Rock

(Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Pink Floyd)

One Lick Less: We Could be Quiet

One Lick Less proves that you can do so much with just drum & bass and the occasional vocals. We Could Be Quiet contains music that hovers around free-ranging blues, progressive improv and even "spectral math rock." When you listen, it's not hard to see all this. The album is an intense, sometimes instrumental, compilation full of eclectic bits and pieces all cohesively working together. The result is impressive, in terms of range and style. It's also something difficult to describe since it's rare to hear such a unique sound.

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.

The District Attorneys: Waiting on the Calm Down, The Basement Sessions EP

Laid-back and charming, these two words can best described the sound of The District Attorneys. Waiting on the Calm Down: The Basement Sessions EP is a short compilation meant to introduce and haul in fans as they wait for the guys to release a full record. Consisting of a six-piece crew from Athens, GA; they first started back in 2009 playing their form of classic rock. From melodic rock ballads to uptempo indie surf rock affairs, you get a good mix from this little compilation. These boys know their way around music. From creating catchy hooks, tight lyrics and great instrument work, there's plenty of fun up ahead with this record.

Keep Tidy: Basement Mold EP

Keep Tidy is a Vancouver band that will satisfy your craving for hardcore, balls-on rock. With female-led vocals, the band reminds me of a cross between The Distillers and a very loud and uninhibited, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They are made up of Brett, Dustin, Kyle and Shmoo; most of the members aren't new in the scene. They actually belonged to various other bands in the local Vancouver rock scene before coming together to create this fast paced, loud record that seems to be made up of nothing but a whirlwind of sound.

Fever Sleeves: Soft Pipes, Play On (LP)

The first time you listen to Fever Sleeves, you might find it hard to put a finger on their brand of music. On the one hand, you have this beautiful calculated math rock sound while on the other, it's a noise fest filled with random guitars, hazy vocals and unconventional drumming. Soft Pipes, Play On is the band's debut record, it might be two years old but with just one listen you can tell from the onset that there's something special with this one. The band hails from San Diego, CA and have been around since 2004. Their first single, Futuristic Killings, paved the way for the band's much anticipated full length debut back in 2009.

The Julys

If you're in the mood for some uptempo indie rock, listening to the The Julys is a good place to start. According to their facebook bio, the band started off "as two young men coping with the loss of their respective harpy women." They've certainly come a long way since then. Now, the band is a quartet that creates some really good and catchy indie rock mixes. Instead of bitter, heart wrenching lyrics; the band takes on a feel-good disposition; filling their sound with bouncy beats, hipster style guitars and some wild Little Richard-style singing.

JT Bruce: The Dreamer’s Paradox

Animator, artist, filmmaker and musician, JT Bruce, is one tough act to follow. He describes himself as having an "eye for the bizarre and an ear for the unusual" and this clearly shows in his music. For The Dreamer's Paradox, Bruce creates a complicated yet hypnotic compilation where progressive music resonates. This is the second record for the artist. The album itself is a bit old, about 5 years today but it still manages to impress plenty of listeners out there. His first album, Anomalous Material, gained quite a response and this one is no exception either. However, the artist noticeably takes his sound a little deeper, creating more diversity and layers to his instruments unlike before.

Tin Armor: Life Of Abundance

Tin Armor is a folk pop band from Ohio. This quartet creates lovely piano infused rock that brings to mind great melodic rock artists such as Ben Folds, Jeff Buckley and The Band. Life Of Abundance is the band's full length debut record. It's currently being offered at a pay-what-you-want offer over at their BandCamp page and comes with 12 awesome tracks that showcases the groups penchant for gorgeous vocal melodies and sweeping instrument work. Each track is a privy to a sincere emotion; giving you a chance to feel what the singer is going through and the thoughts running through his head.