Inaugural Breastival A great cause all proceeds go to Save a Breast Foundation and lineup to match. Few in the Carolinas command a stage like Aimee Argote, the driving force behind the Durham-based aggro-folk machine, Des Ark, now back as a three-piece and featuring Maple Stave drummer Evan Rowe; Charlotte's Yardwork adopts the strength-in-numbers approach to pack its melodies with punk-gospel enthusiasm, and is recording their debut full-length; and locals Zoe Vette & the Revolvers have a new one, Trash Is the New Glamour, which sums things up nicely. Also featured Black Lashes, and Shiprocked's Lilith Deville and Bethamphetamine. Snug Harbor (John Schacht)
My Education Leave the planet for a spell without leaving your headphones. Austin's My Education weaves a swirl of spacey, jazzy, somber instrumentals that flutter and float while building layers of mood sounds. It's ambient and cinematic where the music soars but doesn't pound eardrums and sways the listener to someplace cool and hip. The track "Spirit of Peace" is a masterwork of subtlety. The Milestone (Samir Shukla)