Seraphina Lotkhamnga on August 8th, 2012

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Stars, “Backlines” – Stars offers the third track off their forthcoming album “The North” (due out Sept. 4 via ATO Records) and it’s more pop-rock than the electro-rock “The Theory of Relativity” or the shimmering “Hold On to Love When You Get It and Let Go When You Give It.” Amy Milan’s vocals serve as a strong anchor like it does in the neatly-structured pop of fan favorite “Ageless Beauty.” Oh, and those strings are sure nice. Stars play Oct. 18 at the Mayan.

Woods, “Size Meets the Sound” – Psychedelic folk-rockers Woods follows up “Cali in a Cup” with “Size Meets the Sound,” the second track off of their seventh studio album “Bend Beyond (due out Sept. 18 on Woodsist). The Brooklyn pseudo-jam band once again showcases their complex song structures. While both these singles sound as if they are on the brighter side, the lyrics prove quite the opposite. Woods plays tonight at the Echo with Peaking Lights.

Taken By Trees, “Dreams” – Victoria Bergsman, the former lead vocalist of the Concretes, delights indie-pop fans again under her solo moniker Taken By Trees. “Dreams” is available now as a 7-inch single on Secretly Canadian, and the bliss-riding album “Other Worlds” is slated for an Oct. 2 release. Taken By Trees DJs Aug. 24 as part of the PLAY MOCA series and plays Sept. 26 at Bootleg Bar with the Big Search.

Photo by Norman Wong