Brooklyn’s Jack Skuller is a teen idol in the wrong era. He’s got all the makings of a 1950s rocker. One of his goals in fact was to write a tune that gives him something to play loud in the car, since he’s recently gotten his license to drive, and of course… he’s also got the looks of a jukebox hero. Teaming up with Nada Surf drummer Ira Elliot, Jack has just released his first single ‘Tell Me Your Heart,’ and the song is an unexpectedly well done tribute to the timeless teen freedoms of hot rodding and heart breaking. Buddy Holly would be proud. Catch him at Bitter End on June 1st. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Brooklyn powerpunk gaze-rockers Heaven’s Gate released their 7 song EP “High Riser” in November 2012, proving that packaging musical ideas in brief bursts of energy is often very effective, in particular when there’s a talented and commanding vocalist like Jess Paps behind the melodic wheel. With most songs clocking in under two minutes, the record has still plenty of hooks (and tension) to wrap your ears around.

“Pray” thrashes with abandon, like early Siouxsie & The Banshees (think “Carcass” from their eponymous debut album “The Scream”). “Pogo” taps the punk vibe mapped out by The Ramones and New York Dolls. “Salome” moves into pitch-bended guitar dreams, with a heart-tugging guitar progression paired against emotionally charged vocals. The image one might get from a song titled “Jesus Hair” is that of the quintessential rock dude with long locks parted in the middle. “All you want to give me, all that you can give – ‘cause you know that I’ll take it,” implies approval of type by our intrepid female vocalist. “Weakness Worm” would slot nicely between a Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and Hunters track, while “Skin Weed” merges the Peter Gunn detective beat with Sonic Youth guitar recklessness. Final track “Sea Swing” stomps and rumbles like a Patti Smith/Kevin Shields collaboration. The band will be performing at Knitting Factory on May 26. – Dave Cromwell

One of qualities we appreciate the most in a new band is how spontanous they sound – and that’s what a lot of people seem to relate to in the new decade after years spent glorifying rather contrived music. But it’s really, really hard to sound sponstaneous on record without sounding sloppy or careless. That’s obviously not a problem for newly formed NYC band Mesico, or that’s what we gather from this truly great alt-folk-rock tune streaming below, entitled "Lies" – check out the video here. 

Mixing traditional American music with authentic rock’n’roll attitude and a vein of psychedelia, "Lies" has the intensity of one of the best uptempo Nick Cave songs without being NOT fun. Mesiko released a three song EP in March, featuring Lies, and two country-ish noir ballads. See them live at Rock Shop on May 14 with Dawn Landes.

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

Brooklyn party band Teen Girl Scientist Monthly just released the video for single "New Age" – streaming below – which is aptly enough about partying (and something that at first seems like hooking up…) in Brooklyn with the aid of a time machine. The band won The Deli’s Artist of the Month Poll a few weeks ago, and will be playing the Alt Rock stage at our Best of NYC Fest for Emerging Artists in early June – stay tuned for more news. 

Like many of the bands we get to know through the internet, there’s very little known about Brooklyn’s three piece Wet. The band’s just released two head-nodding, weirdly intense odes to ditties and fast-driving pop on their Bandcamp. But the combination of quirky arrangements, soulful female vocals and runaway lyrics here are so distinctly their own, you’re left scratching your head after twisting around to their EP’s catchy opening track ‘U Da Best’ (streaming below). Hopefully we’ll get to know this band a bit better as they release more tunes and help fill in the lines for us. For now… these pop nuggets are at least a perfect way to get over the rainy weather. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

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

Brooklyn rapper BrokeMC, a man known for swagger, boldness, compelling visual art and occasional use of roller blades at local concert venues, has shifted gears for his latest LP ‘Re:Purpose.’ Gone are the samples and loops from his past several records, replaced here with a live group filled with synths, steel strings, and any percussive instrument you can imagine. Broke’s got his ups and downs, but as always, tracks like ‘DreamsDance’ tell a story of someone who knows how difficult things can be, and keeps on challenging himself to overcome those obstacles.

You may have heard him blow up sets in his group Deathrow Tull, but you’ve never heard him step out like this before. Check out the new record here. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

It’s fair to say that we are (already?) getting a little sick of bands referencing the 80s, but truth is… if your 2013 band sounds a little like some of the most original and least known artists from the 80s like Wall of Voodoo (remember ‘Mexican Radio’?) or early Japan or super early Simple Minds (minus the contrived vocalists), then… we are NOT so sick of bands referencing the 80s!

Staten Island’s own Sofa Club – who quite appropriately claim to play a genre called "Couch Pop" – is the band in question, and this is their noteworthy debut EP. We predict they’ll soon move to Brooklyn – but for now they have plans to play there, at Glasslands, on May 20. You can also catch them at Pianos on May 14. Check out the video of single and EP titletrack "Actual Video," streaming below. (Photo By Michael Dylan Ferrara)

Imagine Saves the Day mixed with Tigers Jaw and Transit; Long Island’s State Lines sound like a smooth Indie/Punk blend of the three, but also with their own kick. Formed in 2010, their raw, rustic turns and sharp edges combined with the raspy vocals of singer/songwriter Jonathan Dimitri keep them on the frontlines of today’s LI scene. They even dress for the part, hoodies and all! They just recently released their sophomore full-length album titled “For The Boats” via Tiny Engines. You can listen to "Linger below" and three other new songs from the album here, and see them live at NYU’s Strawberry Festival this Friday May 10 with Mission of Burma. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

We blogged a few months ago about emerging NYC band Drowners, a quartet that can count on a fair amount of flair both in the songwriting and looks department – we love pictures that remind us of those black wearing bands from the late 70s – early 80s, you can’t go wrong with that!

From a quick glance at their Facebook "about us" page, it seems like a bunch of industry people have already taken notice – and action: Frenchkiss Records is mentioned as one of their labels, together with The Agency Group booking, while Tell All Your Friends’ top dog Kip Kouri is their publicist. That’s a team that can take this Morrisey influenced quartet places, so keep an ear on them. Check out their recent video for "Long Hair" here – mp3 streaming below. If The Smiths have a special place in your heart, you should check them out live when they headline Pianos on May 8th. 

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

We first blogged about Brooklyn psych rockers Cardboard a few weeks ago, here’s their latest video for the single "Card", which will surely arouse the interest of those who are in love with the LSD infused scene launched by London’s UFO Club in the late 60s.

“Dying to Start Again” (streaming below) is the latest single by Brooklyn newcomers Lovelife and it’s all about second chances. As those types of songs go, it’s lyrically a tad mopey. You want her back… you wish you could start again. We get it. The reason why this song actually works so well is because it’s musically quite evocative. From the pong-like synth loops to the slow-creeping beat to the heavenly falsetto vocals, you get the sense that, despite the singer’s sadness, the whole experience was worth every effort. That’s wisdom, yo.- See the band at Irving Plaza on 05.09 with Gold Fields and Capital Cities. – Brian Chidester

If you remember The Scarlett Ending at all, they were a highly enthusiastic sextet from Syracuse. Around for more than a decade, founding member Kayleigh Goldsworthy has now taken her tell-all personality to her own particular brand of folk/country crooning. Now based in Brooklyn, she’s been working on her solo record the past three years, so it’ll be exciting to see what happens next (she’s already released a couple tracks off ‘Burrower,’ but still mixing the rest). The first single from the upcoming release ‘Where the Summer Goes’ puts everything out there, revealing much of Kayleigh’s troubles over a gentle country acoustic steel string strum. Check it out below and stay tuned for more. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

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