Animal Flag have been around the Boston music scene for a while now, dropping their first album in 2009. Late last year the band released their latest EP 2 via Broken World Media and 1997 Recordings. It takes a much darker and heavier approach than their previous EP, which had a more upbeat and folky sound. The opening track “Jealous Lover” demonstrates the tonal shift by channeling the haunting guitars and drums of Devil & God era Brand New. The lyrics are wonderfully crafted by singer Matt Politoski as he explores themes of religion, family, jealousy, and lost love. Instrumentally, the album is very breezy and quiet, but there are sudden bursts of noisy cymbal crashes and blaring guitars over Politoski’s impassioned vocals. Animal Flag will be playing Great Scott in support of Violent Soho on September 11th! – John Honan

After three years, Christoph and Anton Hochheim’s passion project Ablebody celebrates individual exceptionalism in full with the release debut album Adult Contemporaries. The album—which includes the band’s first sleeper hits "Backseat Heart" and "After Hours"—shimmers with tones redolent of sophisti-pop while casting light shade with its tongue-in-cheek title. Adult Contemporaries releases October 14 on Lollipop Records.

Watch the absurdist music video for Ablebody’s "Gaucho", directed by Lily X. Wahrman (Dinner, Prince Rama) and see them on October 18 for a record release party with Winter at The Bootleg Theater.

Listening to Yohuna, the Brooklyn-based project of Johanne Swanson, might make you feel like floating through space – like the moon. Maybe that’s why one of her uber-dreamy singles is titled “The Moon Hangs In The Sky Like Nothing Hangs In The Sky.” The track’s hypnotic melody gives us a sneak peak into her upcoming album “Patientness” to be released on September 9th and produced by Montreal based composer Owen Pallett (once known as Final Fantasy). In the few songs currently available for streaming, Swanson employs a varying instrumentation to forge muted and muffled songs that seem to evoke the hazy perception of Hypnagogia – the experience of the transitional state from wakefulness to sleep.  Yohuna is about to kick off a primarily East Coast tour (with a couple stops in the Midwest) in Boston to promote her new record.  Make sure to catch her at Silent Barn, where she has been an artist-in-residence, on September 16th. Check out below her grainy video (featuring Swanson playing an invisible piano in the middle of a lake) for single "Golden Foil," also included in the upcoming LP.  – Madeleine Grossman

Richmond-based indie pop band Big Baby released their debut EP Dumb Guys right before the summer in May, and while it only consists of three tracks, they serve as a wonderful introduction to the three-piece’s dulcet lo-fi bubblegum pop. The trio makes use of their short runtime with shining guitar tones and steady drumming that lay the foundation for the record’s cheerfully upbeat mood. Frontwoman Ali Mislowsky’s sweetly hushed vocals create delightfully poppy melodies reminiscent of twee pop artists such as Talulah Gosh. Big Baby will be playing Strange Matter on September 24th in support of Crying! – John Honan

It can be universally agreed upon that sometimes we just need to dance it out.  The Brooklyn-based band, LEGS, is here to provide a cure for those days when we’re feeling the urge to move. Their single, “Top of The World” holds true to its name, with its six minutes of infectious, mood lifting disco and synth beats.  Channeling some nostalgic dance vibes from the ’70s yet infused with a modern aesthetic, Legs is guaranteed to cause the tapping of feet.  The band also claims to make you feel anything from “athletic” to “sexy” to “nocturnal,” which bodes well for a night out – the next opportunity to see them live is at Mercury Lounge on September 10th. – Madeleine Grossman

Boston’s Paper Citizen are preparing to release their debut EP Postcards in Transit on September 1st, and have recently shared its lead single “Anywhere We Want To”. It is a smooth track driven by twinkling guitars and keys and front-woman Claire Goh’s warm and delicate vocals. Goh reflects on the delight of meeting someone who she quickly wants to spend all of her time with, staying up late and wandering the city streets. The song’s gentle instrumentation puts the focus on Goh’s vocals before eventually unfolding into a vibey guitar solo towards the end. Paper Citizen just recently played the Quincy Arts Festival and will be playing the Midway Cafe on September 17th! – John Honan

The indie rock and black metal worlds don’t come together often, but Imaginary Hockey League have proven that when they do, it can be a wonderfully weird combination. On their album We’ll Get Better One Day, the outspoken transgender punks ambitiously mix pop-punk, emo, black metal, and hardcore. I Promise. Most of the songs are over the four minute mark and are packed with tonal shifts that feel extremely natural even when they shouldn’t. The opening track, and shortest track, starts off with an instrumental post-rock vibe similar to Explosions in the sky before spiraling into a poppy punk track that examines vocalist Chaz Monroe Atkinson’s desire to watch anime in bed instead of growing up and build their resume. The most interesting track on the album “Six Feet Under Frost” begins as strict black metal track with harsh vocals and speedy drums until it slows down the tempo with clean vocals and guitar tones. Imaginary Hockey League experiment with many different genres on the record, and they make it work in a natural way that never feels forced. They will be playing Braceface House in Laurel, MD on September 19th. – John Honan, photo by Daniel Cannistra.