Sweet Cream is a band that sits comfortably in their genre. Namely, classic rock, though with a hint of country, and a few mingling folksy harmonies. "No Light Light" has a self-aware, sultry darkness to it, bringing out slick guitar fills from within the crevices of the arrangement. The band might not be breaking down walls, but their music approaches every aspect of classic rock with taste and nuance – Sweet Cream are certainly carving their name into the plaster. Catch them live at Mercury Lounge with The Wild Reeds on November 13th. -Geena Kloeppel

Hit Like A Girl is an attention-grabbing artist name that definitely raises expectations (and eyebrows) for the music you’re about hear. And Nicolle Maroulis’ new album You Make Sense certainly is attention-grabbing, though perhaps not in the ways you’d expect. Most of the tracks on the record follow a pretty standard rock-arrangement: guitars and drum tracks are well-executed throughout, though they don’t break down any walls, musically. What’s disarming and breath-taking are Maroulis’ voice and lyrics. "And although I never met your mom and dad / you were the best thing that I ever had" she sings on "The Song I Hoped You’d Never Hear." Gut punch. Moments like that are scattered throughout the album, knocking the wind out of you when you least expect it. You Make Sense may seem like a traditional alt-rock album- but if you really listen, there’s a fragile intimacy and unexpected beauty. – Geena Kloeppel

Katie Schottland played in several bands before embarking on her own solo project under the moniker Swimming Bell. Her debut EP The Golden Heart is a reflection, a reverberous voice in the dark, framed by picked guitar and wistful percussive textures. For a moment, listening to "Route 72" with closed eyes, I was transported from my desk to a forest clearing on a dewy morning, birds circling above. "In these times of stolen dreams / how could I know you well?" sings Schottland, alone, later joined by harmonies that sound like the echoes of those perished dreams. The simpler "September on Dekalb" is a lo-fi midnight confession, a love letter forgotten in a coat pocket. Swimming Bell takes you somewhere quieter, in a gorgeous, unperturbed manner. Catch her live at Pete’s Candy Store on October 7th. – Geena Kloeppel

On first listen, Woodpainting’s music is very difficult to wrap your head around. Their track "A Hot Gust of Wind" (streaming below) darts back and forth between rhythms, drifts up and down in dynamic range, crashes, bangs, strums… Woodpainting describe themselves as "a grand multimedia narrative work, an infectious bubblegum-pop melodrama, a lyrical folk opera, a pan-idiomatic chamber piece, an anachronistic daytime-soap, and a rock epic." All of those things are probably true. But what you should cling to are the juicy guitar licks and soaring drums, especially on "Danse Macabre," which drifts into a slightly more atmospheric soundscape. The second you decide to simply let the music wash over you is the moment when it becomes a blissful concoction of sound. –Geena Kloeppel

Benjamin Lanz has played in several bands you might know, including the National and Beirut, but the solo debut of his new project LANZ is just as compelling as his other acts. "Karla’s Retreat," from his upcoming album Hoferlanz I, is a driving and forceful track, laden with melodic hooks from piano, guitar and an unexpected brass section, and the song is helped along by a powerful, yet tasteful rhythm section. The instrumental breaks are some of the most confident we’ve heard this year, but their impact is deepened by Lanz’s self-assured vocals, which also keep "Karla’s Retreat" structurally sound. All this is supported by a charming video depicting Lanz in a slightly ominous, cabin-y studio, and outdoor scenes of potentially creepy houses. It’s shot on film, which you might’ve guessed. "Karla’s Retreat" is defiantly indie, but perhaps the most captivating thing about this song in a sometimes uncertain genre is that LANZ’s feet are planted firmly on the ground. Hoferlanz I was released on August 25th on Brasslands Records, and will also be released as a cassette for Cassette Store Day. –Geena Kloeppel

In his debut single "Light and Dark," Oliver Ignatius taps into an unlikely but interesting combination of sounds: crunchy guitar solos, soaring synths, a blasting horn section, and dreamy laid-back, Queen-esque vocals. We can’t tell you why it works, exactly, but it does. Perhaps it’s Ignatius’ immaculate grasp of melody and placement of harmonies throughout that weaves all of these elements together into a funky, groovin’, garage-y track. The founder and spiritual leader of Bushwick’s DIY studio/label Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen sure is onto something- and it definitely does feel like something a little higher. Check out the track’s video, streaming below. – Geena Kloeppel

