Returning with a fifth album set to further the band’s exploration of ambience and shoegazey guitar effects, Grooms brings the music to Brooklyn Bazaar on October 25. Lead singles from Exit Index showcase swelling synths amidst the moody wash of sound without straying from Grooms’ usual noisy fare. The band’s brigade of fuzz and other-worldly effects is ideal for live shows where the onslaught of guitar and drums crashes into you with the force of a brick wall. One of the few brick walls you should be excited to crash into. – Cameron Carr

Warren Heller, formerly of Dream Logic and now performing as Isador, has released his first single under his new moniker called "Falling". The new track comes as Heller’s first as a signee of 300 Entertainment, the label of Fetty Wap, Migos, and Young Thug. "Falling"’s repeating lyrics and building echoing vocals have a trance-like quality about them; when taken with the thumping beat, the song takes on an intoxicating groove much like Heller’s remix of Daft Punk’s "Get Lucky", which in 2013 alerted many new listeners to this rising talent. Listen to "Falling" below. – Will Sisskind

NYC rock duo QTY shares their latest single ‘Michael’ in advance of an October-November headline tour and releases of self-titled debut album on 11/3.  Produced by Bernard Butler of iconic 90’s Britpop band Suede, the album promises an excess-free listening experience full of hooks and charming character.  The single (streaming below) delivers that with a thoroughly catchy chorus “that’s how it goes.  You’re alright until you’re sweating chemicals.”  Clever lyrics are woven throughout, with one verse stating “I miss the stresses of being strung out a couple months – now all my stress is from what somebody else wants.”  Deep voiced and conversational, singer Dan Lardner channels Lou Reed’s style, while cohort Alex Niemetz adds female harmonies and essential guitar licks.  The band’s album will be released on Dirty Hit records, and will be supported by a tour starting on 10/11. The NYC stop will be on October 28 stop at Irving Plaza.  – Dave Cromwell

Yucky Duster will take the stage at Baby’s All Right to open for LVL UP on October 7th. The four-piece have had quite a year, releasing their second EP Duster’s Lament in January and receiving write-ups from VICE and Stereogum soon afterwards. Their Baby’s opening act with Long Beard follows other performances with big indie acts earlier this year, including Sammus, Charly Bliss, and Shonen Knife. A few months ago, they released the music video for their Duster’s Lament track "The Ropes". Watch it below. – Will Sisskind

Katie Schottland played in several bands before embarking on her own solo project under the moniker Swimming Bell. Her debut EP The Golden Heart is a reflection, a reverberous voice in the dark, framed by picked guitar and wistful percussive textures. For a moment, listening to "Route 72" with closed eyes, I was transported from my desk to a forest clearing on a dewy morning, birds circling above. "In these times of stolen dreams / how could I know you well?" sings Schottland, alone, later joined by harmonies that sound like the echoes of those perished dreams. The simpler "September on Dekalb" is a lo-fi midnight confession, a love letter forgotten in a coat pocket. Swimming Bell takes you somewhere quieter, in a gorgeous, unperturbed manner. Catch her live at Pete’s Candy Store on October 7th. – Geena Kloeppel

Hailing from New York City, indie rock trio Wild Pink brings together an intoxicating blend of songwriting talent, featuring lead singer John Ross’s soft and warm vocals on an often driven instrumental backdrop. After two EPs since 2015, earlier this year they released their debut full-length record, a self-titled effort featuring stand out single ‘Great Apes’, and ten more songs walking the line between delicate songwriting and DIY slacker attitude. Tracks such as opener ‘How Do You Know If God Takes You Back’ and ‘Wizards of Loneliness’ (streaming below) showcase the band’s softer side, bringing out dream-folk overtones. They’ll take the stage at Mercury Lounge on October 18th opening for Pinact and performing alongside New York locals Your Dream Coat. – Vernon McGhee

It’s difficult to believe that The Shacks’ “Strange Boy” was the first song that Shannon Wise ever recorded, but that’s how the story goes. The New York based duo (made up of Wise and Max Shrager) formed almost by accident, which only amplifies their chemistry. When Shrager’s whimsical arrangements are combined with Wise’s saccharine soprano, a sound akin to magic is created. The Shacks’ debut self-titled EP is a spooky and sweet bedroom pop masterpiece, and it leaves the listener wanting more. This fall they’ll be playing a bunch of shows scattered across the US. Our friends at Delicious Audio asked guitarist Max Shrager a few questions about his guitar tone, see link below. Check out their latest video for single "The Strange Effect," streaming below. – Lilly Milman

Delicious Audio Q&A with Max Shrager of THe Shacks about guitar pedals and tone.

With two singles already released, singer-songwriter Josh Washam is quickly making a name for himself in Nashville in anticipation of his upcoming full-length LP The Washam Machine. The single “Misinformation” (streaming below) is a breezy, honest ballad about trust and communication. The energetic, driven Americana is stylistically similar to releases by established groups like The Avett Brothers, except with one main difference—Washam recorded this all on an 8-track machine in his home studio in Nashville. From the production, to the arrangements, to the cover, this album represents Nashville to its core. The Washam Machine is set to be released on October 6th, and Josh Washam will also be playing a record release show at The Crying Wolf on the 8th. – Lilly Milman

NYC-based  Surfbort may have the noisy heaviness and aggression of other bands, but they offer a definitive lack of angsty bravado and instead boast flippant tongue-in-cheek lyricism and unfiltered vocalism that smacks of real, visceral vigor and musical gut-punches. Their latest  EP. Bort to Death, is 4-tracks worth of rough-‘n’-tumble, old-school punk that will leave you dreaming of deep diving into your nearest circle pit. Luckily for you, you can make that dream a reality and catch Surfbort at their latest show at Brooklyn’s Villian on 10/23. – Olivia Sisinni 

NYC-based Surfbort may have the noisy heaviness and aggression of other bands, but they offer a definitive lack of angsty bravado and instead boast flippant tongue-in-cheek lyricism and unfiltered vocalism that smacks of real, visceral vigor and musical gut-punches. Their latest  EP. Bort to Death, is 4-tracks worth of rough-‘n’-tumble, old-school punk that will leave you dreaming of deep diving into your nearest circle pit. Luckily for you, you can make that dream a reality and catch Surfbort at their upcoming show at Brooklyn’s Villian on October 23rd. – Olivia Sisinni 

Though in all likelihood failing to live up to the ambition of its title (no trap beats or Katy Perry features here), Cende’s debut album #1 Hit Single stomps with an impressive dazzle. In a spectacle of jangling guitars and it-came-from-the-garage energy, the eight tracks flutter by in less than 25 minutes. It’s so quick you barely let the four power poppers into your heart before they leave you crying “wait!” from the doorstep. It’s an easy album to throw on repeat and play over and over—just don’t wear it out before December 9th when Cende opens for Vagabon at The Bowery Ballroom alongside Radiator Hospital. – Cameron Carr

On first listen, Woodpainting’s music is very difficult to wrap your head around. Their track "A Hot Gust of Wind" (streaming below) darts back and forth between rhythms, drifts up and down in dynamic range, crashes, bangs, strums… Woodpainting describe themselves as "a grand multimedia narrative work, an infectious bubblegum-pop melodrama, a lyrical folk opera, a pan-idiomatic chamber piece, an anachronistic daytime-soap, and a rock epic." All of those things are probably true. But what you should cling to are the juicy guitar licks and soaring drums, especially on "Danse Macabre," which drifts into a slightly more atmospheric soundscape. The second you decide to simply let the music wash over you is the moment when it becomes a blissful concoction of sound. –Geena Kloeppel