The U & U Show 319!

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Mikal Cronin : I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) : Aquarium Drunkard Lagniappe Sessions (2013)

-          Proclaimers' Cover

-          2nd album, MCII, just came out. S/t solo debut out in 2011.

-          Also in a surf-punk band called the Moonhearts & Ty Segall's backing band, just like Ty's in Mikal's band.

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Wise Blood : Universe Is Blessed : id (2013)

-          Debut full length.

-          Debut EP, These Wings, was out in 2011.

-          Impressive blend of r&b/rap/singing vocals, drums, and samples.

Official Site : Facebook

The U & U Show 318!

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Mikal Cronin : Piano Mantra : MCII (2013)

-          S/t solo debut out in 2011.

-          Album is produced by fellow west coaster, Ty Segall.

-          Also in a surf-punk band called the Moonhearts & Ty Segall's backing band, just like Ty's in Mikal's band.

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Sunset Rubdown : Us Ones In Between : Shut Up I Am Dreaming… (2006)

-          2nd, of 4, albums.

-          Their 4th, 2009's Dragonslayer, was easily one of the best that year.

-          One of Spencer Krug’s many bands.

-          His Latest project, Moonface, had my favorite album of 2012. Heartbreaking Bravery.

-          New solo piano Moonface album in the fall of 2013.

-          Check out one of the most powerfully touching videos for this song HERE.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

The U & U Show 317! New Favorite Live Band

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. : Nothing But Our Love (DayTrotter Session) (2010)

-          Original is on their debut full length, It’s A Corporate World.

-          Their 2010 debut EP garnered them a lot of good reviews.

-          They have just overtaken the Hold Steady and Titus Andronicus as my favorite live band. This is the live recording that is the closest to their smile-inducing energy.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Cold Specks : Steady : I Predict A Graceful Expulsion (2012)

-          Full length debut

-          Powerful rough female vocalist.

-          An awesome video for the track 'Holland' can be found HERE.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine : @ColdSpecks

The U & U's SXSW 2013 Preview Spotify Playlists

For all you prepping for your Austin adventure and those ready to live vicariously, I present a tiered rundown of most of the SXSW '13 bands you should have on your radar. There are 192 bands presented here and I didn't even include the notable rap and comedian performers, but I had to draw a line somewhere, right? We start with the bands I'm most hyped about, and then work our way down my scale of desire. Finishing with the bands that I've been bombarded about the most, but I just am not feeling for one reason or another. You may dig though! 

Tier #1 : I'll Kill Myself If I Don't See...



Tier #2 : No Excuses...



This one wasn't on Spotify, but needs mentioning: 



Tier #3 : Only The Most Legit Excuses...



Tier #4 : If At All Possible...



Tier #5 : It'd Be Nice...



Tier #6 : Happily Charge Your Phone To...



Tier #7 : I'm Supposed To Desire These, But...



I say time and time again that this is the greatest event in music and I only make that claim more passionately every year. There are plenty of familiar faces here, but I hope you found some new-to-you bands to add to your rotation. Thanks!

The U & U Show 304!

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Foxygen : On Blue Mountain : We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic (2013)

-          2nd full length.

-          Debut album that was just rereleased after Jagjaguwar signed them in 2011.

-          Funkier Rolling Stones feel.

-          CMJ 2012

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine : @FoxygenTheBand

VietNam : Kitchen Kongas : A.merican D.ream (2013)

-          Forthcoming 2nd album

-          Brooklyn soulful, bluesy classic psych rock

Facebook : SoundCloud  

Nightlands : 300 Clouds : Forget the Mantra (2010)

-          Debut full length
-          2nd full length is coming soon

-          Act on Secretly Canadian, sister label of Jagjaguwar.

Official Site

Youth Lagoon : Dropla : Wondrous Bughouse (2013)

-          Forthcoming 2nd album.

-          Trevor Powers recorded the debut at 20 yrs old

-          Beachy (at times), spacey indie pop.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Christopher Owens : A Broken Heart : Lysandre (2012)

-          Solo debut from the former leader of Girls.

-          I've loved his solo releases far more than his stuff with Girls… same goes for Girls; drummer's side project PAPA.

-          This track has a 60's folk rock vibe to it. Very pleasant track

HypeMachine : @Chri55yBaby

Fidlar : Stoked and Broke : Fidlar (2013)

-          Debut full length.

-          Rough garage rick with a bit of surf rock.

-          So glad to see these guys getting a bit of publicity.

-          FIDLAR = Fuck It Dog Life’s A Risk.

-          SXSW 2012

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine

Ty Segall & Mikal Cronin : Drop Dead Baby : Reverse Shark Attack (2009)

-          One of two rereleased collaborative albums.

-          San Fran friends powering the Psych rock scene.

Ty’s Official Site : Mikal’s BandCamp

Fuzz : This Time I Got A Reason : This Time I Got A Reason 7” (2013)

-          2 song single.

-          Latest project from the ever-prolific Ty Segall

-          Heavier psych blues sound here than his usual style.

Stream Fuzz on YouTube

Guadalupe Plata : El Blues Es Mi Amigo : Guadalupe Plata (2013)

-          2^nd full length.

