Alt-rock four-piece Late Night Friends repurposes the light atmospherics of late eighties college rock and early aughts American chart-rock with a modern slant on their debut full-length What I Think I’m Not. Due on August 7 via Limited Fanfare Records, the album approaches its influences with a chameleonic quality that allows them to slip into melancholic naval-gazing and life-size anthems in equal measure. With Dead Meadow bassist Steve Kille handling the controls, the entirety of the album has that shimmering, U2-like production polish that permits these limpid, bright-eyed songs to really extend upon their straightforward, yet thoroughly sonorous modern rock approach.

Late Night Friends are currently streaming the whole thing over at Pop Matters. And make sure to join them on their album release tonight at the Satellite. – Juan Rodríguez

Dante Elephante’s "Never Trust a Junkie” walks with a peppy surf rock bounce and sneering lyrics, so punk in their assuredness. For this Goleta quintet, suburbia is meant to be stifling (something I can identify with), but “Never Trust A Junkie” is confident, in control, prepared to handle the upcoming madness with a smile. Just prior to the conclusion, the titular advice ends up the most unguarded howl in the song… As calm as Dante Elephante come across here, distrust is pretty crucial advice for both junkies and their enabling junkees.

This tune, along with the rest of the LP, is refined by the psych-fuzz hands of producer Jonathan Rado, one half of Foxygen. Keep an eye out for Dante Elephante’s debut, Anglo-Saxon Summer, out 10/2 from Lolipop Records. In the meantime, check out their previous German Aquatics EP on soundcloud. – Brian J.K. Regan

Mating Ritual is the project of Ryan Marshall Lawson, a songwriter whose aiming for a new wave-inspired sound that’s both immediate and evocative. His latest single, "I Wear Glasses", pushes forward a danceable melody with its delectable glittering synths and spindly guitar lines. Lawson’s ability to write singles that instantly grab your attention proves his days as a recluse inside a cave in the Valley, as he once stated, are numbered. 

Dark wave-leaning MXMS are skillfully blurring the line between brooding atmosphere and chart accesibility. Singer Ariel Levitan croons with a lazy drawl reminiscent of Lana del Rey as Jeremy Dawson steadily plays the keys on their recent single "Rx", which adopts a new age sensibility without ceasing to explore the heart’s dark corners. Even the name of the track alludes to industrial veterans Skinny Puppy, though even if the similarities aren’t as obvious there’s still a good chance the duo does has a deep appreciation for gothic poetry. Now they’ve released another curveball in the form of "Anna", a breathy pop track that rumbles with an ominous and eerie feel that truly gets under your skin. The duo find meaning in just the littlest details – how Dawson will raise the tension by slightly changing the course of the track with a soft, intoxicating key stroke to temper Levitan’s threatening, yet seductive voice. 

The single compliments their recently released OMG / RX split 7", which is now available via Grand Jury. And make sure to catch them play at House of Blues Anaheim on July 30 before they embark on a small-scale tour that covers most U.S. major cities. – Juan Rodríguez

NoMBe, the nom de plume of one Noah McBeth, first caught the attention of many with his breakthrough single "California Girls". It introduced the world to an artist with a quietly confident demeanor, his smooth vocal inflection perfect for the track’s loungy psychedelic mood. Now he’s revealed the second single off his promising second EP Mood Indigo, "Miss Mirage", an austere and seductive listen with a dreamy, prop-pop flair that wanders about idly in a delirious state.

Listen to "Miss Mirage" below, and make sure to keep an eye out for Mood Indigo later this year. – Juan Rodríguez

Female singer/songwriter and recent Deli Artist of the Month nominee Oriel Poole has made music for years, her distinct sound summing up for impending debut EP Sunday. “High Fidelity,” released just over a week ago, intrigues enough at first listen. Poole offers us her soulful nasal coo, one that’s grown more distinct across her body of work— like Joanna Newsom dropping into a disco, especially once opening up after the first chorus. It’s apt shuffling music, not meant to blow the roof off the party but keeping an unavoidable groove that guarantees it won’t be ending early either. You can find out where she’ll be next and check out the rest of her tunes on her soundcloud. – Brian J.K. Regan

