In case you were planning on dressing as a folk singer for this Halloween, then We Are The Woods will happily provide the soundtrack. The new album from NYC folk trio, the peculiarly titled “Whales & Roses,” will be released on the eve of the year’s scariest and most sugar-filled day, October 30th. One month before the record’s release, the band will treat NYC with a hometown concert at The Living Room September 30th. The show will allow fans the pleasure of witnessing the fantastic harmonies of singers Jessie Murphy and Marcia Webb, who are backed by percussionist Tyler Beckwith. Listen to the upcoming album’s title track below. Josh Johnson

Something about Slothrust suggests a taste for destruction, starting with their record’s desolated cover art and ending in the systematic perversion of anything comforting. The most linear of their tracks are likely to collapse into noise, as well as any pattern is to break down. Tied together by dragged-out blues and a refined taste for gravelly guitar and bass, this female-led three piece based in Brooklyn benifits from a jazz/blues formation, and masters with amazing ease the art of keeping the audience hanging to a chord. Most obvious when they prolong instrumental sections, or casually pull in and out of a frenzy as they’ll do on the folk-coated ‘7:30′, they’ve got a clear sense of their instruments’ strengths, and how to make the best use of their textures. Surely one the most creative & refreshing acts to take a stab at grunge over here. – Tracy Mamoun

Two months from now, two of Brooklyn’s marginal punk-driven acts will be setting off for a joint series of 24 shows from NY to the West Coast, concluding in Pennsylvania right before Christmas. O’Death, who recently released a new album ‘Outside’ (Ernest Jenning Records), is an alt-country seven piece, which for a fresh take on bluegrass/folk sounds, sends fusing through its circuits the respective momentums of punk and metal.

The World/Inferno Friendship Society, i.e one of those bands whose name it may take a while to remember, work the other way round. Essentially a punk outfit, they tie into their music elements of klezmer (Eastern European Jewish folk), adding a festive touch to their indignated tales of women and politics. Whilst on the roads, they’ll be promoting the upcoming release (announced for this winter) of their new single, which comes with its own Turnstile Comix edition. Kicking off on November 23rd at Amityville’s Ollie’s Point, the tour will end on December 22nd at Lancaster, PA’s Chameleon. Streaming below, O’Death’s latest music video for their song ‘Black Dress‘.

From a debut EP six years ago to a first album released at the end of July, Viva Mayday may have broadened its palette, but help onto the politically conscious spirit that gives their music a pleasant taste of peaceful protest.. A long road takes us from 100 Years to Consuela, to meet at the end a band that opened its arms wider to its beloved reggae beats, funk or blues, delivering a refreshing cocktail of influences set to tickle the roots of its indie rock. Currently pulling together some new material, the band will be playing its next show during the CMJ marathon, on October 17th at Brooklyn’s Bar Matchless. Read Tracy Mamoun’s Q&A with the band here. 

Vanessa Bley, who at the start of the year released her own solo debut EP, has now officially teamed up with the two friends who’ve been playing with her since the start of this venture. Under the name Beast Patrol, the three of them are on the way towards a first output as a band, Fierce & Grateful EP, which they introduced about a month ago with vaporous post-punk jam ‘Plaster‘. Streaming below is ‘Disbeliever‘, the latest preview, a glimpse of the fierce side we didn’t get to meet yet coming through ferocious vocals and angry drums; nothing like Plaster, no smothered dance beats, this track’s got a message to deliver and is going for it. Available September 25th (via their own label Space Camp Radio), the EP will be welcomed on October 3rd with a show at the Bowery Electric.

NYC’s Corporal, who are fronted by actor Michael Shannon, will join Less the Band, who are unconventionally frontman-less, for a show at Le Poisson Rouge on September 30th.  The frantic punk-folk of Shannon’s band will create an intriguing contrast with Less the Band’s melodic brand of indie rock. Shannon, who will play General freaking Zod in the upcoming Superman reboot “Man of Steel,” will likely intertwine Corporal’s songs with support for another four years of Barack Obama, especially with the election right around the corner. Listen to one of Corporal’s Obama supporting songs, logically titled “Obama 1,” streaming below. – Josh Johnson

In between dorm life and mid-term exams, NYU trio Town Hall released their full-length debut “Roots and Bells” this spring. Though maybe not your typical college undergrads, the Brooklyn trio met as students at the Clive Davis Institute of Recording Music in 2010 and have been jamming together ever since.  With the poppy, upbeat vocals of Stefan Weiner and Phoebe Ryan, the band charges through “Roots and Bells” with songs about mischief and longing that mix playful humor with a diverse set of stirring folk melodies. Joined by Plume Giant and The Due Diligence, they’ll be starting off their fall season on September 29th at Shea Stadium. Read Devon Antonetti’s interview with the band here. 

