Finding My Religion: 10 New Songs Curated by the Pickled Priest - 2026 Edition, #1

In the past, we've made you mixtapes of our favorite new music. Since those take a long while to make, and aren't as fresh as we'd like when released, we've decided to switch to ten song mixes going forward. So instead of a mixtape, each installment will be the equivalent of a 10-song LP instead, complete with a Side A and a Side B. These songs will all be sourced from the original masters, hand-poured in a single-step process, and personally cut by some guy you've never heard of before, but who must be good or why else would they give you his name in the first place?

10 New Songs Curated by the Priest - #1

SIDE A

01 "Quicksand Heart" | Jenny on Holiday

Half of Let's Eat Grandma*, a precocious duo with a refreshingly curious take on conventional pop, Jenny Hollingsworth has released a solo record this year and Jenny on Holiday is a pretty great name for a side gig, don't ya think? Her songs are, unsurprisingly, both catchy and quirky simultaneously, borderline sophisticated even, tapping a vein similar to Camera Obscura at times, which is quite a compliment. Not with the same quality control perhaps, but there's much to love here including the title-track, which is easily my favorite cut. It's even good enough to survive a mixed metaphor built into the chorus, which claims her quicksand heart (which means what exactly?) is about to explode. Is that really what happens when you sink into quicksand? I don't think so. The rest of the lyrics are almost brazenly wonky, with multiple references to the Wizard of Oz, but the way Jenny puts it all together here in one charming single, slight incongruities don't matter much.

*The name stresses the importance of commas in grammar. In this case leaving one out after "eat" changes the context dramatically, but not necessarily for the better!

02 "Kitchen II" | Lande Hekt

British singer songwriter Lande Hekt (rhymes with "Panda Checked") radiates an off-kilter, jangly charm all over her third solo record, Lucky Now. “Kitchen II” hooks the ear with minimal backing, but maximum bliss, wrapping a charming melody around the small but significant moments of a committed relationship. Sounds dull, but it's not. The rest of the record holds similar charms, but not always with the same delicate touch. The album's cover features a nerdy schoolgirl (my take) with a book tattooed on one calf and an electric guitar on the other, indicating there might be an edge to the awkward innocence. The rest of the album lives up to that promise, too, with each new song providing just the right amount of delinquency to keep things interesting. It's still early, but this is my favorite record of 2026 so far.

03 "Selling a Vibe" | The Cribs

Getting along a might bit better than the Gallaghers (Noel & Liam), the amiable Jarman brothers (Ryan, Gary, & Ross) who make up Yorkshire's Cribs haven't split up in a flurry of fisticuffs and nasty tweets since forming in the early-00s, instead releasing a steady diet of solid records on a regular cadence. Those records haven't made much of a dent in America, but the lads have become quite the local favorite in their motherland. Selling a Vibe reinforces why. After years growing up and playing together, there's an air of confidence throughout the record that says, "There's very little we can't pull off anymore." Witness the title-track, "Selling a Vibe," which launches on a shoegazey guitar riff that persists for the rest of the song, even when it layers a cruise ship melody over the top that would play well in a lounge on the Lido Deck. It's a song that takes time to build up to—-cuts like this just don't happen overnight. The secret might be found on the album's final track "Brothers Won't Break," which Noel and Liam could go to school on if they were smart. It would've saved them a lot of wasted years...and money.

04 "Poison Vine" | Cast ft. P.P. Arnold

Since Cast debuted with the Britpop classic All Change back in 1995, I've been a fan. I've stayed put as American audiences tuned out, but they, like the Cribs, have a cult following in the UK. That following includes Oasis, who tapped them to open shows for their reunion tour last year. A coveted gig to say the least. None of their records has had quite the same impact as that first one, which was loaded with crunchy mod singles sung with the rousing vocals of John Powers (ex-La's), one of the most original and underrated singers in Britpop. Cast even had the audacity to evolve over the years, even adding a little soul and blues into their portfolio along the way. Their new record, audaciously given the Beatlesque title Yeah Yeah Yeah, indicates they are aiming a bit higher this time and they mostly pull it off. Sometimes they go a little too heavy on the stadium-sized anthems, but with the venue sizes on the Oasis docket, you can't really blame them for taking a big swing. "Poison Vine," the only song from the record played during their Oasis set (sadly), features a killer cameo from underrated R&B singer P.P. Arnold, now 79-years-old. She still sounds incredible, adding just the right amount of that Merry Clayton intensity to the track and ushers it across the threshold from mod-rock to mod-soul, with a little gospel mixed in for good measure.

05 "Ain't That a Trip" | The James Hunter Six ft. Van Morrison

The James Hunter Six walk the walk and talk the talk and have been so for over three decades now. Their brand of retro rock & soul feels like the real deal because it is—you don't get on the roster of NY's revered Daptone Records if you aren't. That's where they've made their home for the last decade, but this time they've hooked up with the ubiquitous Dan Auerbach and, no surprise, that's a very good thing. Dan has an old soul just like frontman James Hunter so it's no surprise they're a match made in heaven in the studio. Auerbach knew just what to do to make this record come alive and it's a serious gas, full of passion and love for music that cannot be faked. The bopping "Ain't That a Trip" even gets curmudgeon Van Morrison to loosen up his sphincter and the positive energy in the room is palpale. Made of only the purest of natural ingredients, the record is simply good for the soul. If you love rock and roll and you don't go out and buy a copy right now, it's your loss.

