Unknown and Unheard: Tame Impala

Mac DeMarco : The Way You'd Love Her : Another One (2015)

- Forthcoming 'mini album'

- His 3rd album, Salad Days, was one of 2014's best.

- Lazy, wobbly, in and out of tune indie pop.

BandCamp

U & U Show 406 | Titus Returns and Has Me Excited

Stream and Download the Show Here! (Right click and save to download)

Mikal Cronin : Turn Around : MCIII (2015)

- 3rd album.

- One of the best songwriters going writing vintage beachy psych rock/pop.

- Also in a surf-punk band called the Moonhearts & Ty Segall's backing band, just like Ty's in Mikal's band.

MySpace : facebook

The Tallest Man On Earth : Darkness of the Dream : Dark Bird Is Home (2015)

- 4th album.

- Swedish singer/songwriter Kristian Matsson

- Powerful voice and bringing in the fullness of a War On Drugs LP.

- 2008 self-titled debut was very well received.

The U & U Show 402 | So Many Big Names w/ New LPs

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Tame Impala : 'Cause I'm A Man : Currents (2015)

- First single from forthcoming 3rd LP.

- By far the most dance-y track to date. Sounds more like Daft Punk than their previous music.

- Innerspeaker & Lonerism have been two of the best Beatles-leaning vintage psych rock albums of the past few years.

- One of the leading forces of the Perth, AUS psych rock scene.

Sufjan Stevens : The Only Thing : Carrie and Lowell (2015)

- I believe it's officially his forthcoming 6th album, but he's also but out numerous other compilations and releases from side projects.

- 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 Show 399 | #SXSW 2015 Preview 6 of 6

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Sufjan Stevens : Should Have Known Better : Carrie and Lowell (2015)

- I believe it's officially his forthcoming 6th album, but he's also but out numerous other compilations and releases from side projects.

- 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.

Tame Impala : Let It Happen (2015)

- First single from forthcoming 3rd LP.

- By far the most dance-y track to date. Sounds more like Daft Punk than their previous music.

- Innerspeaker & Lonerism have been two of the best Beatles-leaning vintage psych rock albums of the past few years.

- One of the leading forces of the Perth, AUS psych rock scene.

The U & U Show 382 | Tame Impala Gushfest 2014

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Tame Impala : Feels Like We Only Go Backwards : Lonerism (2012)

- 2nd album and my 2nd favorite album of 2012.

- Australian classic psych outfit led by Kevin Parker.

- Members also responsible for the excellent band POND.

Nicholas Allbrook : Pretty Story : Ganough, Wallis & Fatuna (2014)

- Debut solo album

- Former touring bassist for Tame Impala

- Leader of POND and in Allbrook/Avery, which is another Tame Impala/POND spin off band

- This collective of Perth musicians is making some of the greatest psych rock currently.

The U & U Show 318!

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Mikal Cronin : Piano Mantra : MCII (2013)

- S/t solo debut out in 2011.

- Album is produced by fellow west coaster, Ty Segall.

- Also in a surf-punk band called the Moonhearts & Ty Segall's backing band, just like Ty's in Mikal's band.

Facebook

Sunset Rubdown : Us Ones In Between : Shut Up I Am Dreaming… (2006)

- 2nd, of 4, albums.

- Their 4th, 2009's Dragonslayer, was easily one of the best that year.

- One of Spencer Krug’s many bands.

- His Latest project, Moonface, had my favorite album of 2012. Heartbreaking Bravery.

- New solo piano Moonface album in the fall of 2013.

- Check out one of the most powerfully touching videos for this song HERE.

The U & U Show 316! Post Record Store Day

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Cold Specks : Restless : When the City Lights Dim (single) (2013)

- Latest single.

- Powerful rough female vocalist.

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

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine : @ColdSpecks

The National : Don’t Swallow the Cap : Trouble Will Find Me (2013)

- 6th album

- One of two lead singles out now.

- Has the vibe of their last full length album, 2010's High Violet.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : DayTrotter

Record Store Day 2013 | 16 Releases To Hunt For Saturday

The post-SXSW let down is a real thing. Even before I was migrating down to Austin, February and March were a flood of new music. Nothing really rivals it. This puts a lot of pressure on April. After weeks of drinking music out of a firehose how does one deal with the fallout following this glut. Thankfully, April has an answer. A day full of special, appetizer-sized bites of new music celebrating brick, mortar, vinyl and community. Record Store Day is a good thing and I'm thrilled to see what the New York shops have to offer. Here's the little wish list I came up with after combing through the list of releases found here.

