Some tracks just cannot be denied, and that is the case with Mike Dubb’s latest effort “Regular.” The new song, and accompanying visual, are wacky-good with a beat that is hard to resist and anime-style graphics that take the Boston-based artist from our reality into his own. It is in the fierce verses of the song where Dubb’s skill is showcased, flowing with a combination of fun and fury that is contagious as can be. “Regular” is short and sweet; the song makes a hard statement that this is a dude you want to keep an eye on. Stream “Regular” below for an unexpected but sick weekend firestarter, it will carry you through. - Rene Cobar 

Emo music seems a rarity in the days of overproduced dream-pop hits, and so an EP like Sprues & Runners’ Trips To The Caribbean takes on the form of a treasure chest found in a cove breezy with 2003 winds. The furious pace of “Red Teeth,” with its serrated screams and eruptive drums, comes after a curious serenity where surf-rock influences sway you gently, and then ultimately swing you violently. “The Opening” lets the instruments fly, and embraces that thin film of garage comradery that also propelled emo to the top of the charts oh not so long ago. There is no doubt that there are still treasures to be found out there in the sonic isles of the modern world, here is one that Providence’s Sprues & Runners are offering a clear map to. Listen to the euphoric breakdown in “Cactus” streaming below. - Rene Cobar

Nothing stirs emotion quite like a serene country twang paired with honeyed vocals, both telling a story of gratitude and love, that is exactly what Liz Bills’ “Mama’s Song” does, and it does it so well. In the new music video for the song, photographs of families, and of course of mothers flash across as Liz contemplates through music and lyric the importance of being grateful for the sacrifices mothers make; those very sacrifices make tributes all the more necessary. Released yesterday to commemorate Mother’s Day, the brand new song is a message that hits home. Haverhill’s Liz Bills keeps things simple with delicate guitar string plucks and a vocal melody that is quite smile-inducing, quite fitting for a story to relate to. Stream “Mama’s Song” below for a good start to the week. - Rene Cobar, photo by Carissa Johnson

Like a cup of black coffee, New Hampshire’s Zero Front keeps things quite simple but oh so good. In his new EP, Static Faces, the singer/songwriter/loop perfectionist mixes clean electric guitar strums with modernist sound loops that create an environment fit for both an existential contemplation or escapism rejecting the former idea. “Cold Coffee” is groovy, with sustained sounds like robots conversing. Where “Vanity Plates” is as serene as a walk among a familiar place, “Sea of Tranquility (The Moon Song)” is the wrong turn that ends up being not the wrong turn, almost psychedelic in its slow nature. Zero Front has created a piece of work that feels like it was meant to belong only to him but has accidentally become something for all to enjoy and understand. Stream “Cold Coffee” for a simplicity that just feels and sounds like what you need this weekend. - Rene Cobar, photo by Ryan Burnham

Streetlight Shakers are back! Well, they have not really been gone at all, but their new single “The Story” is just as triumphant, just as worthy of a hero’s welcome. The uplifting track serves as the hymn the three men from Connecticut share with the masses: a single jam-packed with the symbiotic rhythm that Nick Powell (drums, vocals) and Silvain Castellano (bass, vocals) produce + Jeff Boratko’s piano leads and vocal scales is all that is needed to celebrate a better tomorrow ahead. For the past few somber months, the group has managed to entertain its fans with creative recordings from home, showing them a glimmer of light among the shadows, something worth producing a smile for indeed. “The Story” feels like the end of the tunnel, or damn near close to it, it is a song meant to take you on the journey you have been longing for, somewhere away from troubles and closer to a better view. Stream “The Story” below for the midweek break you deserve. - Rene Cobar