The U & U Best Albums of 2019 & Show 574

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2019 Best Album Honorable Mentions

Whitney : Forever Turned Around (2019)  |  Facebook

Girl Band : The Talkies (2019)  |  BandCamp

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard : Fishing For Fishies (2019)  |  BandCamp

Hiss Golden Messenger : Virgo Fool (2019)  |  Official Site

Bob Mould : Sunshine Rock (2019)  |  Official Site

Ryan Pollie : Ryan Pollie (2019)  |  Facebook

Black Mountain : Destroyer (2019)  |  Official Site

Hash Redactor : Drecksound (2019)  |  BandCamp

Bayonne : Drastic Measures (2019)  |  BandCamp

Strand Of Oaks : Eraserland (2019)  |  Official Site

Bruce Hornsby : Absolute Zero (2019)  |  Official Site

Cool Original : I Never Said I Didn't Care (2019)  |  BandCamp

Radiator Hospital : Music For Daydreaming (2019)  |  BandCamp

Titus Andronicus : An Obelisk (2019)  |  Official Site

The Murder Capital : When I Have Fears (2019)  |  Youtube

Richard Rose : Richard Rose EP (2019)  |  Official Site

25 : Squid : Houseplants

Houseplants 7” & Town Centre EP (2019)  |  BandCamp

The U & U Best Songs of 2019 | Songs 30-1 & Show 573

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30 : Scott & Charlene's Wedding : Back in the Corner

When in Rome, Carpe Diem EP (2019)  |  BandCamp

The U & U Show 568 | Devin, 2 Alexs & Speedy Wunders!

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Devon Welsh : Dreamers

True Love (2019)  |  BandCamp

 

Alex Cameron : Far From Born Again

Miami Memory (2019)  |  BandCamp

The U & U's Best Songs of 2018: 100-76

100. Parquet Courts : Total Football

Wide Awake (2018)  |  Official Site

99. Monks : Dreamboat

Dreamboat 7” (2018)  |  Soundcloud

The U & U Show 541 | Never Fight A Man With A Perm

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Sudakistan : Blanco

Swedish Cobra (2018)  |  BandCamp

 

Spiritualized : The Morning After

And Nothing Hurt (2018)  |  Official Site

The U & U Show 538 | GØGGS & The Brotherhood

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GØGGS : Pre Strike Sweep

Pre Strike Sweep (2018)  |  Official Site

 

Vacation : Deflector Head

Mouth Sounds #2699 (2018)  |  BandCamp

The U & U Show 537 | 2 of the Year's Best Songs

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Spiritualized : Here It Comes (The Road) Let’s Go

And Nothing Hurt (2018)  |  Official Site

 

Moses Sumney : Rank And File

Black In Deep Red, 2014 EP (2018)  |  Official Site

The U & U Show 513 | Last Before The Best

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Moses Sumney : Quarrel

Aromanticism (2017)  |  Official Site

 

Alex G (AKA Sandy) : Bug

Beach Music (2015)  |  BandCamp

The U & U Show 512 | Holding Steady For The Holidays

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Ty Segall : The Main Pretender

The Main Pretender 7" (2017)  |  Official Site

 

Lars Finberg : Benevolent Panic

Moon Over Bakersfield (2017)  |  BandCamp

The U & U Show 500!

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Guided By Voices : I Am a Tree

Mag Earwhig! (1997)  |  Official Site

 

The Hold Steady : Stevie Nix

Separation Sunday (2005)  |  Official Site

The U & U Show 460 | Staying Positive This Summer

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The Hold Steady : Constructive Summer

Stay Positive (2008)  |  Official Site

 

Connections : Month 2 Month

Midnight Run (2016)  |  BandCamp

U & U Show 364 | 7 Years of Shows!

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Death Cab For Cutie : The New Year : Transatlanticism (2003)

-       5^th album

-       Indie band that turned the corner in a major way into the mainstream since I’ve been doing the show.

Official Site

The Hold Steady : Stevie Nix : Separation Sunday (2005)

-          2^nd album

-          Just released their 6^th album, Teeth Dreams.

