Tame Impala : Feels Like We Only Go Backwards : Lonerism (2012)
- 2nd album
- Australian classic psych outfit.
- Members also responsible for the excellent band POND.
King Tuff : Screaming Skull : Screaming Skull (2012)
- Latest single and his best song to date.
- 2nd full length album (self-titled) was out earlier in 2012.
- out of the Vermont
- psychadelic/powerpop/rock… a little like T Rex vocals
- CMJ 2012
Ty Segall : Thank God For Sinners : Twins (2012)
- 3rd full length of 2012 from this ultra-prolific artist.
- Fuzzy nd energetic blast of garage sounds from usual San Fran collaborators.
- San Fran 60’s psych/garage rock leader.
- Mikal Cronin is also in his backing band.
- There are few people I have a bigger musical crush on than these two.
DUNE RATS! : F(r)iends : Social Atoms (2011)
- 2nd EP, both 2011 releases.
- Sloppy garage, REM-leaning act starting to carve out a name for themselves in a similar way as FIDLAR.
- CMJ 2012
The Mountain Goats : Lakeside View Apartments Suite : Transcendental Youth (2012)
- Latest full length. Previous was 2011's All Eternals Deck and was a Best of the U & U.
- Their last, The Life of the World to Come, was out in October 2009.
- Led by John Darnielle and his unmistakable passionate and powerful vocals.
Frightened Rabbit :State Hospital : State Hospital EP (2012)
- 2nd, and most recent, EP released since their last full length (2010's The Winter of Mixed Drinks).
- Midnight Organ Fight is their best to date.
- Scottish accent stands out, but there seems to be something more than that to his vocals and make them truly unique.
- The construct some of the most beautifully powerful and layered indie rock songs I've ever heard.
Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders : Beautiful Sound : Hurtsville (2012)
- Debut album
- Huge Nick Cave sound on this entire album. I've never heard another person capture that sound as well as they do here.
- CMJ 2012
Yellow Ostrich : Ghost : Ghost EP (2012)
- First single from new EP. The most polished and processed composition I can recall.
- 2nd full length was out in early 2012.
- Debut full length was 'The Mistress' and made the 2011 Best of the U & U.
- SXSW 2012 Highlight Act!
The Great American Canyon Band : Young Lady : Young Lady (2012)
- Latest single. Free for download on their BandCamp.
- Also have released a debut EP.
- Husband and wife duo from Chicago.
- Big building folk rock track.
- CMJ 2012
Geographer : The Boulder : Myth (2012)
- 2nd album. Debut was out in 2008
- There aren't many out there but this is another band that puts off a sound very reminiscent of Yeasayer and Bravestation.
- First band I saw at SXSW
- CMJ 2012
Backwords : Naked Flame : By The Neck (2012)
- Latest album.
- Brooklyn indie/psych band I caught opening up for Tony Castles.
- CMJ 2012
Foxygen : Waitin' 4 U : Take the Kids Off Broadway (2011)
- Debut album that was just rereleased after Jagjaguwar signed them.
- Funkier Rolling Stones feel.
- CMJ 2012
Matthew E. White : Brazos : Big Inner (2012)
- Debut album.
- Take the sound of Iron & Wine's last 2 albums and the Welcome Wagon and make it catchier, funkier and fuller and you get this incredible album.
- I saw him perform it once already and I can't recommend the show enough!.
- One of the best releases of the year.
- CMJ 2012
The Antlers : Two : Hospice (2009)
- 3rd album.
- Big pop sound… remind me of The Arcade Fire’s acoustic tracks.
- Most recent album was heavier and had a really interesting focus on the percussion instruments. Very different, but very good.
- This is one of those songs that I can't not listen to if I even think of it.
Country Mice : Morning Sun : Twister (2011)
- Debut album
- Folk rock outfit that formerly went by We Are Country Mice.
- CMJ 2012
Blonds : Time : The Bad Ones (2011)
- Debut full length.
- Moody, pulsing rock with powerful, steady, Nico-like vocals.
- 2 incredible videos out. One is for this song, one is for their new single, Run.
- CMJ 2012
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