The Sweatdown has existed since April of 2018 as a monthly collection of music I’ve been listening to. Sometimes it’s old tracks but it’s usually new music. Everything from indie to synthwave to rock to alternative and more. Every December is a culmination of the music I’ve listened to. Originally posted to Spotify, these playlists can now all be found on YouTube where they will be updated monthly for YouTube Music.

Some of what’s here for October

The Haunted Youth – castlevania
LEAP – Bloodlines

In the past I’ve tried to do a bit of a themed playlist for Halloween. This time I didn’t intend to but I ended up having some good tracks that worked into a Halloween/Spooky playlist. Castlevania, Bloodlines (yes I intentionally put those songs next to each other,) BAD DREAMS, A Little Wicked, Cult Leader (DEVORA always comes in the clutch,) and honestly everything on Sick Joy’s album works for Halloween not just Cinnamon Burn.

I think My First Time is going to be my new favourite band. I didn’t see Social Order live in concert (I didn’t want to go to America and eat recalled food) and a month later I hear “Every Version of You” and now am in love with this band. This song is everything I’ve wanted. It’s modern electro rock with confidence. It’s going that extra step I’ve wanted The Dare to take. Like, I could see this as an Innerpartysystem song for fuck sake!

I did listen to Olivia Rodrigo’s album a few months ago and I liked some songs here and there, but the cure didn’t hit me as much until I heard it going camping last weekend with my friend Ryan. He loved playing it in the car on repeat and I don’t blame him. It definitely got in my ear and is now a song I’m listening to all the time. Or would be listened to even more if it wasn’t for My First Time.

It’s also thanks to Ryan I heard Tinashe with “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” which people have figured out early goes very well with Nine Inch Nails. I’ve heard some remixes already mixing it with Closer.

Definitely listening more to LEAP going forward. What a very good rock band.

I put Dexter and the Moonrocks on here. I really like the song. I feel like they used AI on their cover. I don’t know if they did. If I see more AI later that’ll be the last I put them on a playlist.

I like Coach Party Girls! a lot. So many good UK bands lately!

The new song by Kanadia just slipped under the deadline date of me posting this. I don’t know if it was intentional but it really reminds me of probably the most memorable quote by Bill Hicks.

October Sweatdown 2K26 features:

My First Time – Every Version of You
Tinashe – Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore
Olivia Rodrigo – the cure
Kanadia – The Ride
Sick Joy – Cinnamon Burn
Royal Foundry – WOW
The Haunted Youth – castlevania
LEAP – Bloodlines
nightly – BAD DREAMS
Dexter and the Moonrocks – If You Could Talk
Balu Brigada – BedHead
Coach Party – Girls!
Valerie Broussard and Battle Tapes – A Little Wicked
Devora – Cult Leader
Ladyhawke – Bad to the Bone
CHVRCHES – Roses

Two more months in the year!

Photo is of “Groot” in Erieau, Ontario on June 29, 2026.