High Tides is the synth duo of Warren Kroll and Steven Lutes. Based in Malibu, California, it’s apt that their latest single, "Coastal Cruise ’86", has an ambient, waterside feel. The dark delicate vibes of the album create an illuminating, nostalgic feeling reminiscent of the 80’s, a decade I wasn’t even alive for, yet the feeling thrives for it.  Their newest album, self-titled and released on TOBACCO’s own label, Rad Cult, features six original songs that can be streamed now over at Noisey. Button up the Hawaiian shirts and suck down the piña coladas for this must have vacation-themed album. Sail along to the acid daydream collaboration of High Tides on July 31st. – Kayla Hay

All Walls is the new musical endeavor comprised of Keith Waggoner and Samson Crouppen from locals Holy Folk. This side project has more of a film music approach, inspired by Waggoner’s experience with score writing.

The duo will release their self-titled debut on August 14 via Silver Side. Leading into the release, they’ll be celebrating the 7" release of their single "Spider" with a vinyl release show at Origami Vinyl on July 17. Check out the pulpy video for "Spider" below, which featurs Icelandic singer/songwriter Gréta. 

Having been a bedbug victim whose still scarred by the experience, I must admit that the name Bedbugs immediately piqued my interest with both curiosity and horror. What I discovered was a trio who likes to play harmonious garage pop that clutches onto your body like those blood sucking little vampires. Which, frankly, creates the opposite effect as far as music is concerned, as their pleasurable array of vicious hooks and crunching guitar leads triggers some very good feelings. The Thousand Oaks trio recently released their EP Alone, six tracks of tight melodies with a punk-pop flair that are also informed by fifties rock n’ roll. Their motto, inscribed on their bandcamp page, reads "Nothing’s gonna change". But cheer up, guys: with songs as good as these the future’s looking bright. – Juan Rodríguez

Sneakout (neé Victory) starts "Savior" bold, in terms of both frontman Robert Fleming’s canyon-spanning vocals and the claim implied by the title. The lyrics solidify it: he’s saving us from the doldrums of life, promising to be a "razor" cutting us free in order to "get us living," guaranteeing it with Southern-fried riffs. Fittingly, there’s a secret agent strut to the fuzzy guitars, making a good soundtrack for 1960s teens looking to escape home for the night and feel like badasses as they do. But Sneakout isn’t pinned to any one vibe: you can find a sassy, hard-edged cover of Lana Del Rey’s "West Coast" on his website, which also links to all his available music. Grab a free download of "Savior," and get excited thinking about the possible ways Fleming can dress up his funk in the future. – Brian J.K. Regan

Singer-songwriter Jackie Cohen recalls the best of early 70’s psychedelic-folk with her withdrawn, honey-toned vocal inflection, a trend that has been proliferating in the last few years with artists such as Jessica Pratt and Amen Dunes. Her first single, "Bold", is a drifting slow burner that showcases her intoxicating country drawl. With the help of madcap Foxygen member Jonathan Rado, who helped arrange the song’s twangy, strung-out composition, the sparsity of the track gives Cohen the opportunity to daydream in desirous pleasure as its gentle atmosphere caresses her over an overcast, cloudy haze. 

The electro-pop power duo of ROOM8 composers Ezra Reich and Nic Johns recently released their newest single, “No Hard Feelings”. Accompanied by King Deco to create the catchiest breakup song to date, the track is coated with an uplifting dance beat to ignite the fire in your swelling heart. An upbeat bittersweet ending to a fling that was never meant to last, it seems as if Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist was missing a hidden gem. First time I played this song, I actually was going through a breakup that wasn’t all that important to me (regrettably) and ended up walking through downtown with noise cancelling headphones, (embarrassingly) strutting to the beat of this song. ROOM8 has a way of getting inside your head, soul and in your copy of Rolling Stone Magazine, as they were listed in the Top 20 Albums of the Year for producing Kitten’s self titled LP. “No Hard Feelings” reminds us that breakups are difficult but not impossible to get over. It gets better. – Kayla Hay