destroying genre-limiting boundaries. Both of these albums
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases by Orville Peck and FKA Twigs
Danny Ryan
November 14, 2025
Welcome to Janky Fresh Friday- the busiest day of the week for artists and labels to drop newly released music. Check in every Friday for a fresh squeeze. As part of Janky Smooth’s Janky Fresh Friday series, we’ve been comparing two albums that come out on the same day and seemingly have nothing in common- for the sole purpose of discovering the wealth of similarities between two disparate things. In some respects, it’s an exercise in empathy, learning how to appreciate differences, placing yourself in the shoes of a different subculture, and putting forth an effort to celebrate music as a whole. related: Janky Fresh Friday – New Releases by Drain and Danny Brown Today’s albums for Friday, November 7th, 2025, are releases from two of the most forward-thinking and strongest personalities in music pop culture at the moment, Orville Peck for country music and FKA Twigs for art-pop music. While Orville Peck’s release Appaloosa is just an EP and FKA Twigs’ newest album Eusexua Afterglow appears to be a sister album to her previous release, both of these releases are more groundbreaking staples in these artists’ discographies than you would expect. Orville Peck: Appaloosa (released November 14, 2025):
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases by Drain and Danny Brown
Danny Ryan
November 7, 2025
Welcome to Janky Fresh Friday- the busiest day of the week for artists and labels to drop newly released music. Check in every Friday for a fresh squeeze. As part of Janky Smooth’s Janky Fresh Friday series, we’ve been comparing two albums that come out on the same day and seemingly have nothing in common- for the sole purpose of discovering the wealth of similarities between two disparate things. In some respects, it’s an exercise in empathy, learning how to appreciate differences, placing yourself in the shoes of a different subculture, and putting forth an effort to celebrate music as a whole. related: Janky Fresh Friday – Chat Pile w/ Hayden Pedigo and Guided By Voices Today’s albums for Friday, November 7th, 2025, are two of the most ambitious releases of the year from scenes that used to be more closely connected than you see nowadays. The relationship between punk and hip-hop has a long history and this fusion was a staple of underground shows in Los Angeles for the longest time. There are very few rappers that cross over into punk, hardcore, or metal anymore but Danny Brown has consistently been dedicated to these collaborations since his tour
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: Record Release Shows for Spiritual Cramp and Patriarchy
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 24, 2025
Welcome to Janky Fresh Friday- the busiest day of the week for artists and labels to drop newly released music. Check in every Friday for a fresh squeeze. As part of Janky Smooth’s Janky Fresh Friday series, we’ve been comparing two albums that come out on the same day and seemingly have nothing in common- for the sole purpose of discovering the wealth of similarities between two disparate things. related: Janky Fresh Friday – New Albums from Tame Impala and Militarie Gun This week we mix things up a bit to examine two new albums with late-October 2025 record release parties in LA. Spiritual Cramp’s free show sponsored by Marshall at Zebulon on 10/21 reminded us of what rock music should be all about; and Patriarchy’s upcoming record release party at The Lodge Room on 10/26 is about to be one of the creepiest and most gritty dance-parties you’ve ever been to, just in time for Halloween. Author Danny Ryan gives his review of Spiritual Cramp’s RUDE, with photos by Taylor Wong from the Zebulon record release show. Author Rob Shepyer breaks down Patriarchy’s new album for us in preparation of their upcoming Lodge Room performance. Spiritual Cramp: RUDE (released
Read More
Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins) Announces Autobiography For November 18th
Janky Smooth Central Command
October 18, 2025
How often is it that Cocteau Twins fans get ANY new material? Simon Raymonde’s new autobiography “In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor And Me” comes out November 18th via Bonnier Books! – Pre-Order HERE British producer, musician and record-company CEO Simon Raymonde helped to create some of the most beautiful and memorable albums of the ’80s and ’90s. From 1983 to 1997, he was one-third of seminal band Cocteau Twins and associated offshoot This Mortal Coil where he helped create music that continues to cast a spell over millions. He also launched and still runs the influential record label, Bella Union. To celebrate and promote the release of his auto-biography, Raymonde has also announced several book events across the U.S including stops at Los Angeles’ Book Soup and New York’s Rough Trade Records, Seattle’s Easy Street Records, and in San Francisco at a venue to be announced soon. For more info on the book events, visit https://linktr.ee/mrsimonraymonde. BOOK EVENTS November 10 – Seattle, WA @ Easy Street Records November 11 – San Francisco, CA @ TBA November 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Book Soup November 15 – New York @ Rough Trade Records Beginning with Simon’s remarkable
Read More