New music: The Fresh & Onlys -- Yes or No

SAN Francisco four-piece The Fresh & Onlys provide a refreshing shot of adrenaline to American guitar rock with Yes or No. The anthemic conjures top-down care-free cruises along Route 66 thanks to its rising guitar melodies and alluring vocals. Bassist Shayde Sartain said: 'It was meant to be an anthem, but I guess you could say it was more desperate—the overwhelming desire to please someone and then feeling as though you have failed and being confused by that.' Well, you've pleased us Shayde. Yes or No is out on Monday, June 18, via Southern Transmissions. Their album, Long Slow Dance, is released in September.The Fresh & Onlys - Yes Or No

New music: Two Wounded Birds -- To Be Young

IT'S going to be a defining year for Two Wounded Birds, the hotly-tipped four-piece championed by Jacob Graham of The Drums. We fell in love with 2010's grandiose Night Patrol, and it seems as if the avian starlets have licked their wounds and returned with a delightfully refined sound with To Be Young - ahead of the release of their self-titled debut album on June 11. With heart-piercing guitar melodies and an infectious chorus that teleports you back to those special summers we once had, this album track is a confident indie-pop stormer which whets our appetite for their debut. Jacob said: "It's easy to see why these rising stars caught the ears of such legends as Brian Wilson and Debbie Harry. "Their songs capture the American spirit with clear allegiances to the Beach Boys, the Ramones and Elvis—all while still acknowledging the band’s British roots. "You won't hear any Elton John-style American accents here; instead, Johnny Danger’s sound recalls the velvety tones of Colin Blunstone in his Zombies heyday—a voice with true character. "In an age in which the shroud of "pop" can describe any poorly constructed jingle that comes along, it's nice to see the dust settle and discover the genuine article. Here you will find proof that sincere pop songs are truly timeless." Two Wounded Birds is out on June 11 via Holiday Recordings. Two Wounded Birds tour dates: June 9 - London Rough Trade West; June 22 - London Shacklewell Arms; June 29 - Coventry Godiva Festival; July 6 - Rome, Italy Atlantico Live Rome; July 20 - Preston Mad Ferret; July 28 - Portsmouth Club NME; Sept 1 - Portsmouth Southsea Festival;

New music: Gaggle -- Army of Birds

No, you're not in the terrifying grips of an LSD trip. This is Army of Birds by London's 21-strong female choir Gaggle. It's one of 2012's most intriguing/bonkers efforts so far; splicing multi-layered booming drums over freak-out choir vocals that throws in rock, hip-hop, and afro-beat sounds into a genre-transcending mix. It sounds like it was a whole lot of crazy, loud fun to make. But for all its anthemic positives, we can' t help but hear Joan Jett's I Love Rock and Roll when the chorus kicks in. Listen to Army of Birds below.