OKLAHOMA CITY – For the second year running, Mystery Class Records have dropped a white-hot compilation of some of Oklahoma’s best and brightest young acts, showcasing emo, shoegaze, alt-rock, and even blippy bedroom electro.
Almost exactly one year on from exploding onto the scene officially with “Side Quests Vol 1,” Mystery Class is back with – naturally – “Side Quests Vol 2.”
But while last year’s compilation heralded the arrival of the new label and a host of artists ready to break out from the release’s eclectic lineup, “Vol 2” drops like a victory lap, with Mystery Class now firmly established as one of the coolest musical families in the state and many of the showcased artists this time around already exploding.
So let’s dive in, yeah?
Powdr – ‘Outta Control’
A pretty perfect kickoff track, marrying a bit of the lo-fi electronic playfulness that Mystery Class dips their toes into with a heavy helping of the alt-rock that more fully defines their roster.
It’s a remarkably fun little bop of an indie-rock track from powdr, who have proven themselves as one of the strongest recent rock acts in the scene with some decidedly darker and more intense offerings, making this
Easier – ‘Redundant’
No, it’s not a Green Day cover, it’s actually a fine-tuned approximation of late-90s underground-style indie-pop, the kind of post-Weezer, pre-Strokes pop-rock that could’ve soundtracked a hundred early Sundance movies.
It’s nostalgic, but it’s also fresh, and it’s got a forward momentum that keeps your head nodding and your feet tapping, so what more could you want?
Morris Village – ‘Menace to Sobriety’
As Oklahoma’s emo scene continues exploding with bands like Ben Quad and Red Sun garnering indie attention across the country, anyone would be smart to start looking now for the next breakout.
Morris Village might just be that band, with this sub-two-minute pop-punk sprint showcasing their early Blink-182 brand of sneering youth and their penchant for hooks and catchy rock melodies on full display.
Pageant Dad – ‘Godsend’
A bit more fleshed out at a whopping two-and-a-half minutes, this equally attitudinal pop-punker leans a bit more into the “emo” with a clear bleeding heart on its sleeve.
“Godsend” actually has a particularly cool pace and structure, with a long instrumental setup leading into a straight-ahead, chorus-less vocal section followed by a short breakdown that sounds primed to burst into a bridge before an abrupt end leaves ‘em wanting more.
FEVEREST – ‘What A Shame’
Veering away from the pop-punk and emo thing, Tulsa’s FEVEREST flood in on a wave of full-on, classic shoegaze.
“What A Shame” is thick, rolling, and densely textured, with a dark atmosphere floating beneath everything. A genuine shoegaze track with no hint of the dream-pop that’s commonly to be mislabeled these days.
Foam – ‘Playing Dead’
Continuing the comp’s foray into rich, wooly shoegaze, recent standouts Foam once again prove just how catchy a passionate vocal can be floating atop an ocean of fuzz and reverb, with drummer Elliott Maldonado absolutely battering the kit.
Foam feel primed to be one of the most interesting artists to watch this year.
Gabriel Hancock & The Sick Forms – ‘Sand’
Is it some weirdo, lo-fi alt-country or is it a vulnerable bit of bedroom indie-pop? The answer is somewhere in between that, I think.
What I know is that it’s actually a deeply affecting little sneaker of a song that creeps into your head and imparts its enduringly universal plea for more time, or at least more appreciate of the time we have.
Compost Adjacent – ‘Someday, Pt. 1’
In just a short time, Compost Adjacent have become one of the most recognizable, well-defined, and unique acts in the scene, converting listeners to their twang-heavy, indie-folk/art-pop hybrid sound.
This track actually leans a little harder into the artsy, rocky side of the band’s spectrum, with only the naturally earthen, grassy timbre of singer Ryan Smith’s voice to ground the group in their downhome ways.
Acid Baptism – ‘Boss Fite’
The first of the release’s more fully electronic tracks, this 16-bit driving simulator of a song announces the other side of the Mystery Class sound.
This piece of late-night digital-noir is full of exactly the kind of confident, computerized swagger you’d find comfortably on the “Drive” soundtrack.
Computer Girl – ‘Absolutely Garibaldi’
The sharpest left turn in the bunch, indie-poppers Computer Girl burst through the door with a high-energy bit of quirk-rock to get the blood pumping.
Landing somewhere between DEVO and The B-52s, “Absolutely Garibaldi” is a kooky little detour into some pure fun and some creatively shared vocal duties.
Sweetest Pot – ‘Ski Lift’
I’ve made no secret of my deep enjoyment of Sweetest Pot, and in fact “Love Potions,” their contribution to “Side Quests Vol 1,” was a sure bet for my favorite local track of 2025.
On “Ski Lift,” they’re leaning into an unmistakable wistfulness, like a midnight anthem for a sadly nostalgic mind, and a palpable restlessness, changing up the beat and hack-and-slashing their way through a number of different rhythms and subdivided moods.
Sockbones – ‘Avalanche’
Like the ending credits music for some wild, high-energy indie video game, “Avalanche” combines choppy samples, glitched-out breakbeats, and full-on chiptune to evoke something propulsive and intergalactic.
If there was a club based entirely on PlayStation 1-era spaceship shooters, this track would fill the dancefloor, no question.
“Side Quests Vol. 2” is streaming everywhere now and is available on CD and cassette at mysteryclassrecords.com.
Brett Fieldcamp is the owner and Editor in Chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly two decades and served as Arts & Entertainment Editor before purchasing the company from founder Brett Dickerson in 2026.
He is also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
