The Unknown & Unheard Show 290!

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Menomena : Plumage : Moms (2012)

-          5th full length

-          This is the best track on the album.

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

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Divine Fits : Baby Get Worse : A Thing Called the Divine Fits (2012)

-          The long awaited collaborative album from Spoon's Britt Daniel and Wolf Parade/Handsome Furs' Dan Boeckner.

-          This album is powered by the Boeckner led tracks but this cover is pretty hard to deny as the album's highlight.

-          Rowland S. Howard was the guitarist in the Boys Next Door, Nick Cave's first band, and Cave covered it brilliantly himself for them.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

A.C. Newman : Not Talking : Shut Down the Streets (2012)

-          Latest solo release from the New Pornographers' frontman.

-          The New Porno's released their fourth album, Together, in 2010.

-          One of the brightest, good-mood-evoking voices in the indie rock world.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Natural Child : Derek's Blues : Hard In Heaven (2012)

-          2nd full length.

-          Big fun and loose, vintage 1970's classic rock sound here. Think Lynyrd Skynyrd.

-          Debut, 1971, was on more than a few best of '11 lists.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

  

Tony Castles : One Tone Man : Sharon Stone EP (2012)

-          2nd EP. Out 10/23/12

-          Debut EP, No Service was out in 2010

-          Download for free at RCRDLBL!

-          Brooklyn band that I feel are going to be massively successful once they get some more music rolling out.

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Slam Donahue : C'mon C'mon : Hemlock Tea EP (2012)

-          Forthcoming 2nd EP

-          One of the catchier songs I've come across in quite a while

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine

Withered Hand : Heart Heart : Heart Heart EP (2012)

-          Latest EP of 3.

-          2011 debut full length, Good News, was one of my favorite releases of the year.

-          Neil Young-heavy sound.

-          His best song and unfortunately very profane. The FCC would not appreciate it if I didn’t edit… or maybe they would because it would result in them getting more cash for no good reason!

-          Favorite new (to me) band!

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Dusted : Property Lines : Total Dust (2012)

-          Debut full length

-          Collaborative band from a member of Holy Fuck and Final Fantasy.

-          Big Neil Young folk sound.

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine

Goodnight, Texas : Jesse Got Trapped In a Coal Mine : A Long Life of Living (2012)

-          Forthcoming debut album

-          Great slightly more country brand of folk.

Official Site : Amazon

Raymond Byron & the White Freighter : You'll Never Surf Again : Little Death Shaker (2012)

-          Debut full length from this new project from Ray Raposa, of the Castenets.

-          Out on Asthmatic Kitty Records… Sufjan's label.

-          Rootsy, easy folk.

-          RIYL The Tallest Man on Earth

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Tame Impala : Elephant : Lonerism (2012)

-          2nd album

-          Australian classic psych outfit.

-          Members also responsible for the excellent band POND.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

The UFO Club : Chapel In My Mind : The UFO Club/Night Beats 10" (2012)

-          Split 10" with Night Beats

-          Also one LP from collaboration between The Black Angels and Night Beats.

-          Great dark psych rock… not a surprise considering the band's family tree.

Facebook : HypeMachine

Psychic Ills : Take Me With You : Zoned b/w Take Me With You (2012)

-          Latest split single with Moon Duo.

-          3^rd full length, Hazed Dream was out in 2011, but numerous other EP and single releases.

-          Trippy garage psych rock.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

The xx : Chained : Coexist (2012)

-          2nd album. Debut was a massive indie hit.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

FIDLAR : Cheap Beer : FIDLAR (2012)

-          Latest single. 2 EPs out as well.

-          Rough garage rick with a bit of surf rock.

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

-          FIDLAR = Fuck It Dude Life’s A Risk.

-          SXSW 2012

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine

Why? : Jonathon's Hope : Mumps, Etc. (2012)

-          4th album

-          An incredibly unique blend of Alt hip hop, spoken word and alt indie rock.

-          Some of their rock-heavy songs bring forth some of the most interesting combinations of sounds.

-          This is one of their best to date.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

The Unknown & Unheard Show 149!!!

Stream & Download The U & U Show 149 Right Here, Right Now! (MediaFire) Thao Nguyen & the Get Down Stay Downs- The Clap + Cool Yourself - Know Better, Learn Faster (2009) - new album - if you are unfamiliar with Thao you need to correctly that quickly - Her last album, We Brave Bee Stings And All, was highlighted by the track 'Bag of Hammers." - Female M. Ward? + some Modest Mouse-y guitars Official Site : MySpace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine

Local Natives - Wide Eyes - Gorilla Manor (2009) - debut album - Check out their DayTrotter Session Here! Official Site : MySpace : Stream on HypeMachine Langhorne Slim – So Glad That I'm Coming Home – Be Set Free (2009) - 3rd album… out September 29th - His self-titled second blew me away. - the best folk singer/songwriter out there for my money. Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Jamie T – Jilly Armeen – King’s & Queens (2009) - 2nd album - British singer/songwriter - At times he leans into rap, but I think he’s at his best when he goes for a catchy rock/punk sound. - This is pretty mellow track, for him especially. Makes me think of a David Ford song. Official Site : MySpace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine The Senors of Marseille - The Coolest Girl In New York - The Senors of Marseille EP (2009) - debut EP - Pop for sure, but not the standard, usually non-phenomenal brand you find all too often... this is interesting. Makes me think of Belle & Sebastian. - It's amazing how so much 'pop' music can be made that isn't discernable from all the other like it. Pop should stand out and stand up on its own. Official Site : MySpace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Loch Lomond - Wax and Wire - Night Bats (2009) - out November 10th - delicate vocals that expand with the pulses of the music. - Portland band touring with the Decemberists MySpace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine The xx – Stars – XX (2009) - debut album - huge explosion of hype and praise about this band in the past week. - RIYL: Old good Snow Patrol, not new crappy Snow Patrol Myspace : Stream on HypeMachine Dead Man’s Bones –In The Room Where You Sleep – Dead Man’s Bones (2009) - First single from actors’, Ryan Gosling and Zack Shields, band featuring Silverlake Conservatory children’s choir. - Out October 6th - On ANTI one of the most eclectic labels going. - Best Halloween album ever? Yes. - Arcade Fire and Polyphonic Spree fans… dig in! Myspace : Stream on HypeMachine Sonny & the Sunsets – Too Young To Burn – Tomorrow Is Alright (2009) - Debut album - Raven Sings The Blues is one of my favorite blogs when I want something raw, garage, psychedelic, bluesy or any combination of those in the form of a band no one knows about - Sonny Smith is the leader and has release more work under his given name. Official Site : Sonny Smith Official Site : Stream on HypeMachine King Khan & the Shrines - Desert Mile – Viva Records: The Best of Me + You Vol. 1 (2009) - one of the busier musicians of the past two years. - King Khan & the Shrines, King Khan & the BBQ Show and the Almighty Defenders - New album with the BBQ Show is due out next month. - Garage goodness! Official Site : MySpace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Harlem - Junkie Nurse - Unreleased - Royal Trux cover. Fuzzy Kurt Vile-like sound. - Debut, Free Drugs ;-), was very well received and they are a band getting a lot of chatter going into CMJ Musicfest. MySpace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine The Whigs - In The Dark –In The Dark (2009) - first single from forthcoming 3rd album - playing Birdy’s in Indy 11/4 - Big rock sound… if you like this track check out their song ‘Right Hand on My Heart’ Official Site : MySpace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Surfer Blood - Swim (To Reach the End) (2009) - Debut album - echoey sound is reminiscent of Kurt Vile except these guys have more of a anthem sound. MySpace : Stream on HypeMachine Old Canes - Sweet - Feral Harmonic (2009) - solo debut from Appleseed Cast frontman Chris Crisci. - seems to be a big focus on grand percussion arrangements. - This is the most elaborate and intense track on the album. Official Site : MySpace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine

The Unknown & Unheard Show 141!!!

Stream & Download The U & U Show 141 Right Here, Right Now! Free Energy – Dark Trance – Free Energy (2009) - Forthcoming debut full length. - formerly known as Hockey Night - Produced by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. - I want this album NOW! - After only 3 tracks this has risen to the top of my 2009 favorites. I hope it delivers. - This track especially reminds me of OK Go’s initial sounds. Myspace : Stream on HypeMachine These United States - I Want You to Keep Everything - Everything Touches Everything (2009) - 3rd album in 3 yrs - Their debut was one that I immediately latched onto, but it took a re-release to drive up the following this band deserves. - Jesse Elliot, lead singer, writes some fantastic lyrics to go along with the layered Americana progressions. Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Chuck Ragan – Rotterdam – Gold Country (2009) - 3rd solo album - Former lead singer of Hot Water Music - Powerful voice with a southern folk rock sound - Out Sept. 1st Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Family Portrait – Will You Be There? (Michael Jackson Cover) - mellow lo-fi 60’s surf feel to this one - Don’t mistake this for a tribute to that creepy weirdo, this cover is quality. - Crazy homemade video to this track with a wide assortment of flamethrowers Myspace : Stream on HypeMachine Ramona Falls – Always Right – Intuit (2009) - forthcoming solo debut from Brent Knopf of Menomena - Out August 18th - 2nd member to put forth a solo effort Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine The xx – Crystallized – XX (2009) - debut album - huge explosion of hype and praise about this band in the past week. - RIYL: Old good Snow Patrol, not new crappy Snow Patrol - Disgruntled tip of me hat to NPR for being on this band a couple months ago. Myspace : Stream on HypeMachine The Heavy – How You Like Me Now? – The House That Dirt Built (2009) - 2nd album out sept. 21st - Funky, soulful UK band with a massive sound. Official Site : Myspace : Buy On Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Soulsavers – Unbalanced Pieces – Broken (2009) - 2nd Soulsavers album - Mark Lanegan’s latest album since his insanely good album of duets with Isobel Campbell - His voice is hauntingly soulful Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Sea Wolf – Wicked Blood – White Water, White Bloom (2009) - 2nd album - LA band with the sound of a less intense and emotional Arcade Fire - Sold a bit of their music for commercials Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Brendan Benson – Eyes on the Horizon – My Old, Familiar Friend (2009) - forthcoming album, first since Raconteurs work - out 8-18-09 - for those not near and dear to his previous solo work you should be able to at least clearly hear his contribution to the Raconteurs’ sound. Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Choir Of Young Believers – Action/Reaction – This Is For the Whites in Your Eyes (2008) - debut full length - POWER Pop… borders on too sugary, but doesn’t cross the line in my opinion. Label's Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine Generationals – Nobody Could Change Your Mind– Con Law (2009) - debut album - Louisianan Band - Indie pop - Great SXSW DayTrotter Session Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Bandcamp : Stream on HypeMachine : DayTrotter Session Vandaveer – Turpentine – Divide & Conquer (2009) - 2nd album from this DC singer songwriter, Mark Charles Heidinger - He also has played bass for U & U favorite, These United States. - His voice is the standout element, but his rich compositions are a close second. - This track (and a few other tracks) feature some back-up female vocals that compliment the music nicely Official Site : Myspace : Buy on Amazon : Stream on HypeMachine