The only thing that I’m truly apologetic about is that I’m having a really difficult time jamming Boston-based We Can All Be Sorry neatly into the lines of any clear genre. The band’s latest release, Weekend Sorry, is arguably their most acessible album, and one where they really seem to have gelled comfortably into (mostly) coherent grooves (think the power pop vibes of old-school Weezer), but throwing adjectives out there like punky, poppy, jazzy, or post-whatever really does the band a disservice. Sure, there are muscular melody lines and a powerful sense of song structure, but there’s also something delightfully off-kilter about the band’s sound. There’s the almost-reckless display of atonal play, unexpected chord progressions, and clever use of dynamics that manages to be salient on the recording, but never overtly so. It’s a delicate balance that screams classical training, but is so totally devoid of pretension or obvious eye-roll-inducing technique-flexing that would cloud the real meat of the songs. The result is a refreshing display of talent that never edges toward tipping its own hand. It’s also 10 tracks of kick-ass tunes you’ll find hard to not be humming the hooks of. Check out We Can All Be Sorry streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

The Boston-based trio of "sarah, jake and derek" have given themselves one of those classic band names that I’m a little bothered I didn’t think of first: Fucko. Their latest release, Dealing with the Weird, is a fun punk LP–catchy as all hell, tongue-in-cheek at times, but not to be confused for an album without a ton of heart. Singer/guitarist Sarah, whether belting out hooks or delivering her lyrics dryly, sings with a relatable earnestness that is instantly translatable–even on a first-blush listen. But then again, who out there isn’t dealing with their own weird? Check out Fucko streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

We’re exactly a month into Fall and faced with those chilly Autumn nights, it’s really easy to get idealistic about summer–warm sand, boardwalk popsicles, and top-down car rides are starting to feel more and more like functions of the past.  Big Surr, with all their beach-poppy swagger, surf beats, and fuzzy guitar licks, feel like summer but lack those rose-colored glasses we tend to don everytime cold weather rolls around. This is summer, pit stains and all, where the skin that’s not covered by your shorts ends up sticking to your car seat. But this is what we love about Big Surr: there’s a real rawness in the music created by their intersection of jangly guitar voicings and lackadaisical vocals. Baked + Bruised, the band’s 3-track EP, is a good example of this and throughout the album the band manages to create infectiously catchy melodies, all while maintaining their lo-fi allure. You can check out Big Surr playing live at Charlie Bob’s on 10.30, but be sure to stream them below in the meantime.-Olivia Sisinni