-          One of the greatest live bands I’ve ever seen.

-          Couldn’t think of a better song for a milestone show.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

U & U Show 356 | Lots of Dreams & Jack White's Return

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Jack White : High Ball Stepper : Lazaretto (2014)

-       2nd solo album out June 9

-       Bringing more of the older, more aggressive style White Stripes' fans were used to.

-       Hi solo debut, 2012's Blunberbuss was a much slower, folkier album.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

 

Weaves : Closer : Weaves EP (2014)

-          Forthcoming debut EP.

-          Each song they release is better than the last.

-          Toronto band led by Jasmyn Burke, formerly of Rat Tail.

-          Best of SXSW 2014

BandCamp

The U & U Show 355 | 14 New Albums Worth Your While

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Future Islands : A Song for Our Grandfathers : Singles (2014)

-       4th full length. Out March 25.

-       Upbeat beach pop with more power here than ever before.

-       Baltimore band.

-       Best of SXSW 2014

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

The War On Drugs : Under the Pressure : Lost In The Dream (2014)

-          Latest single from their forthcoming 3^rd full length.

-          Kurt Vile’s former outfit is still providing long time Vile fans sounds more in the vein of his older, soaring, drone- heavy work.

Official Site

U & U Show 354 | SXSW Recap 2014

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Hüsker Dü : Celebrated Summer : New Day Rising (1985)

-          3rd album.

-          Pioneering band punk rock band that, along with the Replacements, led the hugely influential Minnesota rock scene.

-          Bob Mould is touring solo now and was one of the best of SXSW 2014

-          Introduced at SXSW with: 'If you like a band now, you have this man to thank.'

Official Site

The Hold Steady : Killer Parties : Almost Killed Me (2004)

-          Debut LP

-          6^th full length, Teeth Dreams, is out March 25. First since 2010.

-          One of the greatest live bands I’ve ever seen.

-          Best of SXSW 2014

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

The U & U Show 349 | SXSW Preview Show #2

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Sun Kil Moon : Richard Ramirez Died Today Of Natural Causes : Benji (2014)

-          6^th LP

-          First Sun Kil Moon proper album since 2012’s superb LP, Among the Leaves.

-          Led by the most wonderfully sleepy vocals of Mark Kozelek.

-          SXSW 2014

Official Site

The Hold Steady : I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You : Teeth Dreams (2014)

-          6^th full length, Teeth Dreams, is out March 25. First since 2010.

-          The Rags EP of covers was out ealier this year.

-          One of the greatest live bands I’ve ever seen.

-          SXSW 2014

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

U & U Show 348 | Hold Steady & SXSW Preview Show #1

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The Hold Steady : I Gotta Get Drunk (Willie Nelson cover) : Rags EP (2014)

-          EP of covers paying tribute to

-          6^th full length, Teeth Dreams, is out March 25. First since 2010.

-          One of the greatest live bands I’ve ever seen.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Kevin Drew : Back Out On The… : Spirit If… (2007)

-          Debut LP. 2^nd, Darlings, is out soon.

-          One of the most talented solo artists in the big group of Canadians that comprise Broken Social Scene.

-          SXSW 2014

Official Site

The U & U Show 326! | These Twin City Kisses...

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The Hold Steady : Stuck Between Stations : Boys and Girls In America (2006)

-          3rd album.

-          5^th and latest full length was 2011's Heaven Is Whenever.

-          Lead singer Craig Finn released his solo debut in 2012.

-          This is one of the best bands we are lucky enough to enjoy in their prime.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Surf City : Kudos : Kudos (2010)

-          Debut Full length album

-          New Zealand band.

-          Fuzzy, psychedelic guitar pop.

Facebook

The U & U Show 317! New Favorite Live Band

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. : Nothing But Our Love (DayTrotter Session) (2010)

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

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

-          They have just overtaken the Hold Steady and Titus Andronicus as my favorite live band. This is the live recording that is the closest to their smile-inducing energy.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Cold Specks : Steady : I Predict A Graceful Expulsion (2012)

-          Full length debut

-          Powerful rough female vocalist.

