Shimmery Spector-tinged bedroom pop. The NYC couple follow last year's sweet, buzzy 7" with a surprisingly substantive album. Girlish vocals skirt the edge of saccharine and xylophones do tinkle, but thoughtful lyrics, solid bass lines and echoing crescendos give the songs backbone: this is pop that delivers. Album out 6/7.

Sea Wolf's indie-folk songs stand out for their combination of catchiness and poignancy. But this fall, Alex Brown Church, the singer-songwriter behind the band, turns down the volume and turns up the intimacy with a solo tour--just Church and an acoustic guitar--letting his voice, the song, and the narrative lyrics shine through.

Come was THE '90's Boston band for Tourfilter. Smashed up against the amps at the front of the crowd Middle East Downstairs, halfway through the one beer we could afford, Thalia Zedek was a goddess and the raging, swirling rocknroll completely took us over. Since the breakup, Thalia and bandmate Chris Brokaw have played together here and there, but this is the first reunion featuring the original lineup. Tourfilter will be there and we can't fucking wait.

Backed by a swooping organ, Asheville, NC's Reigning Sound are (inspiringly) in love with jangly, soulful singer-songwriters of the past: Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen.

Venerable impossible-to-classifies Tortoise are touring all year; sure to play lots of stuff from their 2009 Thrill Jockey CD "Beacons of Ancestorship"

Quirky, jangly Denver-bred Elephant 6-ers Apples In Stereo are touring to support a new album out in April 2010 (free mp3 on their website).

Young duo from Vancouver manages a very complete sound from just a guitar and a drum-kit. Their loud, slightly detuned and anarchic songs echo My Bloody Valentine and Lush.

Atlanta-bred Deerhunter plays throbbing, druggy, sometimes experimental rock and has toured with bands like Dan Deacon and Lightning Bolt; their live show is said to be frenetic.