SIDE B

06 "The Shooter"| Institute

On first listen, I assumed these Texas punks were from Australia, with a Saints/Radio Birdman influence notable in their sound (common in bands from the continent). Not the case, but it’s no surprise they’ve already booked an Australian tour. They'll blend in perfectly with the scene down under. In fact, their hot new 7” was issued by Melbourne's Anti Fade Records specifically in advance of the impending tour (which starts in March). You'd think they would have enough homegrown bands like this. Do they really need to import them now? No matter, the more the better when it comes to snarling Aussie-styled punk. I recommend you don't skip out on this three-sing artifact or it'll be gone before you know it. All three tracks are great, but "The Shooter" is the clear anchor track, not hesitating to call out America's gun culture in the process (and they have a front row seat being from Texas). If the Aussies already love it, a place that knows this kind of music better than any other, then trust me, it's good enough for you.

07 "California" | The Olympians

Well, isn't this a timely return! It’s been ten years since we last heard from Brooklyn's Olympians, but they’re back and better than ever on their latest Daptone release, In Search of a Revival. While the Daptone label lends any artist instant credibility in soul music circles, the Olympians are somewhat of an atypical presence on the label’s roster. Yes, they are still built on a soul music chassis—don't fret—but the band’s unique brand of instrumental soul doesn't drive home the point with the predictability of other retro groups mining the same territory. Instead, they're content to lay back on a cool groove and then infuse it with some unexpected flourishes that push beyond the genre's usual boundaries. If you pay close attention to "California," you'll hear a horn chart that wouldn't have been out of place on Sgt. Pepper's, a little mariachi flourish out of nowhere, and an absolutely killer Steve Cropper-esque guitar run that kicks in at the 2:51 mark that makes me deliriously happy every time I hear it.

08 "Forgive or Forget" | Mariachi El Bronx

A mariachi band that sings in English? Call the Super Bowl! We may have found a compromise that will suit everyone—even our dumbfuck president and his sycophantic lapdogs! I am happy to report that L.A. (not N.Y.)-based Mariachi El Bronx are back with a new LP, their first in a dozen years. Their previous LP, III, captured the #2 spot on our year-end list in 2014 and nobody was more surprised than us at the time. We couldn't get enough of it. It turns out we have previously undiagnosed mariachi strand coiled around our double-helix and we didn't even know it! We've since dialed it back to the source material—Spanish! Gasp!—but even this part-time side project of L.A. punk band, the Bronx, works for us, mainly because this is no homage. They are deep in the shag on this stuff, capturing the music's ebullient spirit in the process. They clearly love this music and have taken the time to fuss over the details. Add in some really well-written songs and you've got yourself something that sounds familiar and unlike anything you've ever heard at the very same time. Those looking to left field for something new should look no further. It's here.

09 "Chaos Herder, Pt. 2" | Place Position

They named themselves after a Fugazi song so you generally know where this Ohio band is coming from— minimal budget, maximum impact. All over the ironically-titled Went Silent, Place Position wail and flail on guitars and drums with a thrilling live in the basement sound. And I mean that literally. It was recorded in their basement. But don't mistake humble surroundings for amateurism. These guys know how to harness their power without overplaying their hand, often surprising with unexpected twists and turns. Which brings us to lead track, “Chaos Herder, Pt. 2” (no “Pt. 1” if you're wondering), which not only encapsulates their sound, it also feels like a lost 90's alt-rock classic, too. Oh, and if you're looking for another side of this already promising outfit, check out "NO401OK." I was tempted to make this a two-fer, so difficult was the choice. Every track slaps. A real contender, this one.

10 "Hamburger Lady" | Xiu Xiu

In addition to their own music, Xiu Xiu has made quite a name for themselves over the years as cover specialists. Now, they’ve compiled a dozen of them on Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu, released in February. So technically these songs are not “New New” (previously released only as digital singles on Bandcamp), but this is the first time they’ve been officially released together on physical media, so that’s new enough for me. The album features a diverse set of covers with source material ranging from Robyn to the Runaways to Daniel Johnston. A couple highlights: Their cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell On You,” which retains the feral mania of the original while taking it in a wholly bizarre new direction. Also, Throbbing Gristle’s “Hamburger Lady” from that band’s D.o.A: The Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle album (1978). It taps into the David Lynch vibe the band has previously mined with their album [Xiu Xiu] Plays the Music of Twin Peaks from 2016. This time, the eeriness is dialed up, sounding like it could've replaced "Lady in the Radiator" on the Eraserhead soundtrack if that movie was set on a food truck instead. The weirder Xiu Xiu get, the better the cover, and this one certainly qualifies. The perfect way to end our first new music mix of 2026.

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Songs are angrily waiting around over here for their shot at the spotlight, so we'll see you sooner than later.

Cheers,

The Priest