Like the aim of any good John Hughes film, Fan-Tan’s new single ‘Window’ seeks that defining moment that comes after some serious heartbreak, and some serious choices made. What could only be described as a feel-good moment captured by heady tenor Ryan Lee Dunlap, ‘Window’ bounces at the altitude of an international flight and a positive emotional turn.

Look for this and more shoe gaze soul on their upcoming record ‘A Strange Game’ out on Goodnight Records, and see the power trio when they play at Glasslands with Heliotropes, Cloudeater + Grandfather on Oct 2nd.

It sounds like Brooklyn pop-rock quartet The Veda Rays has been rather busy in the studio lately: they released the EP "Die Fast" on August 21st, and they already have a following EP (entitled "Life Kills") slated for an October 9th release. At that point they’ll just need an extra, similarly titled EP, to have what might one day be remembered as the band’s "death trilogy"!

From the former record, the smooth vocals of the single "Better the Devil" and its layered melody make for a sound reminiscent of a peppier, more upbeat Coldplay. The song may open the EP with foot-tapping shenanigans, but it’s markedly livelier than the rest of the album; the three tracks that follow are shimmery indie rock. These twinkly numbers, dressed with psych edges, are very pretty at times, almost wistfully so. Guitar riffs flow underneath it all, uniting and carrying the EP forward. – Corinne Bagish

Railbird is the kind of band that doesn’t mind sharing their secrets with you, even if some of these details might make you a little nervous. Singer Sarah Pedinotti seems to whisper these tell-all remarks with a mysterious honesty requiring a certain amount of courage on both sides of the microphone. This isn’t an easy-going ride, but is certainly worth the time. Latest video ‘Jump Ship’ (streaming below, which premiered on Brooklyn Vegan a few days ago) plays with these conflicted feelings, bouncing between intimacy and moodiness amid kaleidoscopic bubbles and cameo appearances from Sean Rowe and Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel. Check it out below and catch the band live when they play The Rock Shop on September 7. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Headed by Brooklyn native Paul Weinfield, Tam Lin evokes the aura of late-60’s acoustic folk, creating songs that are subdued and guarded while allowing hints of vulnerability to shine through. Weinfield is the son of a composer and a poet, blending the two influences into Tam Lin’s fragile love songs on the band’s fourth album, “Garden in Flames.” The album, which was released last fall, covers an array of sounds by its ten multi- instrumentalist musicians, traveling through Weinfield’s heartaches and his battle with cancer. Tam Lin will perform at the Living Room on September 7th. – Devon Antonetti

Staking their claim as a top contender among bands with names that are nearly a complete sentence, "Letting Up Despite Great Faults" have a number of quality songs to support such a noble sounding name – our favorite from their latest release are the dramatic "Stand Still" and the more minimalistic “Folding Under Stories Told” . The Los Angeles/Austin based electro-dream-pop band is about to release a new album entitled "Untogether" (scheduled for early October) and recently unveiled the first single "Visions" (streaming below), which nods the 80’s era Cure of "In Between Days" by way of pace, chord progression and strumming, and through bass textures reminiscent of New Order’s Peter Hook. Sugary sandpaper vocals share space alongside additional late-80’s pop purveyors Echo & The Bunnymen, with a bit of modern-era "twee" (and fellow half-a-sentence named) Pains Of Being Pure At Heart style vocals on the bridge. – Dave Cromwell

The Last Royals are two gentlemen out of Brooklyn who bonded (on a musical level) in 2010. Since then, singer/writer/producer, Eric James, and drummer,Mason Ingram, have been pouring their hearts out in song. Their upcoming record, “Twistification,” due out in January of next year, takes listeners on a quick-paced, joyful joyride. “Winter Waltz” is a short overture that contrasts with the remainder of “Twistification,” transitioning from melancholy to an eruption of bouncy synth-driven verses, defining the cheerful nature of the record. Upbeat highlights include “Friday Night,” “Wake Up,” and single, “Only the Brave,” which is currently available to the public. Mid-album, the tempo relaxes with the lush “All Over Again” but accelerates to the power- electro-pop “Good day to Be on the Radio.” The Last Royals will be amping up for tour in the fall and probably have a few plans up their sleeves for a record release fit for rock royalty. A 3 song teaser EP will be out on October 2nd on iTunes via Ooh La La Records. – Meijin Bruttomesso

You can check out The Dead Girls‘ exclusive live in-studio Daytrotter session at the link here! The session was released today and is now available for download or streaming.

The Dead Girls are working on their next full-length album Fade In/Fade Out, which should be released later this year, and features four of the tracks in this session.

Finally, check out our story below, featuring drummer Eric Melin. He talks a little more about the upcoming album, which he calls their most mature work to date. And, well, you’ll just have to read the rest to find out. Do it!

–Michelle Bacon

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Alien Trilogy is a noisy synth-punk trio from Brooklyn New York whose music takes inspiration from 80’s and 90’s sci-fi films and the sound of bands such as Devo and Nervous Gender. The trio combines catchy synth lines, effects laden vocals and the squeals and pops of circuit bending into a tightly focused cyper punk assaults. Alien Trilogy will deafen audiences next at XPO 929 in Bushwick on September 29. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.

This week, we put drumming madman Eric Melin in the hot seat. The Dead Girls‘ drummer talks to us about his rock-n-roll-all-night approach to the skins, his passion for air guitar, and his life as a movie critic. Catch the beat right here!

On The Beat is typically brought to you by Sergio Moreno, but has been overtaken this week by drummer and The Deli – Kansas City editor-in-chief Michelle Bacon. This weekly interview features some of the many talented drummers in the area.

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Photo Source: Dog Shredder

This upcoming Saturday, Dog Shredder are playing at The Highline with Rose Windows and Kayo Dot.

Their latest EP Brass Tactics – released in April via local Seattle label Good to Die Records – is a maelstorm of sweat, blood and adrenaline. All three songs do battle with the listener, evidenced before the aural inferno even takes off by their names: "Battle Toads," "Battle Snakes," and "Battle 07."

"Battle Snake" is heavy and lightning-quick. The pace of the song does not relent, leaping from lick to lick in a powerful and precise dance. Math rock’s signature stop/start dynamics and time signature flips are present, but what once was asymmetrical guitar looping is furious progressive rock spit from the maw of Dog Shredder. Part monster of metal, part creature of incessant progression, part pure thrash, their musical chimeras bridge the gap between technical brilliance and exuberant, emotional energy.

"Battle 07" is a significant departure from the two prior tracks; a lone, aching synth conjoins with Josh Holland’s obscured vocals in a bizarro post-punk ballad. The clinking of wrenches and chains slinks in through industrial-like programming. What feels like a desperate cathedral sermon gradually distorts itself into a dystopian anthem.

September 1st at The Highline will be an excellent show – do not miss Dog Shredder and the rest of the lineup! The 21+ show begins at 10pm and costs $10. Check out "Battle Toads" below and visit their bandcamp to stream all of Brass Tactics. The EP is available digitally for $4, or through GTD Records on vinyl for $10.

– Cameron LaFlam