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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
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
Stream & Download The Unknown & Unheard Show 128 Right Here, Right Now!
Eels – Fresh Blood – Hombre Lobo (2009)
- forthcoming 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 : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks – Veckatimest (2009)
- 2nd album
- The hype and anticipation surrounding this album hasn’t been equaled in a long time, and that’s saying A LOT these days.
- Great eclectic band
- Amazingly weird video for this track.
- Buy for $3.99 on Amazon!!!
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
The Union Line – Pearls – The Union Line (2008)
- debut full length
- chugging anthemic beat and vocals with candied-up guitar highlights
- Reminds me of Les Savy Fav a bit.
Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Clues – Remember Severed Head – 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
Modest Mouse – Guilty Cocker Spaniels – Satellite Skin (2009)
- forthcoming 7” EP
- was supposed to come out on Record Store Day
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Electric Owls – Darken Me – Ain’t To Bright (2009)
- debut full length
- ‘Magic Show’ is a brilliant track.
- This one is simpler and mellow, but still quite enjoyable.
- Elliott Smith and Shins fans gather ‘round.
Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Iron & Wine – Hickory – Around The Well (2009)
- compilation of seldom seen and previously unreleased material
- genuinely restrained singing style
- Use to be criticized for a lack of variety, but now has almost too much.
- Alt Rock to spare singer/songwriter to layered jammy compositions.
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine : DayTrotter Session
The Flying Change – If You See Something, Say Something – Pain Is A Reliable Signal (2009)
- debut full length
- deep layered instrumentation and vocals.
- if you like this go buy all the Sufjan records.
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Wilco – Wilco (The Song) – Wilco (The Album) (2009)
- 4th album
- one of their most critical and popular successes
- new album on the way ‘Wilco (The Album)’ which features ‘Wilco (The Song)’
- stream that on their site right now!
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Viva Voce – Tornado Alley – Rose City (2009)
- forthcoming 4th album
- Portland, OR husband and wife duo
- some of the members just released an album as Blue Giant
- spacey catchy psychedelic rock.
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
The Dukes of Stratosphear – 25 O’clock – 25 O’clock (1987)
- one of 2 albums from this alter ego of the band XTC
- odd style of psychadelia reminiscent of Syd Barrett
- I’m digging the Gong in this track more than I should.
Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Pontiak – Honey - Maker (2009)
- 2nd full length
- Harder rock leaning psychedelic band out of Baltimore… combine them with Wilderness and I’d say you have a pretty strong scene for that genre going already with just two bands
- Ominous feels of Black Mountain
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Tom Waits – Goin’ West – Bone Machine (1992)
- one of his darkest, eeriest, most tribal sounding albums
- if anyone can pull off that sound after mastering soulful piano jazz, it’s Tom Waits
- Fitting for the trip! Humor me and listen.
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine
Lucero – That Much Further West – That Much Further West (2004)
- It’s rare I have a theme show, but this is another one I’m playing solely for trip purposes!
- band led by Ben Nichols
- has a gritty raspy bar rock singing voice which I can’t get enough of
- name means ‘bright star’ in Spanish.
Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine