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 November

This wasn’t an easy month. It’s getting close to the end of the year and I think most artists have fired their best shots. I waited a day to get the new Alexisonfire on here.

The Balu Brigada song is from last year but I didn’t hear it until now after being addicted to BedHead last month. I’m really liking what these guys put out.

Did anything come out of the sexual assault allegations on Nothing But Thieves because it seems like they are still chugging along. I remember July Talk cancelling their shows with them. It’s like nothing else came out. It’s one of those weird uncomfortable grey areas for me. I really like their music but I don’t know if I’m letting them skid along or if they were just allegations that went nowhere once investigated. Ugh.

I really liked We Don’t Want To Talk by Friday Pilots Club from 2024 so I’m glad to see them back on the Sweatdown. YUP! has great energy.

The new Royal Blood album is pretty good! They bring the energy I like to see in the first half. I might see them live next year but that’s a maybe.

I was wondering why Anberlin new songs seemed off. Turns out they got a new lead singer. I still listen to Two Graves all the time at the gym. I didn’t know lead singer Stephen Christian left to be a full time preacher. He’s a great singer so I’ll miss his voice. Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire replaces him. The new album CURRENCY the first half I really wasn’t feeling but it got to what I like from Anberlin in the second half.

Yes you see that right. That’s Local H. The 90s band that should have had more hits. I was surprised to see they released a new song and it was on my new releases list. It gets a little cringey as political songs can always get (wanna cringe all day? Hear Bryan Adams “Lake Ontario” ughhhh) but the music itself is excellent. I can get over a little cringe to get to a good rock tune.

So I find this song called “Call It Good” by Darren Smith with under 100 views on YouTube as I’m writing this and only 45 subscribers on YouTube. I look at the channel and I’m look oh this doesn’t seem right. This looks like some guy’s random YouTube. Do a check on Facebook and actually the band is called Call It Good and the song is called Cool-Aid. I think Darren is the drummer and a guy named Ethan Daniels is the singer? Either way, it’s a pretty good song and I hope it catches on for them.

So I always try to put new music on this. Or at least newish, from the year. Sometimes you can’t help it like in January. Sometimes I find a song I absolutely love and it’s not from this year but I just have to put it on the lists. This year the best example of that was George Barnett’s “Nothing on the Line” which came out in 2024 but I’ve listened to it non stop this year. A month ago I stumbled upon The Virginmary’s and it was like, whoa, where has this band been in my life? Their album “The House Beyond The Fires” has been my most listened to album this past month. It’s from 2024 again so it’s nothing new but boy it has been heavy in my rotation. “There Ain’t No Future” is one of the best rock songs I’ve heard this decade.

I haven’t been too crazy about W O L F C L U B or really any synthwave/new retrowave band lately because it’s starting to get either samey or low energy. I considered putting the new Trevor Something song on this list but it just didn’t pop for me. The W O L F C L U B album came out three months ago, I gave it a listen, shrugged, and let it be. I tried to give it a second chance and I felt the same way until the very last track You Sleep I’ll Drive. Some of Cadenti’s best singing. Great slow dance track.

November Sweatdown 2K26 features:

Mystery Skulls – Anxious & Horny
My First Time – Tough
Temper City – Sex & Drugs
Balu Brigada – Backseat
Nothing But Thieves – Baby Kool (Evelyn)
Kasador – Loud
Friday Pilots Club – YUP!
Alexisonfire – Push the River
The Virginmarys – There Ain’t No Future
Royal Blood – Dead Company
Anberlin – DISPLACE
Teenage Wrist – Wishing Well
Local H – President Forever 2026
Call It Good – Cool Aid
Cage The Elephant – Beaches in Tennessee
W O L F C L U B feat. Cadenti – You Sleep I’ll Drive

Next month is the Best of 2026!

Photo is from the Uncommon Festival in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada on September 18, 2026.