Listen to Iceage’s “Pain Killer” ft. Sky Ferreira

I am completely obsessed with Copenhagen’s Iceage, and their new track “Pain Killer,” featuring babetown mayor Sky Ferreira is pure sugar in my veins. Their new album Beyondless drops May 4th on Matador and features an essay on the band by Richard Hell — yes, the one and only fucking Richard Hell. Pretty cool. Totally helps that lead singer Elias Bender Rønnenfelt looks like River Phoenix, but really, pay attention to this band. Their sound is robust, shreddy yet instrumental, and, as Richard Hell puts it, pure poetry.

Watch Parquet Courts Video For “Wide Awake” 

Parquet Courts have somehow managed to turn a jarring, cacophonous explosion of sound into a song so catchy, you’ll find yourself dancing and singing along to it in no time. The generally speaking “garage” band’s forthcoming album Wide Awake!, out May 18th on Rough Trade, is filled with more songs like this, dancy, groovy, and still post-punk enough to feed that flame. Watch their fun video for title track “Wide Awake.” Are they in New Orleans? Does it matter? Not really, besides the fact that now I want a po’ boy.

Listen to Harry Permezel’s “Bonehead” 

Harry Permezel is an Australian twenty-something introspective songwriter who somehow sounds like Elliott Smith, without the pretense. His sophomore album Wax Man is dropping in a few months on Muscle Beach Records, and it’s described as a “meditation on loneliness, lessons learned, and optimism,” and new single “Bonehead” nails all of those sentiments.

Watch Michael Rault’s New Video for “I’ll Be There” 

I’m generally anti anything that’s too 60’s classic rock sounding, but Michael Rault’s new track for single “I’ll Be There” is hitting all the nostalgia buttons on my radar. Watch his video for the song and slip into a KLOS vortex. Michael Rault’s new album It’s A New Day Tonight drops May 18th on Wick/Daptone Records.

Listen to Tomemitsu and Watch “In Dreams” 

Tomemitsu slipped into my email a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been listening consistently to track “In Dreams,” a hazy, woozy, wave of a song, filled with longing and the kind of subdued, hypnotic rhythm that sparks all sorts of emotional fireworks. The Echo Park based musician’s new EP The Cave comes out April 20th on Sucks About Dinosaurs Records, so if you like what you hear, pay attention. We’ll be sharing something special with him soon.