Kyle Hollingsworth, keyboardist of the renowned The String Cheese Incident, reveals his psychedelic take of a Vampire Weekend track.

New York-based indie/punk rock band Freezing Cold drop a fun narrative video for a vibrant and heartfelt track off their debut album.

Danish sound-crafter Frederik Tao unwraps an absurd, Monty Python-esque video for a jittery/flowing hybrid track from his upcoming LP.

LA-based singer/songwriter and filmmaker Aaron Beckum releases his Jason Lytle-produced (Grandaddy) LP via Devil in the Woods.

Howardian, led by Ian Vanek (ex-Japanther), just released their melodic and driving 7th album via Rad Girlfriend Records.

Shoegaze/dreampop supergroup (members of Saint Marie Records, Seasurfer, Crash City Saints, and Whimsical) deliver a brooding new video.

Seattle-based garage rock ‘n’ roll/psych-pop band Low Hums unveil a trippy kaleidoscopic-view video for a brooding track off their latest LP.

Easy, one of Sweden’s most notable indie groups, releases an engaging new music video for a track off their upcoming album.

Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter delivers an exclusive-for-The Big Takeover video of a high-flying electro-pop/post-rock song from his upcoming LP.

Swiss electro-pop band Alois dive into a Wes Anderson’s Life Aquatic-like scenario on an engagingly quirky video for a track off their upcoming LP.

Legendary indie rock band Guided By Voices, spearheaded by Robert Pollard, release their umpteeth, always compelling and relevant album.

The Cruel World Festival takes place May 2 in L.A. with Morrissey, Bauhaus, Blondie, Devo, Public Image Limited, Echo & the Bunnymen, English Beat, the Psychedelic Furs, Drab Majesty, The KVB, and Sextile among many others.

Chicago-based math rock/post-rock band Mountains for Clouds release their soaring, expansive, and contemplative final album.

Australian downtempo/ethereal duo Manor release a kaleidoscopic-images video for a aurally dreamy new stand-alone single.

Indie folk/Americana band the Good Graces, led by singer-songwriter Kim Ware, drops an engaging video for a symphonic-folk track.

Brighton-based post-punk/chamber pop band The Academy of Sun drops an engaging new tune from their upcoming hypnotic album.

Seattle-based darkwave duo HALLOWS unveils the sleek and noir title track off their upcoming EP on Phage Tapes.

Puerto Rican artist Andres Lugo and Philadelphia based noise-pop creative Tom Lugo unveil their atmospheric shoegaze/ethereal rock debut LP.

Greek industrial/synth-punk outfit Mechanimal unleashes an intense, hyper-driven video created from speed-freak editing of images from Athens’ city steets.

Eric Nizgretsky, lead singer of the indie rock band goes into the meaning behind the songs on the LP out today via Moon Crawl Records.

NYC’s High Waisted announce their 2nd LP, Sick of Saying Sorry, and share an explosive rock ‘n’ rock lead single with its official video.

Dream-pop/shoegaze band Whimsical release a warm video for a comforting track off their latest lyrically astute and sonically swirling LP.

Veteran multi-genre musician Nat Freedberg (The Upper Crust) drops a shining, rockin’ track from his upcoming 3rd LP in a year.

The indie/alternative music artist delivers a bold storytelling animated video for a track about female empowerment off her new EP.

Psych-folk/trip-hop outfit The Mystery Plan enlist the talents of Micah Gaugh (The Veldt), Ian Masters (Pale Saints), and more on their new LP.

Minneapolis musical stalwart Matt Wilson (Trip Shakespeare) launches his new orchestral venture with a tuneful and heartfelt track.

Veteran rock band the Pedaljets unveil a fantastic ode to rock ‘n’ roll on a vibrant and fun video for a driving track off their new LP.

Seattle-based (by way of California) shoegaze/noise rock band VLLY release a compelling, roiling, dreamy, and captivating debut album.

London-located soul funk collective Crowd Company bursts at the sonic seams with a rich and vibrant new album that was recorded in Boston.

Oregon-based indie rock/Americana band AM Clouds drop an engaging track from their upcoming debut album.

Swedish-Australian indie pop/rock duo Tiny Fighter unveil an involving storytelling video for a sweeping track off their upcoming LP.

Scandi-pop singer-songwriter Johanna Kuvaja releases a heartfelt and melodic ballad that conjures up retro-‘80s Eurovision vibes.

Long-running indie rock band The Black Watch, led by John Andrew Fredrick release a fun video for a track of their upcoming LP.

Indie legends Guided By Voices, umm, guided by the renowned Robert Pollard, drop an urgent and foreboding single from their upcoming LP.

Taiwan-raised, Rhode Island and Hong Kong-residing singer-songwriter Chance Emerson releases an endearing video directed by his kid brother.

Canadian singer-songwriter Paige Cora unveils her warm and heartfelt debut album that is attuned to the rhythms of the natural world.

LA-residing electro-/post-punk trio TV Heads drop their second potent and absorbing LP that features Jessica Lankford on drums.

Portland, OR-based dream-pop band Starover Blue unveil a dreamily drifting performance video that mirrors a track off their recent LP.

San Franciscan rock ‘n’ roll band Greg Hoy & The Boys (led by multi-talented Greg Hoy) releases an engaging video for a spirited song.

“It is truly exciting for my father Marc Bolan and his band mates to be inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It has taken some time, but his music has influenced musicians all around the world.” – Rolan Bolan

Norwegian psychedelic post-punk hybrid band Mayflower Madame unveils an alluringly dark video for a track off their upcoming LP.

UK/Denmark electronic/pop duo Perpacity release a vivid-imagery video for a lyrically incisive track from their upcoming fourth album.

Floridian indie pop-rock band Four Star Riot release an engaging performance video for a lyrically astute and musically catchy track.

Canadian post-metal band The Basement Paintings blends ambient and post-/prog-rock genres on their latest full-length.

Chicago-based folk/Americana ensemble Magical Beasts, founded and led by Nathan Paulus, have released a new EP.

Indie rock band Sunshine Boys (members of Blake Babies and Poi Dog Pondering) offer a perceptive and relevant message about our future.

Huntsville, Alabama-located garage rock ‘n’ roll band Drop Diver deliver an exciting performance video of a rousing track from their debut LP.

My best bets on another great year for music, old and new. (Never mind the cranks, here’s the good stuff as ever.) Hope this little list inspires you to find, or give a second look to, a few cool releases you might miss otherwise that you end up truly loving.

UK-based electronic collective Broads teams up with folk singer-songwriter Milly Hirst on an expansive and calming track.

Former frontman of Inca Babies, Manchester-based Harry Stafford is releasing a new album soon of music he dubs Gothic urban blues.