If at The Deli, we’ve seized just about every opportunity to share some love for Buke and Gase, a relief initiative definitely seems as good a chance as any, so here’s spreading the word. Joining the effort of many local musicians to raise funds for the victims of hurricane Sandy, the band released a new single off their forthcoming album ‘General Dome‘, the adequately-titled ‘Hard Times” (streaming below), the proceeds from which are being donated to the Red Hook Initiative.

Coming back to the point, Arone Dyer & Aron Sanchez will be playing a Red Hook benefit at Saint Vitus, alongside Walter Schreifels, Believer/Law, Neon Indian and Bloodyminded, tomorrow evening (11.10 – $10 minimum donation). Find all the info here. TM 

It’s pretty clear that the US music blog establishment is MUCH keener to give exposure to any lo-fi indie band (no matter how instrumentally inept) rather than to highlight deserving, original, "mellowish" folky acts (rocking ones have more luck). It’s a shame because there are a lot of fantastic bands in NYC that craft quality music of this kind (Lucius, Pearl & The Beard, Swear & Shake, to name a few), and who – onstage – can tear to pieces 90% of the indie rock bands out there.

Mostly driven by Jessie Murphy’s thoughtful songwriting and Marcia Webb’s multi-instrumental talent, We Are The Woods – whom we had the pleasure to see live at our CMJ rootsy show in 2011 – is a band that manages to blend an exhuberant creativity with the intense nature of the rootsy genre. They just released their full length "Whales and Roses" in November, and we recommend you go see them at Mercury Lounge on November 11.

Time to get magical. I’m talking about that all-night trip that can only be properly delivered by skinny doods dancing and singing along to deep bass, chirpy keys and auto-tuned lead vocals. This has become the sound of revelation for late-night revelers, so maybe Black Light Dinner Party have plenty to be happy about… but they’re admittedly very good at making this combo work.

With a sound conjuring Passion Pit’s penchant for inserting anthem-ready hooks into deep house grooves, BLDP have a couple good reasons for you to stay up late tonight. From the ridiculously catchy ‘Older Together’ (streaming below), to the house-party ready ‘Gold Chain,’ these guys have to dance about, and that’s probably what we need right now. Check out their sampler on their Facebook, and tell them to start announcing some more dates! – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Sharp trash-talking lyricist, style icon on the rise – Mykki Blanco poppped onto everyone’s radar o nly few months back, this intriguing crossdressing character that would instantly seduce most, and for the others, inevitably become a case study in some scholarly debate on gender issues in rap. Getting ready for the release, tomorrow, of debut mixtape Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss, Blanco couldn’t resist but drop a track a couple of days ahead. On Wednesday, Kingpinning, with its organic beats and eerie signature stripped-down sound, came to introduce a first full-length for which the rapper surrounded himself with some of the country’s most prominent DJs/producers, such as Gatekeeper, Flosstradamus, or Brenmar (the man behind ‘Wavvy’). Mykki Blanco will be performing tonight (11.9) at Cameo Gallery, for this year’s Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival before kicking off a first US tour on November 12th at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, opening for Death Grips.  

Download Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss via The Fader.

Dolls on Fire is one of the newest bands to hit the Kansas City music scene—a group of local music veterans with a penchant for melody and a collective ear for sound song structures. We talk to the foursome about what we can expect from its music, including its upcoming debut release Ladies and Gentlemen…

The Ned Ludd Band has no desire to be put into your box. They’re well-rehearsed and practiced in the art of blowing smoke. With Spacebar stacked seven songs deep, the band manages to score one hundred percent in reinvention class. Track for track, the album darts and turns, alters and reforms, shifting significantly from the previous. There are no road maps on this trip and you for damn sure better pack some motion sickness pills. Why? Well, because this path is more slippery than a used car salesman short on cash the week before Christmas. 

SCORE: 7.5/10

Catch The Ned Ludd Band in action next Saturday, November 17. They’ll be playing at Coda at 9 pm with Cadillac Flambe at The Inwards. Facebook event page.

–Joshua Hammond

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We know, lately we covered these guys a little too often, but they always give us a good reason for some extra content – I guess you should follow their example if you want to be featured on this blog! Check out People Get Ready‘s new video for "Windy Cindy." Full length out in January.

Photo Source: Silicon Girls

Silicon Girls are moving on and playing their very last show this Friday at The Vera Project. Marvelous Good Fortune will join them.

