Detroit-based (via Texas) indie pop/rock band No Alarms (founded and led by Andrew Boles) releases an uplifting, energetic track and video.

Mike Watt, George Hurley (both of Minutemen and Firehose), and poet Dan McGuire recruit in-the-news J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. for their 4th LP.

Sludgegaze artist Outward (AKA Corey Philpot) unveils his deeply personal, passionate, and potent LP, along with an exclusive track-by-track video.

Italian solo project True Sleeper (Marco Barzetti of Weird. and Sonic Jesus) expertly blends heavy post-rock with dreamier shoegaze on new single.

L.A. indie rock band Warbly Jets launch a socio-politically relevant video/song off their recently released vibrant EP.

Ambient/dream-pop/downtempo duo SPC ECO (Dean Garcia and daughter Rose Berlin) drop a gentle to coruscating single from upcoming surprise LP.

The XTC Discovery Book What Do You Call That Noise?, which features all band members, as well as other artists, arrives March 4th.

Louisiana-based post-hardcore/-punk band Secret Smoker charge through with a pressing, kinetic single from their upcoming LP.

Renowned American songwriter Amy Rigby, recording with Wreckless Eric, lets the U.S. Occupier-In-Chief have it on a potent and relevant protest song.

North Carolinian singer-songwriter Cole Guerra, recording as I Am Casting, releases a politically relevant song/video off his upcoming LP.

Detroit-based vocalist/producer Alyssa Midcalf (Parts) unveils a mesmerizing synths ‘n’ beats-steeped, politically relevant track/video from her upcoming LP.

Australian synth-pop/post-punk hybrid duo Skydeck drop their latest dispassionate, yet infectious single from their upcoming album.

British indie label Burning Shed has announced it will be publishing a book bound to thrill lovers of the group Japan.

L.A.‘s Broken Field Runner releases an emotive and airy first track from their upcoming record via Chicago-based label Jetsam-Flotsam.

A surreal and swinging rave-up from the band’s new “Murder Barn Session”

NYC-based electronic/acoustic garage rock duo paris_monster drop a vivid, gritty, and volatile debut LP.

Australian singer-songwriter Christina Castle rules with bold, yet reflective pop single from her just-released EP.

Chicago atmospheric synth-pop outfit Pixel Grip delivers an enticing single from upcoming debut LP that melds synth-pop and electronica.

Brooklyn-based garage rock band Pink Mexico delivers a roiling, yet tuneful noise rock track from their upcoming 3rd album.

Liverpool-based The Room in the Wood (members of ’80s post-punk band The Room) unveil a mellow and engaging song/video.

Electrogaze duo Brim Liski (with one member from A Shoreline Dream) announce a new album and release a spacey single.

Norwegian rock band OHAF (AKA One Hundred And First) releases a lyrically relevant, vibrant track that follows up their well-received debut EP.

Power-instrumental trio Messthetics (w/ members of Fugazi) unveil a vivid and dynamic Candyland Studios cut via a SofaBurn Records session.

Houston-based indie rock/dream-pop band Rose Ette unveils their engaging and tuneful debut LP along with a track-by-track synopsis.

Hotly-tipped Boston-based punk/noise rock band Aneurysm unleash a raging and cathartic single from their upcoming debut album.

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.

Twilight Fields (the moniker of singer-songwriter Allister Thompson) pays tribute to Bruce Cockburn by covering his classic protest song.

Rock ‘n’ roll/surf rock 6-piece The Boys Ranch create a fun new dance on their delightful puppeteering (courtesy of Mr. Bonetangles) video.

Belgium-based noise rock band Helium Horse Fly unleashes a riveting and icily noir album that alternates between tension and catharsis.

Montreal-raised, NYC-based singer-songwriter Matt Shapiro dashes out of the gate with the uptempo, reverb opener from his upcoming EP.

Fresh from their first show back together after eight years, successfully co-headlining November’s 12th edition of Kalamazoo, MI’s premier dreampop/shoegaze/beautiful noise festival, Kalamashoegazer 12 (appearing with Texas’s Ringo Deathstarr, California’s Soft Science, and five other stalwart groups), New York’s legendary proto-dreampop/shoegaze/indie-rock/post-punk trio—including our own Big Takeover editor Jack Rabid on drums and occasional lead vocals—is thrilled to announce they have added four shows on more home turf from New York to Washington D.C.—supporting The Chills, having once before played with them 29 years ago.

Philadelphia-based electro-folk/orchestral pop outfit Grandchildren release an engaging and melodic tune and natural world-centered video.

Experimental rock project Cereal Banter unleashes a wildly kinetic and riveting single from their upcoming concept album.

Swedish electronic alt rock duo ShapeShiftingAliens unveil a dystopian video for a electro-noir single from their self-titled LP.

The Los Angeles-based rock band Warbly Jets just blasted off with a new EP and will kick off tours of North America and China ASAP.

Veteran musician Gabriel Walsh (The Solililans, Timesbold, more) ushers in his heady second psych/electronic/rock LP as The Earthly Frames.

Renowed veteran punk rock outfit The Flesh Eaters (featuring members of X, The Blasters, and more) have reunited on an electrifying new album via Yep Roc.

Californian indie psych-/alt-rock band LoFi Satellites beam down a melodic, gritty track from their upcoming EP.

Altanta-based electronic/rock duo I Am A Rocketship deliver a potent and alluring genre-hybrid single from their upcoming 2nd LP.

Brooklyn-based, French-named electronic collective Pas Musique release two new tunes from their upcoming LP out via NYC’s Alrealon Musique.

British agit-electro outfit Cabinet of Millionaires comes out a winner with a pointedly relevant video featuring a Theresa May puppet.

British indie folk/rock band The Room in the Wood (Paul Cavanagh and Dave Jackson) have landed with a socio-politically relevant EP.

British indie rock band Big Tide, led by long-time musician Ben Thomas, release a chiming-guitar single from their upcoming debut LP.

San Diego-based indie rock band Dani Bell & The Tarantist release an alluring hip-hop/psych-pop hybrid off their upcoming LP.

New Jersey-based wild musician J Hacha De Zola showcases just one facet of his diverse sound on a whirling cha-cha-cha number.

Seattle-based Simon Nicol, the man behind the moniker, experiments with sounds and techniques on his debut EP.

Bristol, England-based electronica artist Matthew O’Connor is set to release his electro-ambient debut album as Phonseca.

U.S./U.K. indie rock-pop band Slum Summer get heavy (metal and psychedelic) on a foreboding, Black Sabbath-like song and video.

SOAK, AKA Bridie Monds-Watson, releases a new video for her cover of Chris Rea’s holiday classic and announces a few U.S. shows.

“Fairytale of New York” comes to life once again in this delightful cover that features Craig Cardiff and guest vocalist Ciara Lofaro.