Porno Portal to Florida is a duo effort by guitarist/vocalist Joseph Luna and drummer/vocalist Joanna Almeida. The music of PPTF is a twisted conglomerate of thrash, post hardcore, prog metal, and DIY punk, where each song is an intense journey of aggressive musicality, and a steadfast commitment to personal discipline. Their newest release, the grimacing self-titled seven track EP, flies by in its initial run time, but has a whole lot of baggage to unpack. The hardcore duo have put out an exciting release of pure noise and controlled chaos that you can stream below. -Charley Ruddell  

Fresh to Boston from Puerto Rico, Mellodrone duo Ian Vidal and vocalist Laura Calderón have released a compelling debut EP that channels the melodically ambient atmosphere of French noir and avant-pop. The three track EP is a breeze of fresh, but stoic pop music, reminiscent of the cultured, academic backbone of bands like Stereolab and Broadcast. As they prepare for their splash into the Boston music scene, get familiar with the new wave stylings of Mellodrone below. -Charley Ruddell   

The debut EP from Boston’s Mariam Saleh, the sole force behind BONG WISH, is lush with evocative imagery and sound of the late 60s. Saleh’s darkly hippie-chic and mystical, bubbly songs are a nostalgic reminder of a time in pop music where fantasy and the occult were trendy. When late 60s pop culture was soaked in the Manson family and LSD, popular music absorbed the culture’s weirdness. Bong Wish is a byproduct of this time, with its airy orchestral arrangements and spooky charm. Get lost in the weirdness of Bong Wish below. -Charley Ruddell  

Mud Fox Tribe, a new musical project consisting of members of the vintage-rock-and-roll group The FORZ, have released two b-sides intended to support their debut single, “She Slipped Away”. The two songs, the FORZ-era “Sent From Another”, and the re-mixed “Pipes”, are both spitting images of the British Invasion period of rock and roll, easily passing as a couple of “far out” Lennon/McCartney compositions from 1965. Though this type of songwriting and production could be perceived as novelty, Mud Fox Tribe bring a level of sincerity and commitment to the psych-laced songs that make them stand out as unique, and simply well done. Check out the songs below. -Charley Ruddell

Since her first release in 2015, Sidney Gish has put out four full length albums, an undeniably impressive feat for a 20 year old undergrad student at Northeastern University. Her latest album, the delightful No Dogs Allowed, is every bit as charming as her previous releases, but with a noticeable edge up on production, a task that Gish undertook single handedly. At its core, No Dogs Allowed rivals the songwriting prowess of any (Sandy) Alex G record, and shines with its endearing, twee characteristics, reminiscent of a signature K Records release. Gish could surely make Calvin Johnson crack a smile. -Charley Ruddell

Crosswalk Anarchy somehow manage to stuff all of their influences into their music. With elements of out-jazz, angular prog, vibey hip-hop grooves, and new age fusion, the five piece fuse their diverse compositions together with grace and precision. Their newest release, a full length album titled Composite, is a mind bending, genre hopping journey, chocked full of deeply jagged grooves (courtesy of composer Evan Waaramaa) and transcendent highs peaks (driven by talented vocalist Songyi Jeon). Stream the album below. -Charley Ruddell

For those of you scrambling to find something fun on New Year’s Eve, look no further than Allston’s Great Scott. Indie rock sweethearts Speedy Ortiz will ring in the New Year in the staple music venue, along with accompanying acts Ted Leo, Sammus, and Wendy Eisenberg. Speedy Ortiz, originally from Northampton, broke ground in 2015 with the critically heralded Foil Deer. Listen to the band’s newest single, “Screen Gem”, below. –Charley Ruddell

STL GLD, a Boston based hip hop duo comprised of rapper Moe Pope and producer The Arcitype, put out a heavy new video for their single “Hold On”, dramatically depicting three different instances of recent Police Brutality. “Hold On” comes from their sophomore album Torch Song, which won “Album of the Year” at the 2017 Boston Music Awards. Check out the video below. –Charley Ruddell

The Dirty Truckers have been putting out music since the early 2000s, performing their own brand of rowdy, beer soaked pub rock, reminiscent of The Replacements and other barroom mainstays. “Like Him”, their newest single since 2012, follows the Truckers template of high energy rock and roll, raspy vocal lines, and catchy hooks that anybody could sing, despite their BAC. “Like Him” is accompanied by another new Truckers song, the rootsy, mid-tempo Americana ballad, “Boston Wrangler”. Check out the tracks below. –Charley Ruddell

BAERD is a seven piece progressive-folk outfit most known for their expansive arrangements and chilling atmosphere. On their newest single, “Out Of The”, the celestial atmosphere of the song hovers gently above the group’s traditionally Americana foundation, while utilizing breathy orchestral arrangements reminiscent of Radiohead’s In Rainbows. The result is a fresh, transcendent revitalization of new age folk music. Stream the track below. -Charley Ruddell

In early October, experimental beatmaker Christian Tremblay, otherwise known as Catman, released his crisp debut EP Liminal, a collection of hazy, glitched out beats reminiscent of Los Angeles beatmakers Flying Lotus and Mndsgn. “Garden”, a single song collaboration between Tremblay and heady guitar-smith RVRSR, was released in late November on SoundCloud. While still capitalizing on the Catman beat model of stutter steps and whirling synths, RVRSR brings a soft, cool edge to the bubbling track. Listen below. – Charley Ruddell

For many bands just starting out, the first album is viewed as an experiment with a questionable final product, or a nervous test drive with challenges at every juncture. In the case of Jamaica Plains’ folk-indie group Modern Painters, the confidence, sincerity, and precision in their self-titled debut is not unlike a veteran band with several good albums under their belt. Lead singer Gabe Goodman sits soundly on top of the crisply produced album, echoing the sounds of  Andrew Bird’s vocal talent and Father John Misty’s storytelling. At its peak intensity, Modern Painters mirrors the exciting points of Arcade Fire’s first EP, while their softer dynamics resemble the gentle cruise of Real Estate’s soft rock. Check out the album below, or on Spotify. -Charley Ruddell