Waxahatchee - Be Good

Waxahatchee is Katie Crutchfield gone solo. Previously fronting pop-punk band 'P.S. Eliot' with her twin sister Allison, her new direction takes her on more of a acoustic reverb road trip. Based in Northern Alabama there's certainly a real Americana twang here, her voice has a raw huskiness that sits nicely with the strummed guitar. There's nothing deep in this track - a simple narrative on life, relationships and the like, but to me, it's the simple unrefined honesty that makes it work. 'Be Good' was released in 2012 on the album 'American Weekend'. Well worth a listen, particularly if you enjoyed the early stuff from Liz Phair.

The Stones - Down and Around

To be fair it's a pretty raw recording, but look past the low production values and 'Down and Around' by the Stones has a real charm to it that still sounds lo-fi fresh today. Featuring on the now infamous 1982 Flying Nun Dunedin Double EP, the track rolls and chugs along, instruments mostly coming together, with the band producing a 'who gives a damn', post-punk vibe that is naive yet absolutely free sounding. The Stones went on to produce one more EP before disbanding shortly thereafter - a real shame.

DZ Deathrays - Gina Works At Hearts

Elements of thrash, metal and punk - all feature from this aussie duo but its the infectious melody running through the entire track that really makes it work. Get your mosh on.