i am EXHAUSTED. i knew sxsw was big but jeeeeezus. at first i thought i’d listen to every rock, pop, electronic, alternative and experimental act, but i have to admit: i got lazy. quick. the ones without soundclips on the sxsw site i eventually (read: after 20 minutes) didn’t bother with. i also passed on a few with lame-sounding names. i’m sure i skipped over a ton of lovely bands but they did it to themselves, really. convenience, people! it’s the american way.
anyway, these are the bands i liked and would want to see if i was going to sxsw. alas, texas is far, and not particularly appealing (outside of austin). i also learned, through this tedious process, that british bands have sexier pictures. that’s not always a good thing. i had a funny example but i lost it. whoops.
go here for an exhaustive list of all the bands and performers being showcased.
bands i like(d) best:
the acorn - lullaby (ft. casey mecija) // myspace
recommended if you like: the folksier side of the arcade fire...though this song is nothing like that.
akron/family - phenomena // website
riyl: psychedelic folk, the archivist
a weather - spiders, snakes // website
riyl: hushed male/female vocals, rhodes pianos
bedroom walls - no wedding cake // myspace
riyl: stars, belaire
bellafea - thornbird // myspace
riyl: des ark, liza kate
(fun fact: they're the reason ambulette changed its name from bella lea!)
black moth super rainbow - sun lips // website
***highly recommended: i've been listening to sun lips nonstop since summer and it hasn't gotten old.
riyl: caribou, psychedelic goodness
the blow - parentheses // myspace
riyl: miranda july's short stories
***highly rec'd: if you haven't heard of the blow, step out from under that rock once in awhile, wouldja? plus, they're from portland. yay!
the cansecos - raised by wolves // website
riyl: chromeo
chromeo - fancy footwork // website
riyl: michael jackson pre-1990, dancing like it's 1999
destroyer - foam hands // myspace
riyl: the new pornographers and the solo work of its members
(painter in your pocket was my favorite song of 2006)
the dimes - delilah (no, not hey there delilah, silly!)
riyl: les savy fav
the dodos - fools // myspace
this song has been in my head nonstop for the past three days. it's posted a few posts below. everyone needs to hear it, so checkit fools.
duchess says - black flag // website
riyl: the 80s, tom cruise movies
eagle seagull - i'm sorry but i'm beginning to hate your face // myspace
riyl: arcade fire, wolf parade, modest mouse
edison glass - all our memories // website
riyl: at the drive-in, dudes with pretty voices (wait for the chorus)
fanfarlo - fire escape // website
riyl: "everything but country". you fucker.
georgie james - need your needs // website
***highly rec'd: dc locals laura burhenn and john davis (ex-q and not u) make the catchiest pop ever. this song is one of my faves.
riyl: the beatles, laura burhenn, girl/boy vocals
ghosthustler - only me to trust // myspace
riyl: the nintendo power glove!
hello seahorse! - won't say anything // website
riyl: camera obscura
islands - i feel evil (creeping in) (live) // website
***highly rec'd: finally new islands! they're such a fun band to see live since they're all so cute and multicultural.
riyl: the unicorns...was that too easy?
the kills - u.r.a. fever // website
riyl: this one reminds me of garbage, except if i actually liked them.
land of talk - speak to me bones // myspace
riyl: pj harvey, pinback, ambulette
jens lekman - the opposite of hallelujah // website
***highly rec'd: he’s probably the most adorable thing ever. his songwriting skills are superb. and the man knows how to make a damn good mix. every boy and girl i know that knows (of) jens is totes crushing.
riyl: poignant lyrics, sweden
lymbyc systym - fall bicycle // website
riyl: the letter y, post-rock
minipop - like i do // website
riyl: emily haines, lady voices (y'know, just in general)
mom - skipping stones // myspace
riyl: babbling brooks, pretty instrumentals
mystery palace - stepchild // website
riyl: understated vocals, blips and bleeps
nancy - doe sangue // myspace
riyl: st. vincent
nik freitas - sun down // website
riyl: jon brion, a little bit o’ cheese
pig out - disco bag (radio edit) // myspace
riyl: architecture in helsinki, lcd soundsystem
pterodactyl - esses // website
riyl: papercuts, panda bear, the alphabet
the russian futurists - let's get ready to crumble // website
***highly rec'd: the russian futurists are one of my FAVORITES. download this song. you won't regret it. i used to just drive around listening to paul simon (the song) on repeat.
riyl: panda bear, peter gabriel
say hi - northwestern girls // website
riyl: dirty liberals (like me!)
simian mobile disco - hustler // website
***higly rec'd: their stuff is amazing. the video is sexy but objectifies women. actually, both videos for it do.
solid gold - bible thumper // myspace
riyl: quiverfull.com
spiral beach - made of stone // website
riyl: land of talk, surf guitar, leopard print
the subjects - the hounds of war // website
riyl: adolescent uncertainty (uh...that's not a band. just so you know.)
torngat - you could be // website
riyl: trumpets, quirky instrumental pop (a la jon brion)
vampire weekend - cape cod kwassa kwassa // website
***highly recommended: if only this song. it's great.
riyl: paul simon, pitchfork
the western civilization - love struck angel // myspace
riyl: camera obscura...a lot.
white hinterland - dreaming of the plum trees // website
riyl: m.ward, regina spektor, charlie brown
woodhands - i wasn't made for fighting // myspace
riyl: the rapture, nerdy white guys
AND FINALLY!!!!
yellow fever - hellfire // myspace
riyl: stereolab, the velvet underground
whew. that was a long one. but i have to add: this lady wins best press photo, hands down.
amazing.
1 comment:
great post, yay for new indie music--
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