With their sputtering beats and trotting guitars, Northampton, Massachussetts indie funk quartet Mammal Dap powerfully reminds the listener that instruments alone can be deeply affecting. Excluding a human voice, songs like the drum-skipped "Ariel" and the bass-rubbed "Tried Tides" (streaming below) evoke autumnal melancholy while ultimately letting summer joy slide through. A compelling combination of Ratatat's elasticity and Flying Lotus's claustrophobia, such subtle yet fierce tracks play along to an intriguingly unpredictable pace. Mammal Dap has many forthcoming shows listed, including one this Thursday (12/10) at Stomping Ground in Putnam, CT. - Zach Weg

Back in August, Boston four-piece Day Grazer released 'Water Sports,' an offering of two lackadaisically energetic songs. Intriguingly mixing the starkness of "Where Is My Mind?"-like Pixies and the warmth of The Strokes’ “Soma,” both tracks, "Water Sports" (streaming below) and "Fodder,” convey early-twenties angst with bold honesty and vivid simplicity. "What do I know?/After all, I'm twenty-four/And bored," sings the frontman named Dave over jittering guitars on the former, near humorous candor emerging from the greatly intense pain. Day Grazer plays at Thunder Road in Somerville, MA on 12.21. - Zach Weg

As heard on their warm, harmonica-hinged songs "Get What You Give" and "Sun Go Down," Boston sextet Loose Change radiantly blends the bluesy rock of 'Beggars Banquet'-era The Rolling Stones and the floaty Americana of Wilco's 'Summerteeth.' Lead singer Sam Bergquist even sports the prowling voice of Mick Jagger on the latter track and, with his bandmates' tight drumming and smooth guitar strums in the background, he makes Loose Change pleasantly, wonderfully fresh. While the band doesn't currently have a forthcoming show listed, keep posted on its Facebook page. - Zach Weg

 Fresh in the Toronto scene, Stars Algonquin play an easy goin' kinda rock n' roll. They just released their debut EP "One Million Stars" late November. The track "Everything is Blue" has a laid back 70's feel to it; the harmonies could be straight from the 70's for all I know. It's almost ELO meets Boston. These guys must have afros. Along with the classic vocals, the tune features some groovy bass lines in the verse and spacy guitar licks in the chorus. Cool tune. The next track "July 13" has a slow intro that turns into a straight up pop rocker that picks the pace up a bit. Sounds like it could have landed on Tom Petty's Wildflowers record, and I hear some Sloan influence in the chorus too. It's a nice, catchy, jangly track. This band is brand new, so check their facebook page for upcoming shows and other news.

Kris G

The ethereal voice of Sunbathe (and Genders, respectively) can only be attributed to one Maggie Morris. With her devine murmurs in tow, she'll be debuting and releasing a new, surprise music video. She'll be sharing the premiere fame with the golden girls of Golden Hour and the ever popular Is/Is this Saturday, December 5th, at Valentines. It's not entirely clear which video she'll be premiering, but it's sure to be a delight, especially combined with those additonal performances. Tickets are only $5 at the door. WORTH IT.

-Cervante Pope