I wasn't sure what to expect when I first play the debut album, May You Never..., from Dastardly. The band name conjured up some darker images, but the album cover felt jazz or ballroom influenced. I was pleasantly surprised when "Villain" kicked in with it's mellow-folk based indie rock tones. However, the darker images did ring true through out tracks like "Exercises in Self-Loathing" and "Creepy". This is not an upbeat album, but it is a perfect example of a sound that is becoming increasing popular in Chicago, Americana. It is a genre title that bothers me because there are so many sounds coming from American bands and to call a sound Americana is some what limiting. Dastardly takes this genre and makes it their own through adding elements of blues and folk. My favorite track with gentle ballad "Morning Blue" with vocals be Sarah Morgan. The six-piece band has two vocalist and they take turns taking the lead through out the album. This track also features a haunting pedal steel performance, and a surprising ending. This is a well produced debut. The album was engineered at Gallery of Carpet Studios by Brian Zieske (Bailiff, Pet Lions, Secret Colours) and mixed by Paul Klimson (The Roots, John Legend). Dastardly may be one of the brightest newcomers to the scene this year.

Sam McAllister is an ambitious young musician and business owner. As the founder of Tandem Shop he has released four albums over the last two years including albums by Mr. Bear and Honest Engines. The label releases are thoughtful and well-produced, and his latest release just happens to be his own. When he partners musically with his high school friend Megan Frestedt the duo Project Film emerges. The duos debut album called Chicago finds the duo presenting an exercise in indie pop. At times the sound is soft and sweet ("Sun"), and at others bouncy and fun ("Cut Outs"). The album was recorded in McAllisters studio apart in the Fall and Winter of 2009, and documents the two worlds that they have existed in. The album contrasts growing up in Minneapolis and relocating to Chicago. Chicago is a beautifully simple and charming duo for a musician and producer that plans to do big things here in Chicago.

King Sparrow has a new self-record that will be released on October 15th in conjunction with a release show at Schubas with Pet Lions and This Is Versailles. The album was recorded and produced by Brian Zieske of Gallery of Carpet. The end product has such a warm and balanced sound. It kicks off with the energetic track "Resonator" which is complete with guitar solo and driving drums. The pace doesn't slow with blue-collar anthem "Conveyor Belt". "You give up to on, You get up to get off." It's the perfect 5pm rush hour track. However, my favorite track on the twelve track album is "Leave it All Behind". It is the song on the album that adds a refreshing dose of acoustic contrast and it shows that the band can slow things down when they need to. It is also a beauty love song without any bitterness or trickery. The album is filled with great lyrics, inventive instrumentation, and layers of warmth and energy.

After releasing two well-received ep's Darling is ready to unveil their debut LP, Lights That Last Forever. Darling formed back in 2003, but aside from singer/songwriter Jeff Schneider they are a completely different band today. The trio plays their brand of indie pop and have been playing in this current configuartion since 2006. The mixture of Nick Voss' rythemic bass and the driving force of Don Ogilvie's drumming make this release sonically compelling. On their full-length debut the band attempts to tell a story in a way. This is very much a story about dealing with life and all of its dreams and very realities. The album opens with a "Heart Attack" and ends with the hope of coming together in "Gathered". Musically, Darling has never sounded better. Lights That Last Forever will be released on color vinyl, digipak, and mp3 on Sept 28th by Cardboard Sangria.

When you listen to the music of Black Moth Super Rainbow (BMSR) you can tell that it is the culmination of many different sounds and styles. The release recently by Tobacco provided an explanation of the darker and more electronic elements in the sound. Now comes the latest released from band member (and the only Chicago-based member) Dreamend aka Ryan Graveface. It’s clear while listened through So I Ate Myself, Bite by Bite (Graveface Records, 8/10/10) that Ryan supplies the more the folk-ladden, banjo-soaked moments of BMSR. This album is a pure and gentle psychedelic freakout, but it is not without an element of the darkness and derangement that you might expect from BMSR. Complete with bells, guitar, organ, and the humble and honest vocals of Graveface this album is the soundtrack to a campfire attended by zombies and other creatures.

I don’t believe that Hey Champ would dislike this classification, in fact it seems like they have embraced it, but this album, the band’s debut, is pure pop. Star collects the various singles and club hits like “Cold Dust Girl” and “Neverest”, but adds new and more rock based tracks like “Shake” and “Steampunk”. While listening through this album the main comparison that came to mind was New Order, or for a more current comparison Awesome New Republic. The connection is not only sound, but in the mixture of dance pop and political themes that the band mixes in. Songs like “World=War”, “So American”, and “No Future” brings a very forceful political message while still allowing the listen to dance. I don’t feel that political messages in pop music are as unusual or jarring as they once were, but the album does, in certain points, begin to become a little weighted down by these themes. I suppose it all in what you are looking for. Do you want you dance music light of fun or do you want a line like “lay down your sword because you would be ill advised to fight anymore”? This is still an album to playing at the pool or the summer barbeque, but it walks that fine line. Overall, Star is an impressive debut and is more effective and focused than I expected give their diverse pool of remix work. I suppose we can call it dance pop with a purpose.