Ruby Haunt: Sanctuary

Duo Ruby Haunt, comprised of childhood friends Wyatt Ininns and Victor Pakpour, have released Sanctuary, their second single this summer.  Immediately engaging, gentle, and reassuring, Ruby Haunt show forth the way home after what has obviously been a long journey.  A futuristic synth sound with a familiar chord progression, simplistic riffs, and a lightly dancing piano part couple with the vocals, soft and nearly buried, to give an experience almost like that of chancing to look upon the face of a dear old friend that one had given up on ever seeing again.  Listening to this single seems to be all about experiencing a journey homeward.  Stream and buy Sanctuary at the link below.

STIMULI: They Are We

Out of Oakland, California and self-produced by lead singer Jimmy Tomahawk, STIMULI has released their debut album, They Are We.  Many of the tracks bear similar composition and introspection to rock bands of the 90s such as Tool and Black Sabbath.  The trio is a good, solid fit as far as musicianship goes, and they sound commercially presentable and ready for radio.  Tasteful incorporation of sitar, Native American flute, and guitar fingerpicking give some nice dimension when the songs start to feel predictable and cliche.  The album as a whole seems to lack enough juxtaposition and momentum to elicit playing on repeat, but there certainly are compelling moments. Stream and buy They Are We at the link below.

Thirsty Curses: All Shook Up

All Shook Up is the sophomore album from North Carolina's Thirsty Curses. The thirteen tracks span from commercial indie rock, to commercial altrock. While the band says there are some punk and progrock  influences, we don't hear it. More than anything this band reminds us of Kings of Leon. The album is well produced and has moments where it shines, but for the most part is another of the many solid altrock albums that are released every year and fits well there. A good record. Watch the video for album track Dimlit Cathedral, then stream and buy All Shook Up at the link below.

Jordan Siwek: Sun Inside You

Sun Inside You is the debut album from NYC singersongwriter Jordan Siwek. When it comes to songwriting, piano players write differently than guitar players. This is true both in terms of key, as well as stylistically. Think about the likes of Ben Folds, Billy Joel and Fiona Apple as compared to Ben Harper, John Mayer and Damien Rice. No where is this better showcased than with the eleven tracks on this album. The songs offer varied arrangements and phrasing that range across light rock and R&B, with elements of jazz and Jamaican thrown in for good measure. The sheer stylistic depth is a testament to an artist with talent and taste in ample supply. Listening to this album recalls all the classic piano based crooners and our readers will find a record that is totally compelling. This is a definite must have. Stream and buy Sun Inside You at the link below.

Junk Parlor: Dance With Me Bela Lugosi

Bay Area indie punk rock band Junk Parlor tells a fabled family legend in Dance With Me Bela Lugosi.  They bring old timey instrumentation and melody together with light-hearted, homespun, storytelling lyricism, and the result is an entertaining, upbeat reimagining of a story that one of the band members grew up hearing from his Hungarian grandmother. This is a light, amusing listen that essentially gives the listener the feeling of having been in the parlor with grandmother to hear the story firsthand.  Stream and buy Dance With Me Bela Lugosi at the link below.

Llarks: Like A Daydream

The latest from Birmingham-based artist and FZB favorite Llarks, Like A Daydream, seems to have the magical power to relax and enchant its listener. Tagged as beautiful noise and modern classical, this album soothes and beckons to the dreamer deep within - come out, come out, wherever you are.  The constant presence of ambient guitar carries the album's autonomy to fullness, while the surrounding instrumentation blurs the lines of reality and distinction. Llarks gifts the listener with both the safety and the space necessary to daydream free, unencumbered by the world.  This album is a must have.  Stream and buy Like A Daydream at the link below.

Klammer: You Have Been Processed

You Have Been Processed is the sophomore full length album from Klammer, a four-man rock band out of Leeds. From the first few bars on, we find an uncanny resemblance to Joy Division - especially vocally. The palette this band works with is dark, heavy, driving, and foreboding, though it gets to feeling a bit repetitive and predictable at times. The music is compelling but the presentation is a little lackluster; individual songs, sounds, and ideas are great, but the overall execution of the album as an entity lacks the edge and in-your-face-ness that this genre begs. Klammer offers a genuinely engaging soundscape - hopefully their production team can keep up next time. Stream and buy You Have Been Processed at the link below.

Boobs Of Doom: Thor's Womb

Avant-garde doom auteurs Boobs Of Doom are back with a new EP, Thor's Womb. This release see's a higher purpose, as it has proceeds dedicated to Carrie's Fund. The fund has been established to help defray medical expenses of a woman in need of surgery not available in her native UK to treat a rare spinal condition. The three tracks are dark, sparse ambient offerings, that help deliver the depth of the emotional message being conveyed by the fundraising campaign. Ambient, highly textured and deeply melodic, this EP stands on its own, but paired with its raison d'etre the work becomes absolutely compelling, Stream and buy Thor's Womb at the link below.

Sum: It's Alright To Be Me

It's Alright To Be Me is the debut single from NYC group Sum. The track is a stylish amalgamation of jazz, soul, pop and funk. The record has a quirky panache, a touch of swagger and an overall catchy patina of a smooth club disc. The musicianship is strong, the stunning vocals display a unique sense of phrasing and a playfulness of delivery. This is a very strong track that we feel may unfortunately suffer commercially from the very cross pollination of styles that gives it much of its strength. This a track that delivers art in every context that word can conjure and deserves to find a wider audience. We look forward to hearing an album from this group, as a long format release will serve them much better than a single. Stream and buy It's Alright To Be Me at the link below.

Tulipomania: Off The Map b/w On The Outside

Off The Map is the new single from Philadelphia based Tulipomania, The track is a dense postpunk dirge, with guitars having a bit of a Chris Isaak feel, that could live on a sinister soundtrack. This is paired with a heavy overall feel and a slight lofi sheen. The sultry vocals enhance the malevolent feeling in the tracks creating a dark compelling vibe. The lead track is paired with two versions of a remix of the group's track On The Outside, done by UK artist Spinello. The remix has all the requisite glitchiness that one would expect. Stream and buy Off The Map b/w On The Outside at the link below.