The Best of the Unknown & Unheard 2009! Part 1!

Stream & Download The U & U Show 159 Right Here, Right Now! (MediaFire) Rock Plaza Central - Oh I Can - …At the Moment of Our Most Needing Or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren’t Alone (2009) - 2nd album from the Chris Eaton led rotating group of musicians - Another track that packs a boatload of intensity. - Strained feel to the song that you get from The Builders and the Butchers and even the Mountain Goats… comparable vocals as well. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Free Energy – Dream City – Free Energy (2009) - Forthcoming debut full length. - formerly known as Hockey Night - Produced by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. - Will likely be on the 2010 Best Of list. MySpace : HypeMachine Black Lips – Short Fuse – 200 Million Thousand (2009) - 5th album… out February 24th - Velvet underground/Guided By Voices - Known for their wild live shows - Added just enough polish on this album. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Richard Swift – Lady Luck – The Atlantic Ocean (2009) - 4th full length - Hops from genre to genre - This track has some serious vintage sounds, Motown in particular, and was released on a primer EP that was filled with similar feels. - 2009 Kyle Kaufman Look-A-Like Contest Winner! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine M. Ward – Epistemology – Hold Time (2009) - Latest album. - makes me think of when I heard the fleet foxes in early 2008… this will end up being one of the year’s best albums. - this track features his She & Him counterpart, Zooey Deschanel. - This was a leader right out of the gate for one of the year’s best. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Suckers – Easy Chairs – Suckers EP (2009) - debut EP - big pounding, distorted anthem with a couple huge builds - loads of hype around this short 4 song release… deservedly so! - Love this Song! - Like Free Energy, the music world is eagerly anticipating the full length from this band. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Sunset Rubdown – Silver Moons – Dragonslayer (2009) - 4th album… out June 23rd - Eagerly awaiting this album - One of Spencer Krug’s many bands - This album has some epic sounding tracks. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) & Aaron Dessner (The National) – Big Red Machine – Dark Was The Night (2009) - star studded charity compilation for The Red Hot Organization (AIDS & HIV) - it seems weird to want to pick a compilation as one of the year’s best albums but the talent and quality of these tracks is undeniable. - Almost every artist on the 2-disc album is responsible for a great album on their own. Bon Iver MySpace : Dark Was the Night MySpace : Amazon Magnolia Electric Co. – It’s Made Me Cry – It’s Made Me Cry EP (2009) - 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 Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Avett Brothers - Incomplete and Insecure - I and Love and You (2009) - Latest, and best, album - follow-up to their break out ‘Emotionalism’ - this is the exact type of track that makes me love this band. - Easy Americana Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Langhorne Slim – Back To the Wild – Be Set Free (2009) - 3rd album - His self-titled second blew me away. - the best folk singer/songwriter out there for my money. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Benjy Ferree – Fear – Come Back To The Five And Dime Bobby Dee, Bobby Dee (2008) - 2nd album - Concept album inspired by Bobby Driscoll, the boy who played Peter Pan for Disney in the 40’s & 50’s - After hearing a couple old time pop songs (‘Fear’) I wasn’t expecting to hear a track like this one… sounds like it could be found on a Raconteur’s record. - He’s getting comparisons to Jack White, Freddie Mercury and Marc Bolan… pretty accurate and pretty good company! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Matt & Kim - Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare – Grand (2009) - 2nd album, debut out in 2006, Self-titled. - just added to the Pitchfork Music Fest, which is one of the more relevant festivals you’ll find - 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. - This track thunders along and build very enjoyably Official Site : Myspace : Amazon : HypeMachine Animal Collective - What Would I Want? Sky - Fall Be Kind EP (2009) - follow up EP to Merriweather Post Pavilion, as album widely considered one of the year’s best. - This track expands on a sample from the Grateful Dead’s ‘Unbroken Chain’ - When it comes to the nerdiest of the nerdy in the music world, the more a band is ‘different for the sake of being different’ the better they are received and the more they are praised. This annoys me greatly, but these guys seems to always be experimenting without seeming like they are trying to do it to win over critics. - They have some quite approachable songs and they have some wildly different and potentially off-putting songs. This track is half of each and gives a great representation of what they offer. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : 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 : HypeMachine

The Unknown & Unheard Show 158! A Celebrity Christmas!

