Despite being a Brooklyn band, Youth Signals‘ latest single, ‘Prisms,’ carries characteristics of the other coast – or maybe even of the music some UK bands were playing in the late 80s (Psychedelic Furs, Echo and the Bunnymen). The song evokes a landscape (and society) far from hospitable ("we live in a land where everyone steals…. crumbling buildings/ no one has a home"), but for all its bleak content, ‘Prisms’ retains a hopeful disposition. Its sun-stroked, washed-out guitar keeps the song afloat, and this, coupled with the darkly lush vocals and languid pace of the drums, imparts a serene sense of calm. Towards the middle, the song slows, bending to entropy, but it soon breaks through, returning to its original elated existence. – @emilioherce

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best NYC songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Rock n’roll has had many different iterations over the years, but in all its chameleon like stages it has maintained its sense of rebellion which made it so exciting, and scandalous, in the 50’s.  All that is required of a rock n’roll band is that essence of insolence regardless of whatever else you sprinkle in.

With Bad Motivators insolence comes in spades; loud guitars, sarcasm, pizza, with some occasional harmonies make up the dynamic quartet. On a song like ‘Too High’ Bad Motivators marry a good olde Chuck Berry riff with snotty lyrics that can’t even… Like, “I’m not even gonna bother talking to you because I just can’t.” Throw in a cool little surf shack organ vibe a la the B-52’s and you’ve nearly satiated yourself with a pretty cool laissez-faire punk song.

Check out these sarcastic, pizza loving rockers at The Lo-Fi tonight with Spirit Award, Lucy, and Gothic Tropic

The Walking Sticks give us what we want (I had to), premiering a new video for "You Got What You Wanted" on DCist today. Made on an iphone, it features what looks to be a single shot walk through a snow-covered wood with the snow falling. The creative minds of The Walking Sticks have managed to turn the otherwise dreary and upsetting weather into something beautiful and mystical. Thank you.

The song itself is pretty sexy. Like Portishead sexy, where the sex is kind of angry/frustrated/despairing sex (because, in this case, it seems, the sex is too addictive to escape). The music does not share the sexy gloom of a "Wandering Star" however. A beautiful organ leads the pretty sounds that fall about it like soft white snowflakes. The track, like the video, is filled with brightness, and Chelsea Lee’s crystal voice. "Can’t stop loving the high" indeed. –Natan Press