Unknown and Unheard: February 2013

VietNam : Stucco Roofs : an A.merican D.ream (2013)

- Forthcoming 2nd album

- Brooklyn soulful, bluesy classic psych rock

- SXSW 2013

Facebook : SoundCloud

Joshua James : Coal War : Build Me This (2009)

- 3^rd full length album

- RIYL Damien Rice, AA Bondy, David Ford

- SXSW 2013

MMOSS : woolgathering : i (2010)

- Debut full length

- 2nd album was out in Nov 2012.

- Available for 'You Name the Price' on their official site.

- Be careful when Googling… this band is not the Minnesota Metabolic and Obesity Surgical Specialists… I don’t think.

Official Site : MySpace : HypeMachine

Palma Violets : Best of Friends : 180 (2013)

- Debut album

- SXSW 2013

Little Green Cars : The John Wayne : Absolute Zero (2013)

- Debut album out May 14th.

- One EP and one single out so far.

- Big driving folk rock.

- SXSW 2013

Gold & Youth : Time To Kill : Beyond Wilderness (2013)

- Debut album

- RIYL the xx.

- SXSW 2013

King Tuff : Alone & Stoned : King Tuff (2012)

- 2nd full length album

- out of the Vermont

- psychadelic/powerpop/rock… a little like T Rex vocals

- One of 2012's best albums

- SXSW 2013

John Wesley Coleman III : Bad Lady Goes To Jail : Bad Lady Goes To Jail (2010)

- 3rd of 4 albums.

- Bluesy, fuzzy punk-alt country

- SXSW 2013

Sonny Smith as Danny Dusk & The Twilights : Life Ain't Clear : Sonny Smith's 100 Records Vol 3 (2013)

- 3rd installment from one of the more ambitious projects I've come across.

- He's come up with 100 fictional bands and recording a song as each of them. Full explanation here.

- Also the leader of Sonny & the Sunsets who had an excellent album, Longtime Companion, out in 2012.

Official Site : Sonny Smith Official Site : HypeMachine

Radiation City : The Color of Industry : The Hands That Take You (2011)

- Debut full length. Latest release is 2012's Cool Nightmare EP

- SXSW 2013

Gap Dream : Feast of the First Morning : Gap Dream (2012)

- Debut full length.

- 2nd is on it's way.

- Druggy psych rock that's slightly less ominous than the Black Angels.

- SXSW 2013

Islet : What We Done Wrong : Illuminated People (2012)

- Debut full length.

- A bunch of other releases available on BandCamp.

- SXSW 2013

Indians : I Am Haunted : Somewhere Else (2013)

- Debut album.

- SXSW 2013

Nick Cave : Higgs Boson Blues : Push Away The Sky (2013)

- 15th studio album

- Most recent was 2008’s ‘Dig, Lazarus! Dig!!!’ and then his two Grinderman albums.

- Like a few artists out there, like Lou Reed and Tom Waits, he has a huge cult following and a unique/distinct sound.

- SXSW 2013

Monday, February 25, 2013

Finally, Hear New Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The World Needs More Richard Swifts

How're the next 57+ minutes of your day going to be better? This is how...

Stream Youth Lagoon's : Wondrous Bughouse

Take a listen to the second album from Youth Lagoon. One of the performers I'm most anxious to catch at SXSW. Hoping the incredible sounds on the albums translate well live.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Hard to find a fault...

I've been following Josh Ritter for some time now. He's been fueling my quiet nights in, drives to work and walks around the city for pretty much as long as I've been an adult. There's something about his music that just adds a bit of comfort to whatever I may be doing. People I say I smile and laugh too much. I feel like he must get that to an even more annoying extent. He had to be the happiest dude I've ever seen perform. It's been a while, but I can't wait to catch him again at SXSW this year. Here are a couple tracks. One's from his forthcoming album, The Beast In Its Tracks, and the other is my favorite from 2003's, Hello Starling. Sure, sometimes he's a bit sappy, but he's never insincere.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The U & U Show 308! SXSW 2013 Preview #3!

Stream & Download Here!

