Ruby Throated spin around with regretful acknowledgment on "My Worst." The positively brainy new single by the progressive pop four-piece sounds as flummoxed as the song's conflicted subject, where their fractured time signatures give an air of distress to someone whose hopeless endeavor to make things better makes them fall deeper and deeper. Led by Jocelyn Raulston's playful vocals, the band introduce oft-kilter meters over eclectic jazz elements - it serves to mention that all band members come from academic musical backgrounds - with an otherwise agile simplicity. But nothing about "My Worst" sounds too studious or elaborate, as they let their free-spirited groove guide them with a joyful release. 

"My Worst" is the first single off of Ruby Throated's forthcoming EP, Breakfast Table Omen, which will be self-released on January 4. Juan Rodríguez

There are certain songs that speak to you when you’re young, and those songs are perfectly executed by The Unending Thread's split tape with Forget It. Perhaps it’s because they’ve had a few years to find their sound, but now that they have it is a significant voice for the young and reckless. That sound consists of strong relevant lyrics like “You never know what life has in store…I know I don’t know anything/ And that’s the best part of this journey that hasn’t happened yet” (“La Casa De Mi Padre”) and catchy choruses like “You always bring out the best of me” (“Dearest Anna”). Bassist Kim Reyes’ singing, often accompanied by guitarist Cesar Alas, drives a clear melodic path in the midst of the instrumental background.

The expertly arranged electric guitar, electric bass, and drums are so nicely played that they often compete with the vocals in the foreground, receiving much deserved attention.

Catch the Unending Thread's performance at [redacted] Collective's three-part showcase next week in celebration of the label's first official mixtape. The mixtape will be released August 12 at the first show at The Smell and Saturday the 13th at Los Globos, where The Unending Thread plays with Utena, Gypsum, and Ruby Throated. First fifty guests to these two shows will receive a free physical cassette, containing 11 new and previously unreleased tracks by artists from the [redacted] roster. - Kaitlyn Tang