I don’t know why, it’s surely just some kind of preconception, but when we heard the phased out, psychedelic blues of Heliotropes we almost immediately imagined a bunch of bearded, long haired dudes behind the instruments. Well, it turns out this is an all girl, non-bearded band, whose music would work perfectly on a bill between Widowspeak and Naam. The quartet released their debut 7" in November 2011 and will celebrate the release of the new 12" entitled "Moonlite" (streaming below) on May 22 at The Knitting Factory.

Lovers of unconventional rock music will be delighted to hear that the high fivers of indie-prog-rock par excelence – Brooklyn’s Fang Island – will be soon back with a new album, entitled "Major," and scheduled for a July release. Although there isn’t much to listen to yet (just the soundtrack of this teaser video) the band has released a 1k bullet point explanation of the album title, which will surely get their biggest fans to imagine the entire record track by track, chord by chord, guitar solo by guitar solo – lack of lyrics makes this task much easier, actually…

GravelRoad’s latest album Psychadelta sounds way less psych and way more Clutch meets the blues meets jam band meets old time rock ‘n’ roll. Going for an “acid blues” feel, GravelRoad digs deep in the grit, kicking the album off with “Devil Eyes”. The twangy guitar and steady drum serve well with the muddy vocals that are half spoken and half wailed in a classic blues way. “Furry” is a purely instrumental jam that melts into “In The Woods” which has an almost country sound. “Caves” sounds like a loner on the road; the instruments clashing together creating a wild bird sound, the vocals echoing, the guitars sad. The boogie groove in “Let Me Hold You” gives a real glimpse into the Mississippi blues form that GravelRoad prides themselves on. When I first started listening to Psychadelta, I wasn’t in love. The more I listened, however, the more I could picture myself in a dirty saloon type of bar, drinking whiskey with the guys (or alone), and the more I liked it.

Composed entirely by classically trained musicians (6 of them), and based in Brooklyn and Philly, Cuddle Magic (#77 in our latest Best of NYC Poll for emerging artists) has been spreading their fascinating music through the world since 2008. Their latest release, "Info Nymph," is a piece of art full of stories, literature and artwork, wrapped into an (very) unusual take on traditional songwriting. The band is both intense and soft, wrapping you snuggly with their mellow vocals while keeping you interested and connected through their quirky orchestrations. – CM

Brooklyn based New York Rivals are relatively new in the NY scene but have gathered a fair amount of attention already. Becoming a band just last year, the quartet hit the ground running, releasing their self-titled debut album in October 2011, and touring the East coast to promote it. The 10-track record, which parallels the band’s live shows’ energetic reputation, features a series of noteworthy tunes, including the freewheeling and uplifting, “I’m Not Ready Yet,” “Black and Blue” – which showcases NYR’s pop edge – and rhythmically catching “Follower.” “Come On Now” channels greater intensity and aggression, and the staccato bass riffs drive the final track, “Change” toward a climactic close. The young but seasoned group does not waste a moment, and their work has certainly paid off, as they have three impressive local shows coming up on May 8 at Brooklyn Bowl, May 16 at Bowery Ballroom, and May 17 at Asbury Lanes, NJ. – Meijin Bruttomesso

At Brooklyn Bowl, on April 24, the man of the hour was Bryan Scary, who celebrated the release of his newest, “Daffy’s Elixir.” Two years in the making, the 15 tunes are a spellbinding potion of glam, pop, theatricality, flamboyance, quirky characters, and rock. Mr. Scary conducted the dances with flawless showmanship and let his falsetto vocals and frantic keyboards lead him through the carousel of influences that is his repertopire (check out the Eno-esque song "Misery Loves Company," streaming below). His 11-part group is an impressive bunch of musicians who can transfix crowds with their precision and dynamics, so much so that the Brooklyn Bowl’s audience wished upon the band for more and were granted a dynamite encore. If you are into fun times, keep checking Bryan Scary’s website for upcoming gigs.– Meijin Bruttomesso

On Tuesday, April 24, NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl was filled to the brim with the sounds of new music, humor, showmanship, and the victorious shouts for bowling scores. TAB the Band attacked the Williamsburg venue with solid rock tunes, both “oldies but goodies” from their album “Zoo Noises” and newbies from their upcoming record (release date TBA), causing moments of headbanging delight, accompanied by droll inter-song patter. Look out for TAB on May 24 at Irving Plaza, opening for the one and only Slash. – Meijin Bruttomesso

There are often times in life when we feel as though we need an escape. Things just aren’t going right, the present is heartbreaking, the future uncertain.  Friends, Marshall McLean (guitar, vocals, lap steel) and Adam Miller (guitar, vocals), were going through such a period, a time where everything felt broken. Miller’s marriage of five years had come to an end and McLean felt like he was on the wrong path and wasn’t sure where to go. They sought to make sense of the senseless through music, spawning the natural evolution that is their band the Horse Thieves. Working out their issues through each lyric and chord, the Horse Thieves dropped two albums on the exact same day; Outlaw Ballads, which is largely McLean’s story, and Valley of Decisions which is Miller’s and the concentration of this review. Joined by Tiffany Stephens (drums), Jordan Miller, and Fawn Dasovich (keys, vocals), The Horse Thieves are able to create a sad and beautiful album in Valley of Decisions. “Throw the Dice” is great as an intro, sounding a quiet awakening and setting up the listener for a moody and nostalgia evoking experience. The songs flow together, threaded with the common theme of reminiscing, which makes sense since Miller was looking to his past to make sense of the present. The songs are soft with heavy folk influences and a Mumford and Sons feel. “(I Was) Crazy (About You)” is practically a lullaby;  “You’re crazy but so am I. A Smile as bright as daylight shines but hold me tight and I’ll be blind”  is barely whispered, yet each note is drawn out fully against the haunting keys and simple yet effective drumming and guitar. In the lyric driven “I Won’t Keep You”, Fawn’s voice is clear and emotional as she purrs, “You said that it would be different now that I’m all you need but I guess I’m just an optimistic fool” . The album is certainly somber, maintaining a subdued sound throughout, and serves as the perfect soundtrack to the rainy day blues.

– Kristen Ferreira 

DC based Palestinian rapper Andru Ayoub has been producing releases since 2008, with singles like "Bravo" and "Time of Our Lives" garnering attention in a growing fanbase online. The same fans that no doubt put him at the top of the leaderboard of our last Band/Artist of the Month poll. So we wanted to find out more about him. Here he tells us about battle one-liners, Tupac & Biggie, and his upcoming release Better Late Than Never. Now onto the interview…

Reaching instant intensity with the dual night and day vocals of Darrin Bradbury and Emma McLaughlin, Big Wilson River have charged up thrash-folk streaming out from under them. The band released “Octopus” in 2011, showcasing their 90’s alternative influences and blues sensibilities in a major way. Songs like “Hemingway Had a Cat” and “Dandelion” highlight the band’s ability to engage listeners with screams and punches, both literal and sonic, especially with lyrics claiming to “drunk dial God.” – See Big Wilson Riverlive at the upcoming Deli NYC B.E.A.F. on 05.24 at Spike Hill – Read Devon Antonetti’s interview with the band here.

Emotionally engaging, carefully crafted dream pop songs are the appealing sonic domain of Brooklyn’s Field Mouse. The formidable songwriting and recording team of Andrew Futral and Rachel Browne create aural landscapes that can melt the hardest of hearts. Having expanded to a four piece with bassist Danielle DePalma and drummer Geoff Lewit, the group has been playing numerous live shows around the city, slowly building a loyal fan base, as it prepares to release its next record. – Read Dave Cromwell‘s interview with the band here.