The So So Glos Meet Fred Astaire

Meet The So So Glos. Theirs is a New York story, not in the "only in..." sense-despite their unusual beginnings-but in the way that New York's story is about inclusion amidst tumult, about embracing both dark days and bright nights, about politics being personal and doing it yourself.

They are, literally, a band of brothers. Singer-bassist Alex and guitarist Ryan Levine were raised under the same Brooklyn roof. Drummer Zach Staggers became their stepbrother at the age of 4, and lived nearby anyway-they'd gone to preschool together and founded their own proto-punk "Bad Boys Club." Guitarist Matt Elkin arrived in 2007, one year after the band formed, a long-lost sibling in spirit whose induction to the fraternity was immediate and complete. And in their four years, the Glos have cut a brash creative swath through their native city that includes three records made, two all-ages venues founded, and at least one jaw broken.

Along the way, the Glos have earned a reputation for a ripping live show, which they've brought to all-ages clubs, fans' kitchens, scene fundraisers and traditional venues alike. They've also constructed (literally) a new performance space and HQ, Shea Stadium, which has hosted punk rock fetes as well as overnight dance parties with Danceteria and avant 1980s DJs. October brings a fresh EP recorded at the Rare Book Room by Nicolas Vernhes (Deerhunter, Fiery Furnaces, Animal Collective). Naturally, it's named Low Back Chain Shift, after a distinct facet of the New York drawl.

Download: Fred Astaire

Eux Autres Go Dancing

San Francisco's Eux Autres play pop music. Their third full-length, Broken Bow, will be released Novermber 23, 2010. The band originally consisted of brother and sister Heather and Nicholas Larimer. Heather played drums, Nicholas played guitar, and they both sang. Practices frequently devolved into shoving matches. In an effort to quell these outbursts (and expand their sound), Eux Autres added drummer Yoshi Nakamoto (The Aislers Set, Still Flyin’) in 2008, and bassist Nathan Berlinguette in 2010.

Eux Autres write compact songs with sparse instrumentation. Their music has been unfairly described as “fun.” But while the surface of the songs might seem nonchalant, the lyrics offer skewed observations and fierce barbs. Most of their songs are about a) military history b) being “done wrong” or c) sports. Sadly, Eux Autres are the only people who notice this. The band sounds like the unrequited love song Doug Martsch would have penned for Francoise Hardy, had the time/space continuum conveniently collapsed.

Download: Go Dancing

Seeland Love Their Local Park

UK trio Seeland are Timothy Felton, Billy Bainbridge and Neil McAuley, sonic pioneers associated with Birmingham's 'Retro Futurist Electronic Scene'. The band was formed when Tim and Billy left their respective bands (Broadcast and Plone) and started writing songs together that could express the sounds of their minds.

Seeland are excited to announce their second album How to Live, out October 26 on LOAF Recordings. The band has released "Local Park" (see below), the first single off of their sophomore effort.

"Local Park", a gorgeous summer stroll of a tune, celebrates the Great British (and, frankly, universal) tradition of heading straight for the closest patch of grass as soon as the sun appears, in order to soak up the precious rays so rarely seen on their often grey isle. Instantly familiar in the tradition of The Kinks or The Small Faces and yet decidedly 'other' in it's musical vision, "Local Park" is as uplifting as the sun and optimistic as summer itself, the audio equivalent of strawberries and cream.

And who doesn't like that?

Download: Local Park

Solve This Murder Mystery

Led by singer/guitarist Jeremy Coleman and his drumming sister Laura, Murder Mystery first found acclaim with their synth-popsingle “Love Astronaut.” Now they're building on that foundation with a pair of new singles, “I Am (If You Are)” [sung by Laura] and “Change My Mind” [sung by Jeremy], that continue where"Love Astronaut" left off -- surrounding catchy melodies with bouncy synths and as many guitar and bass hooks as you can cram into 2:30.

Joining the Coleman's in the band are multi-instrumentalist friends, Graham Roberts (gtr, keyboard, vox, cello) and Adam Fels (bass, gtr). As would be expected from a group of old friends and family, Murder Mystery’s members share a unique chemistry that extends from the studio to the stage, where they’re currently Moonwalking their way into the hearts of New York audiences.

Download: I Am (If You Are)
Download: Change My Mind

The Walking Sleep

Los Angeles' Walking Sleep unveiled its first full-length album, Measures this week. Recorded at the Ship Studio in Eagle Rock, CA with Aaron Espinoza (Earlimart, Admiral Radley) behind the boards, Measures, features 10 tracks showcasing the scope and breadth of Walking Sleep’s unique sound.

From the fast and tight garage rock of ‘Final Chapter’ to the expansive strings (played by members of The Section Quartet, among others) and Lee Hazlewood/Nancy Sinatra vocals of ‘Let It Go On’, the songs offer a variety of textures and hooks while maintaining a strong sense of identity and purpose.

This is a band that uses everything at it's fingertips to come up with some intriguingly dark but good indie pop.Think something approaching an Elephant Six type group mashed together in the back of a van with an orchestra and maybe some Aracde Fire and you kind of have an idea of where Walking Sleep are coming from. Using theremin's, glockenspiels, boy/girl vocals, jangly guitars, jumpy drums Walking Sleep make music for anything but sleep walking.

The band plans to tour in support of the record, after completing an enormously successful month long April residency at Spaceland in Los Angeles.

Download: In A Dream
Download: Final Chapter