With their EP “Days Ahead” released in July and their single “Summer’s Dead” out just a few weeks ago in December, 2012 was a busy year for Brooklyn based psych rock band Eastern Hollows. Meandering guitars, cymbal heavy drumming, and languid vocals give their music a dreamy edge reminiscent of classic shoegaze sounds with a refreshing indie twist. The band placed second in the Psych Rock/Dream Pop submissions for our Best of NYC 2012 Poll with an average rating of 8.16. See them live at Glasslands on January 7. – Lucy Sherman

The cool thing about Brooklyn band Napoleon – currently our NYC artist of the month, see pic next to The Deli’s logo – is that they play a brand of dream pop that DOES NOT refer back to the usual suspects of the genre like Cocteau Twins, The Sundays or My Bloody Valentine, but rather to other dreamy musical giants like Jeff Buckley, Low, and Elliot Smith. However, their sound is overall truly their own – although admittedly single "City Girls" features Arcade Fire influences.

Check out our favorite tracks Mad (streaming below) and Sarafan (video here), and go see Napoleon live at Big Snow Buffalo Lodge on January 08. The band got an average rating of 8 out of 10, which granted them 3rd place in our Best of NYC Poll’s Psych Rock/Dream Pop open submissions. – PDG

Geeks everywhere unite! Erica Glyn is that rare spirit who’s both responsible for the lyrics and vocal delivery of her songs… as well as the world of sounds occupying her music. Indeed, she does all the heavy lifting herself on latest full-length ‘Static,’ and the result is a deeply personal grinder against life’s grinds. Glyn is not one to suffer silently, and her razor blade grooves cut deep on rejoinders like album opener ‘Commonplace.’ Not to say the record doesn’t have its lighter moments, but even when things are quiet, Glyn is always just one step away from throwing her full sonic arsenal into the action. New video ‘I’m Not Here’ perfectly captures Erica’s worldly misgivings by depositing her face around New York landmarks while she tries to convince you otherwise. A true tour-de-force, Erica is a whirlwind of ideas with an attitude to match. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This artist submitted their music for review here.

Man Made Sun (headed by former Emok guitarist and long time Brooklyn resident Ofer Tiberin) take us back to the good old days when rock was as explosive as nitro – i.e. the late 90s. Sounding like a more psychedelic and less hip hop version of Rage Against the Machine, Man Made Sun’s upcoming EP "More a Devil than a God" (which can be streamed here) definitely doesn’t sound like a NYC record, which is probably a good thing. The genre’s implicit epic and mathy tendencies are kept in check through the right balance of energy, attitude and instrumental dexterity, while the quality of the material and production make this record sound like bedroom records will never sound – kind of refreshing at this stage of the home recording revolution. Check out the video for "Waiting for the Sun" below You can see them at Pianos on January 15th, 21st and 28th.

band : MAN MADE SUN song : WAITING FOR THE SUN director : ANTOINE PRAT from Antoine Prat on Vimeo.

As the adage goes, “opposites attract.” Such is the case of Adam Green (formerly of the Moldy Peaches) and Binki Shapiro (formerly of Little Joy). The duo has brought their divergent styles together to create an ultra cool and harmonious EP, called "Fall," dense with 60’s nostalgia. They manage to cover “Collage” by the James Gang with originality but keep the groovy vibe. Their single, “Here I am” (streaming below) is laced with dream-like qualities that I thought was only possible by late heartbroken crooner, Nick Drake. Their style of call and answer singing heightens each half’s perspective on the most recent breakups that they have gone through. Perhaps this EP is indicative of the change that they both need and want; two friends able to work through the heartbreak and create something magical. – Julia Kwamya

Brooklyn natives Hawk and Dove are giving fans a download of their latest release, “Things We Lost So Far,” off the debut full-length album “This Yesterday Will Never End,” to be released in the spring of 2013. The single, slightly more upbeat than the band’s other material, bops along with poppy background vocals accompanying a raspy lead vocal. Hawk and Dove channel a 60’s pop band and a modern alternative outfit in one tune, for fans of storytelling lyrics and expressive instrumentation. The band will be playing at Arlene’s Grocery at 8 p.m. on January 30th alongside The Pine Hollows and Ludlow Thieves. – Christine Cauthen

The Brooklyn pop duo Noosa (Sky Barbarick and the invisible Matt Buszko) doesn’t seem to ever play live, but this is not preventing them from generating a lot of interest – ah, the power of good music! Their recent single "Walk On By" (Sound Remedy Remix, streaming below) made it onto Hype Machine’s top tracks of 2012 list. The single (a ballad in the original version found here) is a sweetly sad song, where wholly feeling lyrics cut deep with Sky’s ethereal voice. And oh, that voice. It’s Regina Spektor-esque, in that it can be fluttery and throaty at the same time. It’s the perfect grounding component to Noosa’s gorgeous sweeping dream pop. – Corinne Bagish

Greenpoint Pop-Rock outfit Late Cambrian is currently busy in the studio working on their new full length album – follow up to their "Social Season" EP. The band’s plan is to finish the new release and make it available to the public by March of 2013. Check out this PAPER KARAOKE music video for the brand new song "Resolution." It will be available newly mastered and as part of their forthcoming 13 song second album. 

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Like a cross somewhere between Can’s krautrock and Zappa’s theatrics, Hairy Sands exists for those who would like to mix their partying with true aesthetic exploration. These are not simple tracks to decipher, but the band’s sonic vision is so large, you’ll have plenty of areas to explore while trying to find the path. This is a group that meets and records whole albumss years apart, but something must be in the water where they do their thing, as their latest full-length ‘Sandy Hairs’ has the ambition of bands with way more time on their hands. Listen and download on their Facebook. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)