Nick Cave : Jubilee Street : Push Away The Sky (2013)

- 15th studio album

- Most recent was 2008’s ‘Dig, Lazarus! Dig!!!’ and then his two Grinderman albums.

- Like a few artists out there, like Lou Reed and Tom Waits, he has a huge cult following and a unique/distinct sound.

- SXSW 2013

Psychic Ills : Might Take A While : One Track Mind (2013)

- 4th full length, Hazed Dream was out in 2011, but numerous other EP and single releases.

- Trippy garage psych rock.

Dreamend : Magnesium Light : So I Ate Myself, Bite By Bite (2010)

- 5th album. 6th was a continuation of this album and was out in 2012.

- A side project from a member of the off-the-charts-out-there psychedelic band Black Moth Super Rainbow.

- Chicago band.

- Lush, layered, experimental folk.

- SXSW 2013

Vandaveer : Pretty Polly : Oh, Willie, Please (2013)

- 4th full length.

- Lead single off new album of murder ballads.

- DC based folk musician.

Cold War Kids : Miracle Mile : Dear Miss Lonely Hearts (2013)

- 4th full length

- Debut full length album out in 2006

- 3 EPs prior to debut release.

- Seem to be a love 'em or hate 'em band, that I love.

- SXSW 2013

WU LYF : Cave Song : Go Tell Fire To the Mountain (2011)

- Lone album. One of the best on 2011.

- ‘World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation’ or ‘Love You Forever’

- Sound like Wilderness or Explosions in the Sky with lyrics.

- Cinematic pulses and swells of powerful spacey guitars.

- Just got found out they broke up in November 2012.

- RIYL: Explosions in the Sky, Wilderness or Lord Dog Bird

Holy Esque : Tear (2012)

- Single released for free via Soundcloud.

- One EP out and they've hinted at another release at the end of March.

- The fall somewhere between amped up Frightened Rabbit and WU LYF

- Another one of the bands I am most excited to see at SXSW 2013.

Tumblr : SoundCloud

Dragons Of Zynth : Anna Mae : Coronation Thieves (2007)

- Debut album

- Fronted by twins from Cleveland.

- Album produced by TVOTR's David Sitek.

- Also worked on Dave Sitek's project Maximum Balloon.

- 2nd album due out in 2013

- One of the bands topping my must see list at SXSW 2013

Thao Nguyen & the Get Down Stay Down : Move : We The Common (2013)

- 4th album. Also one collab album with Mirah called Thao & Mirah.

- if you are unfamiliar with Thao you need to correctly that quickly

- If she ever were to propose to me, I would say yes.

- SXSW 2013

Jake Bugg : Lightning Bolt : Jake Bugg (2012)

- Debut full length. Also one EP.

- Very talented 18yr old UK folk singer songwriter.

- Huge Dylan sound at times.

- SXSW 2013

Frank Turner : Peggy Sang The Blues : England Keep My Bones (2011)

- 4th album. 5th on it's way out in April of 2013.

- UK folk/punk songwriter.

- Originally in the post-punk band Million Young, now mainly does more acoustic folk leaning music.

- Reminds me a bit of the Counting Crows and the Hold Steady.

- SXSW 2013

Drive-By Truckers : Ronnie & Neil : Southern Rock Opera (2001)

- 3rd album of 9.

- First album with Jason Isbell

- Masters of the southern garage/bar room rock.

- Jason Isbell is playing SXSW 2013

Hollis Brown : Spoonful (Featuring John McCauley) : Nothing & The Famous No One (2012)

- Track released prior to the release of their debut EP

- Features John McCauley of Deer Tick, Middle Brother & Diamond Rugs.

- Download the EP for free on their Official site.

- Hollis Brown & John McCauley are both playing SXSW 2103

David Wax Museum : A Dog in the Fight : Knock Knock Get Up (2012)

- 4th album

- Folk/americana rock duo.

- SXSW 2013

Country Mice : Your Black Crow : Hour of the Wolf (2013)

- 2nd full length

- Debut album was 2011's Twister

- Folk rock outfit that formerly went by We Are Country Mice.

facebook : Amazon : HypeMachine

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The U & U Show 307! SXSW Preview #2

Stream & Download Here!

