In a recent Facebook post, NYC-based garage favorites Stove - the solo project of Ovlov's frontman Steve Hartlett - announced they would be beginning an "indefinite hiatus." Given Stove's sparse live schedule this announcement shouldn't come as a surprise, but still, we are sad to see them go. "Is Stupider," their 2015 full-length, was thoroughly enjoyed (and covered). We privately celebrated loud, funny, pissed-off tracks with imaginative titles like "Stupid," "Stupider," and "Stupidest" - heck, even Rolling Stones reviewed that record! Stove has been a fun and sonically rewarding project, but maybe instability is also something that deserves to be celebrated, it's part of nature's cycle: we are looking forward to Harlett's next project. The last two Stove shows will be at Baby's All Right on September 6th, and at Alphaville on September 24th. -Allie Miller 

Stove is the new solo project from Connecticut native, Ovlov member Steve Hartlett and other friends mostly based in Brooklyn. The band released its debut album Is Stupider in November of 2015 on Exploding in Sound, opffering a brand of slacker rock heavily influenced by '90s acts like Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement. Catchy melodies and memorable choruses abound in tracks like “Wet Food” and “Dusty Tree," and so does the tendency towards introspective and self-deprecating lyrics. “Dusty Weather” (streaming) is the cleanest sounding track on the album, deviating from the band signature sound, until the fuzzy burst of melody at the end. Stove will be playing Shea Stadium on July 4th. - John Honan

2015 has been good to Brooklyn LVL UP (pictured), the umpteenth band to prove that - nothingstanding what your teacher and parents said - you can be somewhat successful by either slacking or playing rock'n'roll music - they actually do both at once! The quartet is still riding on the heels of their "Three Songs" 7", which is available now via Run For Cover/Double Double Whammy, and have announced a February tour that includes dates with two other Brooklyn bands we dig: Florist and Stove. They'll be all playing Shea Stadium on 02.25. What a wonderful opportunity to stream a song per band! It looks like Florist is actually about to release a new album - preview single below.

Connecticut act Stove's guitar-fuzzed songs may fall under the genre of slacker rock revival but they emit a pure passion that is hardly lacksadaisical. On tracks such as "Lowt-Ide Fins" (streaming below) off its debut album 'Is Stupider,' singer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Hartlett coolly yet fiercely sets scenes of longing against walls of stormy strings and fast drums, a pining eking through the chaos. Like the subtly involving last track off Mac Demarco's 'Another One,' these songs move the listener with their very mellowness. Stove will release 'Is Stupider' this Friday (11.20) and will play The Outer Space in Hamden, CT on 11.23.- Zach Weg