Unknown and Unheard: Country Mice

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

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The Unknown & Unheard Show 261! Christmas Show!

Tom Waits – Step Right Up – Small Change (1976)

- 4^th 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)

Guadalupe Plata - Serpiente Negra - Guadalupe Plata (2011)

- Debut album.

- Spanish band.

- Incredibly enjoyable Black Keys/White Stripes feel here.

BandCamp : BandCamp : HypeMachine

Hanni El Khatib - Loved One - When the Guns Come Out (2011)

- If you love the old Black Keys you will get into this guy for sure!

- Hard, dirty garage blue rock.

Turf War – Stay Running – Years of Living Dangerously (2011)

- Debut album

- Produced by Ian St. Pe’ of the Black Lips.

- Atlanta band.

facebook : HypeMachine

You Won't - Television - Skeptic Goodbye (2011)

- Debut album

- M. Ward and T. Rex feel to this track.

Country Mice - Worn Hearts - Twister (2011)

- Debut album

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

facebook : Amazon : HypeMachine

Tony Castles - Dream Job - No Service (2010)

- Debut EP out.

- Download for free at RCRDLBL!

- Brooklyn band.

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Thee Oh Sees - The Dream - Carrion Crawler/The Dream (2011)

- 12th album.

- San Fran garage psych band.

Dead Luke – Paranoia Is A Flower Of The Mind – Meanwhile… In the Midwest (2011)

- 4^th album

- Luke Gasper.

- RIYL: Wet Hair and any other heavy, muddy, pulsing psych rock.

MySpace: Amazon : HypeMachine

Anna Calvi - Wolf Like Me (TV On the Radio cover) - Jezebel single (French Version) (2011)

- Drastically different version of one of TVOTR's most popular songs.

- Debut was out this year and she was nominated for the UK’s Mercury Prize for best artist of the year.

Watch Them All on Stereogum!

Blithe Field - Crushing - Two Hearted (2011)

- 2^nd full length

- 19 year old from Ohio.

- Ambient/electronic/looping/sample-heavy arrangements.

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine

Christopher Owens – Cold Again (Live) (2011)

- This is the leader of the band Girls (they are better known on the U & U for their drummer’s side project, PAPA)

- He recorded these brilliant, spare tracks this past year.

- Girls 2011 album, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, is getting tremendous acclaim, but for some reason they’ve never struck a chord with me.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – Nothing But Our Love (Live) (2011)

- Original is on their debut full length, It’s A Corporate World.

- This is a really gorgeous, seasonally appropriate, mellower version played only on a piano and organ.

- Their 2010 debut EP garnered them a lot of good reviews.

- One of the my top of the top favorite live bands of the year.

- Check out the Video!

Sufjan Stevens –Sister Winter– Songs For Christmas

- Sufjan is a unique artist and without many people knowing has produced roughly fifty great… not the same old… Christmas songs

- My personal favorite Sufjan Christmas original.

- You will not hear a Christmas song like this in Macy’s… and that’s a good thing!

EMA - California - Past Life Martyred Saints (2011)

- Debut full length.

- This is the current from nowhere-to-everywhere band in the indie music world.

- Erika M. Anderson

Amazon : HypeMachine

Monday, June 20, 2011

The Unknown & Unheard Show 234!!!

The Head and the Heart – Rivers and Roads - The Head and the Heart (2011)

- Debut album.

- Folk rock that amps up into something like Mumford & Sons who exploded last year.

- Didn’t hear about a band more from this past SXSW.

Black Lips – The Lie – Arabia Mountain (2011)

- 6^th album.

- One of the most fun bands to listen to and see live.

- Sloppy garage rock.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Senator – Mirror Traffic (2011)

- Forthcoming 5th album with the Jicks.

- Leader of Pavement, one of the pioneering bands of independent music.

- His fourth album, Real Emotional Trash is one of the best albums of the 2000's

Buffalo Killers - San Martine Des Morelle - Buffalo Killers (2006)

- Debut albumof 3.

- Cincinnati band… psyched out 70's blues rock.

Official Site : MySpace : Buy on Amazon : HypeMachine

Bon Iver – Perth – Bon Iver (2011)

- 2^nd album.

- Had one of the most critically acclaimed debuts in the past ten years.

- Led by Justin Vernon, formerly of DaYarmond Edison.

- powerful live performer.

- Playing the Murat Theatre Monday July 25th

J Mascis - Circle - Several Shades of Why (2011)

- Latest solo album.

- Dinosaur Jr. leader.

- Eddie Vedder-esque vocals.

- Played SXSW and was a major surprise.

- This is from the DayTrotter Session he just recorded.

Horse Feathers – Finch On Saturday - Words Are Dead (2008)

- Debut album of 3.

- If you like this band check out Rosemont Family Reunion

- Blown away by live performance…again! The same could not be said for Iron & Wine. They have abandoned what got them where they are.

Dawes - If I Wanted Someone - Nothing Is Wrong (2011)

- 2nd album out yesterday.

- Led by Taylor Goldsmith, who is also 1/3 of the folk supergroup Middle Brother.

Country Mice - Festival - Twister (2011)

- Debut album

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

facebook : Amazon : HypeMachine

Roadside Graves - Love Me More - We Can Take Care of Ourselves (2011)

- Forthcoming 4th album.

- Very well received 3rd album.

- Remind me a good deal of Lucero and their bar room style of rock/southern rock.

Cults – Go Outside – Cults (2011)

- debut single

- Download it for free right now!

- More electronic than I usually go, but when I do I set the ‘catchiness bar’ extremely high. I thought this met the criteria.

- Played SXSW

Official Site : HypeMachine

Holas - Halos for Sale - Winter (2011)

- Debut album.

- Indiana alt-rock band that enjoys plenty of distortion and a heavy stark sound.

BandCamp : HypeMachine

The Felice Brothers – River Jordan – Celebration, Florida (2011)

- 3^rd album of 3.

- popped up on so many best of lists in 2008 with their debut.

- best description I’ve came across for this song/band is Dylan with singing lessons and playing with the spirit of Woodstock.

- Big, warm, and satisfying album that rambles along nice.