It’s not every day you hear a band criticize Congresswoman Olympia Snowe in a song. The moderate Republican usually scores high marks from liberals, but then Appomattox is no moderate band. The power trio – one of the best live bands in town – is taking pop music’s ultra-digestable format and cramming politically charged lyrics head-on down its throat. A welcome change from the usually passive temperament of modern pop, this band has found a way to stand out amongst Brooklyn’s crowded backdrop by turning the form on its head and back to its roots as a countercultural force for change. But don’t worry, singer/guitarist Nick Gaynier makes the medicine go down easy. With incredibly catchy hooks and dub-soaked vocals, you’ll easily forget the politically charged backdrop in chants like "Where’d the money come from?" in ‘Speculators.’ The entire 5 song EP (Appmttx) could be mistaken for a less vitriolic groups’ output like The Chameleons, until you hear what’s really going on and realize a closer kinship could be made to Gang of Four’s political spirit. Check out new single Radiator (streaming below), in which our singer extends his rage toward an anonymous Julia, in a way you wish he was talking about you. They just played with Joe Lally from Fugazi at Knitting Factory. Sorry if you missed it, but don’t worry… these proletariat punks aren’t leaving NYC anytime soon. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)

New York’s Revolving One, a relatively young band playing modern rock with pop influences, was founded by a brother and sister team, Mario Mendieta on guitar and Deb Mendieta on vocals, and formed only last summer. The quintet released their debut, “Love or Another Kind of Hunger EP”, in September. The band’s material rotates through a variety of emotions, offering a little something for everyone’s good and bad days. Opening track, upbeat and moody “Lonely Man,” blends delay guitar riffs reminiscent of The Edge with a radio friendly melody, and transitions into the band’s sentimental single, “Lucky,” characterized by airy vocals and chiming guitars. “Out to Get Me”, our favorite track, is a straight ahead pop-rock tune with a bubbly verse that builds into a super-catchy chorus, while “Our Days” takes down the tempo to a gentle ballad. Rounding out the record, “Midnight Lies” channels a sinister side and exposes a more aggressive instrumental approach. Catch Revolving One for the holidays at Kenny’s Castaways on December 23. – Meijin Bruttomesso

Keyboard player/programmer Stephanie Brown may hail from New Zealand, but there’s definitely some kind of nordic component in her music. After performing for 3 years in a blues band, in 2010 she started working on a solo project that’s not bluesy at all: Lips. She recently released some really good new tracks that are somewhat reminiscent of Oh Land (but darker) or Bjork (but less orchestrated). We are really enjoying in particular the track streaming below, entitled "Ghost and Demons". Lips played Spike Hill last Saturday, check the band’s bandcamp profile for upcoming shows.

Layers of vintage synths and buzzy analog bass lines are the new background to the smooth soulful voice of Kurt Feldman in his post-Depreciation Guild project The Ice Choir. More "passionate" than songs from the previous now defunct act, the just released new track “Two Rings” presents lyrical references to “obsidian” and “black rain”, keeping everything just mysterious enough for the dream pop genre. Kurt has masterfully encompassed the influences of New Order’s “Every-time-I-see-you-falling” (take me back to my swirling alternative rock disco dance music days!), but he is actually a much better singer than Bernard Sumner ever was. Not completely rejecting guitars, there is a sweet and slithery solo that emerges just past the three minute mark and runs under the final bits of vocals up to the end. With this new direction coming out of the NY music scene, one has to wonder if a “Dead or Alive” or “Haysi Fantaysee” revival will be next? The new 7" single is out today via Shelflife joined by the b-side track "The Ice Choir." On Friday November 18th, the band will celebrate this release at The Cake Shop. – Dave Cromwell