-          An awesome video for the track 'Holland' can be found HERE.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine : @ColdSpecks

The Unknown & Unheard Show 245!!!

Ryan Adams – Lucky Now - Ashes and Fire (2011)

-          Forthcoming album.

-          This is one of my all-time favorite artists and this is the first  song I've really enjoyed in a while. Hopes are high that he'll back off the big label polish.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

We Are Augustines - Book of James - Rise Ye Sunken Ships (2011)

-          Debut full length.

-          Consists of two remaining members of the band Pela, Billy McCarthy & Eric Sanderson.

-          Pela disbanded after McCarthy’s brother committed suicide.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

The Hold Steady – Stevie Nix - Separation Sunday (200)

-          2nd album.

-          Big ass, borderline-punk, rocking anthems that will get you moving.

-          Possibly my top all-time live show.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Forever 28 – Mirror Traffic (2011)

-          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

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Halloween, Alaska - Empire Waist - All Night the Calls Came In (2011)

-          3^rd album

-          Indie rock along the lines of Pavement

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Donkeys - Don't Know Who We Are - Born With Stripes (2011)

-          3rd full length.

-          Super catchy rolling track.

-          Makes me think of These United States.

-          Download a bunch of this music for free from their site!

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

The Duke and the King - Shine On You - Long Live the Duke and the King (2011)

-          3rd Album… kind of. This one is a US release that pulls from their two previously released import-only albums.

-          Mellow, easy folk on this track that makes me think a lot of some of T. Rex's softer acoustic stuff. Even something slightly fuzzy from Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield or Ben Harper

MySpace: Amazon : HypeMachine

Wilco – A Shot In the Arm - Summerteeth (1999)

-          3^rd album. 8^th on its way in September.

-          Playing the Murat Theatre Sept 16^th!

-          Led by Jeff Tweedy after he split with Jay Farrar his Uncle Tupelo (one of the ultimate alt-country pioneer bands) partner.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Blitzen Trapper – Might Find It Cheap - American Goldwing (2011)

-          6th album

-          indie folk/rock

-          Great example of their folk leaning rolling rock.

-          Wild Mountain Nation is their best album to date.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

St. Vincent - Cruel - Strange Mercy (2011)

-          2nd full length. Debut was out in 2009, Actor.

-          Was a member of Sufjan Steven's backing band along with My Brightest Diamond, arguably two of the biggest breakout female artists of the past couple years.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Young Circles - Jungle Habits - Jungle Habits (2011)

-          Debut full length. Also 1 EP out.

-          Extremely interesting blend of styles. Freak folk, harder alt-rock, electronic and beat driven.

-          I think they are at their best on heavier, more aggressive tracks like this.

BandCamp : HypeMachine

The Stone Foxes - Serious People - Psycho 7" (2011)

-          Latest single.

-          2 full lengths out also. One in 2008 and one in 2010.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Matt Duncan - Summer Song – Summer Song (single) (2011)

-          Stand alone single. One full length out as well, Beacon.

-          Kentucky songwriter.

-          Vintage 50’s and 60’s doo-wop sound.

-          Download this track for free at his BandCamp.

Official Site : BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine

Team Me - Me and the Mountain - Team Me EP (2011)

-          Debut EP warming the waters for their forthcoming full length debut.

-          Norwegian indie power pop that makes me think of the Antlers and the Kissaway Trail.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – Buriedfed – Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (2008)

-          Debut album

-          TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone and Grizzly Bear’s Christopher Bear continue to lend a hand to his work

-          His 2^nd album was out in 2009, Sound of Fear.

-          Had a very hard life prior to these releases.

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : Download on RCRDLBL

Ill Fits – Blood and Devotion (2011)

-          Brand new band led by U & U favorite Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson.

-          Also features members of MGMT, Amazing Baby and Foreign Islands

-          AND they’re apparently friends with Suckers! Can’t get much more cred than that background to start with.

-          Sounds more like Bowie that anything. Actually reminds me of Suckers, too.

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