The Mercury Stars, Demo

Music like this restores my faith in indie-rock — DIY rock with interesting vocals and straight-ahead, simple songs. On songs like “To Be Down,” “BeKind,” and “Options,” New York City’s Mercury Stars mix their New Wave-meets-post-rock stylings into some weird cross between Echo & The Bunnymen, New Order, and a lighter version of Queens of the Stone Age. It’s an odd combination but one that works wonders — The Mercury Stars’ four-song EP is one of the most refreshing things listeners will hear this year.