When is it time for a bedroom recorder to say goodbye to anonymity and step into the limelight? These days, artists, whether good or bad, are courageous enough to expose their body of work, proving their competence to seasoned pros without an inch of doubt. It doesn’t come very often, but Sandy Gilfillan (who goes by the moniker Yes Know) is one of those fortunate ones – a Pasadena multi instrumentalist who dabbles both acoustic resonance and solitary introspection with a vital spark. But behind his arpeggiated style of guitar playing, equal parts Badly Drawn Boy and Bradford Cox, lies a songwriting loafer who won’t settle with quaint, weary compositions. The songs in his self-released sophemore LP, Over Under, dovetail minimal electronic textures with rickety, yet self-assured melodies brushed with a pop sheen. There are currently no show plans, but you can explore Gilfillan’s burgeoning recordings on his Bandcamp page for a more than generous price of admission.

Months before a debut album is expected to drop, Electric Guest has been building quite the buzz. The pop/soul duo, composed of Asa Taccone and Matthew Compton, has released a few songs and announced that Danger Mouse is producing the album, but other than that, not much is known about the project. However, that has not stopped taste-maker KCRW from giving the tracks a lot of early support. Fans will have to wait patiently until the spring of 2012 for the full-length album, and until then, Electric Guest’s upcoming 7" release will have to do. White Iris will release the limited vinyl on December 13, which will include songs "Troubleman" and "American Daydream." Both tracks sustain a soft tranquility, but seem to grow in energy as each song progresses as if they were imitating the blooming of a flower. "Troubleman" is 9 minutes of yearning and transcendency while "American Daydream" is backed by a catchier beat and staggered melody. While both tracks are very strong, they still seem like teasers. They give the feeling that the full-length album will take things even further, especially when it comes to tension and soaring vocals. Electric Guest has done a fine job at escalating the anticipation for the debut album. – Karla Hernández

Check out these new tunes from recent Artist of the Month poll candidates Hi Ho Silver Oh. They recently digitally released an EP called Getting Ready, which includes two songs that are sure to satisfy your needs before they release their second LP next year. Where Have All The Cowboys Gone? is a simultaneously melancholic wail and battle cry of unknown hope. The track, based off a Paula Cole song, starts off slow and builds up to a grand finale that’s sure to get you up and dancing. The second track, Hurt Anybody, is an original tune full of jazz and attitude that descends into trippy sing-speaking looping on top of itself in the middle of it. You can purchase the EP on their Bandcamp site, and you still have time to catch them at their Silverlake Lounge residency next Monday before November ends. – Taylor Lampela