Haybaby, a self-described "sludge-pop" band from Brooklyn, are a force to be reckoned with on the DIY scene. Each song on their latest record, Blood Harvest, showcases the band's remarkable skill at controlling its dynamics, utilizing tension and release to devastating effect. Leslie Hong's vocals are saturated with a pop sensibility but ready to explode, providing an ear-catching contrast to the grunge-like dissonance of the rhythm section. The band just announced they'll perform two shows the same night this coming Thursday (06.08), at Our Wicked Lady and Tender Trap! Check out the video for "Yours" below. - Ethan Ames

The Indie Rock Year End Poll Results are finally in!

Overall Poll Winner (Combined Juror + Reader Poll Votes): Big Thief

This indie rock quartet graced the cover of our winter 2017 issue of The Deli, and offers catchy and melancholic indie rock that sticks to the soul. They hone a fuzzy, distorted rock sound with folky overtones and production that cleans it up enough to be endlessly listenable. 

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Overall Poll 2nd Place: Cut Worms

Cut Worms offers 60s pop revival reminiscent of anything from The Beach Boys to Gerry and the Pacemakers. With catchy, simple, and relatable tunes that satisfyingly dabble in the retro, Cut Worms knows how to catch an ear. 

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Reader Poll Second Place: Baby Acid 

Baby Acid is self-described as "grunge-gaze" and it's easy to understand why on a first listen. They blend the fuzzier, harder, heavier elements of grunge with the the reverb-soaked, sound walls and atmospheres of shoegaze to create an entire sonic space. 

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Here's the list of all the finalists with their Readers' Poll scores. As always, we'd like to thank all of our artists, jurors, and readers for participating in this year's polls.  Stay tuned and vote for all of our remaining genre polls! 

	Active Bird Community		1%	14 votes
	ArthurMoon		1%	21 votes
	Baby Acid		46%	637 votes
	Big Thief		1%	16 votes
	Citris		0%	5 votes
	Cloud Becomes Your Head		0%	6 votes
	Cut Worms		0%	1 vote
	Deal Casino		0%	1 vote
	Haybaby		0%	11 votes
	New Tarot		0%	3 votes
	Not Blood Paint		0%	5 votes
	Paris Monster		6%	87 votes
	Patio		1%	19 votes
	Prima		2%	31 votes
	Public Access TV		0%	6 votes
	Rachel Angel		35%	481 votes
	Wall		0%	3 votes
	Zula		0%	13 votes

Our friends at OhMyRockness know a thing or two about what band plays where in NYC, and every year in December they publish the list of the local artists that played the most shows in the past 12 month: it's the 'NYC's Hardest Working Bands of 2016' list. It must be noted that, since OMR's deals with "Indie Rock" live listings, you won't find any songwriters or DJs or funk bands in this list. It seems like all bands are guitar based too for some reason. Since we were in the mood, we created a Soundcloud playlist of these ten artists, check it out below!

Influenced by indie rock and post-hardcore, Brooklyn's Haybaby's sound also ventures into the noisy worlds of thrash and sludge metal. Whether lead singer/guitarist Leslie Hong is utilizing her hushed whispers or loud screams, she's always able to maintain a commanding presence and controlled delivery. Their recent EP Blood Harvest, released this past srping, starts off with three tense songs that put Hong’s quietly mesmerizing vocals on display. The final two tracks almost sound like a completely different band, but in a way that still fits in with the rest of the EP. “What It Is” features frantic drumming and abrasive, drowned out yelling, while the final track “Pig” relies on a slow, droning, and sludgy pace to forge one of the band’s most experimental moments. Haybaby will be playing Shea Stadium tonight (7/22)! - John Honan

Active since 2011, Brooklyn trio Haybaby has been able to forge a power trio sound that, although flirting with the indie guitar rock of the '90s, reorganizes sonic elements from that era in a way that's fully their own. Lead singer Leslie Hong's voice reignites our teenage crush on Kim Deal (ok, ok, we were in our early twenties...),  while the band's sparse but tense sound and intricate bass lines flirt with Fugazi from the 'Repeater' days, although without venturing in the DC band's typically post-hardcore guttural explosions. 'Doored' - the final track from their impressively consistent latest album 'Sleepy Kids' - features a gritty loud-quiet-loud production that is bound to be well received in a live setting. Speaking of which, on March 9th at Palisade the band is kicking off a month and a half long US tour, with a prolonged stop in Austin during SXSW.

We added this song to The Deli's playlist of Best punk/garage/slacker rock songs by emerging NYC artists - check it out!