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Dream In Static "Serene Poetic" (Dreams in Static/Shemspeed, Jan. 26th)

"If On A Winter" I'm listening digitally, but can still feel the vinyl essence oozing from these beats. A perfect mixture of nostalgia and futurism.

"The Ineffable" Dream In Static in a perfect name for this duo... waves of echoing guitar over controlled and measured beats... who doesn't dream that way?

"Day/Night" Fractured and distant, Dugans (the guitarist) splinters the track with his skill and inventiveness. These two have a clear and vibrant connection.

"Notes From Under" Orb like dreams build into an electro spasm. Each track is a new castle of sound built to explore sonic possibilities.

"Invisible Man" A fusion of gritty surf guitar and tribal elements. The collision continues.

"The Border/The Sun" You can hear Dugan presenting the guitar solos as if it were a lead vocalist. It's not new to instrumental music but Diwon's beats make it fresh.

"Theta" I wonder if these tracks were created in the same studio or in parts. Beats from Brooklyn/guitar from Texas.

Javelin "Javelin" (Thrill Jockey, Oct. 2009)

"Lindsey Brohan" I'm strolling through the mall, it's 1985, I'm wearing parachute pants, chucks, and lot of hair gel.

"Unforgettable Super Lady" I enter Aladdin's Castle with a pocket full of quarters and a grin wider than my laces.

"Soda Popinski" The suckers play pac-man while I am rockin' Donkey Kong. I spot Sally jumping rope out front and ask her if she wants to get a slice.

"Radio" (mp3) At the food court, she loves Depeche Mode but I don't mind. I just smile & watch her twist her auburn hair around her finger.

"Twyce": Sally & I hold hands as the escalator brings us back down to earth. Denice Williams echoes in the distance. She like my rattail & I like her ripped denim.

Downtown Harvest "Golden Dragon" (Self-Released, July, 2007)

"Sinner" Fun, funky, and little Stone Temple Pilots feel.

"Full Circle" Grind that organ... party rock with a garage feel.

"Man of Mystery" A little ska ditty... consistently surprising, full mixture of 90's influences.

"Killer Queen Bee" (mp3) What? Droppin' the hip hop circa 1982. I've got my indie hips movin'

"Something Elephants" Keep the grove going, this one is built with a sixties feel and is begging for a remix.

"Napier" Makes me feel like James Bond hunting down spies in my Nissan Versa.

"Michael Jordan" A band from Philly making a song called Michael Jordan just doesn't seem right... eat your heart out G. Love!

"Shrimp Fried" Bring on the horns... It gets funkier with each track.

"Slow Dive" Southern twang with Beatles influence.

"Four Hundo" (mp3) Piano loops, horns, gravel vocals very Bosstones.

Hurricane Bells "Tonight is The Ghost" (Vagrant, 11.10.09 Digital/ Feb. 2010 Physical)

"This Year" Reflects the collective depression of our country right now. A perfect New Year's Eve song.

"This Is A Test" The answer to the depression and complexity and constant spinning is simplicity... R.E.M. Influence.

"I Can't Remember" A cry for a return to youthful bliss and innocence. Again uncertainty and anger abound.

"Tonight I'm Going to Be Like A Shooting Star" Near traditional folk building into a full blown rock sound... Romance now gone but never forgotten.

"Darkness Is So Deep" Upbeat pop melodies illuminate the hope of recovery and the power to face the darkness and rise above.

"Crocodile" Short instrumental, organic with a whistle... Dr. Dog influence.

"Freezing Rain" A little Smiths flavor... both in lyric and sound.

Anders Ponders "Nodes of Overtones" (Self-Released, Nov. 10th)

"The Discuss Incident" Staccato sounds abound... Andrew Bird vs. Bowerbirds vs Bon Iver.

"Pomegranate" The pomegranate is a beautiful fruit... A song on welcomed change.

"Out of the Light" Well constructed composition with graceful violins swirling and nearing The Books territory.

"Icarus" Dead Can Dance influence felt heavily on the intro... Big bass and bird whistles.

"How We've Grown" Near Chiefton romp through fiddles and stomping rhymes.

"A Love That Feels Like" The orchestral strings mix with samples and loops are breathe-taking.

"Mr. Butterfly" A true musician that has mastered the art of composition.

"Slowest Motion Miracle" Nearing Sufjan territory... the closer is grand and so fitting. Pacifists are coming back.

Listen to: "Slowest Motion Miracle" (mp3)

Lissie "Why You Runnin'" (Fat Possum, Nov. 10th)

"little lovin'" A rural warmth and southern strength radiate on a tender little track.

