Somewhat reminiscent of Dawes and the Avett Brothers, Brooklyn’s Jones Street Station are about to release a new EP of their gorgeous, heartfelt brand of Americana. Out in January 2012, "The Understanding EP" features the former Deli Artists of the month, doing what they do best: bluegrass-infused pop music that can make your day brighter (seriously, try it). They also realized a video for the first single “The Understanding”, streaming here. After a couple of west coast gigs, the band will be performing at Rockwood Music Hall on January 11th. – Amanda F. Dissinger

Some bands are able to unlock my composed, western to the bone, over-structured civility and speak directly to whatever primal receptor is left inside me. Apparently some people don’t experience this, and they don’t know what they are missing. Actually, I do know what they are missing: They are missing ROCK’N’ROLL!
Hunters are a very new Brooklyn bass-less noise-rock duo with a wild, exciting sound comprised of menacing, often atonal guitars, clangy and explosive drums, and vocals that (seem to) unapologetically speak of our basic repressed needs and wishes. Like in the opening track from the new upcoming EP "Hands on Fire" – check out these lyrics: "I want it! – I need it! – I want it! – I need it! – I want it! – I need it! – I want it! – I need it!". Now, these are words we all wish we could say more often, aren’t they? This is orgiastic rock – we are sure that the Greek God Dionysus will be at Death By Audio on December 2 for the CD release org… ahem… party.

Forest Fire have self-produced two albums, “Survival” and the brand new “Starting At The X”, “sometimes recording the whole band with only one mic,” says singer/songwriter Mark Thresher. The debut from 2008 drew a considerable amount of international buzz, enabling them to tour Europe – they are actually just about to embark on their 2nd tour of the old continent. The new record was released under Fat Cat’s wing at the end of October and already got a flattering 7.1 by Pitchfork. The band uses simple and familiar sounds to compliment Thresher’s howls. This young man’s singing style alone conjures up images of NYC nightclubs from the 70s. Appropriately, his band’s songs portray a sense of longing and desperation, using bluesy, drawn out harmonies, and loose percussion perpetuate the bands, “no-rush,” attitude. – Read Ed Guardaro’s interview with Mark here.

Whimsical and playful, with a touch of angst and a heavy dose of emotion, Sydney Wayser’s music sings like lullabies throughout the contemporary folk scene of New York City. The young singer-songwriter’s sweet, engaging voice can be likened to Feist or Regina Spektor’s, filling up songs that seem reminiscent of a sunny day in Paris. Her second full-length album, The Colorful, is a lush mix of melodies and chords that intricately tell stories of her youth and experience. Sydney is about to release a new album, we heard the songs live when she played our CMJ show with Lucius and were enchanted! – read Christina Morelli’s Q&A with Sydney here.

It’s not every day you hear a band criticize Congresswoman Olympia Snowe in a song. The moderate Republican usually scores high marks from liberals, but then Appomattox is no moderate band. The power trio – one of the best live bands in town – is taking pop music’s ultra-digestable format and cramming politically charged lyrics head-on down its throat. A welcome change from the usually passive temperament of modern pop, this band has found a way to stand out amongst Brooklyn’s crowded backdrop by turning the form on its head and back to its roots as a countercultural force for change. But don’t worry, singer/guitarist Nick Gaynier makes the medicine go down easy. With incredibly catchy hooks and dub-soaked vocals, you’ll easily forget the politically charged backdrop in chants like "Where’d the money come from?" in ‘Speculators.’ The entire 5 song EP (Appmttx) could be mistaken for a less vitriolic groups’ output like The Chameleons, until you hear what’s really going on and realize a closer kinship could be made to Gang of Four’s political spirit. Check out new single Radiator (streaming below), in which our singer extends his rage toward an anonymous Julia, in a way you wish he was talking about you. They just played with Joe Lally from Fugazi at Knitting Factory. Sorry if you missed it, but don’t worry… these proletariat punks aren’t leaving NYC anytime soon. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)

New York’s Revolving One, a relatively young band playing modern rock with pop influences, was founded by a brother and sister team, Mario Mendieta on guitar and Deb Mendieta on vocals, and formed only last summer. The quintet released their debut, “Love or Another Kind of Hunger EP”, in September. The band’s material rotates through a variety of emotions, offering a little something for everyone’s good and bad days. Opening track, upbeat and moody “Lonely Man,” blends delay guitar riffs reminiscent of The Edge with a radio friendly melody, and transitions into the band’s sentimental single, “Lucky,” characterized by airy vocals and chiming guitars. “Out to Get Me”, our favorite track, is a straight ahead pop-rock tune with a bubbly verse that builds into a super-catchy chorus, while “Our Days” takes down the tempo to a gentle ballad. Rounding out the record, “Midnight Lies” channels a sinister side and exposes a more aggressive instrumental approach. Catch Revolving One for the holidays at Kenny’s Castaways on December 23. – Meijin Bruttomesso

