At first glance, Work Drugs‘ own claim that they make music “specifically for dancing, yachting, sexting, and living” seems unbelievably cheeky…until you dig into their songs. At that point, their self-description becomes awfully apt. On singles such as “License To Drive” and “Daddy Bear,” the Philadelphia band channels the spirit of a less dramatic M83 and a warmer Radio Dept. to create music that we find undeniably sunny, yet hardly empty-headed. Visit their site for a handful of free downloads and fun videos, and follow them on Twitter for even more good stuff.

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Zambri are actually sisters, Cristi Jo and Jessica, who have been creating music together since they were children, always using the Zambri name. Their newest release, Glossolalia, was released late last year and is the first album they consider to be entirely their own, doing things how they want, just the two of them. Most of the sounds on the EP are homemade, many of which are built from vocals, which is perhaps what inspired the title (Glossolalia means speaking in tongues). Dreamy, a little dark, and always interesting, we’re definitely going to follow what these ladies do next. Check out their wild new single “ICBYS” (pronounced Ick-Bees) and see what we’re talking about.

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Since Lissy Trullie’s 2009 EP Self-Taught Learner was one of our favorite debut records of the last few years, you know we’re super-excited that she’s finally about to put out a full-length release. Expect the upcoming self-titled album to feature another major dose of attitude, its infectious songs all fueled by Trullie’s signature brassy wail. This time around, the ex-model worked with a pair of top-tier producers – John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A., Shakira) and Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars) – and laid down all tracks in their Los Angeles studios. Look for the album soon!

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Katy Goodman – a.k.a. La Sera – of Vivian Girls has been one of our favorites since we picked up last year’s self-titled debut LP, so even though her new record won’t be released until late March, we love what we’ve heard so much that we can’t keep quiet about it. The album, Sees The Light, contains ten of the most upbeat songs you’ll likely ever hear about that age-old songwriter subject, the almighty breakup. Whether it’s pushing forward, finding strength in yourself and your friends, or simply staying positive, the album offers no shortage of lyrical ideas for how to best move on – all driven by infectious melodies, breakneck rhythms, and Goodman’s sweet vocals.

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Matt and Jesse Kivel of Princeton knew they wanted to follow a fresh path on their new album, Remembrances Of Things To Come. Known for the easygoing indie pop of their 2009 debut LP, Cocoon Of Love, the identical twin brothers decided to remove themselves from their southern California comfort zone and write their newest batch of songs in an isolated London flat during a dreary English winter. Along the way, they embraced new concepts such as emphasizing rhythm over melody, as well as constructing long-form disco tracks and listening to experimental composers. Through all these changes, Princeton have come out the other side with a ton of excellent material, the best of which might be the new record’s elegant title track. The album’s out this month – let us know what you think of the lead single!

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Available 2/1 – 2/7: Cloud Nothings “Stay Useless”

Bratty and disaffected, this new single from Cloud Nothings takes the spirit of late ‘70s punk and power pop and eloquently translates it for 2012. It’s an alternately timeless and modern anthem for lost souls of all ages, brashly spat out by 20-year-old bandleader/wunderkind Dylan Baldi. Intriguingly, we hear that the Cleveland band’s upcoming record, Attack On Memory, was recorded by one of the most legendary producers ever, Steve Albini – one more reason we’re super-excited that it’s finally out!

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Available 1/25 – 2/1: Plastic Flowers “Strange Neighbors”

From New York by way of Tallahassee, Florida comes Plastic Flowers, the wonderfully early ’80s-inspired synth pop project of Sean Earl Beard. Taking sonic cues from the genre’s forebearers (Yaz, early Depeche Mode), as well as other luminaries of the age such as Joy Division and The Cure, the haunting music of Plastic Flowers packs a subtle emotional punch…if you listen closely enough. It sounds to us like the perfect accompaniment to a pensive drive on a quiet winter night.

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Available 1/18 – 1/25: Pond “Fantastic Explosion of Time”

Cut from the same cloth as Australian psych-rockers Tame Impala – one of our favorite bands of the last decade – comes Oz trio Pond. The band taps the same wicked psychedelic vein as their aforementioned labelmates and has been gathering fans around their native Australia for a few years; they’re finally getting ready to cross over Stateside with an upcoming album, Beard Wives Denim, that’s set to drop in March. Recorded in a farmhouse in Western Australia along with the rest of the record, advance single “Fantastic Explosion Of Time” is just the soundtrack for your spring snowboarding excursions!

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Although typically backed by his band of Punx, Oakland’s Seth Bogart (a.k.a. Hunx) steps out for a solo record this February. Borrowing from the best of ‘60s garage pop and girl groups, Hunx’s upcoming album, Hairdresser Blues, is full of hyper-catchy garage pop tunes like “Always Forever” that we can’t stop playing over and over. A hair stylist himself, Bogart sings from the heart on this concise collection of hits, so if you’re looking to beat the winter blues by bouncing around the room, this is the record for you!

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Available 1/4 – 1/11: Islands “This Is Not a Song”

Nicholas Thorburn, formerly of Montreal indie pop outfit the Unicorns, has been making Islands records since the mid ‘00s, but many of his newest songs possess a personal side previously unheard in his work. “This Is Not A Song,” which drifts on a softly melancholy melody, points toward this new direction; one listen and you’ll understand why it’s been pegged as the lead single from Islands’ upcoming album, A Sleep & A Forgetting. Thorburn says he began writing songs for the record on Valentine’s Day, so perhaps it’s no accident that it’s set to be released on February 14.

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