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 Defecting Grey, Pillowinde, and Fairmont. Plus a look back at "rodeo" by billy.

This is that time of the year when everyone does a best of list. BlowUpRadio.com stopped doing that a long time ago because really if we're mentioning the music in this column or playing the songs on our station, it is our best of.

Before starting BlowUpRadio.com 24 years ago I worked for a commercial radio station and had to play a lot of music I did not like. But here I write about/play what I like, so a best of list seems redundant.

As 2024 comes to a close, here are a few more albums worthy of your attention this year.

Defecting Grey - "Circuits". Defecting Grey return with a new EP of power-pop-alt-rock. "Circuits" flows with an electricity that is infectious!

Pillowinde - "pine!pine!pine!". I'm just going to come out and say "pine!pine!pine!" is among my favorite albums of the year! I don't know what it is about Pillowinde's indie-rock/power-pop, but I do hope they keep doing what they are doing because it is wonderful!

Fairmont - "I Wish I Was Stupid". BlowUpRadio.com started broadcasting 24 years ago this week. I don't think it was long after that Fairmont was formed. Their music has been a part of our station since their debut album, "Pretending Greatness is Awaiting" came out. It was several years, and several lineup changes, before Fairmont really locked in on their indie-dream-pop sound, a sound that instantly catches my attention and has me singing along. A sound that is still very much apparent on their latest, "I Wish I Was Stupid", which is a joy to listen to. And despite the song "Boring Dumb Song" saying, "lyrics are just filler in my stupid song", the lyrics are never filler in a Fairmont song, nor are their songs stupid.

Not New, But Memorable Corner

billy - "rodeo". It was the early days of BlowUpRadio.com when New Brunswick band billy put out "music for the two-cycle engine". "Rodeo" was always my favorite song on it, a combination of punk, zydeco, and a bit of bluegrass, makes for a fun 3 minutes. Beware, to me at least, this is an earworm that will not leave your head for awhile once hearing it (to me that's a good thing).

That's all for this week.

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 at https://gardenstate.social/@BlowUpRadio (and bridged on BlueSky)