An outlier from the Burger Records’ roster, normally home to garagey and surfy bands, Cosmonauts harness British rock from the ’80s and ’90s, and repackage those groovy sounds full of attitude in their most recent album A-OK. Citing the Kinks and Sonic Youth as their influences, the bands describes its sound as “drug-punk.” That sounds misleading, since A-OK is too clean to be punk, and too controlled to be "drug music." But it’s certainly excellent party music, which – with the summer on the horizon – is all we care about. Cosmonauts will play the Constellation Room, tonight (June 13th), check out the video for their ballad "Party at Sunday,’ streaming below. – Simone Gabrielli 

Noise-pop band The Sea Life is releasing a self-titled full-length album on May 26th, on Babe City Records. Blending the angsty vocal stylings of Win Butler and Conor Oberst with up-tempo, minor-key distortion, the D.C.-based band paint a swirling picture of depressive sentiments and full-throated screams of longing. On "Red Eyes," the lyrics suggest aversion toward success: "It’s a shame /That you’re trading your passion for a paycheck." The raw power in the band’s sonic approach and their energetic musicianship, however, indicate that their passion is very much a driving force on this promising release. The Sea Life is playing a record release show at Smith Public Trust in D.C. on May 26th. Check out single "Red Eyes" below! – Ethan Ames

Brooklyn’s soul band The Skins is a tantalizing blend of ’90s R&B and contemporary hip-hop. On their 2016 EP, Still Sleep, each song is tightly hook-oriented and provides sense of urgency to the entire five-track release. The Skins’ sound has evolved rapidly from a more rock-based aesthetic, as evidenced on their 2014 track, "Pump Up The Speed." The Skins will be playing Mercury Lounge on June 27th, and then head to the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle on September 1st. Check out the video for breakout single "Bury Me" below, it got more than 100k plays on Youtube! – Ethan Ames

Introducing themselves as NYC’s “premier power-pop rock band,” the Dives resurrect the retro kick of upbeat ’70s and ’80s rock. After celebrating the release of their high-energy EP “Everybody’s Talking,” at the Bowery Electric on June 6th, The Dives will kick off a 17 date tour that will see them back in NYC at the Mercury Lounge on June 26 and then at the Highline Ballroom on August 17. Formed less than a year ago, the band offers powerful guitar licks, driving drums, and classic, vaguely retro songwriting reminiscent of a less contrived Elvis Costello in his rock’n’roll phase. Star genes are embedded in the band thanks to front man Evan Stanley, the son of KISS guitarist Paul Stanley. – Simone Goldstone

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best alt rock songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Simone Gabrielli

For those seeking a dreamy respite from the terrors of the world, Birch will release their new EP Not Human on June 9th, with a show at Gold Sounds on the 10th. Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Michelle Birsky stands at the helm of Birch, teaming up with bandmate Mat Towles to provide an ethereal pop to help listeners transcend above their worries. The lyrics on Not Human deal with society and politics today, and in a time where music seems like one of the only escapes from reality, Birch’s EP provides a place for listeners to withdraw without losing ground. If you want a taste of what that feels like, you can stream Not Human below right now; if you like what you hear, go see Birch live on Saturday. – Will Sisskind

There’s something for everyone in the folk/country/rock scene on Hayride Casualties‘ new album Fossil Fuel Kid. It’s a superbly arranged, guitar-driven, bluegrass-influenced record delivered with compelling vocal performances by frontman Daniel DeWald. Those looking for rock will enjoy "The Catskills Ain’t For Sale," the album’s single, while folkies will ease into title track "Fossil Fuel Kid," and country fans will enjoy "Antarctica." But the best part, if you can’t already tell from the song titles, is the underlying theme of this otherwise nuanced protest album: climate change. DeWald himself has volunteered in grassroots environmental campaigns, and Fossil Fuel Kid explores his (and our) complicity in the matter. Listen for the lyrics, the Americana guitar figures, the tasteful harmonies, the message… there’s so much to pick apart in this album that you might just find yourself with a song or two on repeat. The album is out June 9th and Hayride Casualties plays a release show at The Paper Box in Brooklyn on June 11th. -Geena Kloeppel 

Rob Romano and his New Brunswick based band Professor Caveman just released a super intriguing and borderline bizarre EP, titled Vol. 3. Their first work since 2014, the record is a completely different project than their previous garage/punk release Vol. 2. Here, Romano provides a unique combination of funk, synthpop, psychedelia and lo-fi sounds, offering an unpredictable songwriting style reminiscent of a more subdued early Foxygen. The first half of Vol. 3 is jam-packed with a variety of sonic ideas. The luscious, crisp guitar chords on opening track “Lemon Water” become entirely unfamiliar within two minutes: they melt, blend, and evolve into something else entirely; cryptic and fuzzy vocals mumble barely articulate lyrics with a South American flavor, wallowing into ever-changing bass lines and drum beats, all accompanied by a horn section. The second track “Tappy Tappy Bling Bling” is not that different sonically, but takes a slightly different route, with synths and wah filtered guitars that sound at once loungy and psychedelic. The second half of Vol. 3 balances these aspects with an even more relaxed vibe similar to artists like TOPS and Mac Demarco. Be sure to check out their Facebook page for any upcoming live shows. – Pearse Devlin

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best psych songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

This Saturday, Chicago’s Famous Laughs will be hitting the stage in their hometown at the Hideout. The ambient-rock group has put out a few tracks throughout the years on SoundCloud, more recently with a chilling six-and-a-half minute song titled, “The Handwriting Sings”. The track features an ambient layering of electric guitars that mesh smoothly with repeated and chilling lyrics, a melancholic sound reminiscent of “Sleep Apnea” by Beach Fossils in a more disordered, disjointed fashion (psych rock aficionados will also hear a hint of Syd Barrett). Be sure to check them out as they open up for Fire-Tools and Horse Lords on June 10^th. – Pearse Devlin

 San Francisco’s pop-rock quartet Silent Pilot is playing at Live 105’s BFD 2017 at the Shoreline Ampitheatre in Mountain View on June 10th. Their most recent release, 2016’s heartSOUNDS, is a 5-track EP that hearkens to early-2000s emo/pop-rock like Brand New, Blink 182 and Sum41. Check out the official video for "California" below! – Ethan Ames

Emerging from their own previously established bands, Brooklyn’s Teen Vice prepares to release their debut EP Saddest Summer on July 14 via Commission Music.  Tammy Hart, who provides lead vocals and guitar, initially made a name for herself in the bands Winning Looks, Making Friendz and MEN. Bassist/vocalist Joshua Ackley and drummer Derek Pippin had long been the core of punk band The Dead Betties, previously featured on The Deli here.  Guitarist May Dantas rounds out the quartet, whose sound attempts to meld Fleetwood Mac style melodies with the punk aggression of Hole.  On featured track “Kiss It Goodbye” (streaming below) clean, jangly guitar chords establish the three chord rhythm before thrashing drums, fuzzy electric guitar and bass throb crash through.  Tammy’s vocals provide a softer touch on verse lyrics like “swear I didn’t mean it – really didn’t mean it,” while the chorus explodes with Joshua joining in on title line lyrics “so kiss it na, na, na, na, na – goodbye”.  Teen Vice will play Sunnyvale on 8/5 with The Suzan. – Dave Cromwell