"wedding bells" Lissie is somewhere between Patsy Cline & M. Ward. She is clearly wise beyond her years.

"oh mississippi" A traditional tale and gospel hymn that really capture the power of the river.

"everywhere I go" She brings the pace and texture of the South to the world and helps us slow and reflect.

"here before" This is the time to change your live... A song of hope and comfort. This is what country music should sound like and deal with

Listen to: litte lovin' (mp3)

Darling New Neighbors "Rocket" (Self-Released, Oct. 2009)

"Lilliput" I'm not sure what "lilliput" means but I;m falling for Elizabeth Jackson... I'd say Cranberries-esque.

"Gasoline" A humorous ode, filled with violins, to the product we love to hate.

"Electrolux" A duet that fills this electrifying indie rock anthem.

"Tango" Accordions ablaze on a clear tip of the hat to Gogol Bordello.

"Stars" A little classic 60's pop to really change the mix.

"Take It" Oh my, no sexual overtones this is in your face and hot. She could make an emcee blush.

"Sydney" Reid on vocals is a pleasant change of pace.

"Indian Mounds" She channels Kim Gordan for a minute and continues with the clever lyrics.

"Boys in Cars" A sweat little ditty, a youthful romp filled with pot, steamy windows and the thoughts of a 16 year old girl.

"Pining" Slow it down and float awhile.

"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" This track settles around early 10,000 manics and maybe a little Madness. Neil Young cover btw.

"Boys" Bonus Track!! bring on the accordion.

The Swimmers People Are Soft (Mad Dragon Records, Nov. 3rd)

"Shelter" A full mixture of flavors here... New Order vs. CYHSY vs. Talking Heads... Exciting Start!

"A Hundred Hearts" I don't know if it is the pink cover or not, but this feels a lot like happy bubble gum pop.

"Drug Party" Now I understand why this album makes me smile, it's a pych-out journey through gritty to well-produced.

"What This World Is Coming To" Unexpectedly beat heavy... love the synths... this one has to be the single.

"Give Me The Sun" With each track the level of funk builds... I'm now dancing in the car.

"Save Me (From The Brightness)" I thought you wanted the sun? This is an homage to The Cars all the way.

"Nervous Wreck" Keeping it slow but interesting.

"To The Bells" Sounds like simple indie rock, but there are so many layers and textures.

"Dresses Don't Fit" This is E meets The Shins meet Of Montreal... despite the title this really does seem to fit.

Radius: Etc... (Gritty Goat, Oct 2009)

"Kemetica" This is a much more upbeat approach from Radius... funky flowing rhythms meet well placed samples.

"Cosmic Rush Hour" Dropping sonic popcorn, and deep delicious underground sounds... Rush Hour has never been so fun.

"Organics" Slowly building, but evolves into a pattern that some how feels as organic as its title. I think it is the guitar.

"One4Garo" Electro-funk complete with the bass bottom and soaring synth loops. It's a slightly amplified quiet storm.

"Get Me Otta This Place..." Sitting in a very nice hotel I can't quit agree, but Radius does flex his well-maintained downtempo muscle.

"Zone In/Out" Still building, this sounds almost like a classic Michael groove, but with out the vocals. Radius is tapping the glass again.

"Dan Tien" A seven minute journey through sound this one has it all, including a classic New Order drum machine solo and handclaps.

HotChaCha - The World’s Hardest Working Telescope and the Violent Birth of Stars (Exit Stencil Records, Oct. 20th)

4:45pm: "One Thousand Pillows Soft" Forceful percussion and a breathy moaning request to take her home tonight... sold!

4:48pm: "Ticket Away From Prague" I've never been to Prague but a ticket away sounds like a fine choice... bi-lingual lyrics make me smile.

4:52pm: "Baby Mammoth" Is punk-pop a genre? Siouxe Sioux meets Matt & Kim.

4:54pm: "Hookers Deserve a Lifetime Achievement Award" Really... Really, how do you define achievement?

4:59pm: "Circus Girl" 28 seconds of guitar filler

5:00pm: "Ticket Stub" A roaring anthem with words that I can't quite understand... two minutes of '90's alt-glory!

5:02pm: "Organ Grinders Ball" Remember "Organ Donor" by DJ Shadow? This song is nothing like that but still make me think of dancing monkeys.

5:06pm: "Bob Has a Better Cow" Man, it's always Bob! I'll trade you two sheep for that cow.