“You got your path, oh I got mine” sings Tyler Burwood in Boston’s quartet Bellwire’s new single “Time Out.” The song, a jangly reflection speckled with vibrant guitar chords, bubbling drums, and monotone vocals, is a single off their upcoming album Dog Thoughts, which is set to be released on May 24. The album, if the singles are any indication, ranges from mellow, borderline melancholic ruminations evident in “JAKL” to spastic bouts in “Let It Shine,” (streaming below) another single with energetic guitars sputtering exuberantly into a solo where the chords stretch out and slacken the pace before dying out into feedback. A quirky aural exploration of age and relationships, Dog Thoughts seems to be shaping up to an entertaining listen. Keep tabs on Bellwire’s Facebook page for any upcoming shows and take a listen to their single below.

We believe the health of a musical scene can be measured by the amount of bands that are completely out of their mind, and also by the amount of music fans interested in attending their shows. In this regard, there’s a quality gig at Palisades in about a month (Saturday June 4th) that shines a bright, although rather psychotic, light on NYC, involving two local bands that sound nothing short of irrational (Palberta – pictured – and Guerilla Toss) and one coming across as "seriously disturbed" (PC Worship). Taking inspiration from subversive movements like No Wave and early Post Punk, without sounding simply amateurish (that’s the hard part!), these groups represent NYC’s current sound of "uncompromise" – and the sparkle that keeps the Rock’n’Roll flame alive in this problematic and increasingly art-hostile city.

Combining pop sensibilities with the classical textures of violins and twinkling pianos, Brooklyn’s beguiling trio, Half Waif, sends un on a dazzling journey in her album Probable Depths – which we had the chance to preview, or rather, pre-hear. With swelling vocals, billowing synths, and blinking electronic melodies that lull us into a dream, the album is both achingly private and daringly open, as if each song was a stolen glance into Plunkett’s sonic world, each painting an acutely fine and deliberate stroke of her emotive life. A mellifluous pirouette of musical resplendence, Half Waif’s Probable Depths is an aural triumph set to be released on May 6. Catch Half Waif at Baby’s All Right on May 12 for their album release show and tour kick-off. – Adriana S Ballester, photo by Adan Carlo.

NYC’s own Psych rockers Caveman are back with this new video for ‘Never Going Back’ – don’t forget about this cover from 2011! They are currently touring with Frightened Rabbit.

‘Kandy,’ by Brooklyn electronic chanteause Lavachild, is a song (as singer Chantel Marie puts it) about ‘greed and lost perspective,’ so it’s kind of appropriate for us to blog about it on the day Donal Trump has de facto won the Republican Presidential Nomination. (Ok, ok, this is not a political song at all, but… you know, today Trump is all we can think about!). This is Lavachild’s eeriest and edgiest tune to date, developing on top of abstract, moody and ever-changing layers of synths and a simple, tenuous electronic drum pattern. Chantel Marie’s voice – as sensual as always – carves delicate, haunting melodies. The track makes us look forward to the band’s debut EP, scheduled to be released later this year.

Brooklyn bastion of boom bap iLLspokinn teams up with French producer Zajazza to take you down the “Vagabond Road.” It’s a lyrical smashfest with too many quotables to list here — not unprecedented from the ten-year plus stalwart host of the Freestyle Mondays Open Mic. “Feeble minds are miniscule. Manipulate your vision pool. Dive inside your consciousness and confiscate the inner you,” raps iLL as he waxes philosophical about life on the road and the tribulations of being the best MC ever. He doesn’t claim the title in so many words, but demonstrates the ownership with every phrase he flips. – BrokeMC

Cecilia Della Peruti is a creative force to be reckoned with in the LA scene. Her band Gothic Tropic‘s musical output could be seen as a permanent effort to defy categorizations: disparate influences like rock, pop, ambient, African melodies and even jazz find a place in her repertoire, without affecting its cohesiveness. The band is about to unveil a new single on May 30th at Resident, so we thought it would be a good opportunity to refresh your memory about their music with their best single to date ("Flesh Dance, streaming below). We also took the opportunity to organize a Delicious Audio feature focused on Cecilia’s guitar pedals!

If your mom rocks and loves to laugh (if so, pretty cool mom you have!) we recommend this show next Sunday 05.08 for Mother’s Day: local comedians Catherine Cohen and Steven Markow are hosting a live music event at the Mercury Lounge in honor of our birth-givers. Headlining for the night is Psychobaby (which, coincidentally, is how your mother affectionately called you when you were 2), an alt rock group that combines sharp guitar riffs with robust but overall poppy female vocals. Sharing the LES venue’s stage that night will be the also lady-fronted lounge pop band Madam West, and a New JErsey based hip-hop band, Cook Thugless (pictured), whose latest full-length record could be found here.

If you close your eyes while listening to Negative Gemini you’ll feel like you’re floating in some technicolor daydream. The brainchild of Queen’s producer Lindsey French, has been bubbling around for a few years now but has really peaked with her recent releases. Often wielding her vocals as instruments, French delivers tunes that are dancey and emotional at once, and tightly (self-)produced. Native Gemini is set to release a new album, ‘Body Work,’ sometime this year via 100% Electronica (this will ring a bell if you’ve heard George Clanton’s work) and, if her preview singles are any indication, it’s going to be a treat. Can’t wait? Then catch Negative Gemini tomorrow, May 4, at the Good Room in Greenpoint. Who knows, maybe she’ll play some of her new stuff. But until then, “Body Work” (streaming below) and “You Never Knew” will have to do. – Adriana S Ballester

If you haven’t heard these guys, fix that right now. A rising band in DC, Color Palette is an engrossing electro rock quintet, specializing in lo-fi vocals and enchanting keys. Their latest video is a studio recording, one that feels intimate and welcoming. Seeing this outfit play so resolutely speaks to their confidence and poise, as well as their talent for musicality that’s both titillating and relaxing. Catch their latest video below and don’t miss when they open for Day Wave at DC9, 5/12. $12, doors at 8:30.

Brooklyn based artist Kevin Calaba performs under the moniker Airlands, a sophisticated art pop project that’s about to release its second studio album. Calaba’s liquid vocals encapsulate passion and longing. Single ‘Love & Exhale’ (streaming), off last year’s self-titled debut album, is an intense ballad exuding almost mystical peace and tranquility; it will please the fans of Peter Gabriel from the ‘So’ years. The record is a perfect collection of music for the end of a long day, something many New Yorkers may appreciate. – Amanda McCall

This artist submitted music for coverage here.

There’s a peaceful tide that will wash over you when listening to Boston’s Covey. Each track is suffused with a comforting warmth that’s echoed in the gentle guitar chords and Tom Freemans’ textured croons, a sense of familiarity permeates the simple melodies. Though they have only released two singles since 2013, Covey has already a clearly developed sound for themselves that has left us anxious for more. Keep tabs on their Facebook page for any news on new music and join Covey at Great Scott on May 10.