Courtesy Tier talks a lot about resolution, but I’m not buying it. After powering their way through burners like ‘Rescue’ and ‘Alright Mama,’ I don’t’ feel like much has been settled… but I definitely feel relieved.

The Brooklyn duo of Layton and Omar struggle with issues of frustrations galore in otherwise barren electric textures that bring to mind Seattle groups like Modest Mouse and Mudhoney. Not bad company when it comes to working out life’s pains. For more therapy on the cheap, listen to the band’s latest, ‘Something Better,’ streaming below. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Brooklyn four piece The Men are ringing in 2013 with some shiny new music. "Electric," the first single from upcoming full-length "New Moon will be released on vinyl on January 22nd. Until then, you can give it a listen below. The Men’s guitar-focused garage punk is heavy on the feedback, calling to mind bands of decades past. This vintage feel is further boosted by gritty vocals and choruses with enough of a classic rock boost to make them catchy, nearly melodic. About a year ago, The Men abandoned their urban digs to head to the Catskills to record New Moon where they ventured into piano, mandolin, and harmonica territory. Its March 5th release will mark The Men’s third album via Sacred Bones … and their first with bassist Ben Greenberg in the mix. The Men will be kicking off a international tour shortly thereafter; you can catch them playing the Bowery Ballroom on 3/07 – Corinne Bagish

At The Deli, we define “Alt Rootsy” or "Alt Folk" those artists that have a basis in American roots music yet manage to somehow veer off its traditional ways – hence the picture above.

Total submissions in this category: 38

Artists Qualified to the Poll’s Next Stage (starting around 01.15):

1. Great Elk – 7.833 (out of 10)
2. Sorcha Richardson – 7.33
3. Derrick and the Black Sea – 7.16

Honorable Mentions (scores about 6.5):

Ben Pagano, Howth, Robin’s Egg Blue, Tall Tall Trees, Everest Cale, Cole Williams, Nightmare River Band, XNY, Tess, Dan and Rachel, Erez and The End, Philip Lynch.

Jurors: Chrissy Prisco (Deli New England), Lucy Sherman (Deli Contributor), QD Tran (Deli Philadelphia)

The Deli’s Staff

The entire universe often wonders what the difference is between Alt Rock and Indie Rock. Here at The Deli we call "Alt" that kind of Rock music that’s inspired to a more classic concept of Rock’n’Roll or Pop-Rock, or any rock genre that was commercially successful before the aughts – think about bands reminiscent of anything from Led Zeppeling to Aerosmith, Weezer or Nirvana. While Indie Rock tends to be a little more experimental and dark, Alt Rock is (at least in our vocabulary) more traditional and a little more accessible – without being just "pop".

Total submissions in this category: 38

Artists Qualified to the Poll’s Next Stage (starting around 01.15):

1. Apollo Run – 7.66 (out of 10)
2. BLACK TAXI – 7.33

Honorable Mentions (scores above 6.5):

Outernational, Late Cambrian, Viva Mayday, Wyldlife, Only Living Boy, Von Shakes, Raccoon Fighter, The Clox, Noble Hunter.

Jurors: Michelle Turner (Deli Nashville), Brandi Lukas (Deli Contributor), QD Tran (Deli Philly) 

The Deli’s Staff

When you listen to Apollo Run, you can easily get the impression that their music just keeps growing and growing to impossible heights, even when their harmonies are already lost in the clouds. In the space of just one song, John McGrew and crew take you up to a furtive hook, then proceed to throw in a trumpet, raise the harmonies up by a couple more octaves, and proceed to play everything again with only cardboard instruments… At least that’s what the video for new single ‘The Inevitable Small Rebellions’ (streaming below) from new album ‘HBDVIII’ would have us believe. See them live on Friday 01.11 when they play The Mercury Lounge and let me know how they do it yourself. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

If you haven’t seen Black Taxi live yet, then think about all the time you spent watching crappy films last year… for your own good, this band is here to show you a way out of this mess. This group belongs to an oft-ignored genre of music known as ‘Punchy Cinematic Rock,’ and seeing the band live is like watching performance art, a jukebox musical, and every single Nicholas Cage movie at once (so you don’t have to). In other words, this band isn’t afraid to try everything and get caught in the act looking good in tight costumes. Their new record ‘We Don’t Know Any Better‘ covers territories from punk, to 4 on floor dance, to orchestral synth pop jazz… whatever that is. Check out 2nd single ‘Hand’ (streaming below) from new record ‘We Don’t Know Any Better’ to get a feel for what you’ve been missing in their new POV video, and see the band yourself when they play at Public Assembly on Saturday, Jan 26th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Somebody might wonder why here at The Deli we bundle Hip Hop with other related or unrelated genres like funk, world music, ethnic etc etc. The answer is embarrassing: we are not very well connected with those scenes, and only cover them sporadically. As a consequence, we don’t get a lot of Hip Hop submissions (which is a good thing by the way… don’t ask!). The other genres are even less represented in our blog… So, rather than having to create seven different categories with a few acts each, we bundle them together with Hip Hop… understood?

