When Wrong Body celebrated the release of its latest album, BIG, it sold out O’Brien’s Pub in Allston (that’s a neighborhood of Boston, for all you non-Bay Staters), so it’s clear that the guys have struck a chord with their 90s-alternative throwback style. There are plenty of highlights across BIG’s cascade of tight riffs and gruff vocals. For instance, take a listen to the beautiful layered guitars that span “Medal of Merit,” at times scored by vocalist Bryan Mastergeorge’s cries of, “Will you carry me? Will you bury me?” The band slows things down later on “King Krusher,” replacing the shouts with a charming falsetto and a sea of guitars both distorted and acoustic. If you’ve been dreaming of a grunge revival album that hits all the right notes, download BIG on Bandcamp now. – Jake Reed

These days, finding a nearly 40-year old, never-heard-before punk gem is like finding a needle in a haystack. “Better Off Dead,” unleashed in 1978 and still the only release from Boston’s La Peste, will be re-issued by Wharf Cat Records on April 19 – or as you might better know it, Record Store Day. Check out the unrelenting eponymous A-side below, and make sure to get your hands on the limited edition vinyl release when it hits stores later this month. – Jake Reed

Hey New Englanders – if you’re in New York City this weekend, you’re in luck. Brooklyn’s Relations will celebrate the release of its latest full-length, Songbirds, with the help of Bostonites Guillermo Sexo and Eldridge Rodriguez. Guillermo Sexo’s latest record, last year’s Dark Spring, ranges from spacey (“Dark Spring”) to fuzzy (“Fall Lens”) and points in between. Expect fan favorites from across the band’s catalog, which now spans nearly nine years since the release of its first EP in 2005.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez (real name Cameron Keiber) will bring his deep voice and tracks from his latest album, you are released, which ranges from bluesy to psychedelic (see: “The Big Windup.”) The project and shows supporting it have kept him busy while his band The Beatings remains on hiatus.

If you’re looking for something to do in the Big Apple, show your support tonight at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn at 8 p.m. If you can’t make it, you can still catch Keiber’s solo set Saturday at 5 p.m. at Pianos in New York City. – Jake Reed

LuieGo is taking Massachusetts by storm. As a rapper based in Amherst, he stands out amongst a scene filled to the brim with folk, indie and alt-punk bands. His first mixtape, M.I.A., remains his only major release. The rapper takes on a variety of beats throughout its 12 tracks, peaking on the set’s highlight “Bangin Out,” on which he boasts his coast-to-coast appeal over piano keys and gunshots. While he continues to work on his upcoming second mixtape, Authentic Thoughts, you can catch him with his full live band, the eGOmaniAKs, during his upcoming tour dates throughout April and May. – Jake Reed, @jakejreed

April 4th: Battle Of The Bands at the Student Union at UMass Amherst (MA)
April 5th: Bard College (SMOG) with eGOmaniAKs’ own Mind Of Seul (NY)
April 12th: Mount Holyoke College (MA)
April 30th: UMass Big Chill (Last Day of Classes celebration) on the North Lawn at UMass Amherst
May 1st: Hartwick College (NY)
May 2nd: Amherst College (MA)

After a while, folk music can all seem to blend together into one big sea of acoustic guitars and delicate voices. What makes Boston’s Tall Heights stand out is its beautiful two-part male harmonies, supplied by Tim Harrington and Paul Wright, who, in addition, play guitar and cello, respectively. “Man of Stone,” the title track of the band’s latest release, reaches the emotional heights of Bon Iver’s most memorable work, complete with wailing strings and careful guitar strums. Later on the album, the duo leans more toward traditional folk music on “Flash Boom,” its flawless harmonies never faltering. If they’ve got you captivated, you can check out Tall Heights at their upcoming New England tour dates throughout the end of next month. – Jake Reed

3/27 – Colinsville, CT – Bridge Street Live (with Miss Tess)
4/09 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground (with Wild Child)
4/10 – Cambridge, MA – The SInclar (with Wild Child)
4/24 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
4/26 – Portland, ME – One Longfellow Square (with Ryan Montbleau)

Willow’s Slumlord EP has finally been unleashed after recording delays held back its December release date. The four-song collection begins with the muffled vocals and layered guitars of “Fixtures," and things get even trippier on “Colors,” where warbling vocals and whistles fade in and out as guitars bounce off the walls of the nearly percussion-less production. The set closes with the sleepy “Breathe Water,” which also acts as the first release from BlueLung, the band’s upcoming full-length debut. While a release date for the album has yet to be announced, you can keep tabs on the Providence rockers’ Facebook page to find out more about the band’s music and upcoming shows. – Jake Reed