Kurt Vile : Wakin' On A Pretty Day : Wakin' On A Pretty Daze (2013)

- First single from forthcoming 5^th album.

- This track is a must listen!

- Former guitarist for the War On Drugs.

- He said he was inspired by the album Tusk when making this album.

All Tiny Creatures : An Iris (feat. Justin Vernon) : Harbors (2011)

- Debut full length

- Swirling folk pop enhanced here by Justin Vernon’s (of Bon Iver) always warm haunting vocals.

- SXSW 2013

Hanni El Khatib : Can’t Win ‘Em All (2013)

- One of two new singles from a yet to be named forthcoming 2nd album produced by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach

- One of the rawest, heavy blues rock musicians going.

- SXSW 2013

Black Pistol Fire : Crows Feet : Big Beat ’59 (2012)

- 2^nd album

- Big rolling blues rock. Somewhere between old Black Keys and Two Gallants.

- SXSW 2013

Suuns : Armed For Peace : Zeroes QC (2010)

- Debut album

- Just released video for their new single, 2020, from their forthcoming 2^nd album, Images Du Futur.

- Experiment, engrossing prog rock band from Montreal.

- SXSW 2013

Team Spirit : MRDR It’s OK : Team Spirit EP (2013)

- Forthcoming 3rd EP. One out last year and one out this Valentine’s day!

- Their debut single, ‘Fuck the Beach’, was one of the best songs of 2012.

- Brooklyn band that’s a spinoff of Passion Pit.

- SXSW 2013

The Thermals : Born To Kill : Desperate Ground (2013)

- First single from 6^th album.

- High energy indie punk rock band.

- SXSW 2013

Wavves : Demon To Lean On : Afraid of Heights (2013)

- 5^th album.

- West coast garage punk band.

- Less fuzzy and more grungy here than usual.

- Comparisons to FIDLAR.

- SXSW 2013

Carsick Cars : YOU CAN LISTEN, YOU CAN TALK : YOU CAN LISTEN, YOU CAN TALK (2009)

- 2nd full length

- Chinese chugging amped-up, indie rock.

- SXSW 2013

Warm Soda : Waiting For Your Call : Someone For You (2013)

- 2^nd full length

- SXSW 2013

- Project started by Matthew Melton formerly of Bare Wires

- Very similar vibe to Bare Wires

- Slogan on BandCamp: 'JUST SAY NO to SXSW 2013' referencing Bare Wires' break up.

The Besnard Lakes : Devastation : The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse (2007)

- 2nd album.

- 4th has just been announced, Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO.

- Heavy, brooding, building rock.

- SXSW 2013

Chappo : Séance : Plastique Universe II: Pisces Princess

- 2^nd EP 2011

- Classic-leaning psych folk.

- SXSW 2013

Thee Oh Sees : Minotaur : Floating Coffin (2013)

- Forthcoming 12^th-ish album.

- Their last album, Putrifiers II, was one of 2012’s best.

- One of the bands leading the west coast’s psych rock movement.

- This track is a little less manic than most of their material.

- SXSW 2013

Bipolaroid : Dead Horse : Illusion Fields (2010)

- 3^rd album

- Set to release a new single early in March.

- Blues psych rock that leans towards the sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Buffalo Killers at times.

- SXSW 2013

Caveman : Thankful : Coco Beware (2011)

- Debut album.

- Self-titled 2^nd album is out in April

- SXSW 2013

Blessed Flowers : Hey All You Floridians : Peaceful Beasts in an Ocean of Weeds EP (2012)

- Only two releases are this EP and their 2012 full length debut.

- Steady smooth vocals over a guitar riff that sounds it’s been pulled from a Modest Mouse song with a touch more folk.

- SXSW 2012

Official Site : Facebook

King Krule : Rock Bottom : Rock Bottom b/w Octopus (2012)

- Latest single

- Aka Archy Marshal… formerly Zoo Kid

- 18 year old British singer/songwriter.

- Unique vocals highlight the musically restrained tracks.