The release of K.R.I.T. the Monster’s oft-delayed (and much anticipated) major label debut Live From The Underground is now within site. (June 5). Here K.R.I.T. mean mugs all over freshly surfaced track “What You Mean”. With it’s cold hooks and almost sinister sound, “WYM” is music you’re gonna have to stunt to to really listen to properly. Old Man Bridges chips in 16, sounding less hackneyed/annoying than usual.
Big K.R.I.T. 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
By Bruce Rave
This is a UK 3-piece fronted by the killer guitar player Barrie, who just likes to use his first name. They combine 60′s influenced garage and blues and have a Rolling Stones feel. There’s a line on the band’s site that Barrie’s guitar sounds like “Dwayne Eddy with a distortion pedal”. Their sound is far more than that, but that vibe definitely applies to “Surf Hell”. They played in LA this past Thursday and nailed it despite having just arrived from London that afternoon. They will play dates in Seattle, Portland, Oakland, and San Diego this coming week before heading back to the UK.
Little Barrie – Surf HellLittle Barrie 
(Facebook)
*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 8-10 pm Pacific, 11-1 am Eastern Fridays, 4-6 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.
Trails and Ways are back with the next single from their forthcoming Trilingual release. “Nunca” embraces some upbeat and seriously summer vibes that were inspired by a hot day in South America. It’s got our bodies moving along. Check it out below.
TRAILS AND WAYS 
(Bandcamp)
Rating 8.1
By Erin Shay
Canadian rock duo PS I Love You have a clamor that’s a force-to-be-reckoned-with. The Kingston based twosome, also known as Benjamin Nelson and Paul Saulnier, released their latest album Death Dreams earlier this month and it is resoundingly excellent. PS I Love You know how to get rowdy with a proper 90’s indie style. Death Dreams is an album that strikes the balance between brooding sentimentality and soulful uproar while its experimental color-outside-the-lines energetic makes it one of the top indie rock albums thus far in 2012.
Death Dreams is inspired by Paul Saulnier’s vivid dreams while on tour during the band’s first album Meet Me at The Muster Station, and is a remarkably spirited exploration into the duality of existence and hidden beauty of discord. Paul’s ferocious lead vocals, full-on extended guitar solos and gratuitous distortion bring bleed-out a certain vulnerability that you might expect from a guy with big dreams. PS I Love You artfully illustrates that life-imitates-art as much as art-imitates-life with an intense yet playful irony that is definitely worth reflecting on.
While “Don’t Go”, “How Do You”, and “First Contact” stand out for their booming and unrefined execution, the tracks “Sentimental Dishes” and “Princess Towers” are exceedingly bright and catchy and are just resonant enough to steal the show.
PS I Love You – Princess TowersPS I Love You 
(Facebook) (Purchase Link)
Rating 8.4
Heavy C does the dirty with Florence’s latest single. Harris is on top form here, using subtle bassline boosts and synth jabs to refashion Ms. Welch’s broody “Spectrum” into a fists-to-the-sky floor filler. Look out for Florence + The Machine’s “Spectrum” single, due 8th July.
Florence + The Machine (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
“Jennifer” has summer jam status written all over it. Basically, you can close your eyes and have a 2:45 sunny vacay getaway (if you’re like us and you need more than 2:45 then we highly recommended the replay button). Little Comets release “Jennifer” on June 11th via Dirty Hit Records. Grab yourself a copy and catch this band on tour through the UK later this year if you can. You can also sample their ace live performance of “Jennifer” below.
Little Comets (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
You may have been lucky enough to catch Dark Horses opening up for Kasabian and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on recent tours. Their sound has an identifiable adeptness towards experimental and progressive psych-rock. Fronted by Swedish native Lisa Elle, Dark Horses mystique sparks its intrigue with blues latent raucousness and a gargantuan wall of guitars all balanced by Elle’s haunting hymn. The track “Radio” even manages to pay homage to the art of the wah-pedal which is something that’s slipped through the repertoire of today’s budding guitar bands. Preview the track below.
Dark Horses (Official)
Rating 8.3
The layers of influence in “Dreamleaver” alone make the song worth a second listen. The sound is progressive to say the least. Manchester born, Berlin based artist, Herdwhite lists his influences as Röyksopp, Depeche Mode, Sigur Ros, Pink Floyd. It’s enough to make your eyes roll for most anyone – that is until you press play. This track is airtight.
Herdwhite – DreamleaverHerdwhite 
(Official)
Rating 8.45
Tesla Boy has an 80s type synthpop sound you could have easily heard in your favorite buzz bands from 2002 to 200? You know… that time in the oughts when the market for New Order t-shirts began its fashionable climb to the top. Ironically enough Tesla Boy comes to us by way of Russia. In “Fantasy” the band takes sample at some of those cliches, which today’s western contemporaries might neglect, and the result is crisp. It’s an insightful approach, with a necesary tact, to the always embraceable sound. For those not yet familiar, then take note to the addictive pop stylings of Tesla Boy.
Rating 8.3
It’s not every day that you come across a singer-songwriter who can write with a harp. Even more surprising, is how great of a song “People Grow From Trees” is. Multi-intrumental and Californian artist Kevin Kirk evokes something soothing with this ode to, what seems, a real love. Take a peep.
Kevin Kirker – People Grow From TreesKevin Kirker (Official)
Rating 8.4
