“Get Back Jack” is a rollicking, bluesy number, propelled by driving piano chords and frontman Steve Rothstein’s full-throated vocals, backed up by his bandmates’ close harmonising. Redstone Hall have a keen ear for the musical styles of yesterday, paying tribute to old-school blues and rock, while crafting something that’s undoubtedly their own.

They’re touring the US in October, and their debut EP “Elephant” will be out in September.

Redstone Hall – “Get Back Jack”

At first listen, The Weepies might seem as wet as their name implies – a country-tinged guitar pop band with high-pitched female vocals placing it slightly in the “twee” category. But as you get further into their new album, “Be My Thrill”, the country influence becomes ever more pronounced, and a certain darkness creeps in on songs such as “Hard To Please” and “How Do You Get High”.  The album’s closer, “Empty Your Hands” takes all the conflicting impulses throughout the record and wraps them up in a sweet, melodic package that does justice to the preceding songs.

The Weepies, centered around duo Steve Tannen and Deb Talan, are planning to play at 32 tour dates throughout the US in 2010. The whole album is available to stream from Paste Magazine’s website (and below), before it’s released next week on Nettwerk Records.

The Weepies – “Be My Thrill”

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Wisconsin’s Meridene specialise in pounding drums, Strokes-esque guitars and rousing choruses. Their latest single “Parade of Fools” has a sense of hardwon optimism in the lyrics, leavening the catchy pop-rock hooks and crackling energy with a grown-up sensibility.

The band has a new album, Something Like Blood, which was recorded in just four days at Bon Iver’s studio in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. It’ll be released through Amble Down Records on September 28th.

Keep up to date with Meridene – MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Meridene – “Parade Of Fools”

Six-strong band A Classic Education are the brainchild of singer-songwriter His Clancyness, filling out his winsome solo output with excellently layered guitar-pop that puts more flesh on his songwriting without overwhelming it. “Gone To Sea” is a wonderfully wistful track, recalling British Sea Power in the lush, dense guitar sound and chamber-pop in the strains of violin that peek out here and there.

While based in Bologna, Italy, they’ve been conducting a hardcore touring schedule across Europe and the US over the last couple of years. Their new EP “Hey There Stranger” is coming out on September 21st from Lefse, on vinyl and MP3. They also have a free-to-download single, “What My Life Could Have Been/Toi” available from Holiday Records.

A Classic Education – “Gone To Sea”

What My Life Could Have Been b/w Toi by aclassiceducation

Along with Tennis and Best Coast, Lights On are bringing sweet retro-influenced summer pop to brighten up everyone’s day, regardless of what the weather outside is actually like.

The four-piece may hail from sunny San Diego, but their new single “Red Lights Flashing” abounds in nods to past Brit-indie acts, from The Wedding Present and Echo And The Bunnymen to The Coral. There are scratchy, post-punk-esque guitar riffs sitting comfortably alongside delicate melodies and soaring vocals. The band are obviously very good at marrying diverse elements into an appealing and catchy package.

Their terrific debut album, “Here Comes The Ocean”, was released on July 6th, and features more of the washed-out surf-rock sound displayed on this single. It’s available to buy at their website on MP3, vinyl or cassette.

Keep up to date with Lights On – MySpace | Last.fm | Facebook

Lights On – “Red Lights Flashing”

Spinning off from cult Denver band The Vanity, where he played bass from 2005-2007, Kamtin Mohager is now known as The Chain Gang Of 1974. He’s adopted a much sleeker sound – more electro-influenced and poppier.

The opening to his track “Matter Of Time” is a pulsing wall of synths recalling Jan Hammer’s score for Miami Vice. Then we’re into a smooth yacht-rock melody underpinned by funky bass work. But before you think this is pure retro-cheese, Kamtin’s husky, decidedly un-80s voice spins a poignant tale of loss and abandonment.

Kamtin’s been keeping busy this year – in addition to releasing his album “White Guts” this year, he’s been supporting The White Tie Affair on tour as Chain Gang of 1974, and played bass with 3OH!3 at their live shows. He’s also found time to make an odd and entertaining video for the single “STOP!”, featuring Domo-kun of Japanese TV fame.

The Chain Gang Of 1974 – “Matter of Time”
The Chain Gang Of 1974 – “Don’t Walk Away”

Yet another artist which invites comparison with Phil Spector and the “wall of sound” production technique. (And yet another great track from The Fader – they keep on coming up with the goods.)

Eerie vocals wind through the fuzzy guitar melodies, recalling The Raveonettes but without the ironic rock’n’roll pastiching. Brooklyn’s Night Manager currently only have two tracks posted on their MySpace site, but are definitely a band worth keeping up with.

Night Manager - “Blackout Sex”

There’s a slow rhythmic vocal refrain to the vocals on Spectrals’s song “Don’t Mind”, which combined with the chimes and strings produces a Scott Walker/Phil Spector effect. It’s ethereal and feels like it’s being beamed from the past directly to your computer, maybe picking up a little shoegaze influence along the way.

Louis Jones, the one man behind this orchestration, obviously has an ear for the music of the past, but also the talent and originality needed to carve out something new from what came before.

Spectrals – “Don’t Mind”
Spectrals – “It’s OK (Not To Be OK)”
Spectrals – “Rot With Me”

Newly signed to Domino Records, Chief are a 4-piece from Santa Monica who play melodic, atmospheric guitar pop. The piano chords twinkling in the swirling, textured arrangements of their single “Night & Day” add an extra degree of magic to the song. The vocals are rich, layered and recall Band of Horses, as well as their 1960s forebears.

“Night and Day” is now out as the first single from Chief’s forthcoming album “Modern Rituals”. The single’s B-side is a new version of their song “Your Direction” – watch the video below!

Keep up to date with Chief – MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | Last.fm

Chief – “Night & Day”

The Pernice Brothers are back with a new album, “Goodbye, Killer”, which showcases their knack for expertly catchy, country-tinged songwriting. The new single “Jacqueline Susann” is available on their website – it’s a blast of scruffy garage-rock overlaid with smart, cynical lyrics. “Bechamel”, the other track from the album, is far more laid back, offering vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar work that recall every perfect summer pop song from The Beach Boys onwards.

These two tracks are a nice sample of the album, and they’ve definitely convinced me that the Pernice Brothers’ latest release deserves a place in my music library.

Sign up for eMusic and download their latest album “Goodbye, Killer” for free.

Pernice Brothers – “Jacqueline Susann”
Pernice Brothers – “Bechamel”