Unknown and Unheard: Magnolia Electric Co

Sufjan Stevens : Exploding Whale : Epic Fail 7" (2015)

- Latest single released close enough to include it as a Record Store Day surprise.

- Just released his 6th album, Carrie and Lowell.

- It is widely regarded as his and the year's best so far.

- One of the most talented musicians that I've been able to enjoy every step of the way.

- This first teaser sounds like a hope-elevating return to his early stripped back folk days.

The U & U SXSW 2013 Recap Show!

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Songs:Ohia : John Henry Split My Heart : The Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)

- 9th and final Songs:Ohia release before he launched his next band Magnolia Electric Co.

- Leader Jason Molina died at 39 this past Saturday night (3/17/13) in Indianapolis. He was battling alcoholism for years and it finally was too much.

- It’s an odd feeling to describe, but he was without question one of my all-time favorites and the person I’ve been the biggest fan of to die.

- I feel fortunate to have seen him perform.

Pickwick : Well, Well : Can’t Talk Medicine (2013)

- Debut full length

- This has catapulted itself to the forefront of the best album of ’13 discussion.

- Tied for my favorite show at SXSW 2013.

Suuns : Mirror Mirror : Images Du Futur (2013)

- 2nd album

- Just released video for this one, 2020.

- Tied for my favorite show of SXSW 2013.

- Pronounced like ‘soons.’

Devendra Banhart : Golden Girls : Mala (2013)

- 8^th studio album

- Full Name: Devendra (Hindu god of rain and thunder) Obi (Star Wars inspired) Banhart

- His solo electric SXSW 2013 set was breathtaking. Charming, funny, delicate, restrained beauty.

Diamond Rings : Mellow Doubt (Teenage Fanclub Cover) : You & Me b/w Mellow Doubt (single) (2011)

- B-side of a single off his debut album, Special Affections.

- 2^nd album was 2012’s Free Dimensional and much more beat driven and dance.

- Powerful solo acoustic performance at SXSW 2013.

Hiss Golden Messenger : Red Rose Nantahala (Live) (2012)

- Unreleased track recorded at a festival in late 2012.

- Provided a perfect solo acoustic set on the back patio on a sunny afternoon at SXSW 2013

- His album Poor Moon is a highlight of 2012.

Marnie Stern : Nothing Is Easy : The Chronicles of Marnia (2013)

- 4th album. Out in March 2013

- Her previous album was a 2010 Best of the U & U.

- A wild mix of the joyous unpredictability of Ponytail and the harder Yeah Yeah Yeahs tracks.

- The band I'm most excited to see play SXSW 2013 of the announced acts so far.

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Phosphorescent : Ride On, Right On : Muchacho (2013)

- 6th album

- Singer/songwriter alias for Matthew Houck.

Thao Nguyen & the Get Down Stay Down : We Don't Call : 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

You Won’t : Three Car Garage : Skeptic Goodbye (2012)

- Debut album.

- Liked them at CMJ. LOVED them at SXSW.

Nick Cave : Wild Lovely Eyes : 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

Cloud Cult : You’re the Only Thing In Your Way : Love (2013)

- 10th album

- Led by environmentalist Craig Minowa

- 'Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus' was their 6th and best album.

- I reference this band a lot when talking about newer bands taking on this style because these guys are so good at it!

Youth Lagoon : Pelican Man : Wondrous Bughouse (2013)

- 2^nd full length

- Lusher, wilder, trippier follow up to their understated debut.

Turf War : Ain’t Living Long Like This (Waylon Jennings cover) : Turf War Plays the Hits (2013)

- EP of covers

- Favorite band of SXSW 2012

facebook : HypeMachine

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Unknown & Unheard Show 275!!!

Moonface - Yesterday's Fire - With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery (2012)

- Forthcoming 2nd album. First with Siinai as backing band

- First full length was out last year, Organ Music.

- Debut EP was out last year and was one 20+ minute track.

- Wolf Parade's and Sunset Rubdown's Spencer Krug's solo project.

Official Site : HypeMachine

Maps & Atlases - Fever - Beware and Be Grateful (2012)

- 1st single from forthcoming full length.

- Chicago experimental folk outfit.

- Played SXSW 2011 and playing 2012

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – We Almost Lost Detroit (Gil Scott Heron cover) - It's A Corporate World (2011)

- Full length debut.

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

- Playing the White Rabbit Cabaret Friday, June 17th

Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built - Celebration Rock (2012)

- 2nd album.

- raucous anthem-filled post punk rock

- huge energy and distortion. You’ll want to see this song live and as loud as possible.

- SXSW 2012

Official Site : Myspace : HypeMachine

Lucero - Downtown (Intro) & On My Way Downtown - Women & Work (2012)

- New album!

- Ben Nichols, lead singer, has been working on solo stuff since this came out.

- Best bar rock band going.

Official Site : Myspace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Ben Kweller - Mean To Me - Go Fly a Kite (2012)

- 6th full length.

- Indie pop/rock singer songwriter that's been making extremely consistent, not overly ground breaking records since 2009.

Pond - Moth Wings - Beard Wives Denim (2012)

- Debut Full length

- Made of members of Tame Impala.

- By far the greatest lead singer I saw at SXSW. Young, tiny, wild aussie.

Amazon : HypeMachine

Quiet Hooves - The Beat - Stallin' (2012) & Saddle Up (2012)

- Double album featuring a rerelease of their 1st album plus their 2nd.

- Eclectic pop/rock. Reminds me a bit Man Man and Menomena.

- A bit wacky at times, but not coming off as tacky or trying to hard.

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine

Leatherbag - Patience - Patience (2011)

- Debut EP. 2 Full lengths as well.

- Austin band

- 2^nd band I saw at SXSW 2012 and one that I didn’t know at all going in. Ended up being a favorite.

BandCamp: Amazon : HypeMachine

Yellow Ostrich - Daughter - Strange Land (2012)

- 2nd full length.

- Debut full length was 'The Mistress' and made the 2011 Best of the U & U.

- Sounds a bit like the Beatles and the White Stripes and even at times Menomena.

- SXSW 2012

Official Site : BandCamp : HypeMachine

Gentleman Jesse - Take It Easy On Me - Leaving Atlanta (2012)

- This track is reminiscent of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.

- Easy, singable folk rock.

Facebook : Amazon : HypeMachine

Portugal, The Man - Telling Tellers Tell Me - Church Mouth (2007)

- 2nd (and best) album.

- Released their 7th album in 2011.

- RIYL The Raconteurs/Jack White/Brendan Benson

Heavy Cream - John Johnny - Super Treatment (2012)

- 2^nd album. Debut was out in 2010

- Ty Segall produced amped up rocker of an album.

Official Site : HypeMachine

Magnolia Electric Co. - What's Broken Becomes Better- Sojourner (2007)

- 4 disc compilation of the band's travels in 2005

- An exhaustive exploration into all the sounds leader Jason Molina brings with his music.

- Just read he is currently in recovery and has no recording or tour plans.

- A sad, but fitting time to promote one of my personal favorites.

Black Mountain – In Sequence – Year Zero OST (2012)

- Soundtrack for the post-apocalyptic surf movie, Year Zero.

- 3 albums from this group of Canadians

- Jagjaguwar Band… Bloomington’s star loaded label.