Little Tybee Have Something "For Distant Viewing"

Atlanta's Little Tybee have an accessible, infectious sound all their own, but it's forged through smart, subtle experimentation. Mixing the charm of indie pop, the comforting feel of folk, and the technical prowess and forward thinking of jazz, this band moves gracefully from enveloping, adventurous instrumentals to pop ingenuity. To give you a frame of reference, imagine a cross between Fleet Foxes, Local Natives, and Annuals.

The band just released their sophomore album, For Distant Viewing, yesterday via Paper Garden Records. Hear the title track and one of my favorite tracks from the album below.

REVIEW: Conveyor - Conveyor

Conveyor - Conveyor

There are a lot of bands residing in Brooklyn, but there aren’t too many that stick out like Conveyor. After an EP and a handful of singles, the New York quartet just released their eponymous debut album. It’s the sound of bedroom pop having a playdate with worldbeat as Grandaddy and Animal Collective records spin in the background. More simply, it’s a fun and adventurous affair.

VIDEO: Alcoholic Faith Mission - "Sobriety Up and Left" (Live in a Restaurant)

CMJ recently took place in New York, which means hundreds of bands descended on the city for a few days. CMJ is, more or less, the closest thing we East Coasters get to our own SXSW. Bands come from all over the country -- some come from other countries, too -- and perform all over the city. One of the imports that performed at this year's CMJ was Danish sextet Alcoholic Faith Mission. While the band was in town, they took some time to film a live performance inside a restaurant, which you can watch below.

It's very well framed and paced. I don't want to ruin the video for you, so I'll leave this introduction short. I will say that the circular motion of the video seems to hold a certain symbolism for how the band is set up around the restaurant. The band, despite being spread around the room, is connected by their music and a sort of collective mood. There's an unspoken bond between them, and the intimacy of the whole arrangement is rather engaging -- let alone beautiful.