Brooklyn avant-rock group Late Sea’s new music video "Ring the Bells" is a collision of ominous visuals and orchestral textures, a cryptic narrative steeped in mystery. The music video tells the story of Jewish-Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza. Composer and vocalist Izzy Gliksberg describes Spinoza: “His story lies not only in his hermetic, esoteric, mind boggling philosophy, but also in his expelling from his community and what he suffered from being faithful to his thoughts and dreams.” The stunning cinematography of "Ring the Bells" is no less than brain-teasing and perplexing, and paired with the gorgeous, simple horn and string arrangements, the video is beautifully captivating. – Geena Kloeppel

Blending psychedelia with folk has been an established indie trend of the new millennium (so many dream pop bands out there!), but few remember that folk and psych rock had something more than a flirt back in the the ’60s… NYC’s Lovechild reference, in their sound, that very source. The band’s only song available for purchase on Bandcamp is a live, one-take, DIY jam that definitely evokes the "good ole days" of guitar-banging, basement-come-venue style shows. The simplest way to describe "Plant a Flower" is that it sounds like a grungier version of something by the Rolling Stones, on drugs. In a good way. Catch Lovechild at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on August 29th. -Geena Kloeppel

When you think of country and Americana, the clichés might take you to pastures and whiskey and Tennessee. But native New Yorker Claire Hawkins proves that there is room for this genre, even amongst the concrete and taxis of in her hometown. Hawkins debut EP, Even These Words, is a simple, 4 song introduction to the young songwriter’s playful, simple lyrics and sing-along melodies. The most memorable line? "My baby got a job at the TSA," she sings on the delightful, sincere "Loaded Gun" (streaming). Hawkins gives Americana a sweet light-heartedness, and I’m interested to see where the next batch of songs will take her. -Geena Kloeppel

What do you do when you wake up from a coma? Make an album called Comatose Hope. Or, at least, that’s what Julia Weldon did, awakening from a coma, post-gender reassignment surgery. Perhaps the most beautiful songs on this record are the simplest ones. "Take Me To The Water" builds into a gorgeous atmospheric synth and piano ballad and the lyrically poised "Cursed and Blessed" shows the polarity of the world in an uncomplicated manner. With simple guitar hooks and otherwise feel-good arrangements, the record flows really nicely. "When You Die" serves as an angsty reprieve from the established warmth, but orchestral strings and a delicate piano accompaniment take us home at the end in "You Want It." Comatose Hope is an album of many shades- the optimism of the morning, the sluggish nature of midday, and the quiet reflectiveness of midnight. –Geena Kloeppel

"Call up the devil / tell him I’m ready to make deal / meet me in downtown New York / I wanna be young again," proclaims Celeste Krishna on "Call up the Devil." The Brooklyn based artist has forged a intriguing atmospheric avant-indie-dance sound on her new album Prelude Red, that’s more sincere than anything else you might want to tap your feet and sway along to. But that doesn’t mean the music isn’t grounded- there are various field-recordings inserted at the end of each track, of personal conversations and the typical New York subway "stand clear of the closing doors please!" semi-robotic warning. Krishna is also releasing a digital record player for the album in November- "When you go to the player site, the starting point of the album will be random but it will retain its sequence – this way there isn’t a particular beginning or end to the album." –Geena Kloeppel

On Facebook, HDLSS describes new track "Wonderloss" as "if Sigur Ros wrote a doo-wop song." Before listening to the Queens band’s song, I wasn’t really sure if I could imagine what that would sound like, and honestly, it’s a little different than expected. "Wonderloss" isn’t a throwback at all – it’s a fresh, laid-back jam that feels like the perfect accompaniment for a lazy Sunday morning. A lush, trap-infused percussive section glides along with simple piano and reverberous vocals. HDLSS floats you into an alternate universe for the duration of "Wonderloss," and you’re likely not going to want to come back down. –Geena Kloeppel