A noodling guitar lines opens the brightly cathartic "Playground Days" by Carlsbad quartet Paper Days, and it quickly hits you with a radiant glow that’s far more serene than its busy arrangements initially lead you on. The track soars with an anthemic pull, and yet it’s never showy or grandiose – the rthytmic interplay between the band members balances their formidable skill, letting the math-rock guitar lines and jittery drum strokes play together with some breathing space as it builds into an urgent finish; subtle yet all the more alluring for it. "Playground Days" opens their three-track debut EP of the same name, which they just released this week and is now available to stream on their official soundcloud page. 

Fresh off their upcoming album You Were The Fire (out July 29th), San Luis Obispo folk trio Anton Kellner & The Lone Stars offer up their bittersweet single “Rebel.” The track, described by Kellner as “a civilized yet fumigating song directed at the ways of our society,” provides a soothing and satisfying three-way marriage between mellow and uplifting folk instrumentation, melancholy lyrics, and smooth-rasp lead vocals. Reminiscent of the somber tone of Death Cab For Cutie, the rock vocals of Switchfoot, and the driving jug band quality of Mumford & Sons, “Rebel” succeeds as a modern-day indie-folk ballad filled with a healthy dose of acoustic twang, heavenly backup singing, and 90’s soft rock charm. – Michael Iemma

As an east coaster by-way-of the west coast by-way-of the east coast (it’s a been a lot of there and back if you know what I mean), I whole-heartedly welcomed the sunny vibes that The Canyon Rays so expertly delivered upon my first listen. The band fits in perfectly with the sunshine pop aesthetic, so naturally pioneered by bands like The Turtles and The Beach Boys. I can’t help but think of this band as an amped up west coast version of Real Estate whose music may be a bit mellower but share similar song structures. The Canyon Rays expel positive vibes to no end, combined with uplifting back up vocals and just the right amount of synth to add a tinge of dream-pop into the mix. The Canyon Rays recently released a music video for their self-explanatory song "The Sunshine Growers" which you can watch below; three minutes and sixteen seconds of nothing but happiness, posy-vibes and you guessed it…sunshine. – Jake Saunders

Australian duo Wunder Wunder made their 8,000 mile trek to Los Angeles after being seduced by this city’s sun-drenched landscape, which they romantically describe having “continuous unspoiltskies, pastel sunsets, and backdrop of palm trees.” Producers Aaron Shanahan and Bejamin Platt sure try to replicate our balmy ambiance on their latest single “Midnight Hours”, a sauntering mid-tempo number with arpeggiated guitars and luminous synth patterns that could just replenish this drought-filled summer. This is the first single off their upcoming full-length Everything Infinite, which will be released on July 15 via Dovecote Records. And make sure to catch them opening up for Cymbals at The Echo on July 22.

United Ghosts is a band who likes to insert momentum into their music. "Out of Love", the first track off their upcoming EP, Dear Electric Sun, begins with a bass line reminiscent of a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel; a ceaseless anthem of shoegazey pop, the song doesn’t really let up, and that’s a good thing. United Ghosts displays a powerful array of influences ranging from the power pop of Arctic Monkeys to the high-reverb landscapes pioneered by My Bloody Valentine, complete with static ridden melodies and spacey electronics. Every song on the EP is an anthemic wall of sound, where the dynamics rarely shift out of the higher gears. You can catch United Ghosts on July 16th at Bootleg Theater. – Jake Saunders

Earlier last year, we wrote about one of our favorite local power-pop acts Punch Punch Kick. Now the four-piece have released a video for the titular track "What The Kids Don’t Know", which spotlights the band performing in a game show-like setting as all sorts of crazy things happen to them. 

You can also preview the entirety of their self-titled EP on their official website.

Rabble-rousing garage rock trio The Dead Ships have just released a video for their new single, Golden Room, a fiery new track that follows on the tracks of their attention-grabbing full length debut, Electric Ahab, back in 2012. The no-frills video is just as expected for a band of this caliber – three slightly unkempt, yet passionate garage rockers bangin’ a tune in a ratty setting without any concerns about buttering or sensibilizing their surroundings. Oh, and there’s a human crow that seems to disturb their jam, or is it the other way around? Though more details about their sophomore effort are still forthcoming, they did reveal that they just wrapped up the mastering of the record with Broken Social Scene scribe Brendan Canning in the helm of the recording. For those who happen to be in New York City this week, they’re playing tonight at Glasslands Gallery.

Baroque pop outfit Sanglorians first caught our attention last year with their debut full-length Initiation, which we previously honored the title of Artist of Watch last year for their vigorous, yet mirthful take on classic power pop. One of the most commanding tracks off Initation, "Everybody Likes a Pretty Girl", will soon get the full treatment with a music video that complements the song’s powerful message. It’s one of the more musing moments on the album, a snarky assessment on how American society places physical beauty on a pedestal. We’ll be posting up the video shortly, and starting today we’re offering a free mp3 of the track that you can download by clicking the link below. 

As we rapidly lead into the summer season, there’s always that spirited debate about which songs will soundtrack the scorching Pacific sun. MOTOFIGHTR, the duo comprised of Alec Feld and Miles Gabriel, are making a compelling offer to anyone’s mixtape addition with their latest track "Grow", a rush-inducing dance track that begins with a seductive tropical beat and breaks into a relaxed surge of glinting, tuneful guitars and sparkling synths. "Grow" maybe not be included on their upcoming debut EP Pacific Post Highway, due out on July 15, though there’s always the possibility that portions of the track may be featured in some capacitiy. Still, it’s quite the generous introduction into their tasteful electro house.

Translating emotion through brimming exuberance is not an easy task. Baroque pop outfit Wartime Recitals aren’t really up for this challenge, but only because it already comes so natural to them. The incredibly mirthful sextet write fun-loving, piano-driven tunes that are sharp and tuneful, carefully tailored and encompassed with an elated grin even when they find the need to pound a somber minor key. Seeing as they’re an ensemble of many moods, their rippling harmonies front-and-center, there’s a necessity to function in perfect synchronicity through those highs and lows. The equivalent of a seasoned handbell school band, there’s hardly a false note in their impenetrable, mainly classicist approach. Those gleeful voices are what elevate each of the six tracks in their self-titled debut EP – comparisons to AC Newman and the New Pornographers will be inevitable, since their vigorous search for that pitch-perfect, glistening pop song is handled with a precision that’s meticulous and passionate. But they convey that jubilance with a very personal touch, coming together with a driving force that bursts with life even they sing that sad song.

Wartime Recitals are playing at dba 256 Gallery & Wine Bar on Friday, June 13.

The delicious melodies of Raw Fabrics create a sound no one is used to. The uniquely talented singer and guitarist Jack Franco has a creative twist on the electric/indie music genre, injecting raw, live performances to give the listeners an authentic representation of their stimulating reverberation. Their newest hit single, "Down The Drain", reveals the ingenious inner workings of this up and coming band, one that should be a hard act to follow any day of the week.

Raw Farics are playing a string of shows throughout the month of June, making a stop at Viper Room on June 22. – Kayla Hay