The Best of the Unknown & Unheard 2009! Part 2!

Stream & Download The U & U Show 160 Right Here, Right Now! (MediaFire) Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – The Sound – Summer of Fear (2009) - 2nd album - TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone and Grizzly Bear’s Christopher Bear continue to lend a hand to his work - His self-titled debut is well worth your time and reason enough to give this album a listen as well. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : Download on RCRDLBL We Were Promised Jetpacks – It's Thunder and It's Lightning – These Four Walls (2009) - Debut album - Scottish band with a very similar sound to Frightened Rabbit on the mellower tracks but seem a bit more aggressive when they amp up their sound. - This week’s track that is lodged in my head. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Todd Snider – Money, Compliments, Publicity – The Excitement Plan (2009) - 8th studio album - The Devil You Know was best/most commercial to date… this is working on surpassing that. - Peace Queer came out before this and was obnoxiously political… this album, thankfully, shows a return to what got him where he is. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Thao Nguyen & the Get Down Stay Downs - Body - Know Better, Learn Faster (2009) - new album - if you are unfamiliar with Thao you need to correctly that quickly - Her last album, We Brave Bee Stings And All, was highlighted by the track 'Bag of Hammers." - Female M. Ward? + some Modest Mouse-y guitars Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Local Natives – Airplanes - Gorilla Manor (2009) - debut album - Check out their DayTrotter Session Here! Official Site : MySpace : HypeMachine Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – 40 Day Dream – Up From Below (2009) - debut album… also on their debut EP, out earlier this year. - Big folk band that makes deeply layered songs - Arcade Fire + Margot & the Nuclear So & Sos? MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Decemberists – The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid – The Hazards of Love (2009) - Brand new album - Colin Meloy, leader, said he had initially envisioned this album as a musical. - distinct folk band that at times brings in some Jethro Tull sounds - Headlined the NPR music stage at SXSW - This track (and album) has some of the biggest, fattest riffs that they’ve ever put out. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Builders and the Butchers – Golden and Green – Salvation Is A Deep Dark Well (2009) - Sophomore album out June 16th - From the previews of this album I’ve heard, they’ve really stepped up the sounds and progressions… and that’s saying a lot if you are familiar with their debut. - Get excited about this album! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : DayTrotter Session Timber Timbre – We’ll Find Out – Timber Timbre (2009) - 2nd album, debut was out in 2007 ‘Medicinals’ - M. Ward + Bon Iver + Tom Waits’ ‘What’s He Building In There?’ - Eerily cool spooky tracks… slogan on Myspace is ‘Creep on creepin’ on.’ - Toronto duo Label Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Brendan Benson - Feel Like Taking You Home – My Old, Familiar Friend (2009) - forthcoming album, first since Raconteurs work - out 8-18-09 - for those not near and dear to his previous solo work you should be able to at least clearly hear his contribution to the Raconteurs’ sound. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Eels – Prizefighter – Hombre Lobo (2009) - Newest album - Translates to ‘Werewolf’ - There is a really interesting look into Mark Everett’s past on a NOVA on PBS, ‘Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives’ - This is the next album on my must have list. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Strange Boys – This Girls Taught Me a Dance – The Strange Boys & Girls Club (2009) - debut full length - in the same vein as the Black Lips… lo-fi mash-up of 60’s/70’s rock, old r&b and punk. MySpace : HypeMachine Lord Cut-Glass – Big Time Teddy – Lord Cut-Glass (2009) - Debut from former member of The Delgados - Scottish accent really adds to why I like this band. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Joseph Childress - Leaving the Barren Ground - Split (Tower) 7" (2009) - split effort with White White Quilt - recorded inside an empty water tower. - band members added to the percussion by throwing their bodies into the sides of the water tower. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

The Unknown & Unheard Show 136!!!

Stream & Download The U & U Show 136 Right Here, Right Now! Matt & Kim – Don’t Slow Down – Grand (2009) - 2nd album, debut out in 2006, Self-titled. - 2nd Best Band at Pitchfork! - keyboard & drums that sound like much more than that… sum of the parts - Big indie rock sounds without a doubt… the sound of the vocals scream it. Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Yeasayer – Red Cave – All Hour Cymbals (2006) - Debut album - Best Band of Pitchfork By Far! - Immensely layered quintet - Played a few new track that have me pumped for early 2010 Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Modest Mouse – History Sticks To Your Feet – Perpetual Motion Machine (2009) - Single preceding their forthcoming EP - They’ve released about an album’s worth of music this year but have just spread it out… a lot of it is pretty damn good too! Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Clues – Crows – Clues (2009) - debut album - Alden Penner (The Unicorns) and Bredan Reed (Arcade Fire Alum) - doesn’t really sound like a combination of those two bands which is pretty cool, I think. - This track has an off-kilter meanness like modest mouse. Official Site : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Lord Cut-Glass – Look After Your Wife – Lord Cut-Glass (2009) - Debut from former member of The Delgados - Scottish accent really adds to why I like this band. - Stream the entire album on Spinner this week. Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine The Thermals – Returning To The Fold - The Body, The Blood, The Machine (2006) - 3rd full length…. Latest is 2009’s ‘Now We Can See’ - playing Pitchfork Fest - Portland band who can thank the Death Cab for Cutie crew for their start. Ben Gibbard made Sub-Pop recognize them, and Chris Walla produced their 2002 debut. - Fairly aggressive alt-pop punk Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Ponytail – Beg Waves – Ice Cream Spiritual (2008) - 2nd album - Missed this band completely, but after seeing them live I am totally sold on them - The lead singer’s shrill unique way of singing makes her more of an instrument than a reciter of lyrics. - Biggest pleasant surprise of the weekend. Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Japandroids – Young Hearts Spark Fire – Post-Nothing (2009) - Debut, critical praise is pouring down on this album. - raucous post punk rock - huge energy and distortion. You’ll want to see this song live and as loud as possible Official Site : Myspace : Stream on HypeMachine Monsters of Folk! – Say Please – Monsters of Folk! (2009) - Debut from the M. Ward, Conor Oberst & Jim James - Not ground-breaking, but as quality as you’d expect from these names. - Album is out in September - Download this song for free right now on their site! Official Site Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy – Childish Prodigy (2009) - 2nd album, debut was ‘Constant Hitmaker’ - 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…’ Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Deer Tick – Friday XIII – Born On Flag Day (2009) - 2nd album - Rambling folk duet. A bit of Dylan comin through Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine The Lonely H – Out West – Concrete Class (2008) - debut full length - chugging anthemic beat and vocals with candied-up guitar highlights - Reminds me of Les Savy Fav a bit. - Sometimes you just want something familiar with big fat electric guitar chords. Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Brendan Benson - Feel Like Taking You Home – My Old, Familiar Friend (2009) - forthcoming album, first since Raconteurs work - out 8-18-09 - for those not near and dear to his previous solo work you should be able to at least clearly hear his contribution to the Raconteurs’ sound. Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Florence and the Machine – Falling – Lungs (2009) - Debut album - UK band highlighted mainly by their lead singer. - Starts as an extremely delicate song, but slowly grows and expands. - This song might not be called ‘Falling.’ It’s definitely not listed as that on the album, hmmm… Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine

