The ever expanding universe that is Brooklyn’s dreampop scene seemingly knows no bounds. While numerous bands explore that style’s noisier side, the recently released debut EP “Sea White Salt” by Joseph Sant (a "Honorable Mention" in our recent Best of NYC Psych Open Submission results) takes a more introspective approach. Although a prominent drum track initially propels featured single cut “Nor’easter” along, the emergence of soft surf-rock guitar lines and whisper-sung vocals establish an unmistakable ambient mindset. Textured guitar melodies appear within the tracks instrumental second minute, creating the sonic equivalent of swelling wind and ocean. A denser, layered crescendo explodes just after the 2:00 minute mark, and you get the sense that the storm has now peaked. The feeling is poetic without actually being able to pinpoint any clearly defined storyline. In fact, only at the very end when the instruments go quiet can you make out the lyric “all that I hated and struck at – lost its hold over me.” While readily acknowledging Beach Fossils and Wild Nothing as initial developers of this sound, emerging bands like Lazyeyes and now Joseph Sant continue its forward progression. – Dave Cromwell

Oozing exotic charm, City of the Sun is a NYC trio that plays passionate, instrumental, acoustic music that marries caliente Flamenco with brainy post rock – and, just FYI, the former has the upper hand. Featuring two guitarists and a box percussionist, the group has been building a sizeable fanbase in NY, mostly thanks to their relentless live schedule, that sees them perform in environments as varied as the NYC subway and Brooklyn Bowl. We are premiering here the first, evocative single "Those Days Are Now" from their new LP, which  is a part of the Chesky Binaural series, a collection of albums recorded using a two mic technique that most closely emulates "real hearing" as we experience it. The album can be preordered here.

The renaissance and evolution of soul music has been accelerating in 2015, and NYC expressed several new talents in this department. 2015 was a breakout year for Brooklyn-based Kevin Garrett. Upon the release of his debut EP "Mello Drama," he charted on Spotify’s Viral 50 List and became known for his eclectic mix of classic soul and modern electronic textures. You’ll have a chance to see him perform live at Webster Hall on January 26th.

[Links will highlight when results are available]

AUSTIN
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll (coming soon)

BOSTON + NEW ENGLAND
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll is on!

CHICAGO
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll (coming soon)

DC AREA
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll is on!

KANSAS CITY
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll (coming soon)

LOS ANGELES
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll (coming soon)

NASHVILLE
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll is on!

NEW YORK CITY
– Open Submission Results (list below):
Alt Folk – Alt Rock – Electronic – Folk/Soul/Americana – Hip Hop + Other – Indie Pop – Indie Rock – Psych Rock/Dream Pop – Songwriters/Rootsy Pop.

Jury’s Vote Results (coming soon) – Readers Poll (coming soon)

PHILADELPHIA
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll (coming soon)

PORTLAND
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll is on!

SAN FRANCISCO
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll (coming soon)

TORONTO
Open Submission Results – Readers Poll (coming soon)

The Deli’s Staff

LATEST NEWS: KC final chart is out – Yes You Are wins! – Los Angeles final chart is out – James Supercave wins! –  Toronto final chart is out – Sate wins! – SF Bay Area final chart is out – Heartwatch wins! – Chicago final chart is out – Meat Wave wins! – Philly final chart is out – Alex G wins! – Austin final chart is out! CAPYAC wins! – NYC Final Poll Chart is out: Acid Dad wins! –  Portland Final Poll Chart is out: Cat Hoch wins! – DC Area Final Chart is out: The Walking Sticks win! – Nashville Final Chart is out: All Them Witches win! – New England Final Chart is out: Rebuilder wins!

For the full summary click… HERE!

This year’s Best of NYC Open Submissions for the Psych Rock/Dream Pop category were so good that 20 out of 21 bands got ranked with 6 or more (out of 10) and 12 received marks above 7! So, it is with a broken heart that we announce the three winners – we wish we could select more! You can see the other NYC Open Submission results here.

CATEGORY: PSYCH ROCK/DREAM POP

Total submissions: 21

Jurors: Juan Rodriguez (The Deli LA) Ryan Mo (The Deli LA) PDG (The Deli NYC)

1. Belle Mare – 8.33 (out of 10)

Here at The Deli NYC we’ve been fans of Brooklyn uber mellow dream pop duo Belle Mare for quite some time – they were our record of the month back in March 2013. It feels good to see that our non NYC Deli colleagues, whose opinion was central to this poll’s results, agree with us. But after all, who can resist the charm of a song like "Dark of My Evening" (streaming), and Amelia Bushell’s casual vocals, suddenly erupting in the most celestial of melodies? Evidently, The Deli’s staff can’t.