Stream & Download The U & U Show 158 Right Here, Right Now! (MediaFire) Tom Waits – Step Right Up – Small Change (1976) - 4th album from one of music’s most prolific artists - This is my annual sarcastic tribute to the American Christmas… there is not a song more fitting. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : Live Video of Song (Brilliant) Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside! - Everybody, Come Outside! (2009) - 2nd album - Fleet Foxes + Polyphonic Spree Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Fanfarlo - I'm a Pilot - Reservoir (2009) - Full length debut - soft but powerful female vocals are balanced perfectly by the driving surges of the guitar. - A slightly more restrained version of the Suckers (a band that blew me away this year). - Rave reviews of their live shows. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Sufjan Stevens –Get Behind Me, Santa! – Songs For Christmas - Sufjan is a unique artist and without many people knowing has produced roughly fifty great… not the same old… Christmas songs - This is one of the most upbeat of the set and really shows off his songwriting skills, a lot of layers. - You will not hear a Christmas song like this in macy’s… and that’s a good thing! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Felix - Where Is My Dragon? - You Are the One I Pick (2009) - I love the accent and vocals on this track! - Perfect feel for a quiet snowy day. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Freelance Whales - Generator ^ First Floor - Weathervanes (2009) - Debut album - Big, bright, lush folk. - Vocals are somewhere between Cloud Cult and Death Cab For Cutie. Official Site : MySpace : HypeMachine Titus Andronicus - Four Score Part Two – The Monitor (2010) - Forthcoming, civil war themed 2nd album - named after the Shakespeare play - hugely popular band and album from last year - they have some straight forward punk tendencies but mix it up musically more than most punk bands that it really sets them apart. - Another lo-fi rough sound Myspace : Amazon : HypeMachine Bright Eyes – Little Drummer Boy - Dark interpretation of this traditional holiday track. - Conor Oberst led band. He is now doing the solo thing as well as making up one part of the Monsters of Folk. Bright Eyes Official Site : Bright Eyes MySpace : Conor Oberst Official Site Cheap Time - Push Your Luck - Cheap Time (2008) - Debut album - I cannot get enough of the snarling jagged guitar that mangle this song over the steady bass beat. MySpace : HypeMachine We All Have Hooks for Hands - Be Love, Be Wild - The Shape of Energy (2009) - 2nd album from the Sioux Falls, SD sextet - Big indie rock sound with vocals that sound like a less dreamy/more anthem rock version of Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Ted McCloskey - The Ceiling Staring Back - One Night Bland (2009) - 5th album - Ike Reilly style of rock - Big, easy to get into and sing along to, high energy anthems. - Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Rainbow Bridge - Big Wave Rider - True Panther (2009) - Building and pulsing surf song - Olympia garage duo MySpace : HypeMachine Wye Oak - Take It In - The Knot (2009) - 2nd album - Baltimore guy/girl indie rock duo Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

The Unknown & Unheard Show 157!

Stream & Download The U & U Show 157 Right Here, Right Now! (MediaFire)

Shout Out Louds – Walls - Work (2010) - forthcoming 3rd album. Out Feb. 23rd - Debut album was howl howl gaff gaff. - If you like this you should check out Matt Pond PA. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Black Keys – Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran cover - latest sounds the most affected by outside/big label influence, but still good. - Just put out an album called 'BlakRoc' on which they provide the instrumentals and backing vocals for some big name rappers. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Wounded Lion - Friendly? (2009) - Forthcoming debut album - Punchy hard rock that keeps you moving. MySpace : HypeMachine Lifter Puller - Double Straps - Lifter Puller (1997) - opening track on debut album - The Hold Steady's Craig Finn and Tab Kubler's first band - Hold Steady meets Les Savy Fav MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Steve Mason - All Come Down - Boys Outside (2010) - Forthcoming debut album - Member of the Beta Band - You can feel the Beta Band influence here in the vocals and beat of the song. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Shearwater – Castaways - Golden Archipelago (2010) - Forthcoming 6th album. Out Feb. 23rd - Austin band with ties to Okkervil River - Almost a voice you’d expect at the opera - Palo Santo is a great album by them. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Lightning Dust – Ho Ho Ho - Eggnog Experience (2009) - Christmas compilation put together by Mental Beast - Another Black Mountain side project… you can really hear the Black Mountain in this track. - Great vocals Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Deer Tick - Axe is Forever - More Fuel to the Fire EP (2009) - latest release. 2 full lengths out. - sounds like it could be from a long lost CCR album. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Thee American Revolution - Power House - Buddha Electrostorm (2009) - Debut full length - side project from the Apples in Stereo's Robert Schneider. - big garage/glam rock sound! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Christmas Island - Twenty Nine - Christmas Island Single (2009) - Debut release. Debut full length is out already and is entitled 'Blackout Summer' - King Khan light. - Garage soul. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine tUnE-yArDs - Sunlight - BiRd-BrAiNs (2009) - Debut full length - Eclectic, spastic indie pop sound. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Foreign Born – Early Warnings - Person to Person (2009) - 2nd album - Out of LA Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine We All Have Hooks for Hands - Better to Live Than To Die - The Shape of Energy (2009) - 2nd album from the Sioux Falls, SD sextet - Big indie rock sound with vocals that sound like a less dreamy/more anthem rock version of Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Features - Thursday - Thursday/Rabbit March 10" (2001) - Limited edition single. first release after their 1997 debut EP - Full length debut was out in 2004. Released two other EP's in there - Kings of Leon fans can definitely find something here. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Art Museums - Sculpture Gardens (2009) - forthcoming debut - On Woodsist Records. Home of Kurt VIle, Wavves and Woods - 2009 hardest band/song to google. MySpace

