It’s fortunate for Vivian Girls fiends like myself that guitarist Cassie Ramone has both ventured into solo territory and has collaborated with members of Brooklyn bands Bossy and Woods in her latest venture, Babies. Drummer Ali Koehler left last year to work with West Coast heartthrobs Best Coast. And bassist Katy Goodman — she has La Sera.

Independent rock bands like The Sour Notes — the kind of rock bands that can make intoxicating, slow-burning jams that carve out your soul — are few and far between.

The Austin-based quintet makes shimmering, brooding indie rock brimming with naked introspection, ecstatic highs, and heartbreaking lows.  Frontman Jared Boulanger and keyboardist Kelly DeWitt trade vocal duty — his voice lovesick and soaring, her voice cozy and crushing — anchored by multi-instrumentalist Chris Page, bassist Amarah Ulghani, and drummer Taylor Steinberg.

-They’re from Cleveland. (Whatever.)
-They make indie pop. (Cool, I guess.)
-The frontman is just 19 years old and got picked up by Carpark and Wichita. (I’m listening…)
-They have the lyrical pragmatism of Pavement and the sonic dynamics of Beach Fossils. (Well, let’s hear it already!)

It’s been a slow rise to prominence for Cleveland indie pop outfit Cloud Nothings, but after a slew of 7-inches and mini-tours, the buzz is finally reaching fever pitch.

It’d be unwise to typecast Portland-based Grails as simply a post-rock quartet, especially considering their forays into doleful, droney mania on songs like “Acid Rain” off of 2008’s Doomsdayer’s Holiday. Consider also the band’s associations with drone champions Om and member Emil Amos’ collaboration with experimental folk artist Jandek. For the most part, though, the band makes elegant, slow-burning jams that jump between distinctly Eastern and American avenues of sonic artistry.