Awesome New Republic, more commonly known these days as ANR, needs pretty much zero introduction to area music fans. It's been plying its brand of funky, spaced-out pop for nearly a decade here, and it's finally starting to gain velocity outside of South Florida. After last year scoring slavering compliments in the U.K. from the likes of the Guardian, the band recently finished another full-scale tour of the States, which saw it cross the country, from Philadelphia to San Diego. Adding to that increased attention is a recent seven-inch of the silky, atmospheric "It's Around You" for Neon Gold Records, a blog-darling imprint that's famously released early singles by the likes of Passion Pit, Marina and the Diamonds, and Ellie Goulding.