It’s safe to say that Paul & The Tall Trees‘ new video for ‘Can’t You Wait’ (streaming) won’t change your life inside out, but there’s something to that song that got us intrigued, and the video certainly contributes to the charm. Even though the Staten Island based band’s press release mentions the term "psychedelia," the track’s initial section echoes early Roxy Music, although Paul (Schalda)’s vocals progressively assume a more menacing tone, something that wouldn’t have been tolerated by Roxy’s "crooning-head" vocalist Bryan Ferry. The track’s bouncy rhythm section certainly sparks happiness, but it would be a mistake to think it’s a permanent feature of this group’s sound, since previous single ‘Once in a While‘ is an almost drumless ballad (definitely psychedelic this time). The two tracks, included in the debut album ‘Our Love in The Light,’ and our favorite song ‘Crack of Dawn,’ showcase an artist that takes chances and it’s charmingly quirky, fun and poetic at once. You can see Paul & The Tall Trees live at Baby’s All Right on December 12th.

On the final night of Northside 2016, Brian Wilson—erstwhile songwriter/arranger/production genius behind L.A.’s Beach Boys—performed his entire 1966 masterpiece, Pet Sounds, at McCarren Park in Brooklyn. The crowd, ranging from very young to elderly, and including patrons from the broadest spectrum of culture and subculture, confirmed what some have known for quite a while now: that surf music—a vernacular style forged in early 1960s Southern California—has far outgrown its local wellspring. – Read the full article on The Deli NYC Issue #47.

Local pop-punk icon Mikey Erg (of NJ’s The Ergs! fame) is back with a solo album entitled ‘Tentative Decisions.’ The man stands out in that loud and melodic scene for a lyrical talent way above the average, and for gladly joining other like-minded bands on tour and on record (his credits include Dirt Bike Annie, The Unlovables, The Dopamines, Star Fucking Hipsters, House Boat, Worriers and Weston). Mikey will spend the winter touring in support of the record, with a NYC date set for February 17 at Brooklyn Bazaar.

By describing their music as "anxiety pop" well before the 2016 elections (may they be damned!), NYC’s indie pop quintet Wet Leather might have tapped into something real before we were even aware of it – maybe their music should be the soundtrack of WNYC’s new weekly program "United States of Anxiety"? Truth be told, the kind of anxiety channeled by these dudes’ tunes is a lot more fun and a lot less stressful thant the one lately delivered by the news (fake ones in particular), so don’t be scared of it, actually… embrace it! It’s channeled through pure, perfectly crafted and rather classy uptempo pop, with an opening single entitled ‘Astral Projection’ (streaming) exhibiting traces of Elvis Costello and Camera Obscura, and Prince references coming through in many other tracks (like for example in single ‘Shame‘).

It took Brian Bonz six years to complete his sophomore full length ‘Misophonia’, released in 2015 after 2009’s well received ‘The Triborough Odyssey.’ Presented under the moniker ‘Brian Bonz and The Major Crimes,’ the record, whose title literally means “hatred of sound”, brings music lovers a thoughtful, multifaceted sonic journey where both texture and power find fertile ground, and mostly electronic arrangements support Brian’s dreamy melodies and emotional vocals. Take a listen to single  ‘The Man from Munich’ below and see Brian Bonz live at Rough Trade on 12/18! – Ashley Muniz 

Now premiering on The Deli: The music video for “Birdwatchers”, a song from Brooklyn’s four-piece art pop sweethearts, Trash Gendar. The song is on the group’s multifaceted second EP Once, Child, which was released this past September. The “Birdwatchers” video shows as much passion through its animation as the music does through its composition. Lively birds, humans, and cityscapes come to life through the animated torn and cut pages of magazines and catalogs. Each frame of this captivating and cinematic stop-motion video was put together by hand by band member Freddie Wyss. Take some time out of your daily chaos to appreciate the beauty and variety of Trash Gendar’s new video, streaming below. – Will Sisskind

