Animated band cartoons playing along with explosive two-minute power-pop song is a can’t-miss combination, and that’s just what you get with Kissed By An Animal‘s latest release “The Good Times Are Here Again” (streaming below). Guitarist/vocalist Dima Drjuchin applies the technique of Rotoscoping to live action footage while adding a steady flow of animated flames, hearts, flowers, skulls, birds, bunnies and more to the Peter Max style psychedelic imagery. Self-directed and drawn over in Adobe Animate, the track is a power-noise-pop treat with crunchy guitar, hard-edge drumming and a fluid bassline. The first hook is reached just 30 seconds in, via a descending progression that goes “sometimes hard to be a friend when the good times are here again.” An even bigger hook arrives with the chorus stating “when no one sees you, no one is holding you back,” that get’s turned into “there IS no holding back.” The riff breaks lean towards the heavy and tight Dinosaur Jr variety, adding dramatic accent breaks and a touch of pitch-bended warped guitar tones. Big dreamy background “ahhh’s” lift it higher into near dream-gaze territory.

One thing is for sure, these guys deserve more than 82 friends on their Facebook page! Don’t miss their live show at the Gutter on August 22.- Dave Cromwell

If you feel the need to be soothed today, take a little listen to the latest by Suzanne Vallie. Any song off the album is equally as pleasing as the last. Tracks feel like folk lullabies: gentle guitar plucking, Vallie’s sweet voice, soft harmonies. Based out of Big Sur–and maybe that’s where the nature-inspired songs come from–Vallie pops in and out of the Bay Area for shows with different bands, including Range of Light Wilderness, and her solo works. In fact, she’ll be playing Hotel Utah this August 14. Come in for some soothing purity. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

Humeysha — the project of musician and songwriter Zain Alam — will release new EP Nusrat on the Beach on August 2nd; the record’s name takes inspiration from a dream of Alam’s, in which he saw legendary Pakistani vocalist and musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on the beach. You can hear some of the passion and devotion from Nusrat’s music in the EP’s title track, mixed with the chilled out indie sounds from Alam which convey the surf and sand. The whole song acts as an aural gateway to Alam’s dream; you’ll dream it yourself. Take a listen to "Nusrat on the Beach" below. – Will Sisskind

New York DJ and label boss Rissa Garcia knows how to strike the right chord between heavy nostalgia and classic sounds. Her recent drop “Baby I Can Feel It” demonstrates this aptitude, interpolating 90s piano house with more contemporary synthetic and percussive accents. It endows “Baby” with a feeling that’s as nostalgic as it is danceable, employing a vintage aesthetic that never feels derivative or pandering; rather, “Baby I Can Feel It” shows Garcia’s ability to recognize the electronic textures that are timeless, and utilize them in novel, groovy ways. Stream this bop below, and catch Rissa Garcia at Elsewhere on August 10th alongside Classixx, Young Franco, and Alejandra Sabillon. -Connor Beckett McInerney

Santa Cruz-based Lady Lazarus just released her single “I Know What it Feels Like” and it is a mystical, gentle journey. The accompanying video is mesmerizing and almost nerve-wracking in a “what’s about to happen” type of way. It’s dreamy folk pop, with quiet keys and vocals and a touch of that warm synth feel. She’s playing Hotel Utah on August 14 and you should join the night. Hypnotize yourself with her video then come feel the happy daze at her next show. – Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

Maybird’s musical vision is made for a future that relies on pulling from the past. Toy-sounding synthesizers, acoustic guitars plus distorted and processed guitars, and the chorus-like harmonies that make their music sound a bit like it’s from a retro movie give the band cinematic flair. The band has a taste for writing truisms, and perhaps their nostalgic sound adds to the emphasis. The story behind their debut album, Things I Remember From Earth cuts to the core of the human experience in terms of what people are searching for and come to find self-evident. The journey to writing the album comes from Kurt Vonnegut’s The Sirens of Titan as a crucial source for inspiration. The philosophical themes surely inform the thoughtful hooks, which sometimes admonish looking too far into the future. 

A key influence behind Maybird is the reputable rock band Dangermouse, who helped them release the EP Turning into Water after discovering them in 2016. The four-song EP Unraveling followed soon after in 2017 with the help of producer Patrick Carney of The Black Keys. The clash and eventual concoction of these experiences resulted in the songs on their debut, all of which are tinged with the right amount of apathy that ultimately makes their music so cool.