The volume pedal turned to the right on WEIRDHEAD’s cover should clue you in to one thing: Pachangacha’s latest release is going to be a loud album. A sea of fuzz is consistently present but doesn’t shroud the album’s other standout moments, like the unexpected falsetto on “Amphetamine” and the “Oh yeah!” hook on “Boobies,” which seems to be a concise way to explain how the band feels about them. Hooks are certainly a strong suit for the band, whether coming from the group’s vocalist, like on “Boobies,” or guitarist, such as on “Underneath Girl.” Put them on your playlist now and check out Pachangacha at their upcoming New England tour dates, listed below. – Jake Reed

3.26.14- The Bubble Bowl, New Britain CT
3.27.14- Great Scott, Allston, MA
4.10.14- Floor Music Lounge, Florence, MA
4.13.14. Amherst, MA (with The Weaks)

If your playlist is lacking something a little more relaxed, perfect for hanging with friends or a long drive, we recommend Montpelier’s Loupo. The hip-hop producer crafts beats stuffed with samples and the production tics necessary to make an instrumental track stand out without vocals from a featured artist. On “GottaGo!!” he turns a vocal sample into its own wah-wahing instrument, and on his latest, “GritZZ,” guitar and drum loops cycle as clanking piano keys reverberate into the distance. Of course, Loupo’s experimental creations are ripe for the picking by up-and-coming rappers – take a listen to Notation and Chel Strong’s “To The Sky,” a song released earlier this month that was helmed by the Vermont producer. – Jake Reed

Not much information is offered about house sounds, a short gem of an EP released to Bandcamp by d (aka Danielle Capalbo). The lo-fi album features minimal production and instrumentation, mostly relying on guitar and Capalbo’s never-showy voice. Its six short songs are as beautiful as they are muddled, her harmonies often hidden beneath the thick reverb of the guitar. house sounds appears to be an intended accompaniment to “Waking Up: A Zine About Self-Discovery,” a literary magazine Capalbo created with her own writing and photography, which can be purchased on d’s Bandcamp now. – Jake Reed

Glass Arrowhead explains The Beginning as an attempt to break into new, “more serious” territory after primarily pumping out trap and dubstep jams. The result is breezy and light while still showing off his skills on the boards. For instance, “C++ Shells” melds a bubbly synth with flute flourishes and drums that drop in and out with ease. The collection’s more serious direction was inspired by “Goodbye Again,” a slow-moving ambient piece, accented by an 8-bit synth that grows more present and more distorted as it moves forward. When the drums enter in the song’s final two minutes, it becomes something of a dance-floor stomper – albeit not something you might hear in your standard Top 40 DJ set. We’ll be looking forward to more from this guy in the future. – Jake Reed 

Recorded in a Vermont basement in January, Nautica’s winter is a charmingly lo-fi set. The four-track EP begins with the fuzzy opening riff of “All I Can Be,” which works its way into a catchy, distortion-heavy frenzy of a love song. The trio shows off a softer side on “Whatever You Want to Call It, James,” accompanying the song’s chorus with falsetto harmonies – before immediately turning the guitar effect pedals back on. A recent post on the band’s Facebook page revealed that plans for a short tour later this month have been scrapped, but you can check out the Burlington up-and-comers at the Elks Lodge in Cambridge, MA, on March 23. – Jake Reed

Hartford funk-pop-jazz quintet Ladyhips started off the year with two new releases for its loyal fans – with even more soon to come. The first is “The Crows,” a B-side from 2012’s Best Friends that deviates from the upbeat sound that encapsulated the album. The track is slow-burning, with lyrics to match its apocalyptic, world-is-ending climax: “It’s scary to think that the sand in our hands is fading away,” sings vocalist Sean Rubin, later quipping, “We cannot be trusted … we must stop our beasts from getting the best of us.” The band’s latest release came earlier this month in the form of a music video for “In the Ballroom,” shot in a Connecticut farm that makes for an unorthodox but beautiful setting for a performance. “In the Ballroom” is the first of two videos that will preview the band’s upcoming Live at Farmtone EP, set for release on April 22, and given what we’ve seen so far, you’ll want to mark that date on your calendar. – Jake Reed

In the Ballroom from Ladyhips on Vimeo.