There’s something very haunting about debut single "Bulletproof" by Me Not You, a mysterious Brooklyn band that doesn’t seem to exist beyond their Soundcloud and Twitter profiles. The single, which reached #10 on Hype Machine’s Popular Charts, sports a 90s alt-pop vibe reminiscent of uber-melodic, not so raw female fronted bands like Garbage or Sneaker Pimps. It shares with those bands’ repertoire a vague moodiness, expressed through its edgy synth textures that drone on and, later in the track, melt with a wall of distorted guitars flirting with shoegaze. Amidst this atmosphere is the lustrous bright female voice that breaks through the darkness with her angelic tone and reletable lyrics about humanity’s strength. Listen below and hope for a live show in the near future. -Ashley Muniz

This week, Brooklyn’s girlwave trio THICK take their sandpapery brand of surf rock to support two fellow bands’ album releases. On Friday 12/9, they will join Baby Acid at The Footlight in Ridgewood as the latter release their new LP Don’t Blush When I Rip You Open. "Trash jazz" rockers Parlor Walls and female-fronted five-piece Ex-Girlfriends will round up the bill. Then on Wednesday 12/14, THICK will perform with shoegaze group Lazyeyes and punk funk troupe Toyzanne in order to support post-punk quartet Journalism, who will release their brand-new single. THICK themselves have played a number of shows over the last few weeks in support of their new EP It’s Always Something (which you can stream below.) They have major plans going into 2017, but you can still catch them before the year’s up. Don’t miss out. – Will Sisskind

A true NYC scene sleeper, avant-orchestral collective Cuddle Magic has been being impressive for a long time now, and our little top ten ‘NYC buzz" chart of this same page just reminded us of it – that’s what’s there for! The Deli booked them for a CMJ show back in 2012 (holy cow, that was an EPIC CMJ year for us!), and their live show left us in awe. 2012 was also the year of their latest release, LP ‘Info Nympho.’ But true musicians never quit, and we are glad to see the group back on their feet with a new record – and a new label, the experimental-minded, Brooklyn based Northern Spy. The new mateiral is at once edgier and angular in the production and more mellow and ethereal in the vocal department. Check out ‘Slow Rider’ below, the second single from upcoming LP ‘Ashes/Axis,’ scheduled for a January 27th release. Don’t miss the band’s upcoming show at Trans Pecos on December 15.

When Von Sell released "Ivan" back in 2015 at the request of some friends, the electro-pop artist developed a following seemingly out of nowhere. A few releases later and the Brooklyn-based artist decided to return to his debut single, giving it the finishing treatment that could only come from 2 years of experience and reflection. With cascading synthy layers, a strong pop sensibility and driving, gritty basslines, "Ivan (Revisted)" is a gem of a pop hit, and our favorite new earworm. Check out the new single from Von Sell streaming below. – Olivia Sisinni

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

Good Looking Friends is a three-piece indie emo, post rock influenced band hailing from Brooklyn, NY. Regardless of what their name may suggest, their music portrays people who feel like they just don’t quite belong, struggling with the anxiety to fit in in this gigantic, upside down world. Their lyrical complexity is paired with their ability to create energetic, yet atmospheric, almost ambient instrumentals that draw people in and just make them want to think. In June 2016, they released the EP, “You Won’t Die,” a collection of songs that delve into the life in New York City. The follow-up “You Won” was released in Novemember 2016 and shows a harder side to this band, with harsher and more emotional vocals. Elaborating on the themes from “You Won’t Die,” the last two tracks, “End of the World” and “Fallowfield” (streaming) lead into each other and immerse the listener in what really is a perfect soundtrack to the end of the world. Led by the intensity of vocalist/guitarist Zachary Fischer’s powerful lyrics and voice, the four minutes of ambient noise then bursts, full of color, in a dynamic finale. After touring and releasing two EPs in the span of six months, the band will be playing live in Brooklyn January 3rd at Bushwick Public House and January 21 st at Muchmore’s. – Kali Keish