-          Spanish band.

-          Incredibly enjoyable Black Keys/White Stripes feel here.

BandCamp : BandCamp : HypeMachine

Akron/Family : Last Year : Set 'em Wild, Set 'em Free (2009)

-          5^th album

-          Forthcoming 7^th album, Sub Verses, was just announced.

-          Stream their first single, No-Room, on their official site.

Official Site

Wooden Wand : Supermoon (The Sounding Line) : Blood Oaths of the New Blues (2013)

-          James Jackson Toth project's forthcoming album.

-          This song will be on my best of 2013, and I know I'm saying that in January.

-          Last release was 2011's Wooden Wand and the Briarwood Virgins.

-          Also released music as WAND after his band left him.

-          SXSW 2012

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Wymond Miles : Pale Moon : Under the Pale Moon (2012)

-          Debut full length

-          One of many superb acts on Sacred Bones Records.

BandCamp

Tom Waits : Potter's Field : Foreign Affairs (1977)

-          4^th full length

-          Album features Bette Midler on one track.

Official Site

The Unknown & Unheard Show 218! (mp3)

Stream & Download The U & U Show 218 Right Here, Right Now! (Download) Cave Singers – Falls – No Witch (2010) - 3rd album. 1st release with always out-doing itself, Jagjaguwar records. - The raspy vocals here are worth the price of admission. - Their previous work has had me dying to get my hands on this, long-talked about, 3rd album. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Akron/Family – Another Sky - S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT (2011) - forthcoming album - They have an enjoyably off-kilter, layered brand of folk, but this album is supposed to be a touch more electronic. - Sufjan Stevens might be their closest musical relative... that's good lineage if you ask me! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Listening Party – Campanology – I Was Young (2010) - One of my favorite bands and they snuck an album out on me! - Incredibly catchy band from western Canada. - This band does not tour near enough! - One of the most energetic and inspiring live acts I've ever seen. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Maps & Atlases - The Charm - Perch Patchwork (2010) - Debut full length, but have a handful of EPs out. - Chicago experimental folk outfit. - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine King Tuff - Freak When I'm Dead - Was Dead (2008) - Debut album - out of the Vermont - psychadelic/powerpop/rock… a little like t rex vocals - Playing SXSW Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Middle Brother – Middle Brother – Middle Brother (2011) - Forthcoming debut from this folk super group. - Due out in March - Features members of Deer Tick, Delta Spirit and Dawes. - Playing SXSW Official Site : HypeMachine Lord Huron – We Went Wild – Into the Sun EP (2010) - 2nd EP - Rich, easy going tropical feel to this track. - Very reminiscent of Fleet Foxes. - Full length debut is supposed to be out this year. - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : HypeMachine Kurt Vile – Ghost Town - Smoke Ring For My Halo (2011) - Forthcoming LP. - dreamy pop rock with vocals that bring up thoughts of Devendra Banhart - like Iron & Wine, cut his teeth with lo-fi recordings… this shows up more on ‘God is Saying…’ - Side project from The War on Drugs' lead guitarist. - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine King Charles - Love Lust - Love Lust (2009) - Debut album (I think) - Got big in the UK and now branching out further - Quirky style of singer/songwriter that immediately made me think of Devendra Banhart. - Playing SXSW. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Psychic Friend - Once a Servant (2011) - Debut single. - Piano pop track. - Led by former Imperial Teen member, Will Schwartz. - Tricky to Google… try it! HypeMachine The Head and the Heart - Down In the Valley - The Head and the Heart (2011) - Debut album. - Folk rock that amps up into something like Mumford & Sons who exploded last year. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood - Brother's Blood (2009) - 5th album - Playing SXSW - Dark and mellow to start then explodes with energy like a fiery Death Cab track might. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine BONUS HOCKEY! Megafaun - Solid Ground - Gather, Form & Fly (2009) - 2nd album - members of this act were in DeYarmond Edison with members of Bon Iver. - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Lia Ices (Featuring Justin Vernon) - Daphne - Grown Unknown (2011) - 3rd release - Pop and a little alt-country sound to her music. - Jagjaguwar artist. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Kurt Vile – Freeway - Constant Hitmaker (2008) - Debut album. - dreamy pop rock with vocals that bring up thoughts of Devendra Banhart - like Iron & Wine, cut his teeth with lo-fi recordings… this shows up more on ‘God is Saying…’ - Side project from The War on Drugs' lead guitarist. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Okkervil River – Unless Its Kicks – The Stage Names (2007) - Latest album from is out this year. L - Led by Will Sheff - Debut album out in 1998, Bedroom EP… Debut full length out in 1999, Stars Too Small To Use - Playing SXSW! Pretty pumped about this one! Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Menomena – Rotten Hell - Friend and Foe (2007) - 3rd album… 4th album, Mines, was out in 2010 - Lackthereof and Ramona Falls are side projects that have had releases since the last Menomena album - Ultra-creative song writing. No one comes close to the sound they make. Layers and layers of instruments and vocals. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends – Sound of Silver (2005) - 2nd album of 3 from the James Murphy led outfit. - Band known for successfully tapping into many different genres: dance, rock, indie, dicso. - They are responsible for what many critics consider some of the greatest songs of the past decade: All My Friends and Someone Great. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

