The Nowherenauts - Warned You (The Nowherenauts)

This college-aged New York foursome’s second LP significantly improves upon their exuberant 2011 self-titled debut. New battering ram drummer Tony Franco joins bassist Anders Kapur to add an extra rhythmic wallop, together fueling inventive guitarist Hunter Lombard’s stinging yet anthemic leads. Meanwhile, Kapur’s sister Sofie’s gorgeous, expressive singing is a revelation, combining a punk/new wave edginess and youthful vivaciousness with the command and confidence of a seasoned jazz vocalist. Though their bio correctly touts their nostalgic ‘80s-influenced sound, the first three songs – “Warned You,” “Hideaway,” and “Constant Buzzing” – actually recalled (in order) recent favorites The Joy Formidable, Editors, and Maxïmo Park. And the album gets better from there, with the glistening “Insomnia,” the driving standout “Shadow,” and the infectious “Spaces” finding Lombard’s thick, propulsive riffs and Kapur’s irresistible pipes continually soaring to stratospheric heights. (thenowherenauts.com)