Goodie (aka Phyllis Lee) is a breath of fresh air in the folk/songwriter scene. For one, the traditional acoustic guitar parts are all replaced with electric, and she’s not afraid to try out slightly avant chord progressions and go all out with supporting drums and bass. There’s a lightness to the songs, partly because the sparsity of the DIY arrangement, but there is genuine power and confidence in Lee’s vocals. "Shopping Cart" is particularly ethereal and lyrically wise, with ghostly background vocals perched atop bass and drums, proving that Goodie is one to watch. -Geena Kloeppel

With the members’ resumes featuring names like Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Holy Fuck, Obits, and The Cops, Savak is an A-team of indie rock odd-balls, but the band’s music speaks for itself. Some moments come sharp with jagged edges and angular turns while others chime with rock ‘n’ roll jangle worthy of R.E.M. Savak’s 2017 album Cut-Ups shows the group flexing its creative muscle and making use of the members’ broad talents for a consistent but adventurous entry in the post-punk genre. The band will play it’s first gig of the year January 18th at Alphaville with The Effects, Patois Counselors, and Big Quiet. – Cameron Carr

Pwndeleon creates a pleasing mix of retro video game aesthetics and conventional EDM beats on 8mb EP.  Starfox with a little extra funk is the theme of this release, punctuated every so often by staple dubstep aggression.    

Standing out throughout the release is Pwndeleon’s dedication to the tracks. Each track is well-crafted with enticing twists and turns.  The tracks can be turned up for party music, or just put on low volume in the background while gaming.  

 -Mike Dranove

Brooklyn’s sparkle-indie group Pale Lights ended 2017 on a productive note with the release of their LP The Stars Seemed Brighter, which has gained a good amount of praise since its unveiling. Frontman and songwriter Phil Sutton delivers poetic lyrics over Andy Adler’s mellifluous guitar and Lisa Goldstein’s subtle drums, while Suzanne Nienaber provides the summery harmonies in the background. That sunny feeling comes through in the music video for "Jean, Bring The Flowers" (streaming), a homemade four-minute capture of impromptu backyard jams while relaxing with friends in the sunshine. While you wait for the winter cold to pass, warm your ears and eyes with the video for "Jean, Bring The Flowers" below. – Will Sisskind

Lexie is a collaboration between NYC’s bedroom pop chanteuse Frankie Cosmos and two members of Atlanta’s Indie Rockers Warehouse (Alex Bailey and Doug Bleichner). The trio quietly released this side project’s 8 track debut “Record Time” in June of 2017. The album, recorded with Carlos Hernandez of Ava Luna, lives up to both band’s past achievements, although it’s obviously more skewed towards Greta Kline’s intimate pop format. Those who are in desperate need of new material after enjoying 2016’s sublime "Next Thing" should check it out. – Cameron Carr, photo by Sarah Cass

Riding into the new year after a satisfying 2017 is Sulene, the talented guitarist and film scorer who’s seen her own solo work gaining a growing amount of praise. The South African New Yorker released her debut EP, Strange, back in April; since then, she’s performed live (mostly solo) and played guitar in some of her fellow musicians’ projects. She’s also worked on a re-imagined version of her EP, titled Strange (Reimagined), which strips each synthpop track down to compositions for voice, piano, and string quartet. The result is a haunting album of self-reflective beauty, which is especially prevalent on the bonus track "Something New." – Will Sisskind

UT Kirin’s full length LP Wry Side of Paradise is unique in the sense that it describes in intimate, flurried detail exactly what it feels like to experience college (and California) for the first time. The concept album uses each song to describe a semester of the songwriter’s undergraduate career at UC Berkeley, taking the listener on a whirlwind journey that covers every experience from first love to loss of innocence to intellectual fulfillment, and everything in between. The album begins with the fast-paced and frenzied “General Chemistry” (streaming below) that opens the album up with the lines “I spent 17 years in a coma in New Jersey / and I went to high school where few people liked me / got taller, still skinny, California, no kidding / I now throw computers through windows for a living.” It is safe to say the album comes full circle when it ends on the more controlled, and somber lines “I’ll always remember the joy of not knowing / and the thrill of it all out before me / blink four times, it’s over” on the track “I Read Murakami.” This is an album to be enjoyed by anyone that felt they could’ve fallen apart in college, but somehow survived. UT Kirin plays various live shows around the Bay Area, so keep your eyes peeled. – Lilly Milman

If you are still looking for a rocking way to spend new year’s eve in the city, we’ve got an exciting show filled with excellent NYC bands for you (and very few dudes involved!). Brooklyn garage poppers Fruit & Flowers will be headlining this Cape House presented bill at the Rose Gold Cocktail Lounge together with Kino Kimino, a trio that plays an intriguing blend of post punk and what we call avant-indie (a word we forged to avoid using the ever-pretentious term "experimental"). Check out the two groups’ video in the embedded compilation, and get there early to witness openers Coco Verde and Mima Good, whose tracks are also embedded below. DJ Chuck Berrio will take the party into the wee hours.

If you’ve already cycled through your usual list of New Year’s resolutions and none of them seem worthwhile, then you’ve come to the right place. The Deli SF has the perfect idea for what to change in 2018: go to more local shows! Thankfully, the monthly Milk Was A Bad Choice showcase is giving you the perfect place to start, with a lineup that cannot be missed!

The January installation of MWABC will feature the R&B-infused pop of Sacramento’s So Much Light, who recently released the whimsical, electronic-heavy LP Oh, Yuck. There will also be performances by SF locals Le VICE, a truly one-of-a-kind act that creates an eclectic mix of hip-hop, pop, and soul. Bassist and songwriter Alex Szotak, who has previously worked with other favorites BOSCO and Soft Glas, will also be making his live debut. – Lilly Milman

Make sure to start the year off right by stopping by the Milk Bar on January 3rd, and until then, stream one of Le VICE’s past live performances below.

NYC hardcore is alive and well if it can produce bands as ferocious and tight as Brooklyn’s Closer, who are readying the release of their debut album "All This Will Be." Featuring members of Real Life Buildings, the trio has recently unveiled this video for single "Gift Shop," which reveals drummer vocalist Ryann Slauson’s screaming talent and a group of skilled musicians who, within the format’s overall preference for aggression and depair, are not indifferent to dynamic changes and sonic variety. See them live (with earplugs) at their NYC release party on Jaunary 19th at Silent Barn.

Brooklyn-based quartet High Waisted is a fierce garage pop band that dwells in sunshine surf vibes. Though they draw from the sound of the mid-’60s, the four musicians are fearless in their determination to put their own quirky spin on each one of their tunes. The band is fronted by the formidable Jessica Louise Dye, who recently talked to our sister blog Delicious Audio about the High Waisted’s latest release, and what she’s currently using to coax the wildest sounds out of her gear. Read the Q&A here. Check out their latest video for single "Firebomb," streaming below.

We’ve been keeping an eye (and a couple of ears) on Mothica for a few years now, and the NYC (via Oklahmoa City) electronic artist has been able to confirm her talent also in 2017, with a new EP that takes her soulful synthpop in edgier directions. She has also been keeping a regular live show schedule, something many "web famous" electronic artists aren’t able to pull off. Music fans will have a chance to see her live at Elsewhere on January 28th.