Cindy Lou Gooden (formerly Very Fresh) is back with a new EP! ‘Kitsch Tapes‘ is a stripped-down, acoustic detour of sorts (CLG sometimes plays and often records with a louder, more abrasive band), commemorative of a prolific summer of songwriting in which several months were spent traveling around the country and crashing with friends in NYC, LA, and various parts of New England. It draws on some perennial influences: Stephen Malkmus and early Dirty Projectors. Everybody says it sounds like Liz Phair even though she says doesn’t really listen to her. Cindy Lou will be playing solo at Big Snow Buffalo Lodge on May 15th for Permanent Wave NYC’s Hollaback! Benefit. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.

The Deli was a 1 year old baby when The Cloud Room came out with the super catchy single "Hey Now Now" – but we did take notice at the time, and featured the band in one of our first issues. After a break up, which truned out to be a 7 year hiatus, the band is back with a new album entitled "Zither," which reintroduces us to its catchy, "Let’s Dance" era Bowiesque pop. Check out the first single "Crashing in Love", streaming below.

It’s rare to see a band mature as fast as Lucius did. Started as a mellow and rather ordinary duo of female singer songwriters, this project in the last 2 years or so has expanded and grown in unexpected, abnormal yet wonderful ways. Their impressive performance at our Deli NYC B.E.A.F. 2011 event showcased a band that, with a little imagination in the arrangement and performance departments, can take traditional songwriting to an entirely new level. Music fans (and industry) seem to be noticing, since they have started to sell out shows in NYC and Austin during SXSW. These two ladies can write good songs and sing beautifully, and with the help of the two boys in the band, put on a show at once emotional and powerful. One of the guys, drummer Dan Molad, is also in charge of recording the band, which mostly happens in the Brooklyn apartment he shares with singer Jess Wolfe. We asked him a few question related to that department. – Read the full Delicious Audio interview here.

The project of chanteuse/pianist Lauren Zettler, I Am Lightyear offers imaginative and textured electro-pop, dominated by the singer’s intimate lirycs and delicate delivery. Make no mistake though, these are big, open pop songs for a NYC based artist – the word "pop" has assumed a rather dark meaning in the last few years in Brooklyn – enriched by an open minded and tasteful approach to sonic experimentation. It looks like I Am Light year will be our next artist of the Month, so you may want to go see them at Mercury lounge tonight April 25th – they’ll be opening for Lissy Trullie.

Already raising comparisons to Simon and Garfunkel, and for more than just being an acoustic duo, Bird Courage play stripped down folk with earthy overtones. Based in Bushwick and fronted by Samuel Saffery and Erik Meier, the band has an assuming presence with gentle strength in songs like “Blind in Both Eyes” and “Wind and Oak,” both of which conjure images of a gray, wooded forest in winter’s eve. With four releases behind them, their most recent being “A Promising Fleet,” the band has worked tirelessly in their few short years together. Bird Courage will be performing in Brooklyn at Union Hall on April 28. – Devon Antonetti

For a music blogger with a passion for movies, there’s only thing better than finding out about a new great song: finding out a fantastic song + video combo! We just stumbled upon this wonderful video by The Bones of J.R. Jones (it was posted in The Deli’s Open Blog, where anybody can post blurbs about bands, videos, and Mp3s). Brainchild of J.R.Linaberry, this project combines, in a very personal way, sorrowful folk lullabies with down-south stomp blues. J.R. landed a 4 week April residency at quaint east Williamsburg venue Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lormier Street), the last show is tomorrow April 25 – if you are into this, do not miss, the show is free!

P.S. The video has a long intro before the music start, if you are short of time you may want to skip directly to minute 1.45.

The Boston-native, Washington DC based alt-country, singer-songwriter Tom McBride is touring in support of his release "A Brief Head Spin" (Humpback Records), his full-length debut that displays the artists sweet baritone voice & lyrical dexterity, weaving through a diverse style of Americana song-scape. McBride teamed-up with drummer from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Sean Greenhalgh, to co-produce the record and help lend its stark, dream-like atmosphere. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Lissy Trullie‘s husky voice evokes another rocking redhead, singer and guitarist Marcie Bolen (an original member of The Von Bondies), and she sings in a similarly jaded tone (this is New York City after all.) The single "It’s Only You, Isn’t It," off her recently released full-length debut, opens with a plaintive cry that sticks with you, while the first single Maideleine (streaming below) begins like one of those eerie ballads by early The Velvet Underground (Lissy, like Nico, can hit some pretty low notes for a female singer) but slowly develops into a downtempo melodic gem. The lady’s emotional depth is clear, if it isn’t always openly apparent; see her live at Mercury Lounge on April 24. -allison levin

Santigold is streaming a preview of her new album on NPR – check it out here. It sounds different, which is what records from NYC artists should sound like. Also hear the first single "Disparate Youth" below, released in February.

Exitmusic is like one of those dreams that wakes you up because of its visceral intensity and profound truth. Check out their new video below, released in advance of their upcoming full length on Secretly Canadian, and don’t miss their live show with School of Seven Bells on May 05 at Le Poisson Rouge.