Music You Should Know returns this week, offering new sounds from The Hold Steady, Caroline Polachek, The Lemon Twigs and Little Simz. Plus, discover the music of breakout indie artist PinkPantheress and Minnesota musician Maddie Thies.

The Hold Steady, “Sideways Skull”

The former Minnesotans have a new album coming out called The Price Of Progress. The first sounds from The Hold Stead is a rocker called "Sideways Skull."

Caroline Polachek, “Welcome To My Island”

An early Valentine for you from Caroline Polachek; she'll have her new album out on Feb. 14th. Another track from Desire, I Want To Turn Into You, is full of peak Polachek. It's easily danceable, showcases her angelic voice and some forceful spoken word, and it’s accompanied by a bonkers music video.

The Lemon Twigs, “Corner Of My Eye”

Long Island brother band, The Lemon Twigs, continue their love for '60s sounds on a new single, "Corner of My Eye." It's a sweet and delicate turn from a band that's known to rock out with drumstick twirls and split jumps. This is a showcase of harmonies and honey-slow guitar picking.

PinkPantheress, “Take Me Home”

One of the breakout stars of the indie underground in the last few years is PinkPantheress. She'll have an EP out soon, and she just released the title track, "Take me home," a jittery bass and drum track with a nod to bedroom pop.

Little Simz, “No Merci”

Recent Mercury Prize winner Little Simz is one of the most accoladed artists of the last year. She recently dropped a new album, NO THANK YOU, basically a response to the last year of burning herself out for an industry that isn't helping her make ends meet.

Maddie Thies, “Postcard Collection”

Musician Maddie Thies was born and raised in Minneapolis, but she spent a significant amount of her adolescence living in South Korea. There’s a term for humans raised under this unique condition: Third Culture Kids. Thies’s music embraces her woozying habitation of this space between two worlds through emotional, sonic, and poetic exploration. Her delicate new indie-rock single “Postcard Collection” was made possible in part by the Cedar Commissions Grant, where she reflected in an artist statement: “It’s weird, I have that kind of song written and I can just see how it’s supposed to fit on a page and how there’s negative space to it and how music flows between these images.” Thies is also bassist for the alternative rock band Ginny & The Fizz. – Diane

Playlist