After the release of full-length debut LP Seen A Change (2017), Brooklyn-based group High Pony speedily returned to the studio to produce a follow-up record, Nothing Here Is Mine, released June 8. Merging the intensity and speed of punk with their core slacker rock style, this band’s gritty sound expresses their refusal to be bound by classic pop structures. Both the title and substance of songs such as “Off to Kill Myself” and “Drooling with Rage” illustrate these guys’ commitment to the rebellious, unrestrained nature of their genres of choice. Funneling rampant vocals and distorted guitar noise into each of their tracks, High Pony welcomes the world’s heaviness, channeling classic punk constructs of loneliness and delirium into their gnarled screams and introverted lyrics. Catch them shredding live at NYC’s Alphaville on October 15. 

Dreampop is never out of fashion it seems, with selected members of each new generation embracing that classic 1990’s sound. NYC trio Isla Invisible have accurately captured the mood of this era on their recently released debut EP1 via Velvet Blue Music. With their obvious (and admitted) influences such as Slowdive, Cocteau Twins and next decade practioners The xx on display, the group delivers in single Pillow (streaming) a waltz with the pace of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You,” a song that lulls you into a hypnagogic state where melody ultimately merges with an overwhelming cathedral of organs and guitars. It’s a potent formula, eliciting waves of emotional responses and feelings while immersed in this ethereal world. Second track “Outward” impeccably captures the male-female tandem vocals of Slowdive’s Neil and Rachel, emphasizing similarly styled minor key harmonies. Those harmonies go even further on third song “Frail Device” where soft female voices swirl around in the background and complement the centrally placed male vocal line. The 7” vinyl is now available for order, and accompanying download card comes with 2 bonus tracks. –Dave Cromwell

Gabriel Royal’s sophomore album coheres more around its lyrics than did his debut which centered on the artist’s fine-grained cello and smooth soul vocals. Both remain here on Miss Once; yet the overall eclecticism of arrangement and rhythm makes this the more adventurous affair of the two. Lines such as “Ain’t gotta worry ’bout the facts” (from “Been a Minute”) and “I always seem to get caught up in troubled times” (from “About You”) echo current media slogans—albeit personalized via Royal’s inimitable touch. “Battle Hymn of the Lower East Side,” a doo-wop-meets-Gregorian-chant, closes the LP with an anthem of self-empowerment and escapism (e.g. “When I’m focused I can fly”). Memory looms largest on Miss Once, however, as in songs like “Tough Love,” which begins: “She said remember right now/Wanna always feel this way.” “Degoba,” a title taken from the fictional “Star Wars” home of Jedi/sage Yoda, laments the bygone days “when you were mine.” “Been a Minute,” by turn, looks back more fondly (“Running on the streets through my old town”; “Trippin’ on some old times”). Musically-speaking, the strongest numbers here are the ones that feel referential of older genres, such as opener “C Major Prelude,” which recalls early Rufus Wainwright and sixties Van Dyke Parks, or the hip-hop/jazz inflected “Indoors” (featuring beatmaster Matt Young at the mixing board). “Notice” is the best example of Royal’s ability to take source material and churn it into something entirely his own. It offers a sprightly rhythm of plucked cello triplets and hand-claps, which the artist then sings over, moving from simple chanted lyrics to full-throated crooning. The eighties-esque chorus “All of the things you say I know they are for real” is both transcendent and thoughtful, and exemplifies an album chock-full of melody, quirkiness, and heart. – Brian Chidester

Gabriel Royal will be performing live at Joe’s Pub on October 26th.

Dread, anxiety, and social discomfort permeate the discography of Dead Tenants, a Queens-based noise rock trio whose forthcoming full-length, LP II, drops 10.05. Their last effort, a 2016 split release with Brooklyn’s Drome entitled Ten Dead Ants / Peter Milk, is a scorched earth release in which lofi, acid soaked guitars hum and squeal, all the while barreling forward in an uneven percussive shuffle; occasional brief remises of calm are offered only in the form of spoken word verses, delivered in deadpan haze by frontman (and band namesake) Doug Tenant.

Dead Tenants bring a larger-than-life sound by way of their minimalist instrumental setup (a cut-and-dry guitar, bass, and drums), with LP II promising to deliver the same grandiose noise later this year – you can catch them at their album release show at Secret Project Robot on 10.13, joined by Kal Marks, Weeping Icon, Outside World, and other secret guests. – Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt), Photo by Walter Wlodarczyk

DODGEBALL is a band that write songs about not feeling good about yourself. Their four song EP Stephanie is full of moments where the music shoves your face into the sludge of life with a raw passion that’s relatable on a cosmic scale. Their slow, miry slacker rock trudges along against the nature of life and comes out on the other side, sounding life-affirming despite all its sadness. The uniquely hopeful songs of DODGEBALL can be experienced live at Trans-Pecos on Oct. 4. –Tucker Pennington

This month, the showcase you know and love, Throwin’ Bo’s, is collaborating the Bay Area’s favorite local drag show, HOEisLife, to curate Throwin’ Hoes—an unforgettable night of live music and drag from local performers. Headlining the show on the music front will be Oakland-based experimental R&B and soul artist ASTU, followed by a DJ set from Ah Mer Ah Su and a set from hip-hop artist Qing Qi. There will also be drag performances by Nick Jizz, Fiera, and God’s Little Princess. Stream our favorite tracks from each of these artists in the playlist below.– Lilly Milman

This event will be on Thursday, October 4th at 9 p.m. Throwin’ Hoes is a spin-off of the Throwin’ Bo’s monthly 21+ showcase held at The Elbo Room. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. RSVP on Facebook here.

