The Unknown & Unheard Show 231! (mp3)

Robert Pollard - In a Circle - Lord of the Birdcage (2011)

-          I've lost count of how many albums Pollard has put out… it's substantial.

-          Leader of Guided By Voices who have reunited and are one of the huge names gracing the Pitchfork Music Fest stage.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Black Lips – New Direction – Arabia Mountain (2011)

-          3rd track out off their forthcoming 6^th album.

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

-          Sloppy garage rock.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Ty Segall - You Make the Sun Fry - Goodbye Bread (2011)

-          Forthcoming full length.

-          Just released a T. Rex themed EP of covers for Record Store Day. This release has completely sold me on Ty.

-          Huge critical hit.

-          Big garage rock here. Think old Black Keys.

-          Played one of the loudest, most rockin' sets at SXSW

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

JEFF the Brotherhood – Hey Friend - We Are the Champions (2011)

-          4th album

-          Jake & Jamin Orrall

-          Kraut punk rock. Harder, eclectic rock.

-          This album has a significantly increased pop feel to it… Early Weezer specifically at times.

-          Played SXSW and they lead singer & guitarist came out into the crowd, right in front of me and played a solo from his knees for me!

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Handsome Furs – Repatriated – Sound Kapital (2011)

-          3^rd album from Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner and his wife.

-          Out June 28^th.

-          I was late to the party here, but glad I didn’t miss it!

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Yeasayer - Swallowing the Decibels - End Blood (2011)

-          Record Store Day Release single of b-sides from the recording sessions for their 2nd album, Odd Blood.

-          Best Band of Pitchfork Music Fest 2009 By Far!

-          Immensely layered quintet

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

The Felice Brothers – Fire at the Pageant – 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.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – Skeletons - It's A Corporate World (2011)

-          Forthcoming debut full length.

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

-          Playing the White Rabbit Cabaret Friday, June 17th

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Donkeys - I Like the Way You Walk - 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

Paleo – Holly Would - Fruit of the Spirit (2011)

-          Forthcoming full length.

-          David Andrew Strackany

-          From Brooklyn NY

-          opened for These United states when I caught them a couple years ago.

-          Wrote 1 song a day for 1 year. Now he just has his, still quite prolific, Song Diary on his official site.

-          looks like a young John Mayall

-          Played SXSW

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

J Roddy Walston and the Business – Jesus Gonna Do His Best  (2011)

-          First single from forthcoming 2nd full length.

-          Baltimore band

-          Rock and roll feel to some of the tracks

-          Makes me think of Dr. Dog here.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Bill Callahan - Universal Applicant - Apocalypse (2011)

-          3rd album

-          Folk singer/songwriter type

-          The voice gets me here more than anything

-          Former leader of Smog.

-          This album is fantastic!

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Okkervil River – The Rise – I Am Very Far (2011)

-          Brand new LP.

-          This is a former best of the U & U top spot holder thanks to their album ‘The Stage Names’

-          Lyric-heavy deeply layered building folk rock.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Nat Baldwin - Lake Erie - Most Valuable Player (2008)

-          Debut album. Released another full length since.

-          Solo effort from Dirty Projectors’ bassist.

-          Brings a fresh take to the world of independent music with his electric and stand up bass based compositions.

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Moonface - Fast Peter - Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped (2011)

-          First full length. 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

The Unknown & Unheard Show 219! (mp3)

Stream & Download The U & U Show 219 Right Here, Right Now! (Download) TV on the Radio – Will Do - Nine Types of Light (2011) - First single from their long-awaited forthcoming album. - It seems all of their members have done their own projects since their last full length came out in 2008. - Made my best of 2008 show. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine The Builders and the Butchers – Rotten To the Core - Dead Reckoning (2011) - 3rd album - Tense energy can be felt through out their music. - Great live band! Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : DayTrotter Cave Singers – Haystacks – No Witch (2010) - 3rd album. 1st release with always out-doing itself, Jagjaguwar records. - The raspy vocals here are worth the price of admission. - Their previous work has had me dying to get my hands on this, long-talked about, 3rd album. - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Mountain Goats – Birth of Serpents – All Eternals Deck (2011) - Forthcoming full length - 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. Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The R.G. Morrison - Funeral For a Foe - Learning About Loathing (2006) - Debut album. - Ominous side of folk that is remeniscent of Iron & Wine. - Playing SXSW. Official Site : Amazon Pearl and the Beard - Oh, Death! - God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson (2009) - Debut full length - I know an Amanda Richardson… not sure if it's the same one… hmm. - Dramatic and full range of instruments incorporated. - Playing SXSW Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Sean Rowe - Wet - Magic (2011) - Debut album - Singer/Songwriter - Scaled back and restrained to a powerful conclusion. - Playing SXSW Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Back In the Saddle – Let It Sway (2010) - 3rd full length - Indie rock band from Missouri - This album was produced by Death Cab’s Chris Walla (also produced albums for the Thermals, the Decemberists, and the Long Winters) - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Said the Whale - Camilo (The Magician) - Islands Disappear (2009) - 2nd album. - About as good of an example of Indie pop as you can find. - A friend turned me on to this band via the video for this song. Watch it! - Playing SXSW. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine PS I Love You - Meet Me at the Muster Station - Meet Me At the Muster Station (2010) - Full length debut - Split single with Diamond Rings. (The Diamond Rings’ track was the infinitely catchy ‘All Yr Songs’. - I think they are fans of the Rolling Stones. - Playing SXSW MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Rural Alberta Advantage – Barnes' Yard - Departing (2011) - 2nd album - Blew up with their 2009 debut album and the single 'Don't Haunt This Place'. - songs are really marked by the bands drumming. Fast paced and light. - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness - Angles (2011) - 4th album and first album since 2006. - One of the biggest bands of the 00's. Huge immediate following then a subsequent backlash. - Julian Casablancas, Nikolai Fraiture and Albert Hammond, Jr. all have released solo albums and Fabrizio Moretti has played with Wolf Parade since their last release. - Playing SXSW Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Secret Cities - Boyfriends - Pink Graffiti (2010) - Debut album - Indie folk pop. - Playing SXSW. Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine Portugal, The Man – Church Mouth - Church Mouth (2007) - 2nd album of 5. - This band has had a huge sound from the start. - They are always putting out changing and innovative tracks. - RIYL The Raconteurs/Jack White/Brendan Benson. - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine The Strange Boys – This Girls Taught Me a Dance – The Strange Boys & Girls Club (2009) - debut full length - in the same vein as the Black Lips… lo-fi mash-up of 60’s/70’s rock, old r&b and punk. MySpace : HypeMachine The Sheepdogs - Please Don't Lead Me On - Learn & Burn (2010) - 2nd album - big classic rock feel. Think Humble Pie. - 'I Don't Know' is another great track. - Playing SXSW MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Surfer Blood - Swim (To Reach the End) – Astro Coast (2009) - Debut album - echoey sound is reminiscent of Kurt Vile except these guys have more of a anthem sound. - One of the biggest new acts of 2009. - Playing SXSW MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Paleo – Woman Like Me - Death & Taxes: Selected Songs From the Song Diary (2009) - David Andrew Strackany - From Brooklyn NY - opened for These United states when I caught them a couple years ago. - Wrote 1 song a day for 1 year. Now he just has his, still quite prolific, Song Diary on his official site. - looks like a young John Mayall - Playing SXSW Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine Pepper Rabbit - Harvest Moon - Beauregard (2010) - Debut full length. - surprise new band of the week that really drew me in. - Playing SXSW Official Site : HypeMachine