Boston neo-psychedelic/indie rock trio Apollo Sunshine take conventional songs and filter them through a pop underground sound that's reminiscent of Georgia's Elephant 6 collective, Cheap Trick, and the Flaming Lips. Comprised of vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Jesse Gallagher, guitarist/vocalist Sam Cohen, and drummer/percussionist Jeremy Black, the group released its debut, Katonah, in 2003 on the Spin Art label, followed by an eponymous sophomore effort in 2005. Three years later, Apollo Sunshine returned with Shall Noise Upon, which was released on Headless Heroes.

San Francisco-based rock band Big Light first emerged in 2007 as a vehicle for aspiring singer/songwriter/guitarist Fred Torphy to get his songs into the world. The band would spend the next three years honing their sound and performing around the West Coast relentlessly. Now hailed as one of the fiercest young rock bands on the Bay Area scene with a growing national buzz, Big Light released its debut full length album in March, Animals In Bloom, through reapandsow.

With Animals In Bloom, Big Light has crafted a record that is catchy enough to land on the radio but adventurous enough to engage those who refuse to listen to it. A guitar-rock album at heart, Big Light took 10 of its best songs and used the studio to experiment, in some cases changing tracks drastically. Headphone junkies and audiophiles themselves, the band created a true “listening experience” that never feels fake or dishonest.