This three piece last issued a record in March 2012; Rana is a rough-and-tumble collection of artful tunes. Their music darts and weaves unpredictably with genuine jubilance. A punkish ethos pervades – they seem to hold no allegiance to any particular sound or structure. Rather than being explicitly about craftsmanship, Silicon Girls charge forth by championing creation, expression and energy.

The drums are rollicking and scatter-brained on "Take Care," a trait that is threaded throughout Rana. Its rhythms lend an incessant surfness to the music. The guitarwork harkens back to early Modest Mouse and other ’90’s indie rock pioneers. The song is also awash with a kind of drony, hazy film that corroborates the band’s idiosyncrasies.

Try out "Shipwrecked," which begins with a simple vocal ode before flowing into a galloping sea shantie. The twang of the guitar and shimmering splashes of cymbals build ebuillient climaxes – listeners are tossed about Silicon Girls’ waves in the best ways.

Their music, simply put, is charming and fun. They really sound like they are having a great time and will doubtlessly put it on full display for their last show on Friday, November 9th. Doors are at 7:30pm at The Vera Project with $7 tickets. Give "Shipwrecked" a listen below and check out Silicon Girls’ bandcamp to hear all of Rana.

– Cameron LaFlam

Much has been made of Wilsen’s unique combination of dream pop and folk, which has been dubbed as “dream folk.” Yet there is a much easier way to describe the NYC-based singer-songwriter: really, really talented. Her debut album, “Sirens,” is eerie, confident, and a fantastic first step for this bright artist.

“Sirens” opens with “House On a Hill,” which is highlighted by some strangely ominous whistling over a melodic guitar line. Wilsen then moves to her folk roots with “Dusk.” Here, her vocals softly shine while even softer instrumentation ornaments the dueling senses of comfort and apprehension.

Throughout the album, Wilsen experiments with different sounds and styles, although her overall sound keeps faith to early Leonard Cohen’s sparse, pensive approach. The guitar work on “Lady Jane” has an almost Middle Eastern feel, while the vocals on “Springtime” bounce with a jazzy swagger.

Closing “Sirens” is the ten and a half minute epic, “Anahita” (see the video here). I’ve already sung the praises of this track, yet its breathtaking power cannot be overstated. The moment halfway through the song when the stunning guitar line gives way to aural chaos is one of the best recorded musical instances of the year. – Josh S. Johnson – Listen to "Sirens" on Spotify.

New York’s Street Smells may be named after various aromas that are sometimes inescapable in this town, but their music appears to be more firmly rooted in Scotland, circa 1990. "Jerky Ride" ambles along with the casual cool of Jim Reid’s swagger and his brother’s guitar textures. "We went down, down (so far down) that I don’t believe we’ll ever come around" is the nihilistic searching for kicks message. "Lemon Yellow Rasberry" slows the shuffle down even further, presenting a heavier, near dirge-like quality. Tambourine on snare shot beats and dueling guitar layers create the proper level of foreboding. "The Slippery Slope of Being A Drug Dealer" takes its obvious message and positions it against a rhythm closer to The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Dirty guitar lines shear the top off power chords churning underneath. "Ghost In The Sky" returns to a shuffle rhythm while updating the two chord churn of The MaryChain’s "Birthday" for maximum effect. – Dave Cromwell

Is the Elephant 6 Collective arriving in New York, or has a new arts commune sprung up unexpectedly in the otherwise serene waters of Long Island? Meet the fascinating arts collective/loft apartment recording project of Eastern Phoebes. While the band has already released several records, the band has now arrived at a larger juncture with their latest EP ‘Better People.’ An ensemble including the large, inviting personalities of Ry Cooder and Meg Bayley, it’s amazing they’ve been able to come together to create such a cohesive statement.

Like the way Olivia Tremor Control took an analog sensibility and coupled it with an appreciation for all things Beach Boys, Eastern Phoebes is extending the noble tradition of Weird Old Americana to yet another generation. And on their latest record ‘Better People,’ the band delivers. From the psychedelic protest of ‘Yer Dollar is a Dead Spore’ to domestic dramas like the back and forth of "everyone here is allergic it seems…" off ‘We Can’t Have a Cat,’ this record covers its subjects with a wide brush and fills in the lines with immense detail.

Here’s a group exploring all the ups and downs associated with life lived among family and friends. And the humour, pain and joy of this kind of life lights up every shooting harmony and floating guitar riff off ‘Better People.’ Check out the record on their Bandcamp. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)