The NYC Singer Songwriter Circle has been around for about 20 years, constantly supporting talent from the entire North America, in particular through their Annual Songwriting Contest, now in its 5th year. In the past the contests the Circle’s jury was able to recognize the potential of artist such as Norah Jones, Vanessa Carlton and Lisa Loeb among others before they became mainstream. The Circle recently announced the 12 finalists of the 2010 contest – chosen from thousands of submissions. The NYC/NJ area is well represented by female duo Lucius, Todd Alsup and NJ based Amber Skye (in the picture). The SongCircle’s 2010 Grand Prize winner will be determined by live performances by the twelve finalists before an esteemed panel of judges on November 18 and the 19th at the City Winery in New York City. Tickets for both shows can be purchased online here for $25.

Stressed out New Yorkers should listen to Callers on their way back home from work – these guys’ music has therapeutic, stress relieving effects. Sparse to the point of no return, this Brooklyn based duo plays some of the most elegant and sophisticated alt soul out there. Also the "video in the video" concept is pretty cool here. Don’t miss their CD release party at Le Poisson Rouge on 11.22

Ten Million Lights is new band out of Portland that combines shoegaze guitars, male/female harmonies and trip-hop beats and that’s somewhat reminiscent of School Of Seven Bells or M83 – but much noisier, at least as far as this single we are streaming is concerned, which almost sound like some kind of industrial shoegaze (interesting combination!). The band’s debut record came out a couple of weeks ago and can streamed here.

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Emil & Friends are the new Cantora Record signing, the band plays some kind of quirky indie-soul, check out this new video of the song "Short Order Cooks". Their debut EP "Downed Economy is out now. See the band live at Littlefield on December 5 or at Death By Audio on December 18.

"Prog-Rock" is a term that has some kind of stigma attached to it – in particular in and around "Hipsterland". For some reason, at some point in the history of rock music, that genre started to define the self-indulgent, pompously wanna-be experimental rock music, while the more lo-key, unassuming "weird" stuff was called either "avant-" or just (often generously) "experimental rock". But of course, perceptions keep changing and we are sensing that we are heading towards a re-evaluation of the word "prog", that’s admittedly been out of flavor for a very long time.
South Bronx, NY based Wires Under Tension, recently signed by Western Vinyl Records, definitely have a "prog" component to their sound, but – as simplistic as it sounds – this is not a cheesy element. With their mostly instrumental, lusciously arranged tracks and recurring references to eastern melodies, this band sounds like a more electronic, sober and cinematic version of Ozric Tentacles – which in my limited knowledge of the genre is the most awesome prog rock band ever existed after pioneers King Krimson. The album "Light Science," will be released on February 8th.

USVS, a Brooklyn indie rock quartet that sounds a little like a post rock version of early U2, recently released their second EP which you can stream on their website. Their music is built around spacious drum patterns that rhythmically interact with alternatively angular and textural guitar parts, on top of which floats a single layer of vocals. The band will perform live at Mercury Lounge on November 22.

Thank You is a trio from Baltimore whose urgent collision of rhythm, melody, and noise has placed them at the creative center of today’s Baltimore renaissance. With their new album Golden Worry, Thank You has carved out a new sound drawing inspiration from the innovative post-punk of This Heat and Swell Maps and the polyrhythmic attack of The Ex and Dog Faced Hermans.

Golden Worry was recorded by Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beach House, Gang Gang Dance, TV on the Radio), and will be coming out January 25. In the meantime, check out their video featuring B-more dance troupe, Bobby.

Thank You – Birth Reunion from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.

Young Magic is the newest addition to the Carpark family. Hailing from the east coast of Australia and currently residing in New York, Young Magic is Isaac, a portable studio, and friends. These songs were recorded over the last six months in various places around the world: old spy bases near Berlin, empty rooms in Iceland, kids’ playgrounds in Melbourne, and no water flats in New York. These various locales are sampled and integrated into the fabric of Young Magic’s sound: the fluidity and songwriting of late 60’s psychedelic soul combined with modern-day beat making. We dig, dudes!

After spending the last two years in and out of the studio, Acrylics will be releasing their first full-length on January 25, 2011 on Hot Sand Records. The band has been on tour with A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Morning Benders and The Smith Westerns, through SXSW and beyond, and just performed at this year’s CMJ. Acrylics will perform live Glasslands on Friday 11.19 and Cameo Gallery the day after, awesome opportunities for a first date – the band’s mellow and intense tune can help spread love in the air.

Personal relationships are the endgame for most people. The search to connect your innermost feelings with another person is what Elika‘s new album “Snuggle Bunnies” often hints at. At the core of the lyrics are emotional ties that revolve around the struggle of the human being’s fight for happiness on earth, and the band’s wide palette of sounds complements these lyrics. Released on Peruvian label Automatic, classic Elika resounds on the 1st single “Summer”. Shoegazer-style soundscapes are scattered throughout the album, but it’s a simple plaintive side that finally emerges in the highlight song “Death and Avalanches”. Pure talent and a bare acoustic guitar set in motion resounding, deep feelings when singer Eva relies on just her voice and her metaphors. “The Darkside” musically reflects its lyrical counterparts, revealing 2 songs in one and releasing its somber verses instantly into an uplifting arpeggiated chorus. The closer “Tidal Wave” is a complete musical movement based on a simple progression, with drums that wash around each other in synch. When it all comes crashing down, you are left to roll in the emotional feedback they create: a symbiotic tie making you wonder what is there left when you’ve relied everything on someone else. – Simon Heggie

Premiered on Pitchfork the other day, simple but pretty cool I say… Les Savy Fav is currently touring Europe, heading to Australia in the winter of 2011.

What happens when a Cellist, a Frenchman, and a Chilean walk into a Bar? Frenchman Gaetan Bonhomme, friend and fan of Erin and her Cello, took Animator, Andrea Lira, (from Chile), to one of Erin’s shows back in 2009. Andrea loved Erin’s playfulness and charm, and Erin loved Andrea’s adorable animations. The result of this fateful encounter? This sweet video. Erin and her Cello, along with her 5 piece band, will be performing at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2 on Saturday, November 20th, 8pm, opening for Caleb Hawley’s CD Release show. You can also catch their Holiday Spectacular at Rockwood, Stage 2, on Monday, December 6th at 8pm. No Monkeys Allowed. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).