guitar-pop
These are the best guitar-pop artists featured on Release Wave.

Alien Boy
Formed by multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Sonia Weber in 2015, Alien Boy has steadily evolved from a plucky punk band in the Portland, Oregon, DIY scene into one of the most reliably satisfying rock bands in modern guitar music. The group, whose lineup is rounded out by drummer Derek McNeil along with guitarists Caleb Misclevitz and A.P. Fiedler, solidified their sound on 2021’s acclaimed Don’t Know What I Am, and now on their upcoming third LP "You Wanna Fade?" do May 2025 takes all of the best parts of that pop-rock-by-way-of-shoegaze concoction and amplifies them to their most widescreen version. “I wanted to go as big as possible and I really didn’t want to rush,” Weber says of the album’s sound and four-year gestation. “When I first started the band I was trying to keep the songs as short as possible, but I sort of realized that that’s not actually what I like. I was looking at the records that I turn to the most–Third Eye Blind’s self-titled and Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream–and I really wanted to capture that kind of grandness, the kind of thing that has a lot of dimension and isn’t actually that concise.”
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Momma
Momma is an alternative / indie rock band from Calabasas, California based in Brooklyn, New York. The band formed in 2015 by Etta Friedman (songwriter/guitarist/vocalist) and Allegra Weingarten (songwriter, guitarist, vocalist), who have been friends with each other since meeting at Viewpoint School. The band also consists of Aron Kobayashi Ritch (producer/bassist), and Preston Fulks (drummer). The band is currently signed to Polyvinyl Records. Momma released their first album in 2018 through Danger Collective Records, titled Interloper. On February 24, 2020, Momma announced their second album, Two Of Me, alongside a new song, "Double Dare". On April 6, 2020, Momma shared another song from the album, "Biohazard". The album was recorded during summer break while the members were attending college.The album was described as a concept album "about small-town life in an alternate reality". The band went on to release their third album, Household Name, on July 1, 2022 via Polyvinyl and Lucky Number to critical acclaim with a sound reminiscent of 90s inspired guitar rock with big melodies and hooks, similar to bands like Veruca Salt and The Breeders, while also sharing similarities to newer bands like Soccer Mommy and Wishy.
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Heaven
Heaven is a New York City-based band formed in 2010 by Mikey Jones (drums), who played with the Big Sleep and Swervedriver, and Matt Sumrow (vocals/guitars) of Dean & Britta and the Comas. After a stint playing in Adam Franklin's backing band, Bolts of Love, the pair came together, along with Fan-Tan's Ryan Lee Dunlap (keyboards), to create a drifting and dense sound that falls somewhere between the worlds of melodic dream pop and shoegaze. Heaven debuted their psychedelic blend in 2013 with their first full-length, Telepathic Love, released on Goodnight Records followed by "All Love is Blue" in 2018. The band will return with their 3rd LP and 1st in over 7 years in April of 2024. RIYL: Swervedriver, The Lemondheads, Teenage Fanclub
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Fish Narc
fish narc is the musical moniker of Olympia, WA-based songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Ben Funkhouser. The album combines timeless songwriting with '90s alternative grit and heart-on-sleeve lyricism to show off a whole new side of fish narc's world. Funkhouser has an expansive catalog of work as a rap producer and a solo artist–one that’s often distinguished by its sonic references to his background in the Pacific Northwest DIY punk scene. Now with the latest fish narc moniker and forthcoming LP, Funkhouser has teamed up with Calvin Johnson’s legendary record label, K Records, to fully embrace the guitar-forward indie rock songwriting of his youth. It’s a return to his roots that has inadvertently created a new beginning for fish narc.

Bob Mould
Bob Mould (born October 16, 1960, in Malone, New York) is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for influential punk rock band Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and alternative rockers Sugar in the 1990s. He also has released a number of records under his solo project as Bob Mould.
Armlock
Armlock is an Australian duo formed by Simon Lam and Hamish Mitchell, blending electronic music with guitar pop elements. Their debut release, "Seashell Angel Lucky Charm," offers a unique sound reminiscent of artists like Pinback, Alex G, and experimental acts from the UK scene. Signed to Run for Cover Records, Armlock's anticipated album is set for release in July 2024.