If his music is anything to go by, Caterwaulrus is probably a nice dude to kick it with. He seems like he could be the kind that'd show up to a hang with some flowers he picked on his walk over, just for you, but who'd also be willing to tell you that he feels a bit weird about killing something pretty. That feeling of sunshine and good days with an underlying soft gloom just drips from the sound on songwriter's newest album, the just-released "Songs that Go Nowhere." That title is a bit misleading, but also a bit of the truth- these songs do float around like gentle clouds, but they're also dense and complex and there's nothing ambiguous about the way they hone in on their target tone. The album is laced with looping vocals all reverb-ed out to blissfulness, little electronic touches and pieces of beats, all of which melds together with no element ever threatening to overwhelm the rest of the track. And, despite the expansive warmth and haze in the sound, the sounds collectively bely the underlying subject of the tracks on the album, which almost all speak of Caterwaulrus' melancholy. Lyrics like "I'm so fucking picky and I over think god damn everything," or "I'm a synesthetic skeptic slowly snoozing with regret, it's not quite what mom expected" reveal a mind that is a bit worried and not always happy with itself, though it'd like to be, and that thought tunnels through the whole album. But, it's delivered in such a poppy (albeit highly experimental pop), major-key fashion, buried deep within the summer smile that is the overriding tone, that you barely notice that these aren't songs about having a good day at all. It's a modern feeling buried in a modern sound, and if you have enjoyed artists like Toro y Moi in the recent past, you might find Caterwaulrus a good fit for your modern moods. Give it a go below, and float through your own contemporary, confusing life with a friend in your ear who understands.

The Walking Sticks give us what we want (I had to), premiering a new video for "You Got What You Wanted" on DCist today. Made on an iphone, it features what looks to be a single shot walk through a snow-covered wood with the snow falling. The creative minds of The Walking Sticks have managed to turn the otherwise dreary and upsetting weather into something beautiful and mystical. Thank you.

The song itself is pretty sexy. Like Portishead sexy, where the sex is kind of angry/frustrated/despairing sex (because, in this case, it seems, the sex is too addictive to escape). The music does not share the sexy gloom of a "Wandering Star" however. A beautiful organ leads the pretty sounds that fall about it like soft white snowflakes. The track, like the video, is filled with brightness, and Chelsea Lee's crystal voice. "Can't stop loving the high" indeed. --Natan Press

Looking for a reprieve from the arctic cold? Look no further than O'Brien's in Allston tonight for a lineup loaded with catchy pop tunes from some incredible local acts. Dominic Florio, K.O., Kevin William and Jen Aldana will be livening-up the dive bar, presented by Boston Music Scene. Doors are at 8PM, $8, 18+. Just remember the number eight and you should be fine.
 

For more info about the show, click here.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

Swap out your snow boots and parkas for your dancin' shoes and head over to The Middle East Upstairs tomorrow night, February 18. Brooklyn's Leisure Cruise are coming through Cambridge/Boston, bringing with them a warm wave of electro-pop that should make everyone forget about the frozen tundra outside, if only for a little while. They'll be supported by locals Atlas Lab and Sundog, who is making the trip all the way from outer space (also known as New Orleans), according to his bio. The show kicks off at 8PM and is presented by Boston Music Scene. 18+, $10 at the door, proper ID required. For more info about the show, click here.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn) 

Footwerk is the DC Area Deli's Reader's Poll winner for 2014. A 6-piece pop outfit, combining all the parties into one big all night rager, Footwerk can't help but be hugely popular and on the cusp of breaking across the nation. They just released a new video for single "Eyes Low" through Vevo, and their debut album Casual Encounters is set for a Spring 2015 release. Check out their new video, and get to know the diverse group with a little Q+A. Click here for the interview, watch the new video below, and check out Footwerk's upcoming dates (including their record release show, Thursday, 4/23 at U St Music Hall). --Natan Press