The U & U Show 305!

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Pickwick : Lady Luck (feat. Sharon Van Etten) (Richard Swift Cover) : Can't Talk Medicine (2013)

- Debut album

- Seattle band

- One of my all-time favorite songs.

- Get this track for free on their official site!

Tame Impala : Mind Mischief : Lonerism (2012)

- 2nd album

- Australian classic psych outfit.

- Members also responsible for the excellent band POND.

- Tied for 2nd best album of the U & U 2012.

- Enjoyable NSFW video.

Foxygen : No Destruction : We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic (2013)

- 2nd full length.

- Debut album that was just rereleased after Jagjaguwar signed them in 2011.

- Funkier Rolling Stones feel.

- CMJ 2012

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine : @FoxygenTheBand

Frightened Rabbit : The Woodpile : Pedestrian Verse (2013)

- 4th album and first on a major label.

- Midnight Organ Fight is their best to date.

- Scottish accent stands out, but there seems to be something more than that to his vocals and make them truly unique.

- The construct some of the most beautifully powerful and layered indie rock songs I've ever heard.

Fidlar : Gimmie Something : Fidlar (2013)

- Debut full length.

- Rough garage rick with a bit of surf rock.

- So glad to see these guys getting a bit of publicity.

- FIDLAR = Fuck It Dog Life’s A Risk.

- SXSW 2012

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine

Ty Segall : Woodland Rock : Ty Rex (2011)

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

- Huge critical hit.

- Ty released 3 albums in 2012, rereleased 2 plus a 2-song single for his new project Fuzz this year.

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

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club : Let the Day Begin : Specter at the Feast (2013)

- 7th album, but it's been a while since their last truly noteworthy album.

- An exceptional live band.

Night Beds : Ramona : Country Sleep (2013)

- Debut album.

- Very talented vocalist.

- Sounds like a cross between Ryan Adams and the Cave Singers.

Wooden Wand : Outsider Blues : Blood Oaths of the New Blues (2013)

- James Jackson Toth project's forthcoming album.

- This song will be on my best of 2013, and I know I'm saying that in January.

- Last release was 2011's Wooden Wand and the Briarwood Virgins.

- Also released music as WAND after his band left him.

- SXSW 2012

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

David Bowie : Where Are We Now? : The Next Day (2013)

- Forthcoming 25th album. First in 10+ years.

- Very big Pink Floyd feel here… 'Us & Them' specifically.

Nightlands : Born To Love : Oak Island (2013)

- 2nd full length

- Act on Secretly Canadian, sister label of Jagjaguwar.

Local Natives : Bowery : Hummingbird (2012)

- First single off forthcoming album.

- debut album was 2010's L'Aventure.

- Check out their DayTrotter Session Here!

Official Site : Myspace : HypeMachine

The Amazing : Gentle Stream : Gentle Stream (2012)

- 2nd full length

- Swedish 60's-ish folk rock.

- Founded by two members of the band Dungen

Myspace : HypeMachine

Richard Swift : Lady Luck : The Atlantic Ocean (2009)

- 4^th full length

- Hops from genre to genre

- This track has some serious vintage sounds, Motown in particular, and was released on a primer EP that was filled with similar feels.

- Been doing a lot more album producing in 2012+

Monday, December 24, 2012

The U & U Show 301! Best Albums of 2012!

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Twerps : Don't Be Surprised : Twerps (2011)

- 2nd Album

- The 2011 album that would've been on my best of show then had I found it in time.

- A spacey brand of indie pop.

- CMJ 2012

BandCamp : @TwerpsTwerps

14 : The Mountain Goats : Harlem Roulette : Transcendental Youth (2012)

- Latest full length. Previous was 2011's All Eternals Deck and was a Best of the U & U.

- 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.

13 : Menomena : Heavy Is As Heavy Does : Moms (2012)

- 5th full length

- One of the most innovative bands going. Even after Brent Knopf left to form Ramona Falls.

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

- Debut album

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

- SXSW 2012

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

- Forthcoming full length debut

- Powerful rough female vocalist.

- RIYL The Head and the Heart

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

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine : @ColdSpecks

10 : Suckers : Figure It Out : Candy Salad (2012)

- 2nd full length

- Eclectic rock that might could be RIYL Wolf Parade or Menomena. (I do)

- Debut EP and LP each received Best of the U & U honors.

- SXSW 2012.

9 : Ty Segall & White Fence : I Am Not A Game : Hair (2012)

- First collaborative album

- San Fran 60’s psych/garage rock leader.

- One three 2012 Ty Segall albums