New music: Teddy Long, Dim Light and Hugo Monster albums are fresh finds
Hello, fellow children,
How’s it going? It’s been a weird ass 2025 so far, huh? Following our annual barrage of SXSW coverage, I wanted to give you a few fresh finds to listen to if you’re in the market for new ear candy. When the world is a constant depression machine, the power of music is unmatched, a salve that can make us feel human again when there’s just too much punishment on our hearts and souls and by the grace of god, some caveman, somewhere, figured out that if you beat a few rocks together with sticks over a cowhide, the beautiful noise happened.
Anyhow, give these records a spin.
Teddy Long – Head for The Hills
On his newest release, Teddy Long channels the ghosts of Townes Van Zandt, offering listeners a glimpse into a bleak world with songs that give that “only car on the road” whisper that sticks to our bones like a bad case of the ghosts. Head for The Hills is quiet and personal, and sometimes, it feels like a southern preacher meets a gas station that is crazy. The personal complexities make the album feel intimate, which makes it work. Long is a classic example of “why didn’t I know about this guy sooner.” If you’re one of those Austin purists who wants a sad song to become an anthem for what they go through on the barstool, give Head for The Hills a spin; it’s the good kind of hurt.
Dim Light – Duct Tape and Super Glue
Do you have a cigarette burn in your soul? Do you find yourself lost in a cheap, stained suit that isn’t yours while attending a funeral for a stranger? You might like Dim Light. A southern fried meth bender of a Nick Cave lovechild, Dim Light is the kinda stuff where do you take a long slug of whiskey and ask yourself if the fistfight is worth it? It’s sleazy lounge music meant for the folks in Hell’s waiting room. Due to the constant battle against yuppies who want to talk crypto and Kill Tony, Dim Light is one of those bands Austin needs. Get into it.
Hugo Monster – Checks in the Mail
This one came from a random Instagram suggestion, and I’m glad I clicked. Hugo Monster is bringing back the dark beats of the late 90s and early 2000s Hip Hop. The artist is a student of the Gangstarr, Wu-Tang Clan, NAS, or Big L type dude. If you’re tired of the same old mumbling bullshit, check this out, there are a lot of moments where you’re like this is some straight-up summertime music. I hope TikTok does its thing with Hugo Monster; this is the kind of party, hang-out music the world needs. Sorry, Kendrick. Drake still sucks, though.
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