Total submissions in this category: 22

Artists Qualified to the Poll’s Next Stage (starting around 01.15)

1. Hot Sugar – 7.5 (out of 10)
1. Melissa Czarnik – 7.5

Honorable Mentions (scores above 6.5):

b.FUNK, Deathrow Tull, Riot In Paris, C-Zar Van Gogh, SpaceLAB Recordings, Trillogy, O-Zi, MaG, brokemc.

Jurors: Brianne Turner (Deli Nashville), Brandi Lukas (Deli contributor), QD Tran (Deli Philly).

The Deli’s Staff

Who would’ve thought: the most badass thing a hip-hop artist can do right now is team up with a French jazz pianist and record at a residency from a 50 year-old Chateau? For Melissa Czarnik, it’s just one more notch in her boundary-busting belt. Recorded at Centre d’Art Marnay Art Center near France, ‘Non Merci’ is 13 tracks of hard-hitting hip-hop set to the cascading piano loops of pianist/composer Eric Mire. It’s as surprising a pairing as it is effective on killer tracks like ‘I Prefer’ and ‘Rummy.’ Hard-hitting and smooth at once, check out the artist when she plays tonight with Eric Mire, free at Brooklyn Stable. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

For anyone who wishes they could enjoy Neon Indian but is maybe looking for something that’s a bit more … I don’t know… lo-fi and crazy, then Hot Sugar’s ‘Muscle Milk EP’ is probably up your alley. A blend of all manner of exotic candies and fruits tossed together into an awesome hodgepodge mix of an instrumental album, listening to this record might very well awaken parts of your aural palette you didn’t know you had. Songs like ‘Charlotte Corday and ‘Hanna D’ make Dan Deacon and The Flaming Lips look like they’re not having enough fun with their music. With so many sounds condensed to a groove-bouncing mush, you’ll probably be bored to death once your headphones come off. – Mike Levine

FINAL RESULTS: BEST OF SF BAY AREA 2012 – BEST OF NYC 2012 – BEST OF NASHVILLE 2012 – BEST OF NEW ENGLAND 2012 – BEST OF AUSTIN 2012 –  BEST OF PHILADELPHIA 2012 – BEST OF LOS ANGELES 2012 – BEST OF DC AREA 2012 – BEST OF KANSAS CITY 2012 – BEST OF CHICAGO 2012 – BEST OF PORTLAND 2012

For the full summary click…

Since the beginning of the big recession, Electronic Music in NYC has been experiencing an unforeseen explosion, also thanks to the fact that electronic projects are cheaper and more efficient even compared to the most basic of power trios (no need for band mates or rehearsal studios…). Since pretty much any genre can be reproduced electronically, rather than a genre, the word Electronic indicates "sonic material" (as in: ‘these songs are made with electronic sounds’). Hence the variety of styles included in this category.

Total submissions in this category: 43

Artists Qualified to the Poll’s Next Stage (starting around 01.10)

1. Kiss Slash Crooked Smile – 7.66 (out of 10)
1. Clementine & the Galaxy – 7.66
3. AVAN LAVA – 7.50

Honorable Mentions (scores above 6.5)

I Am Lightyear, Loveskills, Mitten, Future Screens, Moon Furies, New Myths, Psychobuildings, Jonka, Late Guest at the Party, Young Heel, Maria Takeuchi.

Jurors: Jason Behrends (Deli Chicago), Jacqueline Caruso (Deli LA), QD Tran (Deli Philly).

The Deli’s Staff

As the nascent nu-pop underground digs its heels in deeper during 2013, Assaf Asi Spector and Yula Beeri’s band Kiss Slash Crooked Smile should at least win the prize for most bizarre moniker. Beeri’s singing style bears more than a passing likeness to the childlike delivery of Joanna Newsom, which I suppose is like saying Kiss Slash Crooked Smile sounds like Newsom’s new wave side-project, The Pleased, which is never a bad thing. The band’s best cut at this early stage is “Ole” (streaming below) a sing-song melody that rides a disco/ska beat (kudos to drummer Stefano Baldasseroni here) reminiscent of Blondie during their biggest hit period, but with more sinister darkwave overtones. All of which suggests Kiss Slash Crooked Smile are still standing in the shadows of their influences, but damn their music is fun. – Brian Chidester