In their full-length debut the buzz band YAWN deliver on the promise of the 2010 self-titled ep. The band incorporates tribal influence with their unique indie rock roots. The result is fun, and undeniably original. Through incorporating tribal elements the band is able to present an array of sounds throughout the album while crafting infectious pop tunes. On a track like "Keepup", YAWN swirls drums with churning bells, claps, and other noises beneath classic '60's harmonies. It draws you in on a number of levels, and that is where the charm of the band rest. It the best of the Beach Boys meets Animal Collective, but all with a new twist. My favorite track on Open Season has to be "YumYum" with its slight '80's flare, and nod to Of Montreal. It adds another dimension this wonderfully complex release. Through Open Season YAWN has proven that they are more than just buzz, but a solid collective of musicians.

From the opening explosion of the debut album, Roger, from the Evanston band The Canoes on the track "We'll Meet in Minnesota" I knew I was hearing something special. The band has such a full sound, that borrows from some of the best bands of the early '90's like Cracker and Dinosaur Jr. It so refreshing to hear that straightforward fuzzed out roar of the guitar again, and that sound carries through out the album. Thematically the album deals heavily with what it means to live in the Midwest and specifically Chicago (see, "Illinois, Chicago"). You can tell this is a home recording and at times the vocals get a bit washed out, but this is solid debut from a band with a lot potential and an approach that more bands should embrace. You can download Roger for free from the band's bandcamp page.

The duo of Nicholas Kelley and Nicholas Papaleo have only been together for a year, but have pulled together a debut effort that is polished, wildly entertaining, and that reaches into several areas of music. The are piano-driven, epic soundscapes and math-rock moments alike. Though just six tracks "Cold Comes To Claim" covers an impressive amount of ground. The opener "Beware" is a call to order for the listener as it shifts and morphs throughout its five-plus minutes. The track is grand and stripped-down all in the matter of minutes. If I had to draw comparisons to Brontosaurus I would reluctantly say Death Cab For Cutie or possibly Cold War Kids. However, I do feel Brontosaurus has managed to cover more ground that Cold War Kids. The second track on the LP is "Bloodlines", and it begins with a classical guitar solo and then builds and broods through the labored melodies this duo has created. My favorite on the album is "Designed Disabled", mainly because of the effects they have put on the vocals. I feel it is one of the more inventive tracks on the album. Cold Comes To Claim will be released on June 14th.

Daniel Knox is an old soul in a modern world, and on Evryman For Himself we hold he is adapting and adjusting to the world around him. These are saloon songs, these are piano ballads in their purest form. Knox reminds me of a mix between Randy Newman, Anthony & The Johnsons, and Tom Waits. On Evryman For Himself he takes the listener on a journey through his life and tells us stories of love, loneliness, and scenes that he has observed. He seems to spot the smallest scenes and find the uniqueness. He is a crooner, a commentator, and marvelous storyteller. It is clear through songs like the haunting "Ghostsong", the biting but humorous "...etc...", or the title track "Evryman For Himself" that Knox is a special talent and a truly gifted singer/songwriter. Evryman For Himself will be released by La Societe Expeditionnairie on May 10th. Daniel Knox will be performing at The Hideout on May 26th.

 The debut album from Emily Cross (aka Cross Record) is as its title states a Magnetic Current. This is a collection of gentle composed and purred home recorded lullabies that conjure images of equal parts Mazzy Star, Bjork, and St. Vincent. When she urges to "feel it in your bones" in "Shark In The Ocean" I actually do feel it. Musically, this album combines lo-fi electronics, echoing bedroom recordings, and layered acoustic rhythms. In recording these seven intimate tracks Emily enlisted the help of Ben Babbitt on several of them and Douglas Tesnow on Clarinet for for two of them. When all of the parts are working together on a track like "Dark Before Light" the result is truly "Magnetic". The melody swirls and chases you around the room. There are big things ahead for this young musician. 

When you try to image the musicial union of a Malaysian-born filmmaker, corporate executive and a Harvard-trained theologian and writer, it is hard to visualize what sounds they might make. After listening to the debut album Hush from Tom Silva and Nicole Sotelo (Clara May) I can tell you it sounds like Tom Jones if he had a conscious and sang in a small coffeehouse. This is an album with cares deeply about society and through the compassion explores themes of identity, racism, and ethnic conflicts. The main vocalist on the album in Tom Silva and his deep vocals add a dramatic weight the topics he choses to sing about. The duo, since neither play an instrument, enlisted the of producer and guitarist Phillip Amerson and several other musicians. The album is not all protest and fight, but is a mixture of anthems, ballads, pop, and yes, protest. The album is epic and heartfelt, and Clara May will be donating 10% of its profits to charity.