"Margery," the psycho-shuffle opening track on Brother K‘s new EP, makes clear what this NYC-based outfit is all about: howling vocals and cranked tube amps. The Bo Diddley riff placed at the center of "Margery"’s chorus will get a sense of the respect the band has for its musical ancestors. But although Brother K summons the spirit of Joplin and Johnson, it refuses purism, drawing on punk’s volatility, pop’s sense of melody, and the blues’ pathos in equal measure (sometimes in the same song). Brother K’s words matter as much as its sound: front man Lucas Kwong, a one-time English major and unrepentant bibliophile, is as interested in telling stories as he is in the pentatonic scale. On the new EP, Claws and Stripes Forever, Kwong shrieks, mutters and croons his way through lyrics that range from gruesome decorum ("I’ll thank you later for my ten crippled fingers") to smart-ass Catholic ("Thomas Aquinas, get thee behind us!") to imagist wordplay ("A thousand interstates entangled the fortunes of the newly fangled"). "I’ve never seen an Asian guy with so much passion!" one bouncer allegedly told Kwong once. You can judge for yourself – they’re throwing an EP release party on 11/19 at the All Things Project (269 Bleecker), where they’ll also be screening the music video for "Payroll," a genre-mashing collaboration with rappers Jason Chu and Ryan Lucas. Show starts at 7:30. Free admission. – Alex Borsody

On January 31st Brooklyn lo-fi maestros Hospitality, who recently signed with Merge (congrats!) will be releasing their self titled album. They’ve made the new version of their old single "Betty Wang" available for streaming (below). This is an incredibly bubbly and catchy song, dripping with snaps and tambourine and anchored by the lead singer’s sweet high voice, and – as expected – this version is not as lo-fi as the previous recording. Every-time Amber Papini, who also wrote the song, thrills the chorus "Su Chia" (the real life Betty Wang’s real name), it’s hard not to sing along. – Molly Horan

New York rock’n’roller Devin Therriault has been locked up in the studio for almost a year, but it sounds like it was worth it. He just signed with Frenchkiss Records and released his first official EP, “You’re Mine”. The record is a mixed bag of guitar-driven vintage rock and vocally-drenched classic punk with a little rockabilly thrown in. So what do we get when we seal the bag, shake it up, and reach inside for a taste? At first bite something familiar, then a crescendo of surprising flavors, which left us at the peak of an unexpected aftertaste, wanting just a little more of the mystery extract that makes up his no-holds barred, punk-rock-greaser-infused confection with a modern-day twist. you can stream the single you are mine here. – Tuesday Phillips

North Highlands‘ gently edgy debut "Wild One" has been one of the NYC records we enjoyed the most this year (you can stream it here). There’s something truly unique and adorable about lead singer Brenda Malvini’s voice – and the same can be said about her presence on stage. The band just launched this video for the single "Benefits". – Read an old interview with the band here, or check out the recent print feature on the pdf of the latest issue of The Deli (pages 26-27).

Snowmine impressed us at our flagship CMJ show at Pianos, where they opened for Caveman and The Stepkids. The band yesterday released a new track (available for streaming here) which they wrote and recorded in less than 48 hours. "Curfews" features a sound that’s dreamier than most of this band’s repertoire, enjoy it and don’t miss their next live performances at The Loft (Hoboken) on 11.18 and Cake Shop on 12.08. The band also premiered a new interesting video about their "found object" approach to recording here.

Stars Like Fleas member Shannon Fields debuts his new solo project Leverage Models at Union Pool on Tuesday, Nov 22nd, with a show that also features Soliders of Fortune and Colin Stetson. Under his new guise Shannon has already released two EPs showcasing his extravagant pop sound in Forensic Accounting and the slightly older Interim Deliverable, but the show is his live debut and a first chance for Shannon to interact with his following. Fields will be joined on stage by several noteworthy friends and well-wishers including Shannon Funchess from Light Asylum, Jason Trammell from Yeasayer and Warm Ghost’s Oliver Chapoy. Entry to the show is $8 and begins at 9pm. – Dean Van Nguyen

Here’s a video focused on the Occupy Wall Street protest by Brooklyn’s The Sweet Ones, a band that in this particular song sounds like The Clash would have if were they were born in Nashville. Their music is definitely appropriate for this kind of footage, not to mention the title of the song, "Kids at the Bottom". – (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 and APS Mastering.