I’m hard pressed to find a more relatable, recent release than “High Waist Jeans,” the latest single by New York pop-punk trio Phil From Accounting. Perhaps it is vocalist and bassist Amanda Webster’s opening invocation, a demand that “someone pull this minivan over, I’m gonna pee in my neighbor’s yard” set against a homespun guitar riff, that feels as honest as it is hilarious. As the track explodes into its chorus and Webster decrees “I can’t make it that far” alongside vintage vocal accents and a concise percussive backbone, it’s evident that Phil From Accounting have an earnest energy bolstered by both their minimalist instrumentation and the humanity of their songwriting – and I can’t wait to hear what quotidian adventures they put to music next.

Phil From Accounting will play Arlene’s Grocery on February 3rd, supporting Long Neck and The Great American Novel. Until then, you can jam “High Waist Jeans” below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt), Photo by Cassie Doyle

Ah, what a dreamy fine time it is listening to Healing Potpourri. These guys have mastered the art of the silky bossa nova beach vibes, complete with clips of seagulls chuckling away. Songs are pure charm without being too cutesy, heavy with the mastery of their instruments and production. Tunes are filled with hazy keyboards, floating guitar warbles, a gentle sax, and lyrics with a Nilsson-esq cleverness. Fans of Whitney will enjoy the angelic vocals and well, probably everything else. Ah, healing indeed. We’re pleased to announce they’re playing Noise Pop at Bottom of the Hill and before that, they’re playing with Real Estate at The Chapel (sold out). Lovely! –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Buzzsaws, the latest release by Brooklyn-based glam rock multi-instrumentalist Nat Brower, is an album soaked in acid and brimming with classic panache. From record opener “Real Girl” and its syncopated, raucous guitar work interwoven with tight percussive builds, Brower cultivates soundscapes reminiscent of The Kinks and The Stooges, channeling them through a DIY framework in terms of production. This gives the entirety of Buzzsaws a feeling that is both vintage and contemporary, an album built upon polished instrumentalism that is still raw, rock and roll to its core – a perfect blend of the genre’s old and new characteristics that is instantly jammable.

Brower will bring his classic-yet-contemporary soundscapes to The Gutter on January 24th, alongside The Glitch, Huh, and HARMS. Stream 2018’s Buzzsaws below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)

After his intriguing debut two months ago, Brooklyn-based songwriter/producer Sunspeaker has quickly returned with his second electro-pop single, “Under the Gun,” premiering right here. The track evokes dreamy, disco-like vibes, conjuring up images of a pulsating slo-mo dance-floor. Each facet of this song is packed with slow-burning heat; from the beat’s smooth, sensual feel to the impassioned lyrics, Sunspeaker was able to balance lyrical intensity with groove. Unlike the vocal flexibility heard debut single “I Will Not Love You,” the vocals in this new track tread steadily over a clean yet busy blend of sounds, allowing the production skills of this solo artist to shine. Sunspeaker will be headlining a show at Gold Sounds on Feb 2, catch him playing “Under the Gun” (below) live and stream his debut singles on Soundcloud or Spotify. – Rebecca Carroll