American Darlings comprised of Jason Maksymilian (guitars, vocals), John Alexander (bass), and Daniel Vincent (drums), produce delightful garage rock that can be found on their two EP’s, aptly titled “American Darlings EP” and “American Darlings Second EP.” On their first, “Kimchee Princess” radiates feel-good vibes with cheerful modulations, while “Bender” is a waltzing love song, and “Divide” channels a grungier edge. “Million” begins American Darlings’ second EP with a weighty guitar jam which transitions quickly to a coasting jingle. “Stella’s” happy-go-lucky hi-hat ticks and romantic choruses change directions with the tenser and more somber melodies of EP-ender, “Replace.” American Darlings demonstrate that upbeat has many dimensions. – read Meijin Bruttomesso’s Q&A with the band here.

The garage rock inspired, in-your-face pounding X-Ray Eyeball recently opened up for Cat Power at Webster Hall and is scheduled to warm up the stage for The Black Lips at the end of October. To top it off, their 7” hit “Sundae” was just made available for fans through the Seattle based independent label Hardly Art. The group holds a timeless rock feel mixed with a tendency to apply distortion to anything that makes a sound. Also, their leather jackets and "don’t mess with me" attitude are proven winners in this mad rock’n’roll world. You can catch their newest line-up consisting of Lizzah Lohse (guitar/keys), Carly Rabalais (bass/vocals), O.J. San Felipe (guitar/vocals) and Sarah Baldwin (drums) on September 2 (tonight) at Death By Audio in Williamsburg. – Kristen Ferreira

On Labor Day NYC Hip Hop lovers who will be staying in town may want to head to the Mercury Lounge to check out two local acts who are trying to redefine the sound of Hip Hop. Deatthrow Tull (video below) mixes beats and rap rhymes with a indie/electro musical sensibility, and has recently also performed as an acoustic band – a concept quite foreign to the Hip Hop genre (see video here). The guys in New World Side Order (in the picture, getting ready for Irene) definitely like to experiment with their samples, with a preference for dark/bordering apocalyptic atmospheres – a perfect backdrop to their politically charged lyrics. Aceyalone and Riddlore and MC Homeless will round up the bill.

Beast Make Bomb entertained us at our B.E.A.F. fest back in May with its indie garage-pop featuring aggressive rhythm guitars and gentle female vocals. They recently released the new "Sourpuss" EP and this video of the single "Party Monster". Their resonant and relatable lyrics are enhanced by fun and catchy melodies. And while the message is realistic, the feel is quite innocent and happy-go-lucky. Now that that temperature has gone down a little, it makes us want to jump on the car we don’t have, roll all the windows down, take a road trip to anywhere, forget about the world and crack a smile… – Read Caitlin Clive Q&A with the band here.

Like many other indie kids, after a wild and rocking youth full of desdaing for all forms of tradition, we have slowly grown to enjoy folk music, in particular when it’s somehow "bastardized" – the redeeming quality! This is a concept that – although clashing with the immaculacy of their music – is pertinent to We Are The Woods. This NYC based group led by a female duo emplyos acoustic guitars and a variety of other instruments (strings, flutes, tubas, you name it) to craft beautiful, sophisticated and intense songs that are thoroughly enjoyable. The folk matrix is still audible, but here orchestral, pop and even psych elements take over the reins. As it often happens in softer music, the vocals are a crucial element, and the ladies deliver big time in this department. Their celestial voices (Jessie Murphy’s charismatic lead and Marcia Webb’s spot on backing vocals) transform good songs into beautiful, arresting gems. We are very curious to see this band live – the next opportunity is at Rockwood on September 24.

Oakland’s own Ayla Nereo, one half of the sibling duo BeatBeat Whisper, swoons on her latest, entitled "Floating Felt." Sparingly utilizing delicate finger-plucking methods and the occasional piano, chimes, and violin, the lucid instrument here is Ayla’s voice. Her voice is a mechanism dedicated to the running consciousness of her lyrics – their enchanted visions like a fantastical child drinking in her surroundings and blooming ideas. "Floating Felt" is aptly titled, as a collection of hovering harmonies and comfortable decadence.- Julianne Wagner

If you are not afraid of musical drones (many people are!), but actually enjoy their hypnotic, trascendent quality, you may want to check out Heavy Birds on 09.01 at Bruar Falls – their music is so friggin’ droney it may transport you to one or three altered states of consciousness. The guys play some of most trippy psychedelia we’ve heard in a while, it almost feels like it 1967 all over again. To give you an idea, think of a super mellow version of early Pink Floyd. On the bill also DeGreaser & Love Butchers. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building and APS Mastering.

