Welcome to AP A-sides, where we’re highlighting the very best songs from the past week. Every Friday, the AP editors will wade through the daunting number of tracks released daily, narrow down their favorites, and give them to you in one playlist. Because the definition of alternative is constantly in flux, there are no rigid parameters to our selections — just tracks we’re obsessively talking about and listening to on repeat. This week’s playlist features artists diverse in genre but singular in sound, including Ecca Vandal, Pinkshift, Liquid Mike, Quicksand, School Fair, and more.
Read more: Ecca Vandal finds her flow
Check out our picks below, and stay informed about everything coming out in May with our monthly album release calendar.
AP A-sides – May 22, 2026
- Ecca Vandal – “EYES SHUT”
- Faux Real – “That Far”
- Index – “Cellophane”
- Liquid Mike – “Drowning Machine”
- Panic Shack – “grin & bear It”
- Pinkshift – “when we were friends”
- Quicksand – “Crystallize”
- School Fair – “Spirally Staircase Memory”
- Swapmeet – “2 C U”
- Truck Violence – “Your name, It’s walking”