What I've Been Listening To [April 2025]

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of the What I've Been Listening To series!

Every month I make it a point to highlight artists and albums that I've been listening to. So without further ado, here's what I've been jamming to in April.

Ekko Astral - pink balloons

First up is Ekko Astral, a band that I only recently heard of. On my birthday, one of my favorite bands, PUP, ended up releasing a music video for the song Get Dumber (feat. Jeff Rosenstock). That same day they also announced that the two would be going on tour. I saw both PUP and Jeff Rosenstock perform last year and had an amazing time. I knew I had to grab tickets to this show, and the opening band for this tour was Ekko Astral.

It wasn't until a few days later when a friend posted about how they were so excited to see Ekko Astral at the show. I figured that if they were that excited, I should probably give the band a listen. I also love to familiarize myself with all bands playing at a show.

So when I was on the train to NYC to try out the Nintendo Switch 2, I started blasting Ekko Astral's pink balloons. On that same train ride, I also ordered the vinyl record. It’s violent, aggressive, loud, in your face, and just the right amount of chaotic. It starts with this sludgy bass and it’s almost like metal on a first listen, it’s disgusting, but it also deals with the problems of the world we live in. It’s so punk rock and I love it.

Brad Sucks - Naturally

I try to keep track of when and how I come across a band. With Brad Sucks, I can tell you the exact day I learned about him.

There's a YouTube channel that I'm fond of called "Cathode Ray Dude" which is run by the lovely Gravis. Back on June 20th, 2022, CRD released a video on the "Nakamichi MJ-5.16". It's an amazing video about a CD drive and during one of the segments, he cuts together a montage while playing the song Bad Attraction. The song absolutely rips and I ended up listening to the album I Don't Know What I'm Doing a few times. However, when Bad Attraction came to mind these past few weeks, I saw that Brad Sucks had a new album out. So I figured why not see what Brad has been up to?

Naturally is a much more stripped-down album compared to Brad's other works. It’s more of an easy listening soft rock album but it’s grown on me quite a bit. I was reading more into what Brad has said about the album and it’s called Naturally because he’s focusing on more of an organic/live album compared to his previous albums. It’s nice to put on in the background and listen to when you’re around the house doing chores.

Beach Bunny - Tunnel Vision

I remember seeing Emotional Creature a lot back when it came out. I ended up picking up the vinyl record when I saw it at the store and I really enjoyed it.

So when Tunnel Vision came out, I started giving it a listen. Mr. Predictable and Big Pink Bubble are such a wonderful way to introduce the record. It's a very pop-forward record, that's bright and cheery. The title track leans into that indie/alternative twang.

Tracks like vertigo lean into rock, but overall this album is a lovely little record that scratches my pop itch.

Viagra Boys - viagr aboys

Back during the summer of 2022, I named Viagra Boys's "Cave World" as my album of the summer. I was constantly listening to that album and fell in love with songs like "Baby Criminal", "Troglodyte", "Punk Rock Loser", "Ain't No Theif", and "Return To Monke". It was such an amazing album and when I learned that Viagra Boys were releasing a new album I immediately hopped on it.

viagr aboys is Viagra Boys at their best. The first track "Man Made of Meat" is incredibly wild. The lead singer burps in the first verse and when I heard that for the first time, I lost my mind. It's a commentary about the capitalist society that we're currently living in.

But then you have a track like "Uno II" that reminds me a lot of Cave World. There's a guest vocalist on this track and it's such a wonderful delight. It's written from the point of view of a dog as well which is a lot of fun.

It's such a great album with how all over the place it is and I've had so much fun with it.

Thanks for checking out this issue of What I've Been Listening To! Check out other issues here!