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Ex Cops - Ken

Clicked for the name, stayed for the music. Ex Cops is a duo out of Brooklyn that specialize in Weekend or Deerhunter-esque low-fi, pilled out drone zones. Throw on this to get you through the winter and then let it blast your right into the spring. Their debut album True Hallucinations comes out today.

Desert Sharks - I Know What I Want

I first saw Desert Sharks last July when they were the opening band for Diarrhea Planet at Shea Stadium. I had no idea who they were prior to their taking the stage, but once they did I couldn’t stop watching. They were so self-assured, so together, and insanely catchy; not things many opening bands can cop to having. After the show, I immediately downloaded their demo, and it has been on constant rotation for the better part of the last six months. As such, I was hotly anticipating their newest EP Sister Cousins. “I Know What I Want” is the first track off the album, which was released earlier this week (I forget when). The track finds Desert Sharks doing what they do best: catchy surfy riffs over love-lorn vocals. Take a listen and then go buy Sister Cousins over at their bandcamp.

Masked Intruder - Why Don’t You Love Me In Real Life

Don’t ask. Just listen to this amazing, fun piece of indie pop-punk creeper gem. Their facebook bio is “The Best pop-punk band you hope never gets out of prison.”  If that doesn’t sell you, I don’t know what will.

Future of the Left - Stand By Your Manatee

If you don’t listen to Future of the Left yet, you’re really screwing yourself over. This cut off 2009’s excellent Travels With Myself And Another exemplifies why FotL rules the hardest. The music is so loud and grimey and visceral and the lyrics are so explosive. Nothing in this world could take her common shame away / because emma’s mom and dad use plastic forks screams front man Andy Falkous over the writhing motion of the instruments. This band makes me so giddy. They released another solid record this year and I highly recommend checking this band out if you like loud music.