The Unknown & Unheard Show 217! More SXSW! (Right Click to Download)

Stream & Download The U & U Show 217 Right Here, Right Now! (Download) The Forms - Fire To The Ground (ft. Matt Berninger) - Derealization (2011) - Forthcoming EP - 2 full length albums out already. - This song features the National's lead singer Matt Berninger. - Playing SXSW Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Josh Ritter - Come and Find Me - Golden Age of Radio (2001) - 2nd album - has progressed into one of the best folk singer/songwriters out there. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Ezra Furman & The Harpoons – Hard Time in a Terrible Land - Mysterious Power (2011) - 3rd album - One of the most talented and refreshing artists going. - Playing SXSW Official Site : Myspace : Amazon : HypeMachine : DayTrotter Grouplove – Colours – Grouplove EP (2010) - Debut EP - Modest Mouse and Polyphonic Spree had a baby band… not really, but that’s what this sounds like. - SXSW performer. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Akron/Family – Say What You Want To - S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT (2011) - forthcoming album - They have an enjoyably off-kilter, layered brand of folk, but this album is supposed to be a touch more electronic. - Sufjan Stevens might be their closest musical relative... that's good lineage if you ask me! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine J Mascis - Is It Done - Several Shades of Why (2011) - Forthcoming solo album. - Dinosaur Jr. leader. - Eddie Vedder-esque vocals. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Eastern Conference Champions - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (Single) (2010) - Bob Dylan cover - Set to release their first full length in 4 years in April, ‘Speak-ahhh.’ - This song shows their lighter side, but they also amp up the rock significantly at times. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Floating Action - Dead Reckoning - 2 albums out plus 1 LP. - This is an original track done for weathervanmusic.org - Go to their site for free tunes! - Playing SXSW. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Holy Sons - The Feral Kid - Decline of the West (2006) - debut album - Spare and sinister sounding tracks - Playing SXSW. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Generationals – Greenleaf - Actor-Caster (2011) - Forthcoming album. - Louisianan Band - Indie pop - Great 2010 SXSW DayTrotter Session - Playing SXSW again this year. Official Site : MySpace : Bandcamp : HypeMachine : DayTrotter Session The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow - Barton Hollow (2010) - Debut full length - Range from catchy upbeat folk rock to spare simple more traditional folk duets. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Dreamend - My Old Brittle Bones - So I Ate Myself, Bite By Bite (2010) - 5th album, 6th out this year. - A side project from a member of the off-the-charts-out-there psychedelic band Black Moth Super Rainbow. - Chicago band. - Lush, layered shoegaze folk. - Playing SXSW Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Indigo Tree - leavingtimebehind - Blanik (2010) - 2nd album - Heavy distorted guitars that make you think of the Japandroids. - Playing SXSW. Official Site : BandCamp : HypeMachine Fang Island - Life Coach - Fang Island (2010) - 2nd album - They describe their music as 'everyone high fiving everyone.' - Very high energy, frenetic pop/rock Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Geographer - Kites - Animal Shapes EP (2010) - latest release - There aren't many out there but this is another band that puts off a sound very reminiscent of Yeasayer and Bravestation. - Playing SXSW Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine BONUS U & U!!! (No album art, deal with it!) The Features - The Temporary Blues - Some Kind Of Salvation (2009) - 2nd full length - Debut out in 2004. Released two other EP's in there - Kings of Leon fans can definitely find something here. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Diamond Rings - All Yr Songs - Special Affections (2010) - debut release - Solo project from John O'Regan, the lead singer of the D'Urbervilles (they have a fantastic cover of Timber Timbre's 'Magic Arrow'!) - Reminds me a lot of the leading indie pop bands... Belle & Sebastian, Bishop Allen, Etc. - Don't watch the video for this song... MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Franz Nicolay - This Is Not a Pipe - Luck & Courage (2010) - Forthcoming 2nd full length - Former keyboardist of the Hold Steady Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Family Portrait – Will You Be There? (Michael Jackson Cover) - mellow lo-fi 60’s surf feel to this one - Don’t mistake this for a tribute to that creepy weirdo, this cover is quality. - Crazy homemade video to this track with a wide assortment of flamethrowers Myspace : HypeMachine Gayngs - Cry - Relayted (2010) - Debut from project featuring Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, members of Megafaun and Solid Gold - Mellow funky style of pop/soul Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine J Roddy Walston and the Business – Don’t Break the Needle - J Roddy Walston and the Business (2010) - 2nd album - Baltimore band - Rock and roll feel to some of the tracks - Makes me think of Dr. Dog here. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine JEFF the Brotherhood - The Tropics - Heavy Days (2010) - 3rd album - Jake & Jamin Orrall - Kraut punk rock. Harder, eclectic rock. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Ha Ha Tonka – Usual Suspects – Death of a Decade (2011) - 3rd album - RIYL AA Bondy and the Avett Brothers Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine