The Anderson Council is that missing link between flower power and thundering arena rock. From discussions about the rainbow and ufos in the psychedelic burner ‘Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours,’ to utopian visions of everlasting love in ‘Love Bomb,’ the New Brunswick group may have one of their feet planted in all things hippie dippy, but beware: there’s a dark side hiding in their tracks. Check out ‘Hole in the Sky’ below and get your own summer of love started when they announce more dates soon. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

In the last few years – probably inspired by influential Brooklynites TV on the Radio – more and more emerging non-African American NYC bands have been embracing the influence of soul music, something that in the past was often discarded by "creative types" on the basis of its implicit connection to chart climbing aspirations. As it often happens, these Caucasian musicians are now stripping some of the passion and energy out of the African American traditional genre, replacing it with darkness, tension and varying degrees of experimentation. This musical phenomenon has already found a brand new label (Alt’n’B) – althought in our charts we simply call it Alt Soul.

Brooklyn based chanteuse Katherine Smith, under the moniker Lewis, has released a single track so far – but a good one – titled "Hunter." The song caught none other than Jay Z’s ear. This led to a remix version featuring his vocals, which is climbing the Hypem charts. Then Eric Weiner from The Wild Honey Pie – with whom we share a passion for intense and mellow female fronted artists – produced this video for the single, which was unveiled today.

We don’t know much more about Lewis – from a quick glance at the Facebook wall there aren’t any shows scheduled nor there seem to be plans for other releases – but the potential of this project can’t be ignored.

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best NYC songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

We stumbled upon this new video by Brooklyn/Portland Johanna Warren (ex Sticklips) and were taken aback by its delicate beauty and suggestive simplicity. Currently in the West Coast for a few gigs, Johanna is a regular performer at Manhattan’s Rockwood Music Hall.

Glass Ghost‘s only release to date is the 2009’s stunning album "Idol Omen," which earned them a Deli Record of the Month review and our 21st issue’s cover. But this doesn’t mean that the band hasn’t been active since then: a look through their Facebook wall reveals a series of sparse but well chosen shows in support of quality NYC artists like Buke and Gase, Hospitality, Sharon Van Etten, Here We Go Magic, and Yellow Ostrich among others; which makes us think that if the Glass Ghost’s guys run this blog they would write about the same bands we do. This weekend the duo (formed by Eliot Krimsky, now a member of Here We Go Magic, and Mike Johnson, drummer for Dirty Projectors) has a residency at PS122 where they’ll showcase a new, interactive live show, during which they will display audience input (photos, personal information, Facebook/Twitter pages) on projection screens in an attempt to probe identity in the internet age questioning what a true identity is. There’s a survey the band is asking attendees to fill before the show (here – Info from the survey will appear on the projection screens) – this should be interesting, and if it won’t, the music will be worth the $10 admission ticket anyway.

Some people cannot stand (or sit) still for a second, even long after 5 years of age. When these kind of people decide to form a rock band, they become contagious. When a bunch of these people join the same band, they become dangerously viral. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why Butcher Knives‘ video for ‘Tell Me Why’ got almost 15k plays in just a few months. With a wide range of influences absorbed in the various countries they hail from (Colombia, Israel, Morocco, New Orleans… oh, there’s also a New Yorker!) and glued together by a rockabilly attitude, these guys offer great variety in all musical departments but one: breakneck speed. That’s why you want to party with them, tomorrow Saturday 29 at the Rebel Roots Fest in Brooklyn.

The Astoria pop rock outfit Beecher’s Fault have unleashed a new single and accompanying video for their newest song titled "Heather," which you can listen to below via Soundcloud. The song takes heavy influence from the hooks in Vampire Weekend’s latest record – but in its own sonic form. The duo are set to play a few restaurant/bar dates in Astoria, the first of which will take place at Rest-au-rant on 4/3. Check them out and support the Astoria music scene so we can get a proper venue one of these days! – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