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2. Surf Rock Is Dead – 7.833 

NYC is fertile ground for dream pop with surf influences, and Brooklyn based duo Surf Rock Is Dead, hailing from Chicago and Melbourne, has been making the most of it in 2015. The four tracks in their debut EP "SRiD" helped them build a loyal fan base, also gathering uniform interest on the internet, with Soundcloud listeners obsessing about single "Never Be The Same" and Spotify ones preferring "Late Risers" (streaming). The band has two upcoming shows scheduled in NYC: at Aviv on 01.22 and Pianos on 02.09.

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2. Twiga – 7.833 

Well, it really looks like Dream Pop had the best of Psych Rock this year… although Twiga, out of the three band we are highlighting here, nicely marries these two closely related genres in ways that don’t feel incestuous at all! Opening single and latest EP title-track "Kites" (streaming below) features luscious guitars reminiscent of Real Estate, but the droney vocals take us for a trip back to the days of Paysley Underground bands like Rain Parade, or British neo-psychedelic acts like Doves.

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HONORABLE MENTIONS (above 7):

Zuli, Joseph Sant, HEAVY BIRDS, Goodman, No Honeymoon, The Makeout Club, Auramics, IYEZ.

The Deli’s Folks

Hey we didn’t know the House of Yes was back! The DIY venue/performance space will host an explosive bill with some strictly speaking rock’n’roll bands tomorrow night (Wednesday January 20th) at their new location by the Jefferson Street’s L train stop. Check out the bands on the bill below, including Deli Record of the Month The Othermen and The Nuclears (pictured), featuring at the drums our own mag’s distribution coordinator Kevin Blatchford! On the bill also The Bothers and Art Gray Noizz Quintet.

We don’t really want to start a discussion about politics here, but it’s impossible to deny that one candidate is winning hands down the support of the NYC emerging band vote… Six local acts will perform at Cake Shop on Saturday January 23rd in support of Bernie Sanders, and, since we’ve never covered some of them, we’ll take the opportunity to do so, check them out below! In the picture, Shark?

Well, in case anybody doubted it, the Brooklyn DIY movement is alive an well, and the news of the reopening of Market Hotel hopefully will allow it to flourish for many more years. The Bushwick venue that became somewhat legendary in the late aughts under Todd P‘s curatorial activity (and which we partly captured in this 2008 Deli NYC cover of Crystal Stilts playing a show there), will reopen its doors on January 22 with a two day party. The second night, on January 22nd, will host a bill featuring three of the most authentically DIY bands currently based in Brooklyn: Guerrilla Toss, PC Worship, and Pill. Enjoy their noise below, and congrats to Todd P who persevered to make this dream of his a reality – we interviewed him about this (and other things) back in 2014.

Narragansett Beer is celebrating their 125th year of existence and Ghost Of Paul Revere of Maine is helping them celebrate this achievement with their tight harmonies and stripped down Americana. They’re carrying on the folk rock torch by just doing it very well and without being too stereotypical (cue their cover of “Baba O’Riley”). Shows of theirs draw fans from all corners of New England. This free celebration all goes down at Lansdowne Pub in Boston on Monday 1/25 along with The Mallett Brothers Band. – Tracy Troisi

It wouldn’t be correct to state that Brooklyn based electronic chanteuse Yes Alexander (who happened to live in Iceland for a long time) has an "icy" voice, but there is definitely an icy quality to her music in general and to her vocal tone in particular. We are premiering here the video for song "Fever," which certainly plays with with the idea of cold both visually and conceptually: a bleak, wintry night becomes a metaphor of the author’s spiritual desolation, caused by love that’s either lost or never found – a love whose warmth is desperately needed: "I need your fever inside me this evening…" The beautiful final scene – some kind of lynchian peep show in the middle of nowhere between lovers unable to communicate – suddenly reveals that one side of the room is missing, opening unexpectedly an entire wall to optimism. To promote the new album "KIANITE," released today, Yes Alexander will bring her heart wrenching cold wave on tour in the next month and a half.

Here at The Deli NYC we are delighted to announce that Boston’s insane avant-punk group Guerrilla Toss, winners our Deli New England’s Best Emerging Artist of 2012 poll, recently relocated to NYC and just announced the release of their album "Eraser Stargazer," scheduled for a March release on DFA records. Although this is a debut in the LP format, the band has been remarkably productive since they started releasing music in 2012, accumulating ten records between EPs and singles. Their music is not for everybody, but those who happen to enjoy Bushwick’s night life and seek really noisy and experimental party music might have found a new hero: Guerrilla Toss’s post-post-punk is the essence of uncompromising, but absolutely exhilarating, DIY fun, that’s at once bodily and brainy. Check out the preview single "Diamond Girls" from the upcoming LP. Sorry Deli New England!