Moga
Album: Jamboree
Released: August 2010
From: Providence, RI
Rhode Island’s Moga bring a homey, rootsy take to psychedelia on Jamboree. They add banjos and piano to straightforward American rock and end up with something that sounds like music played in the parlor with family and friends. Songs like "Wakey Wakey" stretch into jam-band territory and would be right at home opening for Ratdog or Further. When their shades of The Band mix occasionally with electronic effects the result is something entirely new — "ambient Americana," a sound that the boys from Moga should explore in more depth.
Big White Clouds
Album: small white clouds
Released: December 2010
From: North Andover, MA
The folksy, acoustic music of Joe Solof comes to life with the full-band treatment in Big White Clouds. Solof enlists the help of mates Mike Moschetto, Mike Wolfeden, and Amory Siverston to create pretty folk indie-pop in the vein of early Bright Eyes. Solof’s quavering vocals only bolster the comparison, sounding like a less dramatic version of Conor Oberst.
No Evil Star
Album: Beach Reading
Released: February 2011
From: Boston, MA
No Evil Star hails from the mind of Adam Quane. Beach Reading is an odd amalgamation of downbeat folk, glitchy electronica, and lo-fi indie rock. The genre jumping that takes place from track to track may give you the jitters, but if you stick with them you’ll be rewarded with a truly interesting listen. For those who find bands like Animal Collective challenging, you may find a safe harbor in No Evil Star’s more traditional song structures.
Y69
Album: We’ve Got Problems
Released: March 2010
From: Burlington, VT
Whenever a 10-track record clocks in at under 25 minutes you know you’re in for a full-on punk rock assault. Y69‘s We’ve Got Problems doesn’t disappoint in that department. The dual vocals of Chris and Glenn help keep things interesting — one sounding like The Meatmen‘s Tesco Vee, the other like Rancid‘s Tim Armstrong — both touchstones that would make any self-respecting punk proud.
–George Dow