I’ve never liked the word "Adult" referred to music genres, although I’m a big fan of some artists (mostly songwriters) who are often labelled that way. I’ve always though: "who the heck wants to be described as somebody writing songs for adults?" The concept certainly isn’t very popular among the "young" Brooklyn bands, since pretty much all of them seem focused on making music for crowds ranging from the very young to (quoting Leonard Cohen) the "almost young." Sadly though, a lot of young musicians aren’t musicians anymore past their 30s, and a fair amount of the best popular music so far has been created by fully grown adults, who reached their artistic maturity after just OK early albums.
We should then pay more attention to artists like New Jersey pianist Luke Elliot, who isn’t old at all, but whose music references the work of powerful, "adult" artists like Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. His raw, bluesy influenced compositions have the thoughtfulness of an old soul, the stubborn energy of those who never give up, and the character of somebody who’s learned a lot of lessons in life. 

Luke’s upcoming EP "Provisions" is due out on 5/6/14, stream preview single "Virginia below, and see him live on March 28 at the Bowery Electric and on April 19th at Rockwood Music Hall.

if any of you miss the computer cowboy days of Grandaddy like I do, Mr. Badger has stepped in with some synth-steeped electro-pop-tastic gems to help you out, turning up the energy dial up in songs like ‘Far Hills Cider’ while keeping a roots feel for more intimate songs like ‘Mother’s Day.’ His latest self-titled EP has placed the LES-based songwriter, James Bohannon, as New York’s answer to Passion Pit’s ecstatic, high-energy party jams. Listen to popular track ‘Far Hills Cider’ below and learn to love sensitive computer cowboys again. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

We booked The Mast for one of our CMJ shows a few Music Marathons ago (probably in 2011?), and since then, this electro/tribal/dream pop duo kept at it relentlessly, mostly in a DIY fashion, with quality releases and new videos delivered on a regular basis – always a good sign. They just unveiled this simple video for single ‘Nuclear Dragon’ from their sophomore, new full length "Pleasure Island," that highlights the band’s modus operandi, based on interaction between sequencers, effects and percussions, skillfully played and programmed by Matt Kilmer. Haleh Gafori’s sensual alto, paradoxically, delivers almost ascetic-sounding melodies, contriguting to a final musical product that’s as complex as it is suggestive. The band recently opened for Foster The People at Music Hall of W’burg. Check out another more produced video from The Mast that went viral in 2012 here.

Undeniably, the electric guitar, which was almost marginalized by Brooklyn bands of the late aughts like Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, Matt & Kim and Grizzly Bear, is taking back a dominant role in the NYC scene’s sound of the 10s. This thanks to a generation of young bands like Weird Womb – which we highlighted in our latest Best of NYC Poll for emerging artists – who find inspiration in the guitar-centric, heavy sound of the 90s. From that decade, these four Brooklyn dudes chose as main inspiration the rather uncompromising sound of post-hardcore, brought to fame by legendary DC band Fugazi, delivering an explosive 7" sarcastically titled "Ruined by the 90’s," self released in May of 2013. The three songs on the EP are concise excersises in tension without release, and should be really experienced exclusively in a live setting (in places that allow mosh pits).

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best punk/garage/guitar rock songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

New Jersey’s power pop quartet The Sound is Fine (ex-The Nico Blues) have just dropped a self-titled debut EP that put them on the Deli’s map – again. Their pop rock influences give off the vibes of a less-lame Smash Mouth with a guitar sound reminiscent of early Dinosaur Jr. or Built to Spill. Thumbs up for the clean production and recording, which was all rigorously DIY. Listen to the opening track off their EP titled "Big Dream Kid" below via their Bandcamp page and catch them at the Cake Shop on 4/4 with The Everymen. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

If NYC rockers Rosy Street sound old school to you, it’s because their music is blessed with the quality of timelessness. Kyle Avallone’s vocals find their comfort zone in rambler rock tracks a la’ Lou Reed ("Little Rambler"), sparse acoustic ballads reminiscent of Leonard Cohen ("The Rose), and thoughtful americana-pop numbers ("Downtown Queen" – streaming). Jon DeLorme’s tasteful use of the pedal steel guitar creates a signature sound for a new band that’s full of character and good songs. – photo by Carly Sioux (carlysioux.com)

This band submitted their music for coverage here. We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best rootsy songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!