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The Please & Thank Yous: Mind Yr P’s & Q’s

These Chicago natives describe their journey on their Facebook as "a bunch of wimps started practicing in a basement. Some left, others joined, and a couple managed to remain constant. They are playing shows, touring, and recording their sophomore slump." Well, those basement practices sure did pay off. The Please & Thank Yous sound is jolly punk pop, reminiscent of Goldfinger from the 90s and the many punk bands that never took themselves too seriously. It's this carefree and honesty that makes them interesting to listen to. Mind Yr P's & Q's is the band's full length debut. It's a mix of both old and new songs; narrating the bands personal take on the various happenings of life.

Night Reports: You’re All Out

Another band that you wouldn't think is composed of only two people at the helm; Night Reports create beautiful indie rock music with a touch of soul. Long time friends, Derrick Brown and Beau Jennings, have both collaborated in various projects before. However, they've never tackled anything similar to Night Reports. Although the collaboration started out slowly, with both of them passing MP3s and recorded files via email and voice message; they eventually compiled what has become You're All Out. The record is a concept album of sorts, as it revolves around an athlete who is down in the dumps and living (and reliving) his life in his glory days.

She Makes War: Disarm

One of the most interesting indie female pop rock compilations I've heard in a long time, Disarm from She Makes War both enchants and captivates upon first listen. The lady behind this musical project is multi-instrumentalist Laura Kidd. Apart from music, she's dabbled in other interests like film making and photography among others. She also does session work for various musicians including Alex Parks, I Blame Coco and Tricky. This is her debut compilation and it comes with 13 tracks that hover between indie rock, slight grunge and pop.

Moongardening Inc.: A Sky Full Of Killer Whales

Moongardening Inc. might have an unusual band name as well as an album title, but their music manages to stand out and impress. Creating a solid fusion of pop, jazz, blues and a whole lot in between; A Sky Full of Killer Whales exudes a certain charm. Only downside is that there's hardly anything about the band online except what's written on their BandCamp page and sparse reviews here and there. Nevertheless, their music can easily take front and center without much background info about them.

Everybody Left: Everybody Left

If you miss the good old days of the 90s when you put on the radio and hear 311 or the Red Hot Chili Peppers creating some funky tracks; you'll probably enjoy listening to Everybody Left. Describing their sound as post ska, reluctant reggae and Funk-Hop; the band sure knows how to throw down catchy beats that don't require much thought. This British Columbia group is composed of Stephen Chatterton, Eric "The Red" Wickman, Steve "Shaggy" Fissel, "Ad-Mac" Adam McIntyre, Steve "Saxman" Cowie and Martin Milbo Schoeps.

The Bonny Situation: Robot Says I Love You

Taking their name from the iconic movie Pulp Fiction, The Bonny Situation has definitely got one of the coolest names any indie film geek will recognize. The band itself is from Germany and have been around since 2007 with a slightly different lineup back then. Although the band admits that their sound is mostly consists of pop music, they do like to mix it up a bit; adding a little alternative and even new wave in there. Robot Says I Love You is a 2010 release from the group. Most of the tracks on the record were inspired by the contents of a 1978 diary from someone with the initials R.B.T.

My Heart To Joy: Seasons In Verse

Looking for something loud to start the New Year? You should check out My Hear To Joy and their release, Seasons in Verse. This is the first full album for the group and so far things are looking promising. The crew is a big one with seven people driving the band's core. Together, these Kensington, CT natives create music that is a mix punk, metal and indie. Complete with short punchy rhythm and in-your-face rockin' these guys know how to capture your attention and get their message across. This album is a follow up to the EP they released last year, Virgins Sail, where the boys were decidedly more aggressive. This time around, they're taking a loud yet more polished rock path with their sound.

Yetis: Lightmares EP

Armed with guitars, sweet vocals and melodic r-acoustic vibes, Lightmares EP by the Yetis makes for good company on a quiet afternoon. The band is made up of Cameron Smith - guitars & vocals, Curtis Smith - bass & vocals, David Muratore - guitars & vocals, Jenna Smith - violin, glockenspiel & vocals andThomas Brett - drums, percussion & vocals. Their sound resonates with pop rock along with a Christian rock tinge. This EP first came out in March 2011 and is available at a pay-what-you-want option over at their BandCamp page.

The Belle Game: Inventing Letters EP

Making a name for themselves in the indie folk pop world, The Belle Game's music is tough to resist. In fact, their sound resonates with a familiarity, much like getting that comforting hug from an old friend. This Canadian crew have known each other for a long time. In fact, two of the members have been friends since they were 5 years old. With fate & circumstances guiding them to each other, the crew officially formed and created their first debut EP, Inventing Letters. This mini EP is about two years old but time hasn't diminished the band's capacity to enthrall its audience thanks to the lovely melodies and catchy laid-back beat they create.