Pet Ghost Project is the inaugural band on up-and-coming new indie label On Another Note Records, and is all the work of one man: Justin Stivers. While Stivers brings along multi-instrumentalists Jacob More and Justin Gonzales for his live shows, that wall of sound you were just consumed by is the work of one very dedicated, very informed individual.

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In the time span of just a short 22 years, this bloke from the great island of Great Britain has produced a lineup of whimsical songs that have the depth and insight of many more years of life. Ben Howard describes his hometown as "nestled between the moors and the sea," and paints his affection for the autumn months and the outdoors in few words but with powerful sentiment.

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You will inevitably read comparisons to Arcade Fire as every band who has more than 3-5 pieces will get; put those aside. There are indeed similar elements, but Broken Records is more impassioned, more spiritual, more ethereal, and from the first alluring 1:40 of "Nearly Home" to the last crashing minute of "Slow Parade", the listener will be nearly paralyzed in a sonic dream-state.

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Let me introduce The Kickdrums by listing just some of the artists that they have produced for, remixed, or mashed-up: 50 Cent, Talib Kweli, Slaughterhouse, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Estelle, The Black Kids, MGMT, Justice, The Tings Tings, and Kid Cudi. Phew!

With an eager aptitude for navigating genres and two killer mixtapes under their belt, the Kickdrums come to us with their official debut, Just A Game.

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Sometimes you just want to put on your giant cushy headphones, switch to the saddest Bon Iver track you can find, and cry your eyes out. We all do it (maybe). Other times, when you actually need to perk up, you need that good old four-piece funk fix. Look no further. Amidst the high-powered indie-pop that's been released recently, with its proclivity for tangled sentimentality and drawn-out catharsis, Dublin's Hoarsebox reaffirms that popular music is, and should be, entertaining as hell.

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Columbus, Ohio quintet Terribly Empty Pockets have a new EP out on Nettwerk Records, a yelping, enchantingly awkward sample of their rich pop. Cat Mountain won't be under $2 for long, so have a listen!

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A fan of Coldplay? South? Keane? Well, add one more to the list: Reykjavik's Leaves play yearning, orchestral alternative rock that's been praised by the New York Times and landed them a tour with Doves. Yes, it's a requirement that bands like this have to have one-word names. Read our spotlight after the break!

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Stephanie Schneiderman is a snake quietly shaking her apple in the ears of all too trusting an audience. Her new trip-hop album Dangerous Fruit has many slow, seductive tracks that start out as a soft whisper, and at some unknown point melt into dangerously mesmerizing numbers that make you want more and more.

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Jon Pareles writes up Emilíana Torrini's performance at NYC's Hiro Ballroom this past Saturday:

"Although Ms. Torrini is from Iceland, her lyrics are in English, and they are confessions of longing and loneliness, elated infatuation or caffeinated uncertainty... It takes poise and discreet determination to keep such wispy thoughts from turning sentimental, and Ms. Torrini has both."

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A "Band to Watch" on Stereogum, Hammer No More The Fingers is a trio from Durham, NC who plays catchy, Malkmusy indie rock. We're pumped to have this live album from our friends at the dotmatrix project, and think it's a great example of how fun and energetic their shows are. Read our review after the jump!

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