THE A LIST (5.09.25)

This week’s A List is a beautiful blur of spacey psych, post-punk, and welcome weirdness. Portugal. The Man takes the top spot with a swirling new standout, while Stereolab and Ribbon Skirt remind us that atmosphere can hit just as hard as a riff. What's been your favorite this week?!

As always, I’m Nils, spinning the best in indie every Friday from 3–7 PM EST on Inhailer Radio. We're live 24/7 at Inhailer.com and in the app. Let’s get into this week’s gems:

10. "BLACKEST" - The Ravonettes

The Raveonettes return with "BLACKEST," a dark, cinematic swerve into shoegaze noir. Fuzzed-out guitars and echo-drenched vocals swirl into something that feels like walking home through neon fog. They've still got that haunting edge on their new album "PE'AHI II"

9. "Enough Is Enough" - The Hives

The Hives are back and they’re not messing around (!!) "Enough Is Enough" is pure garage-punk adrenaline—tight, loud, and infectiously bratty. It's a slap in the face (the good kind) and a reminder of just how good these guys are at igniting chaos in under three minutes.

8. "NORTHERN LIGHTS//" - KennyHoopla

There’s a raw urgency to everything KennyHoopla does, and "NORTHERN LIGHTS//" is no different. Angsty, pulsing, and packed with late-night energy, it feels like running away from something with your headphones on full blast.

7. "Deadstick" - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

You know it’s King Gizz when genre lines start melting. "Deadstick" is a psych-prog whirlwind that lurches, shreds, and shifts on a dime. There’s a dizzying magic to how it all holds together—and like most Gizzard tracks, it rewards multiple listens (and then some).

6."Chamomile" - Runnner

"Chamomile" is delicate without being precious. Runnner blends tape hiss, fingerpicked guitar, and hushed vocals into a song that feels like a voice memo from your most introspective friend. It’s soft, sad, and completely captivating. It's a perfect Sunday morning listen.

5. "Spike Island" - Pulp

Jarvis Cocker & Co. haven't lost their sharpness, and "Spike Island" is proof. The song slinks along with swagger and smirking menace, threading poetry through sleaze in the way only Pulp can. Longtime fans, rejoice—this is vintage Pulp with a 2025 twist.

4. "catch these fists" - Wet Leg

On the A List once again, Wet Leg holds strong with "catch these fists"—a sarcastic, shout-along breakup banger that feels tailor-made for dancing on your ex’s front lawn. It’s sharp, spiky, and stupidly fun. They haven’t lost their bite—and it’s a hit for a reason.

3. "Wrong Planet" - Ribbon Skirt

One of the most quietly powerful tracks on the list, "Wrong Planet" by Ribbon Skirt is all haze and heartache. Ethereal textures meet grounded, aching lyrics to create something that feels like drifting through a dream you’re not sure you belong in. Don’t sleep on this one.

2. "Aerial Troubles" - Stereolab

Stereolab delivers again with "Aerial Troubles," a sonic cocktail of lounge-laced synths, sci-fi shimmer, and that unmistakable retro-futurist swing. It feels both freshly weird and perfectly familiar—like tuning in to a distant radio signal that’s been waiting for you.

1. "V.I.S." - Portugal. The Man

Taking the crown this week is Portugal. The Man with "V.I.S."—a kaleidoscopic, genre-hopping anthem that manages to sound both chaotic and locked-in. There’s a sense of urgency here, like the world’s ending but the dance floor’s still open. A wild, wonderful ride from a band that keeps reinventing the rules. This is a classic Portugal. The Man sound we've been hoping they'd return to.

ame time next week? Thanks for joining us for this week's A List!

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