Keyboard player/programmer Stephanie Brown may hail from New Zealand, but there’s definitely some kind of nordic component in her music. After performing for 3 years in a blues band, in 2010 she started working on a solo project that’s not bluesy at all: Lips. She recently released some really good new tracks that are somewhat reminiscent of Oh Land (but darker) or Bjork (but less orchestrated). We are really enjoying in particular the track streaming below, entitled "Ghost and Demons". Lips played Spike Hill last Saturday, check the band’s bandcamp profile for upcoming shows.

Layers of vintage synths and buzzy analog bass lines are the new background to the smooth soulful voice of Kurt Feldman in his post-Depreciation Guild project The Ice Choir. More "passionate" than songs from the previous now defunct act, the just released new track “Two Rings” presents lyrical references to “obsidian” and “black rain”, keeping everything just mysterious enough for the dream pop genre. Kurt has masterfully encompassed the influences of New Order’s “Every-time-I-see-you-falling” (take me back to my swirling alternative rock disco dance music days!), but he is actually a much better singer than Bernard Sumner ever was. Not completely rejecting guitars, there is a sweet and slithery solo that emerges just past the three minute mark and runs under the final bits of vocals up to the end. With this new direction coming out of the NY music scene, one has to wonder if a “Dead or Alive” or “Haysi Fantaysee” revival will be next? The new 7" single is out today via Shelflife joined by the b-side track "The Ice Choir." On Friday November 18th, the band will celebrate this release at The Cake Shop. – Dave Cromwell

"Margery," the psycho-shuffle opening track on Brother K‘s new EP, makes clear what this NYC-based outfit is all about: howling vocals and cranked tube amps. The Bo Diddley riff placed at the center of "Margery"’s chorus will get a sense of the respect the band has for its musical ancestors. But although Brother K summons the spirit of Joplin and Johnson, it refuses purism, drawing on punk’s volatility, pop’s sense of melody, and the blues’ pathos in equal measure (sometimes in the same song). Brother K’s words matter as much as its sound: front man Lucas Kwong, a one-time English major and unrepentant bibliophile, is as interested in telling stories as he is in the pentatonic scale. On the new EP, Claws and Stripes Forever, Kwong shrieks, mutters and croons his way through lyrics that range from gruesome decorum ("I’ll thank you later for my ten crippled fingers") to smart-ass Catholic ("Thomas Aquinas, get thee behind us!") to imagist wordplay ("A thousand interstates entangled the fortunes of the newly fangled"). "I’ve never seen an Asian guy with so much passion!" one bouncer allegedly told Kwong once. You can judge for yourself – they’re throwing an EP release party on 11/19 at the All Things Project (269 Bleecker), where they’ll also be screening the music video for "Payroll," a genre-mashing collaboration with rappers Jason Chu and Ryan Lucas. Show starts at 7:30. Free admission. – Alex Borsody

On January 31st Brooklyn lo-fi maestros Hospitality, who recently signed with Merge (congrats!) will be releasing their self titled album. They’ve made the new version of their old single "Betty Wang" available for streaming (below). This is an incredibly bubbly and catchy song, dripping with snaps and tambourine and anchored by the lead singer’s sweet high voice, and – as expected – this version is not as lo-fi as the previous recording. Every-time Amber Papini, who also wrote the song, thrills the chorus "Su Chia" (the real life Betty Wang’s real name), it’s hard not to sing along. – Molly Horan

New York rock’n’roller Devin Therriault has been locked up in the studio for almost a year, but it sounds like it was worth it. He just signed with Frenchkiss Records and released his first official EP, “You’re Mine”. The record is a mixed bag of guitar-driven vintage rock and vocally-drenched classic punk with a little rockabilly thrown in. So what do we get when we seal the bag, shake it up, and reach inside for a taste? At first bite something familiar, then a crescendo of surprising flavors, which left us at the peak of an unexpected aftertaste, wanting just a little more of the mystery extract that makes up his no-holds barred, punk-rock-greaser-infused confection with a modern-day twist. you can stream the single you are mine here. – Tuesday Phillips