Goodie (aka Phyllis Lee) is a breath of fresh air in the folk/songwriter scene. For one, the traditional acoustic guitar parts are all replaced with electric, and she’s not afraid to try out slightly avant chord progressions and go all out with supporting drums and bass. There’s a lightness to the songs, partly because the sparsity of the DIY arrangement, but there is genuine power and confidence in Lee’s vocals. "Shopping Cart" is particularly ethereal and lyrically wise, with ghostly background vocals perched atop bass and drums, proving that Goodie is one to watch. -Geena Kloeppel

With the members’ resumes featuring names like Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Holy Fuck, Obits, and The Cops, Savak is an A-team of indie rock odd-balls, but the band’s music speaks for itself. Some moments come sharp with jagged edges and angular turns while others chime with rock ‘n’ roll jangle worthy of R.E.M. Savak’s 2017 album Cut-Ups shows the group flexing its creative muscle and making use of the members’ broad talents for a consistent but adventurous entry in the post-punk genre. The band will play it’s first gig of the year January 18th at Alphaville with The Effects, Patois Counselors, and Big Quiet. – Cameron Carr

Pwndeleon creates a pleasing mix of retro video game aesthetics and conventional EDM beats on 8mb EP.  Starfox with a little extra funk is the theme of this release, punctuated every so often by staple dubstep aggression.    

Standing out throughout the release is Pwndeleon’s dedication to the tracks. Each track is well-crafted with enticing twists and turns.  The tracks can be turned up for party music, or just put on low volume in the background while gaming.  

 -Mike Dranove

Brooklyn’s sparkle-indie group Pale Lights ended 2017 on a productive note with the release of their LP The Stars Seemed Brighter, which has gained a good amount of praise since its unveiling. Frontman and songwriter Phil Sutton delivers poetic lyrics over Andy Adler’s mellifluous guitar and Lisa Goldstein’s subtle drums, while Suzanne Nienaber provides the summery harmonies in the background. That sunny feeling comes through in the music video for "Jean, Bring The Flowers" (streaming), a homemade four-minute capture of impromptu backyard jams while relaxing with friends in the sunshine. While you wait for the winter cold to pass, warm your ears and eyes with the video for "Jean, Bring The Flowers" below. – Will Sisskind

Lexie is a collaboration between NYC’s bedroom pop chanteuse Frankie Cosmos and two members of Atlanta’s Indie Rockers Warehouse (Alex Bailey and Doug Bleichner). The trio quietly released this side project’s 8 track debut “Record Time” in June of 2017. The album, recorded with Carlos Hernandez of Ava Luna, lives up to both band’s past achievements, although it’s obviously more skewed towards Greta Kline’s intimate pop format. Those who are in desperate need of new material after enjoying 2016’s sublime "Next Thing" should check it out. – Cameron Carr, photo by Sarah Cass