From the goofy band name to the crass track titles right down to the muddy-as-hell mix, Ace Quaalude‘s debut aq is the rare kind of album that manages to look and sound like it cares very little what you think of it while still coming off as unpretentious and—more importantly—highly enjoyable. To make a series of recordings so naturally slick (think Fat White Family with a gothic streak) takes serious chops. The sense of "bedroom fuckery that came out way better than expected" is strong here, and the result is an enjoyably raw and honest EP. Check it out or don’t; Ace Quaalude will be having a chuckle about it either way. –Austin Phy

Every now and then, we have music come our way that feels both fresh and like something faintly familiar that we’ve trying to find for ages, even if the sound of the track hitting our inbox is the first indication we have that it exists. That’s the case with Sun Seeker‘s upcoming EP. The echo-for-days vocal production, jaunty piano line, and pedal steel vibes of Georgia Dust blend together like a Southern-bred Jeff Lynne watching dusk set in. It’s the kind of shimmery trot that could easily give into a schmaltzy, sentimental build-and-peak, but Sun Seeker wisely decides to shield their eyes and let this low-key tune burn out all on its own.

Check out the A-side below and click here to preorder the 45. Given that this is a Third Man release, you know you’re going to be getting some primo wax for the price of admission. Speaking of bargains you just can’t ignore, make sure to drop by Grimey’s this Saturday (02.06) at 5pm for a FREE in-store performance. –Austin Phy

Fresh off the polls, the results for our Artist of the Year Readers’ poll are in! We’d like to thank everyone who voted in support of their favorite artists, and a hardy congrats to everyone who made the poll this year!

1. All of our top nominees brought their A-game when it came to letting fans know about the poll, but the long arm of Smooth Hound Smith (pictured above) had the reach to snag them the top spot. This bluesy-folk duo had a busy 2015-2016 between putting out a new album, releasing a couple live videos while maintaining a demanding tour schedule, and even dropping by the Daytrotter studio to record a killer session. Now they can add winning the top spot as the Deli Nashville Artist of the Year to that list!

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2/3. If anyone ever tells you that a single vote doesn’t mean anything, point them right here to our TIE for second place. Terrible came out swinging with a commanding early lead, but Damned Rivers wasn’t about to sit back and let the poll slide by them. Both groups put up a strong fight for the top spot in our Alt-Folk category and, listening to these groups side-by-side, we can’t help but think this is a great chance to get two top-notch bands talking to each other about sharing the stage sometime. Or maybe Damned Rivers could make an appearance on that rad-ass live series Terrible has been producing. How about it, guys?

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4. In fourth place is electronic dance-freakout project Night Auditor. Their live show is not to be missed, and we happen to know that they’re working on funding a new album, so how about you click on over to their Bandcamp and congratulate them by picking up a tape copy of the excellent Romance EP?

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5. In fifth place is the bluesy-as-all-getout Bentley Caldwell. He released a way-solid album back in 2014, which you should check out at your earliest convenience.

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Again, congrats to everyone who was included! Our nominees went out of their way to promote the poll, and they certainly deserve your attention.

If you want to take a look at the results organized by genre, check them out here:
ALT FOLK – ALT ROCK – AMERICANA – ELECTRONIC – INDIE POP – INDIE/PSYCH ROCK – REVIVAL ROCK – SINGER-SONGWRITER

Thanks to everyone who shared and voted, and remember to keep an eye on the Deli year-round for all the freshest coverage on new music coming from Nashville!

The Folks at The Deli

Glass Castles isn’t an album about reinventing the wheel. It’s an album about analyzing the wheel, studying its materials, seeing what makes it turn, and then taking the knowledge, tweaking it, and updating it with a modern frame of reference. The instrumentation is pure classic Nashville country—and it works beautifully. Adkins’ voice ranges from Dylan-esque to a hiss almost reminiscent of Marc Bolan, but far more confident and in-your-face than the sexual purrs of the God of Glam.

Andrew Adkins is a musician who knows what he’s talking about, and he’s more than ready to show you his sources. Get familiar with Glass Castles below and be sure to keep Askins on your radar. -Austin Phy

Desire for Lust is the soundtrack for a night alone in your bedroom when it all hits you. It’s the music that kicks in after a slammed door and holds your hand while you walk home in the rain. There’s a sense of catharsis here, but Slanted is anything but enchanted. As the title suggests, there’s a sense of longing that carries this EP. Not even a longing, but a longing for a longing, a want to want, an unfulfilled wish to look forward to something.