Austin Prince, formerly a member of Brothers Prince, realized he had to quit his full-time job, as well as his band, when neither made him feel fulfilled. Now focusing full-time on music, Prince has embarked on a solo project that he debuted with the minimalistic pop-meets-soul single “Hard to Bare” (streaming below) — an emotive track about not being able to let go, even when you know it’s the best thing for you. On this track, Prince’s croon is at its most vulnerable — begging an unnamed subject to come back, even just for a moment. Austin Prince’s debut EP is expected to be released this spring. – Lilly Milman

Kip Berman has made a name for himself as the singer/songwriter behind The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, but he’s now begun to express his musical side outside of the band setting as The Natvral. Berman calls his new musical outlet "neither solo project nor side project", although his more stripped-down folk style counters the driving nature of songs on his Pains albums. His first EP as The Natvral, called Know Me More, does in fact allow the listener to know more of Berman, who has married, had a child, and moved to Princeton in the last few years; songs such as the opening title track reveal Berman’s growth over the course of those events, with little more than an electric guitar to back up his metaphorical lyrics. Berman will perform as The Natvral throughout the beginning of October in venues across the Northeast; he’ll take the stage at Baby’s All Right tonight and tomrrow (October 1-2) to open for Hatchie. Listen to the title track off of Know Me More below. – Will Sisskind 

Psych meets pop on “Bloodshot Eyes” (streaming below), the newest single from former Deli New England artist of the month Helenor. Irony runs through the core of this track, with the opening lines painting a rather dark image (“Lots of hate will form a crowd / you could get stuck below”) against an arguably more pop arrangement. At its midway point, with the introduction of the first chorus (“Bloodshot eyes / are my friends / they’ll stay with me / ‘till the end,”) the track dives into distortions that eventually give way to a reverb-laden realization (“Is this life / all about / the finish line? / I don’t think it is.”) – Lilly Milman

Listen to Helenor and other local artists on The Deli New England’s brand new Spotify playlist, Cold Cuts: Sounds of New England. 

Recreational Landscaping, a collaborative effort between Brother Toaster and Tyler Arnott (who contributed guitars and auxiliary sounds to Brother Toaster’s previous LP Chucky,) is a wonderful musing on what it means to make music out of the noise. Recorded on a mono microphone while a lawn was being mowed in the background, this project thrives off of the organic. Not only does the stripped back, minimalistic sound create room for both guitarists to riff of one another, but it also draws attention to the intimate details, like the sudden declaration of “I need to tune this” on the end of “Sunrise on the Flowers.” On this album, Brother Toaster and Arnott have tested their luck at trimming the fat and, as a result, created a surprising and wildly fun album that can be left on repeat for hours at a time. With each listen, there’s something new to be found and appreciated; discover it for yourself below. – Lilly Milman

Listen to more tracks from Brother Toaster and more local artists on The Deli New England’s brand new Spotify playlist, Cold Cuts: Sounds of New England. 

Hot on the upcoming release of her debut EP, singer-songwriter Katy Rea has released the hook-filled track "Actress". Complete with Rea’s trademark grittiness, the song looks back on the artist’s upbringing in Texas and how her childhood shaped her present. With her band, Katy plays music reminiscent of Laura Marling, with her voice echoing Kate Bush’s idiosyncrasies and range. And if you listen closely, you might hear the quirks — such as alternate tunings and creative chord structures — singing from Rea’s guitar. Her upcoming EP S.K.O.W. — short for Some Kind Of Woman — will drop on October 26th with the release show scheduled for the 24th at Elsewhere Zone 1. Listen to the Deli NYC premiere of "Actress" below. – Will Sisskind

If you aren’t on the QWAM bandwagon yet, now’s the time to jump on. Perhaps the music video for "Dirty Feet," which the New York quartet is premiering here, can serve as your jumping off point. The song, the closing track to their 2018 five-song EP Feed Me, evokes a sound that feels akin to Sleater-Kinney, right down to the vocals of frontwoman Felicia Lobo. The video, which features the band, as well as a charming little pooch named Toby, has a lot going on in it. It feels at times like QWAM had several ideas for a music video, and decided to go with all of them. However, the excess doesn’t diminish the quality of "Dirty Feet," a real standout track. Check out the video, and see the band at El Cortez in Brooklyn on September 28. – Chris Morgan