Lest the rest of the country think we're merely home to indie rock goodness like Candy Claws and sugary sweet electro-pop confections like 3OH!3 or Breathe Carolina, Allegaeon's new album, Fragments of Form & Function, issued two weeks ago on the storied Metal Blade Records imprint, should help dispel any such unfounded notions.

Whether or not these Park Hill natives rode the short bus to school is irrelevant, because there is no doubt that these crazy bastards are the ones your mom told you not to play with. This eclectic group of MCs, producers and DJs use Shortbus as their outlet for their outlandish and truthful expression.

Phil Emerson

Born in Aurora and raised in Denver, H*Wood caught the attention of Rodney "Darkchild" Jenkins, a songwriter/producer who's written for Lady Gaga, Beyonce and a host of other pop stars. And right now, Jerkins is staking H*Wood, who just finished a new mixtape 52/80, that's being hosted exclusively by LA Leakers.

H*Wood just dropped a new track with DJ Bedz featuring Amanda Hawkins called "Colorado Girls," a take off of Katy Perry's "California Gurls," from the forthcoming Taste of Colorado mixtape. But he also has a track called "Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)," that's quickly gaining tons of momentum.

Remember a couple years ago when the Young Coyotes first hit the scene and the almost deafening insta-buzz that followed? Meet Tennis, this year's Young Coyotes -- not to mention your new favorite band.

The similarities here are a little uncanny: Like that band, this group is a scaled down operation that arrived fully formed and seemingly out of nowhere. What's more, Tennis is instantly likable, and the primary attraction of its vibrant pop sound is simple yet utterly delectable melodies and harmonies.

Looking for something to smooth out your Friday and ease you into the weekend? Oh, man, look no further. We've seriously got just the thing. Glass Gold, the brand new album from the Greg Harris Vibe Quintet is as easy on the ears as Brooklyn Decker is on the eyes. Ooh wee! The album ambles out of the gate elegantly with "Northside Hunter," steered ably by Venus Cruz's vocals, which recalls the burnished, bewitching beauty of Maysa, and comes on enticingly like the smoothest seductress you've ever laid eyes on, making love to your ears in the poshest supper club imaginable. Catch the Greg Harris Vibe Quintet's CD release show next Friday at Dazzle.

Makeout Point is a relatively new Denver band you can call post-punk because it's literally true: At least two of the four members used to be in hardcore bands. They've settled down now with fuzz pedals and melody, and you can hear the lead single from the upcoming 7-inch Night Moves exclusively in the video above.

Guitarist Anthony J Morocco recommends headphones, and that is incredibly sage advice. This is a song best enjoyed when it's surrounding you, when you can appreciate the way that second guitar line comes in like a nearing beacon. Lo-fi gets its charm from the way it feels alive, and this is what it should sound like.

Being a junior in high school is all about experiencing things for the first time -- your first girlfriend, your first kiss, your first car. But seventeen-year-old Cherry Creek High School junior Zach Heckendorf is clearly not your typical high schooler. While his peers are still trying to figure out what the hell they're going to do when they grow up, Heckendorf's already doing it.

The highlights of his junior year have thus far included opening for Tea Leaf Green at the Ogden, the John Butler Trio at the Fox Theatre and a slot warming up for the much hyped new band One Eskimo at the Soiled Dove a couple of weeks ago for KBCO's invite-only show -- all gigs he played at the personal invitation of the folks at AEG Live.

Splendid day for new music in the Backbeat cave. Just splendid. We just had a chance to listen the brand new album from the Foot. Whoo boy, is it dandy. Daddy like! Not as big a fan of the band's moniker, though. Seriously. Not to be a hater, but c'mon! Really? The Foot? That's the best they could come up with?

Fortunately, the dudes put much more time, thought and effort into their music, which is clear even just hearing the first few songs. Primary Colors, the bands latest effort, available for free download for the next few weeks, is utterly delightful.

These three University of Denver grads clearly have some chops, which is immediately evident from first listen to the tasty guitar work and intermittent drum fills on the album. And that's to say nothing of vocals, melodies which are quite tuneful, bolstered by harmonies that are just this side of swell. The trio's taut sound is firmly rooted in pop, with glints of prog and jazz.

Take a listen after the jump, and catch The Foot tonight at the Gothic with Kinetix for DU's annual mustache bash.

As it turns out, the above Miley cover featuring members of Boulder Acoustic Society is a sign of things to come. Danielle Anderson is currently in the finishing stages of her third album and it will be nothing like the others. Details after the jump.

Maybe that's not quite it -- we hear there are some shady practices going on related to fudging crime statistics. But if the output of Act So Big Forest, a label based in Fort Fun, is any indication of the city's overall artistic vision and general goodwill, sign us the hell up.

The Act So Big Forest band you're most likely to be familiar with is Candy Claws, who got some international attention for last year's In The Dream of the Sea Life. That title is exactly how the album sounds. And it's not like every band on Act So Big Forest is working on semi-ambient visions of nature. But a lot of them are.