Without a doubt, Darlings are currently the NYC band that better carries the torch of the carefree guitar indie pop of the 90s (fans of Pavement, be advised). This group of former NYU college mates has been enjoying a growing buzz in the last few months and we wouldn’t be surprised if they were one of the "it" bands at this year’s CMJ Music Marathon. Darlings just announced the digital release of their first single on PopMatters, and announced the release of an EP in the fall. See them at Union Pool on 09.10.

Branded as New Wave in their myspace profile, NYC based Translations is a little more complex than that. The band knows how to use reverb, clanging drum machines and lo-fi tricks in ways more interesting and sophisticated than your average Bushwick bedroom project. Most importantly, they can write good songs, and have found a strong signature sound in Andrew Fox’s dark and thoughtful vocals. In this band’s tracks you’ll find ambient noise, rock’n’roll, great melodies, as well as alcohol-heavy inflections. The self-titled EP opener, "The Wanderer" – an electro-pop and punk mash up filled with lots of range and vocal harmonies – stands out as the album’s best track. The brand new single "Tarantella" (recorded with the help of Jeff Curtin from Small Black, not in the EP), with its evocative vocals, sudden empty breaks and a highly addictive "revolving chorus", takes us back to the summer of 1998, when everybody was in love with The Beta Band (which one year later committed artistic suicide with one of the ugliest albums ever). Check out Translations live at The Woods on September 15 and a week later at Coco66.

The Willowz sprouted out of Anaheim, California in 2002 and soon after, lost their Orange County leaves and became NYC transplants where they have sowed their punk, soul, and garage rock seeds on their newest album, “Everyone.” Bluesy and psychedelic vibes saturate each track, and overlay Richie James Follin’s searching, howling vocals, William-Lewis Mclaren’s (guitar/vocals) continuously bending and ringing riffs, with relentlessly speedy rhythm section of Jessica Anne Reynoza (bass/vocals) and Loren Shane Humphrey (drums). The band’s signature sound blossoms on slide-guitar guided “I Know” and a vibrant title track “Everyone,” as “Way it Seems” plays with a variety of tempos. Album standout, “Repetition” embodies the best of The Willowz’s gritty roots, and jaunty “Destruction” surges forward with wailing vocals and guitars. The Willowz’s “Everyone” certainly branches out to something for everyone. – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s interview with the band here.

Read Alex Daly’s interview with Holy Ghost here.

We’ve always been huge fans of Callers – their debut album was our CD of the Month about 2 years ago. The duo (recently turned trio with the addition of a drummer) will celebrate the release of their sophomore album with a show on 09.08 at Zebulon in Williamsburg. Listening to the free single streaming here, the signature soulful female vocals and understated guitar work are now integrated with more pronounced jazz elements as well as an interesting percussive component brought by the drums. The record, entitled "Life of Love" will be released under Western Vinyl – home to Dirty Projectors, Glass Ghost and Here We Go Magic among others. Callers will also play Littlefield in Park Slope on September 19.

Yes we have a soft spot for these ladies (oops! right! there’s a guy in there too… we always forget! What does he do??) Check out the video of the single Windstorm and don’t miss their show at Brooklyn Bowl on 09.09.

Scott Thorough and Tone Tank‘s "Scott and Tone ep”" is getting its swerve on, and it encourages you to do the same. If you put the 80s rap and electro scenes in a blender and set it to “Masticate” you’d have an idea of what it sounds like. It’s bold and belligerent, wet and wild, apathetic and agitated; suffice it to say, it will make you feel awesome and gross at once. Guest spots from Serengeti and Kool A.D. of Das Racist add extra flavor. Hard copies are limited and come hand painted. New Brooklyn label Modern Shark is putting it down. Get in the hot tub now before Scott and Tone pee in it. – BrokeMC

NYC’s most prodigious experimental band Dirty Projectors just announced a September West Coast tour with Toronto based Owen Pallett. The band’s label Domino has also made available a free track from the Newyorkers’ upcoming Expanded Edition of Bitte Orca (out September 28), featuring previously unreleased live material and b sides. You can download "Temecula Sunrise (Live at Other Music)" here.

Lucinda Black Bear’s first album "capo my heart and other bear songs" was a burst of sonic longing, a soulful fusion of cellos, feedback, loops, pianos, drums, and oddly tuned acoustic/electric guitars, with love from place such as NPR, Time Out NY and The Deli, the New York indie folk rockers return with their second album in November, which is even more ambitious, broad and expansive than “capo”. Check out the first offering of LP2 in the form of "Percvial" here. See the band live at Best Buy on 09.24.

One Ring Zero is a sophisticated gypsy-orchestral-pop (and now officially gypsy-orchestral-space-pop) band that was kissed by fame in the mid ’00s after releasing a CD of original songs featuring lyrics by world class writers, including Jonathan Lethem, Margaret Atwood, Paul Auster, and Dave Eggers among others. Their new CD finds inspiration in the approaching hundredth anniversary of influential composer Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite "The Planets". One Ring Zero re-visitation of the solar system is a complex pop kaleidoscope of sounds, ranging from classical sounding arrangements with string and brass sections to more stripped down parts dominated by guitars and the band’s signature instruments: the claviola and the harmonica. The album can be streamed here. The band will celebrate the release of the new CD with a show at Joe’s Pub on 09.07.

New York based three piece Grandfather fashion dynamic, intense and violently rhythmic psychedelic rock. Far from a traditional power rock trio, the band creates a massive, caterwauling maelstrom from the simple concept of allowing each instrument to reach its sonic peak. Conjuring the sounds of a band twice its size, their music is ripe with complex melodies and a lockstep rhythm section, set against the tempestuous guitar riffs. The band recently recorded their debut record, "Why I’d Try" in July, 2010 with stalwart engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies). Firm believers in the raw, unencumbered sound of the analog recording process, Grandfather and Albini have managed to capture the band’s frenetic, live-in-the-room intensity and created a singular, ruminative and altogether bracing introduction to their world. "Why I’d Try" is available for FREE download here. Grandfather will play Cameo Gallery on 09.18 at 10.30 – free admission. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Frankie Rose & The Outs will be celebrating their self-titled debut release September 15th at Glasslands featuring sets by Light Asylum, MINKS, and Mirror Mirror. Ms. Frankie Rose moved to NYC in 2006 and since then managed to play drums for The Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts, and The Dum Dum Girls. This new all female project falls in line with Frankie’s preference for lo-fi, psych rock atmospheres rich in fuzzy guitars and tambourines. The beautiful vocal harmonies are definitely this band’s main strength though. The band’s self titled album is slated to hit record stores on September 21 via Slumberland.