Much like many great New Jersey artists before them, Hodera craft highly personal and relatable songs that maintain a casual tone. Similarly to artists like Brand New and La Dispute, their debut album United By Birdcalls evokes the mood of emo and pop-punk, but steers clear of unnecessary drama (and unbereable whiny vocals!): the band’s intimate stories are told with sincerity. The project is led by Michael Smith, who wrote most of the record on his first guitar in a small room while dealing with bouts of depression. Much of the instrumantion projects a calm atmosphere, while the lyrics give the listener a look inside of Smith’s head and his quest to get rid of his negative thoughts. Tracks like “Dear Forefathers” and “No, I’m Not” slow things down on the LP’s second half by capturing a more melancholy and stripped down vibe. Hodera will be kicking off their Northeast tour with sports. and Terrraveer tonight (August 17th) at Aviv! – John Honan

Plainclothes play a brief, fast paced brand of emo/punk that’s reminiscent of emo staples American Football and modern punk contemporaries Joyce Manor. The three-piece employs the use of intricate math inspired guitar parts on their debut album Dog Logic, which was released last year on Counter Intuitive Records. Its lyrics are a mature and honest look into their young lives, while analyzing the moments that helped shape them during their formative years. Plainclothes waste no time on the 18 minute record, packing songs less than two minutes long with intelligent reflections and references to philosophers such as Immanuel Kant. The Boston-based act play O’Brien’s pub tonight (8.16)! – John Honan

Secret Crush deals up sleepy but fun shoegaze propelled by infectious grooves. The vocals of the Bushwick-based group sound as if filtered through one of those low-power FM radio, and are set above dreamy, fuzzy guitars that are more playful than lofty. Their newly released EP, Birth, blends a strong garage-pop feel into the mix, and conveys to the tracks’ swirling melodies a dance-y beat that’s easy to latch on to. You can check out Secret Crush at Berlin playing with Beechwood on Aug 27th, but in the meantime take a listen at our favorite song ‘Psychic Companion,’ streaming below. – Olivia Sisinni

Staten Island band Bueno is set to release their sophomore full length Illuminate Your Room on August 19th via a split release by Exploding In Sound and Babe City Records. While their previous releases were a raw but imaginative blend of garage ruck and post-punk, preview single “I’ve Got Your Back” veers toward a cleaner sound injected with slacker rock sensibilities reminiscent of Pavement. Frontman Luke Chiaruttini’s semi-spoken vocals examine life’s disappointments, and the fear of not being able to live up to expectations. – John Honan

While the thought of life after college terrifies many young adults during the final years of school, Brooklyn’s Loose Buttons know how to use their new-found free time: focusing on their indie rock band. Since graduating a few years ago, the quartet they’ve released a well received debut EP in 2014, opened for popular acts such as Grizzly Bear and My Morning Jacket (at the CBGB Festival) and also headlined big local venues like Brooklyn Bowl. The quartet’s 2016 single “Crowded Room” strays away from the fuzzy garage rock of their previous single “Thrill”, while bringing a more melodic and cleaner approach, referencing the sophisticated pop of the eighties of bands like Prefab Sprout and Talk Talk. The guitars and drums create the tracks compelling danceable rhythms, while Eric Nizgretzky’s placid vocals paint a vivid picture of making out in a crowded room until the song slowly fades as with rolling drums and moaning guitars. – John Honan, photo By: Spencer Kohn

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