Fortunately for the rest of us, the age of instant gratification means you won’t be stuck longing helplessly for this record, which is embedded below. -Austin Phy

John Hughes is dead and gone, but the unshakeable melancholy of growing up is stronger than ever. Your dusty old VHS of The Breakfast Club doesn’t even have to leave the shelf to stand as a potent symbol of nostalgia and the loss that comes with the passing of time. Evan Hickman, the man behind Regatta, might or might not have any physical VHS tapes on his shelf, but he has a few figurative ones lodged in his spirit. His debut self-titled EP is a quick listen, clocking in at a snack-sized eight minutes with songs like sound-sketches, but what’s here is worth checking out.

The existential disenchantment is going to hit you one way or another, so you’d best just lean into it and hit the stream below. -Austin Phy

The debut EP by Soft Bodies is a record in constant motion. Not motion like a freight train barreling down the line or an airplane dipping and diving through the clouds, but motion like something more organic and common to us all. It pulses, it waves, it flows, and when it skips a beat and jumps right for you, it’s both startling and beautiful. Though the tracks here range from laid back 90’s house fare (in the best way possible) to funky-as-it-gets, they move as smoothly from one to the next as they do from verse to chorus.

Catch Soft Bodies this Saturday (01.30) at Cafe Coco and pick up a free copy of the EP while you’re there. -Austin Phy

“Excuse me,” the disgusted-looking girl on the cover seems to be saying, “but who the fuck do you think you are?” Disgust is the word of the day when it comes to describing Sc’UZI, debut EP from local boys UZi. They’re disgusted, they’re mad, and they’re ready to have a good time with it—all while being as loud and raucous as they can. That said, these guys didn’t get so caught up in a feeling that they forgot to put on that final layer of polish. This a sleek effort, and the perfect vibe to keep your spirits up on a snowy day like today.

Check out the stream below, pick up a tape, and blast it ’til the neighbors complain. –Austin Phy

There’s a lot to like about the ghastly, head-bobbing “Sugar and Milk,” lead single off Andy Ferro’s upcoming Muirhead. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Andy is no newcomer in town for his piece of the Nashville pie—his main gig, Ranch Ghost, has been stacking out local garage rock bills for years now. Though a solo effort through and through (save for some dreamy keys and sound effects by Mitch Jones of Fly Golden Eagle), the tape player Andy used to record the album comes through like a second member. The whole sonic direction here is analog tape embodied; it’s slight, it’s fleeting, it’s tender, and those who take the time to get to know it will find something beautiful and inimitable.

Consider us stoked for the full release of Muirhead on February 26 via Rough Beast Records. –Austin Phy

The debut EP from Charlie & The Evil Mothers is a warbly, shimmering treat. But don’t let those shaky-sounding descriptors fool you, as the foundation here is rock-solid. The EP is mighty bluesy at points but doesn’t wallow; the band’s bedroom pop sensibilities make certain of that. It’s the experimental streak showcased most clearly on tracks like “Tin Roof,” a drum-machine-centered easy rider, that sets this release apart from every other garage revival album of the past couple years while still showing proper respect to the same influences.

Bundle up and catch Charlie & The Evil Mothers tonight (01.18) at the East Room with The Ron Gallo III, Coin Purse, and the Minks. -Austin Phy

2015 may be behind us, but we here at the Deli spent the past year with our ears tuned to the future. Now that the dust from our most recent journey around the sun has settled, we’re excited to reveal the results of our Open Submissions poll. We asked local Nashville artists to submit their work, and the list below reflects our editors’ rankings of what we received. Next we’ll be revealing the results of our local jurors’ nominations, followed by one more round of voting by our readers and our writers. Stay tuned and keep it coming in 2016, Nashville.

Step Sisters Score: 7.5/10

10 String Symphony Score: 7.5/10

Cosmic Coast Score: 7.33/10

Birdtalker Score: 7.33/10

Smooth Hound Smith Score: 7/10

Damned Rivers Score: 7/10

Annalise Emerick Score: 7/10

Honorable Mentions:

Erin Rae; Robert Sieben’s Sidecar Sazerac; Jack Berry; Oh Grandpa; Ashley Leone; The Drag; The Ignorist; Brave Town; Future Thieves; Gnarly Parkers; Michael McQuaid

Thick. There it is, right on the front of the album. Thick. Before you even hear a sound, you know what you’re about to get. Thick. Then the music starts and you get a taste of those riffs. What about those riffs? Thick. They’re thick.

Every part of "Vox Pop," the lead single off the upcoming EP from local four-piece Step Sisters, suggests a nice pop tune that was left out in the sun a little too long. From the fuzzed-out bass to the dripping, decaying vocal effects, what you get is a soupy mixture that remains undeniably irresistible.

Stream "Vox Pop" below and catch Step Sisters live at Foobar Too next Tuesday, 01.19. -Austin Phy