Fresh out of school and with plenty of promise, Coastal Cities are an unmistakably English five-piece group. Influenced by math rock, post-punk and new wave, their second single “Relief” features dancey baselines, sharp guitar hooks and a distinct hint of trampolining action. Out July 30 on Once Upon A Time Records. By Nathan Hetherington
Coastal Cities 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Mid aughts, a bit around the creative incubation period of a band known as STRFKR, Josh Hodges was influenced to work on a project that he called Sexton Blake. The project consisted of his take on some of his favorite popular songs from the past. Covers ranged from ELO to Milli Vanilli and our favorite, this version of Springsteen’s 1980 Top 5 hit “Hungry Heart”. Sexton Blake Plays The Hits gets re-released for the first time on vinyl via Polyvinyl this July. Grab yourself a copy.
Sexton Blake – Hungry Heart (Bruce Springsteen)Sexton Blake 
(Purchase)
Rating 8.5
Get ready to experience some seriously experimental rock cray-os on “See the World…(Part 1)”. Guardian Alien is a project lead by drummer Greg Fox (aka Infinite Limbs) who’s other notable work includes that with Dan Deacon, Teeth Mountain, and Liturgy to name a few. The band’s Thrill Jockey debut release See the World Given to a One Love Entity drops on July 24. “Part 1” is a mind expansive intro of what’s sure to prelude only more mind blowing wake, bake, 2012.
Guardian Alien – See the World Given to a One Love Entity (Part 1)Guardian Alien 
(Official)
Rating 8.49034
This current Edward Sharpe album is mellower that its predecessor, and they really nail the quiet beauty on “Dear Believer”. It would be my choice for their next single. By the way, check out their Letterman and Kimmel appearances if you’re a fan. Some of the best late-night gigging in recent memory, with leader Alex Evert dancing in the crowds during “Man On Fire”. By Bruce Rave
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Dear BelieverEd Sharpe 
(Official)
*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 8-10 pm Pacific, 11-1 am Eastern, 4-6 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.
Rating 8.8
Dissonant and crunchy in all of the right ways “Basketball” hits an 8.5 on the power-chord scale of tuneful chorus fuck-yeahness. Speedy Ortiz is a new group worth checking out for all of you guitar crazed 90’s indie rock enthusiasts in the house. Sample a track below from the band’s new (and appropriately titled) Sports EP.
Speedy Ortiz 
(Official) (Bandcamp)
Rating 8.19234
Lovepark plenty up the sunniness hooks on their latest track “Shudder”. The song is part A of a new AA-single release produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J) and Sean Woodlock. You can pick up a copy on a limited press colored 7″ vinyl on July 2nd.
Lovepark – ShudderLovepark (Soundcloud)
Rating 8
After too many to count active passes through Leisure’s new album Plastic Soul it’s evident that the young Cambridge, Ma collective stand out from the crowd. The bands north-european rock appreciation is clearly there. Singer Jed Rouhana gracefully takes vocal cues from some of the post-punk greats while in his wake follows a witty and buoyant mix of classic British post-rock. The title and closing track “Plastic Soul” is a 6+ minute opus with a melting sax line. Another standout for your repeat button is the ballad “Goodnight Cairo” which manages some worthy U2 caliber weight. Kick back for this one.
Leisure – Goodnight Cairo Leisure – Plastic SoulLeisure (Facebook) (Purchase LP)
Rating 8.4
Georgia natives, Futurebirds are a reverb-heavy alt-country act that I’ve been spending time lots of time with. How can you not immediately fell in love with this song and live performance? Ski Chalet offers up a masterful introduction that primes the listener for five minutes of good ole rock & roll. The melodic transitions in this song are truly something else. Futurebirds have released one album Hampton’s Lullaby and two EP’s, Futurebirds and Via Flamina. Pick up one of their discs asap. By Trevor Meyer
Futurebirds 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
This new UNKLE remix of the title track off of Band of Skulls latest LP of the same name (Sweet Sour) is the product of a recent Hong Kong art exhibit collaboration between the two groups. The track fades in with a Sgt. Peppers feel before flowing into what UNKLE do best with loud and psychedelic structure rock.
UNKLE (Facebook)
Band of Skulls (Official)
Rating 8.3
Put your mind at ease and get blissed with a dreamy trip to the quiet side compliments of Devonshire band Big Wave. -By Erin Feathers
Big Wave – Blissed OutBig Wave (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.1
We need more Cat Power in our lives. New track “Ruin”, Chan’s first bit of new material in over six years, is A+. Look out for Sun in September.
Cat Power – RuinCat Power 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.8
Various Cruelties cover “F.E.A.R.” by original bad ass Ian Brown for the b-side to their forthcoming single “Chemicals” expected July 30th. Swag included.
Various Cruelties – F.E.A.R. (Ian Brown Cover)Various Cruelties 
(Facebook)
Rating 8
