This past Friday, New Brunswick band Modern Chemistry announced that they will be self-releasing their debut album  "Everything in Gold" " on July 7th, as well as going on a summer tour with iconic alternative/emo band Taking Back Sunday and hardcore group Every Time I Die. Along with the news came the record’s first single, titletrack “Everything in Gold,” an enthralling three-and-a-half minute song that builds from soothing, clean electric guitars and echoing vocals, into a dense and droney alternative pop/rock sound. Be sure to check out their single below as well as their tour dates this coming July, kicking off with two shows at Webster Hall on July 14-15. – Pearse Devlin

“Soulful Psych Rock Explosion” is the listed genre on Lovejoy’s Facebook page, and while the jury is still out on whether or not that moniker will ever gain traction, it seems to hit the nail on the head when describing their two singles “Phoebe” and “Against Me.” The Chicago band’s music features wavy psych elements, catchy guitar chords and memorable alt-rock choruses, as well as wobbling organs that fit nice and snug in the background–keeping both tracks colorfully unpredictable. Be sure to check out the band’s final summer tour performance at Schubas on July 23rd. -Pearse Devlin

Chicago’s Ratboys will be kicking off their jam-packed summer with a record release party at the end of June at Schubas. The now five-piece band, who describes its style as “post-country, indie rock”, is set to release another LP under Topshelf Records entitled GN on June 30th before heading off to perform all over the east coast. As for now, the band has released three singles off the album, offering elements of folk, country, and indie, accompanied by the gentle vocals of Julia Steiner.  The three singles follow a loud-quiet-loud dynamic, often building from folky, post-country atmospheres towards uplifting and more driven moments. You can celebrate their album release at Schubas on June 30th where they’ll perform with Mother Evergreen, Sincere Engineer, and Special Death. – Pearse Devlin

Montclair-based band trü released their debut self-titled EP this past Friday, and it is a heavy blend of garage, punk, and emo. The four songs off this project are packed with driven guitar, bass, and drums topped with serene, lugubrious vocals. Their melodic yet messy and big sound seems influenced by bands like Basement and Balance & Composure, yet offers a taste of something more; whether it’s the more alt-rock ‘Decemberists’ sound off of “Kirsti”, or the clean intro from their enthralling closing track, “Hand in Hand” (streaming), Trü seems to be pushing their boundaries beyond their influences. Be sure to keep an eye out for any upcoming shows. – Pearse Devlin    

Rob Romano and his New Brunswick based band Professor Caveman just released a super intriguing and borderline bizarre EP, titled Vol. 3. Their first work since 2014, the record is a completely different project than their previous garage/punk release Vol. 2. Here, Romano provides a unique combination of funk, synthpop, psychedelia and lo-fi sounds, offering an unpredictable songwriting style reminiscent of a more subdued early Foxygen. The first half of Vol. 3 is jam-packed with a variety of sonic ideas. The luscious, crisp guitar chords on opening track “Lemon Water” become entirely unfamiliar within two minutes: they melt, blend, and evolve into something else entirely; cryptic and fuzzy vocals mumble barely articulate lyrics with a South American flavor, wallowing into ever-changing bass lines and drum beats, all accompanied by a horn section. The second track “Tappy Tappy Bling Bling” is not that different sonically, but takes a slightly different route, with synths and wah filtered guitars that sound at once loungy and psychedelic. The second half of Vol. 3 balances these aspects with an even more relaxed vibe similar to artists like TOPS and Mac Demarco. Be sure to check out their Facebook page for any upcoming live shows. – Pearse Devlin

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best psych songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

This Saturday, Chicago’s Famous Laughs will be hitting the stage in their hometown at the Hideout. The ambient-rock group has put out a few tracks throughout the years on SoundCloud, more recently with a chilling six-and-a-half minute song titled, “The Handwriting Sings”. The track features an ambient layering of electric guitars that mesh smoothly with repeated and chilling lyrics, a melancholic sound reminiscent of “Sleep Apnea” by Beach Fossils in a more disordered, disjointed fashion (psych rock aficionados will also hear a hint of Syd Barrett). Be sure to check them out as they open up for Fire-Tools and Horse Lords on June 10^th. – Pearse Devlin