The Unknown & Unheard Show 134!!!

Stream & Download The Unknown & Unheard Show 134 Right Here, Right Now! Clues – Cave Mouth – Clues (2009) - debut album - Alden Penner (The Unicorns) and Bredan Reed (Arcade Fire Alum) - doesn’t really sound like a combination of those two bands which is pretty cool, I think. Official Site : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Sunset Rubdown – Nightingale/December Song – Dragonslayer (2009) - 4th album… out June 23rd - Eagerly awaiting this album - One of Spencer Krug’s many bands - Playing Jake’s in Bloomington July 8th - This album has some epic sounding tracks. - Longest song on the show by 56 seconds! Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Frightened Rabbit – Floating In the Forth – Midnight Organ Fight (2008) - 2nd album - This band had a lot of hype from the start, and that combined with a ‘far from album best’ first single pushed me away at first, but the deeper I dug into this album the more I was blown away - This is the best track on the album and its unedited form isn’t the most radio friendly song. - Scottish accent stands out, but there seems to be something more than that to his vocals and make them truly unique. Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Lord Cut-Glass – Big Time Teddy – Lord Cut-Glass (2009) - Debut from former member of The Delgados - Scottish accent really adds to why I like this band. - Stream the entire album on Spinner this week. Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine The Builders and the Butchers – Down In The Hole – Salvation Is A Deep Dark Well (2009) - Sophomore album out June 16th - From the previews of this album I’ve heard, they’ve really stepped up the sounds and progressions… and that’s saying a lot if you are familiar with their debut. - Such a powerful track! - Get excited about this album! - Playing the Volrath August 6th Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine : DayTrotter Session Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Lien On Your Dreams – Baby 81 (2007) - 4th and most recent major release… - seen them the past two times in Indy and they play long energetic set with a mixing of crowd requests - last year they put out a ‘statement record’ ‘The Effects of 333’ of very odd distortion and noise to speak out for their originality. I think it back fired, it’s pretty unlistenable and garnered harsh reviews Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Dead Heart Bloom – Love Like Lies – Oh Mercy (2008) - 2nd of 3 2008 Eps - All are free to download on his site. - Two full lengths show a wide range of talents, spanning from heavy dark BRMC/NIN-like songs to bright acoustic folk. Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine The Thermals – A Pillar of Salt - The Body, The Blood, The Machine (2006) - 3rd full length…. Latest is 2009’s ‘Now We Can See’ - playing Pitchfork Fest - Portland band who can thank the Death Cab for Cutie crew for their start. Ben Gibbard made Sub-Pop recognize them, and Chris Walla produced their 2002 debut. - Fairly aggressive alt-pop punk Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine WAND – Eyes – Hard Knox (2009) - 2nd album from the leader of Wooden Wand, James Jackson Toth - this album is a result of a pretty crappy year. Set out on a really long tour on which his musical partner and wife left him… as well as his band. Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Kurt Vile – Beach On The Moon – God Is Saying This To You (2009) - 2nd album, debut was ‘Constant Hitmaker’ - 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…’ - Uses the lyrics from ‘Freeway’ on this track…’Freeway’ is one of my favorite of the year, so it was hard not to dig this. - If you aren’t completely relaxed by the sound of this track you are probably still angry about my ‘Reply All’ idea. Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Magnolia Electric Co. – Little Sad Eyes – Josephine (2009) - the first is from his Record Store Day Release - Josephine is his forthcoming full-length - Jason Molina’s current moniker he’s releasing music under. - Also released music in his name and Songs: Ohia - Check out how to get the song ‘Josephine’ for free on their Official Site! - Russian Recording in Bloomington this Friday! Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine White Denim – Say What You Want – Fits (2009) - 2nd full length - Check out the video for ‘I Start To Run’ on the U & U Blog - Their music follows no pattern and never gets boring… enjoyably schytzophrenic. Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Deer Tick – Easy – Born On Flag Day (2009) - 2nd album - this track makes me think of Beach Boys and some early rock and roll songs. - Playing locals only July 14th Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine