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BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 12/22/25


By Lazlo

originally published: 12/22/2025

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Psychtooth, The Garden Roads, New Antics, A Color Engine, Southpaw, Ipkiss, and Ferocious Designs. Plus a look back at "Deal With The Devil" by The Brixton Riot.

Psychtooth - "Party Patrick Doesn't Wanna Party Anymore". "melancholy junk rock" is how Psychtooth describe their music, as in a junk draw would have a hodge-podge of things in it. I'm not sure I'd describe them that way, but I get what they are saying. Their new album, "Party Patrick Doesn't Wanna Party Anymore" does combine lo-fi, alt-rock, garage rock, and punk rock, into one of my favorite albums of the year!

The Garden Roads - "Destination Never Knows". Tim Malcarney, formerly of The Silence, returns with his latest project, The Garden Roads. Their debut album, "Destination Never Knows", is chock full of potential hits (in fact trying to decide which songs to play on BlowUpRadio.com is a challenge, as I'd like to play them all... and may).

New Antics - "New Antics". New Antics self-titled debut album is come catchy, angsty, high energy, alternative rock. I like it!

A Color Engine - "Voyage Underwater; 56 Knots (2026 REISSUE) ". Back in 2007-2008, A Color Engine (Don Ryan and Eric Burchfield), made the album, "Voyage Underwater; 56 Knots". The band has long since broken up, and each have put out wonderful solo releases.




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So here we are in 2026 and Don went back to this album and did what he is calling "a total re-working of it", because when they originally made the album, "we had absolutely NO idea what we were doing as engineers, producers, and mixers - so there were tons of problems with our original mixes."

I don't have the original release to compare this reissue to, but the 2026 version is incredible!

Southpaw - "Tumbleweeds". The thing about Southpaw I like so much, is in an era where Modern Country doesn't sound very country at all (to me at least), they make these timeless country songs, the latest of which, "Tumbleweeds", is beautiful.

Ipkiss - "Paper Under the Tongue". Ipkiss's latest single, "Paper Under the Tongue" is infectious, tough to get out of my head. Luckily, this is the only type of infection I want to get.

Ferocious Designs - "You Better Hold On Tight". The yacht rock influence on Ferocious Design's latest single, "You Better Hold On Tight", is proudly worn on his sleeve. I dig it!

Not New, But Memorable Corner

The Brixton Riot - "Deal With The Devil". Way back in 2008 I first heard The Brixton Riot when they sent me their "Sudden Fiction" EP. I believe "Deal With The Devil" was the very first of many of their songs to grace BlowUpRadio.com's airwaves. It is a good example of their hook-filled power-pop.




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Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic - If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to be part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon (and bridged on BlueSky)


 

COLUMNS


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The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Psychic," a local hit by the nationally buzzing Asbury Park band Surfing for Daisy.




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This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from December 16-22, 2025




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Body Cast" by Tiny Cities






 

MORE NEWS

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Wellmont Theater presents The Wallflowers on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 8:00pm. The band is touring in support of the 30th anniversary of their landmark album, Bringing Down the Horse. The band will perform their classic album in its entirety, in sequence.


The Folk Project presents Stephen Kellogg's Old Friends Tour featuring the Kellogg Sisters on Friday




Makin Waves Top 10 Jersey Indie Songs of 2025




Makin Waves Top 10 Jersey Indie Albums of 2025




bergenPAC presents Darlene Love on Sunday






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


The Folk Project presents Stephen Kellogg's Old Friends Tour featuring the Kellogg Sisters on Friday

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The Folk Project presents Stephen Kellogg's Old Friends Tour featuring the Kellogg Sisters on Friday, December 26, 2025 at the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Sydney Leigh Carlson will open the night. Showtime is 7:30pm.


The 80's New Wave tour Totally Tubular Festival comes to Ocean Casino Resort




Start the New Year with Rikki Lee Wilson's Taylor Swift Tribute at The Broadway Theatre of Pitman




The Newton Theatre presents Queensrÿche






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