#8
Photo: Maverick Inman
Best of NYC 2015 I Indie + Psych
heeney
Brooklyn indie quartet Heeney is named after Sean Heaney, founder of the East W-Burg DIY venue Shea Stadium. A February 2015 single, appropriately titled “Brooklyn Pop,” continued their reputation as the borough’s veritable house band, though all good things must eventually pass, and so it is with Heeny. They played their final show on May 20th. R.I.P. (paolo de gregorio)
#18
mainland
NYC indie-rockers Mainland recorded their catchy EP Shiner in Austin, at Public Hi-Fi, the studio of Spoon drummer Jim Eno. Comprised primarily of California natives, Mainland released a cover last summer of Coconut Record’s song “West Coast” that struck a sweet homesickness. Plans for this summer? Mainland says: “Stay tuned.” (Come on!) (Leora Mandel)
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the deli Spring 2015
#9
Sunflower bean
Brooklyn’s buzzworthy trio Sunflower Bean pits brightly-colored psychedelia against brooding vocals, which lets their brief repertoire unfold naturally. All three members strike impressive on-stage poses too, giving Sunflower’s special brand of hippy-punk a welcome dose of sex appeal. (Jake Saunders)
#25
the fluids
The Fluids’ round, slightly epic rock sound didn’t immediately strike us as original... until Michael O’Donnell’s vocals, with their semi spoken-word style, emerged. The stylistic offspring of Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), O’Donnell seems to need only the most minimal melody to deliver evocative vocal lines. We dig. (The proverbial “We,” that is.) (paolo de gregorio)
#11
Sons of an Illustrious Father
Sons of an Illustrious Father’s newest EP (Sons) talks life, death, and the afterlife with a general anxiety about the state of the world. (Can you blame them?) Though mostly vintage alt-rock, their style pulls from everywhere, including funk and Americana. An LP titled Marty Loser Kingdom Tour sets sail this spring. Saul Williams guests. (Leora Mandel)
#59
kdh
Brooklyn-via-North Carolina psych-rock outfit KDH are set to release (as of this printing) a sophomore album: Piedmont Rose. It follows the limited edition 2013 cassette Kill Devil Hill, which blended everything from early Pink Floyd to southern rock, proving their adaptation to NYC’s ever-expansive milieu. (paolo de gregorio)