Massachusetts’ Freres Lapierre (literally “the brothers Lapierre”) has kicked off the year with its debut self-titled full-length. Freres Lapierre continues the band’s exploration of cheery melodies and bright textures – don’t wear it out now, because you’ll want this disc in heavy rotation when beach weather rolls back around. “Cosmic Wimpout” hints at Green Day’s best acoustic ballads, with a bit of banjo to give it that country town feel, while “XBJ” calls on the glockenspiel, trombone and trumpet to add some pep as the album draws to a close. The attention to detail here is worth mentioning – every moment has a catchy melody or new timbre, and there is nary a moment that feels undercooked. Give the new album a listen and if you haven’t gotten a chance to see the brothers Lapierre live, stay up to date with upcoming shows on their Facebook page. – Jake Reed

Fresh off the release of its latest album, Held in Splendor, Quilt has unveiled the video for the track “Tie up the Tides.” The clip is a trippy accompaniment to the catchy indie pop number, with shots that slowly fade into one another and a full array of color. Feathers, strings of confetti and colored sand fall as Anna Rochinski sings amidst a sea of guitar stabs and restrained drums. Take a look at “Tie up the Tides” now and catch the band at the Great Scott in Boston on March 1 before they head to Europe for a spring tour. – Jake Reed

For an EP that’s just under twenty minutes, textbookcopilot’s Arrivals // Departures throws you right into Boston’s post-hardcore scene and proves that just because it’s short, that doesn’t mean it can’t pack a punch. The set’s instrumental intro is filled with melodic guitar riffs and a drum beat that falls into the second track, "North Pole No. 1 is Down,” which sounds like a solid mix of Rancid and Finch. “Coming Home,” another instrumental, slows down the pace, offering a glimpse into the softer side of the genre. On Arrivals // Departures, the band shows that despite Dom Mariano’s powerful pipes, they are not all vocals – they are some killer instrumentalists as well. The band has no tour dates lined up at the moment, but in the meantime, the new EP is available to download for free on Bandcamp now. – Samantha McCormick

After enticing Western Massachusetts for nearly two years with its lush and textured brand of indie rock, Young Tricksters is finally set to release its debut EP, Ripples, on February 28. A knack for harmonies and killer hooks has taken the four-piece band from Amherst’s basement show scene to more high-profile shows – including an album release show at Northampton’s Iron Horse Music Hall on release day. As a Valentine’s Day treat to our listeners, we have a peek into what to expect from Ripples: the set’s penultimate track, "Twisted Love," which bites off a bit of Incubus’s alt-rock radio sound while maintaining the band’s own typically catchy riffs and vocal melodies. Take a listen below. – Jake Reed

To cap off New England Music Awards Week, we spoke to Salim Akram, guitarist of Boston’s own Bad Rabbits. Nominated for Best in State: Massachusetts, the nod comes at the end of a huge year for the band. The guys opened the inaugural Boston Calling Music Festival in May and played late night gigs like Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Arsenio Hall Show, and of course, released their debut album American Love. Next, the guys will take the stage at Warped Tour this summer. Here’s what Salim has to say about their crazy year.

To read the interview, click here.

New England Music Awards week continues with the three-piece Jatoba, a self-described “groove-grass” band that is nominated for Best in State: Vermont. The group combines traditional bluegrass tempos, bumping bass lines and an onslaught of other instruments including the sitar and the banjo. Jatoba has been on the local circuit since 2008 and released its first album “Death, Fire & Picnic Tables” in 2011. Here is what John Samison, who plays mandolin, acoustic guitar, sitar and mandola in the band, has to say.

To read the interview, click here.

Last month, I posted an article hyping the long-awaited release of Fax Holiday’s new EP, Big Fear. This month, I’m wicked excited to be able to post a review of the EP. The Fax Holiday guys have definitely stepped-up their game with these songs–each one sounds incredibly polished and well-balanced. The band really let their emotions come through on this record; there’s much more feeling in these tracks than in previous recordings.

The one aspect that really sets Fax Holiday apart for me is their choice of instrumentation–I love their autoharp. That being said, “Ears and Teeth” is probably my favorite track from Big Fear. The jangle from the autoharp adds an eerie/hypnotic feel to this Elliott Smith-meets-Wilco tune.

You can stream (and download for only $4!) Big Fear on Fax Holiday’s bandcamp page. Check out their Facebook for band news and show announcements.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

New England Music Awards Week resumes with Young Kaii (aka Kathy Silverio), a female rapper nominated for Hip Hop Act of the Year. The openly lesbian rapper is a role model for young people in the LGBT community, but as an artist, she believes that her music extends beyond that part of her identity. We spoke to Young Kaii about her nomination and her first album, This is Love.

To read the interview, click here.

New England Music Awards Week continues with Ashley Jordan, a country vocalist from Harvard, MA. After releasing two records, she joined forces with Big Crush Records to release her third, Nothing in Doubt, last December. The album and its lead single, “If I Had You,” helped the songstress earn her second nomination for Country Act of the Year. We spoke to Ashley to learn more about her music and how she views her success.

To read the interview, click here.

With the New England Music Awards set to take place in Lowell on February 22, we begin New England Music Awards Week with Dan & the Wildfire, a five-piece folk band from Boston nominated for Indie/Pop Act of the Year. The band released Smoke Signals, its first album under the name Dan & the Wildfire (and second overall) in 2012, and is currently hard at work on its follow-up record. To learn more about the band and what got them recognized this year, we spoke to frontman Dan Htoo-Levine himself.

To read the interview, click here.

For anyone sadly unaware of the aural bliss that will be coming from TT the Bear’s Place this Wednesday night, February 12, fear not; I will now fill you in on a show you simply cannot miss. Dance-pop duo Miss Geo will be playing their synth grooves alongside Rich People Food, Kitschenettes and Elsewhere. This bill is sure to brighten up even the most dreary of winter weekday moods. If you’re free (and why wouldn’t you be–it’s a Wednesday night!), come by Central Square in Cambridge and check it out.

Doors are at 8:30, with Elsewhere kicking it off at 9PM. $9 cover, 18+. Proper ID required.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

This year, Mals Totem’s eponymous debut EP put them on the map. Need proof? Well, the band won The Deli New England’s Best Emerging Artists Readers’ Poll for 2013, which was – you guessed it – voted on by you, our readers. Despite (for the most part) relocating to Brooklyn, the band’s still got strong ties to New England. Vocalist Dave Vives is completing a degree at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, and the band promises to continue playing shows in the city beginning with a gig at the Middle East Upstairs on April 3, alongside Bent Knee. We spoke to Asher Kurtz and Mike Lostica, the band’s respective lead and rhythm guitarists, to learn a little bit more about the band.

To read the interview, click here.