Pollen can be invasive, and (as those with allergies know) it’s basically everywhere; but from out of the powdery, sneeze-inducing substance springs life. In a weird way, this almost parallels the overall vibe of NYC. It’s a cramped, noisy place infested with people and ideas, but every so often the seemingly aimless find their mark and creativity blossoms. It makes sense then that eccentric avant-pop act, Pollens, would call NYC their home. The band, who, to take a quote from their bio, specializes in " ecstatic readings of boring lists," takes a unique approach to songwriting that seems almost tailor-made for the Buzzfeed generation. But don’t let that fool you: though the band claims to want their music to be – to steal another quote – "dumb and immediate," their latest release, Mister Manufacture, packs a lot of heart into its celebration and dissection of the 2017 human condition, and the mundanity of modernity. With a decent amount of noise and a flair for the experimental, the album manages to be surprisingly catchy and well worth checking out, so be sure to stream Pollens below. The release party is scheduled for November 16th at Secret Project Robot. – Olivia Sisinni