There are two ways to listen to Alec Gross’ latest take on Americana. On first listen, Strip The Lanterns: The Night Terrors of Mr. Ron Avery might be torch music best experienced with your lover close by. On closer inspection, one finds a meticulously detailed concept on par with Dylan’s "Bringing It All Back Home". Listening to the record this way, Gross re-conceptualizes a lost America told through the eyes of its dark protagonist, Ron Avery. Like a lot of folk singer-songwriters, Alec paints a specific time and place for the experiences that his character makes his way through. Most of these aren’t happy times, and this comes through loud and clear on songs like the haunting ‘Burning Grounds,’ inspired by Alec’s trip to the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem and a poem he saw there by Anatoly Kuznetsov. Most tracks are quiet and moody impressions of an imagined idyllic existence, from the Irish ballad ‘Be Not Jealous of the Sea,’ to the tormented ‘Looking Glass Lies.’ It isn’t until barnburner ‘Strip the Lanterns’ that we hear Gross really cut loose, but it’s well worth the wait through the record’s more even-tempered and traditional sections. With such a buttery voice, one might wonder why he felt the need to go through all this trouble to showcase his enormous talents in the first place. ‘If You Don’t Mind (Baby Go Ahead)’ could be wedding song of the year, and there’s plenty more on this record to make you think of Alec simply as a romantic, like Don Williams with a high tenor. But it’s stuff like this that reminds me of how different an artist’s vision for their music can be to your own, and makes the trip of discovering Alec’s voice all the more fun. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)

De Novo, the second LP from San Francisco based production duo Ill Mondo, dropped August 30th. De Novo is a more authentic representation of Johnny Igaz and Jeff Smothers raw musical talents, with a more organic feel, using recorded jam sessions, original horn sections, and overdubbed instrumental parts. Ill Mondo collaborated with over 25 artists for the album, offering a different vocalist on every track. Songs like Viscera Capere, with catchy horns and break beats are reminiscent of a 1970s soul and funk sensibility, personified by synth-xylophone parts and fuzzy minor chord jams. “De Novo is an innovative throwback to old soul records,” and they still maintain that down-home familiar feel to their music that hooks you in and keeps you listening for more. You can check out the new album on their website. – Ed Guardaro

Guitarist / MC David E. Beats is the Commander in Chief of the White House Band. Claiming rock, rap, and blues as genre convergence, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see a guitar smashed during one of his sets—in fact they are coming to expect it. Political though not didactic, fresh but not pompous, the arsenal of tunes generated by WHB are devastatingly addictive and certain to please a bipartisan audience. If good rap is something you wish to hear more of, place your vote by coming to the Knitting Factory Thursday September 9th. Free entry with RSVP on the band’s site. – BrokeMC

Lovely and slightly weird, North Highlands’ pop is the perfect soundtrack for the music connoisseurs in need of a break from the aural challenges of more experimental or lo-fi bands. Our writer Nancy Chow fell in love with these guys while covering CMJ 2009, and since then The Deli always kept an ear on them. So it’s great to hear they’ll finally release their debut LP "Wild One" in October. You may want to see them live at your earliest convenience – i.e. 09.29 at Cameo – because this is a band that has the potential to make waves. Check out the single "Benefits" from the upcoming album streaming below, and if you want more head here and here.

Featuring members of MGMT, Amazing Baby, Historics, and a fronted by solo artist Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Brooklyn Ill Fits, after forming earlier this year, could only hit the ground landing. From what we can tell from their only track released so far (streaming below) the group plays a pleasant pop-rock with psych elements, slightly reminiscent of David Bowie’s output from somewhere around the "Let’s Dance" period. Ill Fits is playing Glasslands on September 10.