Insightful ION scribe, Joanie Wolkoff, isn't just a top tier writer of words, but also a magnificent songsmith, whose new record, Without Shame, was just announced this week. Leading the record cycle is "The Homecoming", a solid representation of where her and current producing partner, Icarus Moth, have decided to plant their flag. The duo have together crafted a trademark sound, which is near impossible with the cultural limitations of 2016.

Nouveau, Greek disco queen, Monika had the non-Billboard pablum hit of 2015 with "Secret In The Dark," a throwback pop disco song that fit perfectly in a set featuring artists of yesteryear like Suzi Lane or Fern Kinney. The only knock on it was it was perhaps too short for proper nightclub rowdiness.

Lead guitarist from Ranch Ghost, Andy Ferro is releasing his debut solo record on cassette late this month, and the Nashville/London-raised songsmith has some leaked singles popping up in the usual corners of the internet, including here at ION! The compressed, minimal sounds of "Crystal Tongue" are what one would hope TV commercials advertising whimsical ways to use one's air travel points would use for music syncs, but it doesn't have enough sanguine "HEYYY OOOH HEYYY" vocals, or timpani... or glockenspiel.

Royal Mountain Records' crown jewel, Toronto band PUP, released a video today that is sure to play well with Generation X'ers who miss guzzling root beers and bags of Ruffles salt & vinegar (RIP, greatest chip ever made) on Saturday afternoons and getting an NES and/or Genesis controller all greasy; mostly because all Gen X'ers seem to do is sit around yakking about old cartoons, video games, and chocolate bars you can't buy anymore (which is exactly what I'm doing here, yes, I get that).