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Susan Moon

“When you talk about a revolution, most people think violence without realizing that the real content of any kind of revolutionary thrust lies in the principles and the goals you’re striving for.” This excerpt from a 1972 interview with Angela Davis begins Rahill Jamalifard’s mix Songs of Dissidence, laying the foundation for an hour-long intercultural musical odyssey throughout the southern United States (as well as the Global South). Beginning with Dorothy Ashby’s “Soul Vibrations” before quickly segueing through international deep cuts such as “Funeral of a Worker” by Melia Barbosa and “Bravo” by Jacqueline Taïeb, Jamalifard (who performs under the name Radio Rahill) demonstrates a keen ear; not only for the ways in which she blends differing sonic textures into a cohesive project, but for her ability to curate songs of dissent from the world over. In doing so, Radio Rahill creates a portrait of resistance that spans continents and decades, painting a portrait of an enduring, continuing struggle for equality, justice, and respect. Listen below, and catch Radio Rahill spin at Soho Grand on August 7th. -Connor Beckett McInerney

New York synth duo So Sensitive swagger back into the limelight with new single “What’s A Girl To Do,” bolstered by its absolute-unit-sized keyboard hits and member Kira Clark’s breathy, intimate vocal delivery. Lyrically, the track finds a linkage between the death of a parent and the qualities we look for in a romantic partner, conveying sentiments of helplessness through glam-laden vox and dark, interweaving keys. So Sensitive arrive at no easy answers to these feelings, preferring to bask in uncertainty; in doing so, they impart an uneasy feeling upon the listener through both their lyrical honesty and sultry instrumental soundscapes. As such, it’s required listening for anyone who finds themselves looking towards an undetermined future, unable to find the necessary guidance as to what they should do. Listen to it below, and stream the rest of their new album, Bedroom Drama, when it drops August 2nd. –Connor Beckett McInerney, Photo by Spencer Hotchkiss

This Friday August 2, the Milk Bar is the lucky host of another Throwin’ Bo’s night. Those boys sure know how to put a bill together. The night will feature a couple of Bay Area favorites and some sweet LA gems. From the Area we have Half Stack, those fun and funny folk music folks that know how to tickle a guitar. There’s Max Gardener, whose gentle dreamy bedroom folk will make you bat your lashes and tap your fingers. Tied for best former Summer Twin we have Chelsea Rose with a true and lovely voice and delightful presence–see video demonstration below–and Easy Love, that 60’s inspired indie pop that hits just the right spot. Me oh man, what a night! – Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

"Been disconnected / everything’s feeling so hectic," Emily Fehler muses, just within seconds of the song’s start. "Undertow" is the beginning of a tellingly honest vignette by a clever, talented musician. Under her Gold Child stage name, Emily has had her share of recognition with mentions from Rolling Stone (Top 200), NPR (Best New Music), Refinery29 (a media outlet which often focuses on artists empowering women), and Brooklyn Vegan. With its warm aura blending country and dreampop, the song is at once disarming and pleasant in its nostalgic overtones, with the dark folk elements bringing to mind powerful singer/songwriters like Angel Olsen or Neko Case.

The country-influenced instrumentation has been a driving force in developing her music since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2012(She’s a self-professed student of country music’s golden era with a slight obsession with Patsy Cline and Emmylou Harris). That, plus the lyrical content in "Undertow," paints a picture of a musician interested in taking American roots music to new places and the courage to face any personal demons she gets dealt by life – in this single’s case, a problem with anxiety: "Gotta get to the right time and place someday," leads to the chorus that carries Gold Child’s message: "So emotional / lost all my control / slipping in slow motion down this waterfall / stuck in the undertow." 

With tonight’s show at Baby’s All Right, Emily Fehler will have her chance to share long-awaited material. Additonally the self-titled debut album, will be released digitally on Friday, August 9th. – Susan Moon

The Rad Trads, one of NYC’s most energetic live acts, have taken to the road once more in order to blow listeners new and old away with their jazz and funk infused style of indie rock. Last September, the five piece released their LP On Tap, which included fun singles like "The Little Pie Blues" and "The Manhattan Bridge Serenade". They’ve traveled far and wide to support the release, having spent this past summer going across the Midwest. They’ll play several dates on the West Coast before heading back towards Brooklyn to play Baby’s All Right on August 20th. In between tour dates, they’ll create exclusive content for their supporters on Patreon. Take a listen to "The Little Pie Blues" below. – Will Sisskind

Long Island-based indie-pop band MAYVE excels at building catchy songs with an ’80s pop flair. The four-piece first garnered attention after releasing ‘Animals’ in 2016, following it up with the ‘Motion EP’ the following year. Between then and now, their material has become increasingly nuanced and has gone through changes in style, production, and creative choices. The two new most recent singles  "Neon" and "Head High" are a clear sign of growth, showcasing a desire to develop the band’s sound in the direction of higher production values. 

Speaking about their groovy and whispery new single "Slide" (released today), MAYVE says: "[it’s about] Koinophobia – the fear of living an ordinary life. “Slide” follows the tempo of a mind left to wander. One that slips into a downward spiral and denies the tangibility of our most ineffable moments."

You can experience them live at the Velvet Lounge in East Setauket on August 16. – Susan Moon. – Susan Moon