The folks over at Stereogum have just published the list of their 40 favorite new bands, so here’s a little round up of the local talent to be found on said list, led on the NYC front – no surprise there – by Harlem’s loudmouth Azaelia Banks. But what NEXT?

Second in line (the list is organize alphabetically) comes new Brooklyn four-piece DIIV (formerly Dive) who after three singles and a full-length has found itself a decent crowd and a place under the spotlight with its dream pop delights, followed by Ice Choir‘s punchy synthpop straight from an 80s flashback. After a cast of four up-and-coming rappers (who’ll be covered shortly by brokeMc) we find two of the city’s hardworking young rock&roll trios Nude Beach and Sleepies (pictured) – both of which released new albums this year and are gradually attracting their well deserved lot of attention. Finally we get to TEEN, new indie pop project by ex-Here We Go Magic keyboard player Kristina Lieberson, which only emerged on the radar about a month ago ago with a debut album ‘In Limbo‘ and clotures the list – that’s what you get when you pick a band name starting with "T". Ten out of 40, with a list that spreads over to Europe? Not bad at all New York – check these bands out on the playlist below! 

After six weeks on the road and their third coast-to-coast tour, Brooklyn-based Outernational is back on their home turf. This Friday, September 14, the five-piece will not only be marking their homecoming but also celebrating the release of their latest EP, “Future Rock,” with an intimate show at 92YTribeca. Joining them will be youthful and precocious soulful rockers, The Skins. Outernational’s Future Rock can be streamed here. The band recently received coverage on NY1’s Sound Advice segment back-to-back with Madonna and Bob Mould, announcing this Friday’s gig and showcasing the “We Are All Illegal’s” video. Come “future rock” with Outernational at 10pm; all ages welcome! – Meijin Bruttomesso

Part-time residents of the subway’s best busking spots, playing their sets to Time Square’s puzzled commuters, You Bred Raptors? (the name, a line out of Jurassic Park) is an instrumental trio from Astoria, NY with a taste for strange performances. Over an EP and two full lengths – the latest of which, Hammond, was released at the start of the year -the band deploys a rich catalogue of experimentations ranging from unique orchestrations to ambitious takes on some familiar patterns as varied as funk, metal or even celtic rhythmics – all served by a cast of drums, cello, 8-string bass & the occasional keys, bearing freakish masks from ghostface to grimacing jester. A tastefully weird, out-of-time local gem straight from the city’s underground that you can catch on September 21st at Galapagos Arts Center for Rebecca Brand’s new album release show. – Tracy Mamoun

JBM, the moniker of singer-songwriter Jesse Marchant, will be on tour this fall opening for buzzy British band Alt J. The tour begins tomorrow, September 12th, with a hometown show for JBM at the Bowery Ballroom. Marchant has recently expanded upon his humble acoustic beginnings with the release of his second full-length record, “Stray Ashes.” The album finds Marchant experimenting with loops, drums, and the electric guitar, resulting in a fuller, more intricate sound. “On Fire On a Tightrope” showcases JBM’s airy and majestic ambiance that simultaneously conjures a sense of warmth and emptiness. Check out Marchant and his band on September 12th at the Bowery Ballroom, and watch the video for “On Fire On a Tightrope” below. – Josh Johnson

Get pumped – The Muscle Milk EP is here!  It’s hard to find instrumental music that carries weight these days, but thanks to NYC’s Hot Sugar you get the brick in your stomach that you always wanted.  However, instead of feeling weighed down and sleepy, this brick lifts you with effervescent beat-trickery, catchy melodies, and funky synth work.  If Kool Keith went mute and was forced to make instrumental music, it would be Hot Sugar.  Go download the Muscle Milk EP right now and let the expansion process begin. – brokeMC