The Unknown & Unheard Show 156!!! We're Three!!!

Stream & Download The U & U Show 155 Right Here, Right Now! (MediaFire) King Khan – Three Hairs & You’re Mine – Three Hairs & You’re Mine (2002) - Debut album. Latest with the Shrines is 2008's 'The Supreme Genius of…' - Has released albums with King Khan & the BBQ Show and the Almighty Defenders this year. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Matt & Kim - It's A Fact (Printed Stained) – Matt & Kim (2006) - Debut album. Latest and 2nd is ‘Grand’ - keyboard & drums that sound like much more than that… sum of the parts - gigantic stage presence for a drum and keyboard outfit. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Hockey Night – Rebel Fever (Who We Are) - 2nd album - This is that band that’s grown into Free Energy - You can really feel the same big glam rock vibes here as you can in Free Energy’s music. - Really wanting to hear the entire Free Energy, but they have only released an EP. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine M. Ward – Duet For Guitars #2 / Beautiful Car – Duet For Guitars #2 (2004) - debut album. - Latest, ‘Hold Time’, is one of the year’s best. - He was much more mellow and acoustic here. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Avett Brothers - Kind of In Love - The Avett Bros. EP (2000) - Debut EP. Latest album is 'I and Love and You' - Their break out was ‘Emotionalism’ - Easy Americana Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Thao Nguyen - Hills - Like the Linen (2005) - Debut album. Srd and most recent is 'Know Better, Learn Faster' - 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 Grizzly Bear – Deep Sea Diver – Horn of Plenty (2004) - Debut album - The hype and anticipation surrounding their latest album, Veckatimest, was huge. - Great eclectic band Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Quinn Walker - Plenty of Water For Mud – Lion Land (2008) - Debut from the leader of the Suckers - The Suckers’ full length debut is not out yet, but their EP is one of the year’s best. - big pounding, distorted anthem with a couple huge builds MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Sunset Rubdown – The Dust You Kick Up Is Too Fine – Snake's Got A Leg (2005) - Debut album. 4th album is 'Dragonslayer' - One of Spencer Krug’s many bands Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Decemberists - Oceanside - 5 Songs EP (2003) - Debut EP. Latest album is 'The Hazards of Love' - 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 Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Builders and the Butchers – The Night Pt. 1 – The Builders and the Butchers (2007) - Debut album - 2nd album is out this year. - Tense energy can be felt through out their music. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : DayTrotter Langhorne Slim – Feather Bed - Slim Pickens (1999) - Debut albums. 3rd album, 'Be Set Free', is out this year. - His self-titled second blew me away. - the best folk singer/songwriter out there for my money. MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Lucero –Little Silver Heart - Lucero (2001) - Debut album. New is ‘1372 Overton Park’ - They have always seemed like the quintessential bar band, they hoarser and rougher their sound the better. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Benjy Ferree – In the Countryside – Leaving the Nest (2006) - Debut album. 2nd album is a brilliant concept album inspired by Bobby Driscoll, the boy who played Peter Pan for Disney in the 40’s & 50’s - He’s getting comparisons to Jack White, Freddie Mercury and Marc Bolan… pretty accurate and pretty good company! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Japandroids – Couture Suicide - All Lies EP (2007) - Debut EP. 'Post-Nothing' is their debut full length and out earlier this year. - raucous post punk rock - huge energy and distortion. You’ll want to see this song live and as loud as possible. Official Site : MySpace : HypeMachine : RCRDLBL.com The Black Lips – Throw It Away – Black Lips! (2003) - Debut album. '200 Million Thousand' is their latest and 5th - Their sound started out incredibly rough and distorted Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine