Snowman - The Horse, The Rat & The Swan

Genre: Hypnotic, Garage, Psychedelic, Punk Rock
Year: 2008
Label: Dot Dash
Who: Joe McKee, Andy Citawarman, Olga Hermanniusson and Ross DiBlasio.
Where: Perth
Like: A tribal insane asylum
Rating: 7/10

Compare to: Black Tapes, The Drones, Hatifnats, Wilderness, Crystal Antlers

If you're into those outrageous, crazy-eyed rockabillies whom appear rather shoegazish but then side-swipe you with hypnotizing tribal-esque rhythms and belligerent vocals than hold the phone because Snowman has come just in time to slap that holiday cheer right off your face. But in a good way! That is if you enjoy making your greasy hair stand on end and then making it all right again. On their November release of The Horse, The Rat & The Swan, Snowman has accomplished all of this and then some. Their aesthetic is hard to put your finger on. I'd suggest listening to them before you investigate them...which is always best anyways. They embody a specific style of alternative rock fused with dark psychedelic punk rock that is a very worthwhile listen if you ask me.

Choice Tracks: Our Mother (She Remember), She is Turning Into You, Diamond Wounds

1 Our Mother (She Remembers)
2 We Are The Plague
3 The Gods of the Upper House
4 The Blood of The Swan
5 Daniel was a Time Bomb
6 A Rebirth
7 She is Turning Into You
8 The House (parts 1&2)
9 Diamond Wounds



Try It.
More about this band.

Flood by Todd Chandler (Dark Dark Dark)

FLOOD

with Dark Dark Dark
& Fall Harbor







"Flood is an experimental narrative journey. It begins on the water, on a fleet of hand crafted boats, pieced together from scrap and found materials . On water time twists and bends in mysterious ways. Some people aboard the rafts cannot remember a time before the water. Others are lost in their memories from a previous life on the land. Some remember the boats starting out as a summer project among friends. Others remember fleeing their homes. Still others remember that the way of living they used to know was no longer working, and that something had to give. As the flotilla creeps down the river the past, present, and future stories of the boats and their inhabitants becomes clearer and more elusive.

A mash-up of genres, Flood blends narrative, documentary, musical, and improvised experimental film. The film will be shot amidst the installation artist Swoon’s Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea project, in which seven homespun boats will be built and crewed by an eclectic group of artists and performers. The boats will float down the Hudson River conducting performances as they stop in towns along the way.

The primary cast of Flood is comprised of the bands Dark Dark Dark and Fall Harbor. The musician/actors will be performing in the film in addition to composing the score. There will be two final versions of the film: one which will be a stand-alone feature length film screened theatrically and at festivals, and another which will tour galleries, performance and community spaces in Spring 2010 with the musician/actors featured in the film providing a live musical score during screenings."


I just watched the trailer for Flood, which was brought to my attention by Chandler, and I must say I was blown away. Although I'm not much for thick rimmed glasses (shout out to Tallahassee), I will admit the film is gorgeous and seems like it will be an incredibly moving narrative like a mix between Mark Twain, river rats, Noah's ark, and two very talented--and not to mention aesthetically pleasing--bands. The presentation is awe-inspiring and the cinematography is seemingly outstanding. Definitely a strong collection of talented people. Check out the website and watch the teasers and buy the bands albums!

FLOODMOVIE.COM

FLOOD TEASER from flood movie on Vimeo.

Robedoor - Endlessly Blazing

Genre: Drone, Experimental Psych, Avant Gard, Noise
Year: 2008
Label: Woodsist
Who: Alex and Britt
Where: Brooklyn
Like: An hour walk down judgment path
Rating: 8/10

Compare to: Sunn O))), Yellow Swans, Pocahaunted, Burning Star Core, Emeralds

Headless druids falling through a portal. Freak lore repeated as such. The overturning of blackened wax and the unfearthing of a howling mystery. Drone amulets, Robedoor, bring all five senses hailing back with their release of Endlessly Blazing. Listen while dreaming and you'll either never wake up, never want to wake up, or ever go back asleep again. I'm sorry, but I love robedoor, but be forewarned you may not.



1. Sabbath Breaker
2. Reality is a Mausoleum
3. Fire in the Hole





Try it.
More about the band.

Woods Family Creeps - Woods Family Creeps

Genre: Psychfolk, Experimental, Psychedelic, Lo-Fi
Year: 2008
Label: Fuck It Tapes
Who: Jeremy Earl, Jarvis Taveniere, and G. Lucas Crane
Where: NYC
Like: Watching an 8mm in somebody's garbage bagged garage in Iowa
Rating: 7/10

Compare to: WOODS, Lau Nau, Tickley Feather, Paavoharju, Blank Dogs

WOODS are back and reinvented with their release of Woods Family Creeps' self-titled album. The album is full of lo-fi rambling bullshit infused with a bit more soulful blues than their previous projects. Its fluid and easy to listen to, and if you like this definitely hop over to their site and check out the three other more lyric based tracks they have streaming. Aside from the hookish vocals, which as usual mirror anything anyone has ever licked into a microphone, the band's sound embodies a unique lo-fi style, flagging its own crispness as well as haughty psychedelic drone. well worth a listen.

Choice tracks: The Creeps, Diamond Days

1. End to End
2. Creeps Collage
3. Twisted Tongue
4. Family
5. Howling on Howling
6. Diamond Days
7. Spike
8. Sleep Sleep Sleep
9. The Creeps


Try it.
More about the band.

Dark Dark Dark - The Snow Magic

Genre: Gypsies yess?
Year: 2008
Label: Blood Onion Records
Who: Nona Marie Invie, Marshall LaCount, Todd Chandler, Jonathan Kaiser
Where: Manhattan/Minneapolis
Like: crying while drinking on the streets in the slums of Russia in the 20s
Rating: 7/10

Compare to: Beirut, Firekites, Deer Tick, These United States, Dresden Dolls

Heavy strings and harmonious vocals make Dark Dark Dark's debut album The Snow Magic a pure vision of fluid instrumentation and jarring imagery. The band's past is so deeply woven within the dynamics of their sound and style that it is impossible to not be moved by this album, though it may be a tad too movie soundtrack sounding. Singing of ghosts, murders, and of course love, Dark Dark Dark's dueling male/female vocals make you wanna swirl around to embroidered paper doll cut-outs and cotton ball clouds. Its intense if you're in the mood for daunting gypsy music sung by semi-realistic gypsies.


Choice tracks: Ferment in D Minor, Dig a Grave


1. Ashes
2. Benefit of the Doubt
3. A Cloud Story
4. Colors
5. Dig a Grave
6. Ferment in Dm
7. Junk Bones
8. New York Song
9. A Spell for Letting Go
10. That Light
11. Trouble No More
12. Winter Coat
13. All the Things


Try It. Then Buy It.
More about the band.

Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic

Genre: Psychedelic, Avant Gard, Lo-FI, Ambient
Year: 2009
Label: Unsigned
Who: Luke Temple & Band
Where: Brooklyn, NY
Like: an eerie back alley bum tripping on shrooms
Rating: ?/10

Compare to: Luke Temple, Ariel Pink, Cass McCombs, Flying, Animal Collective, Caribou

Luke Temples side project is set to make their psychedelic debut this February under the name Here We Go Magic. The release has yet to leak, but the band is streaming a handful of tracks on of course their myspace. Having given these tracks more than a fair listen, I can say I am quite excited for this album especially since there aren't that may outstanding records forecasted for this spring. Here We Go Magic has a refreshingly mature lo-fi psychedlic sound abundant with flushing harmonies and warm beats perfect for a day in the grass with your shroomies. Although their sound may resemble classic psychedelia a tad too much, it can be heard with a modern ear which makes it better than anything Ariel Pink has ever attempted. But of course this is just based of three tracks.


1. Only Pieces
2. Fangela
3. Ahab
4. Tunnelvision
5. Ghost List
6. I Just Want To See You Underwater
7. Babyohbabyijustcantstanditanymore
8. Nat’s Alien
9. Everything’s Big

More qbout the band.
More qbout Luke.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

Genre: Experimental, Freak-Folk
Year: 2009
Label: formally Paw-Tracks now signed to Domino
Who: Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz)
Where: NY/Washington/Lisbon/DC
Like: Like usual, hookish beats and vocal slurs underwater
Rating: 6/10

Compare to: Panda Bear, Grizzly Bear, Ariel Pink

Follow up to their previous release, Strawberry Jam and latest EP Water Curses, Merriweather Post Pavillion (due out on Jan 20th) is pretty much the same deal. One noticeable change would be their tendency to steer stronger toward Noah Lennox's style and structure. Personally, I think that's unfortunate, but what can you do. Nonetheless, here is Animal Collectives 2009 release. Its decent, as usual their tracks pick up towards the end making for a jammish finale.

Choice Track: My Girls (aka House)


1. In the Flowers
2. My Girls
3. Also Frightened
4. Summertime Clothes
5. Daily Routine
6. Bluish
7. Guys Eyes
8. Taste
9. Lion in a Coma
10. No More Runnin
11. Brother Sport
*12. Grace
*13. On a Highway

Try it. p1. p2.
More about the band.

Snake Flower 2 - Renegade Daydream

Genre: Garage, Psychedelic, Punk
Year: 2008
Label: Tic Tac Totally
Who: Matthew M. Melton, Johnny Axe, Carlos Bermudez
Where: Chicago
Like: Trippin down murdermile in a white '68 mustang convertible decked in suede
Rating: 6.5/10

Compare to: Bare Wires, Jay Reatard, Blank Dogs, Wizzard Sleeve, Honkeyfinger, Nothing People

Snake Flower 2's debut album, Renegade Daydream, is a dream scape of novelty garage punk with a twang of psych influence. Its like getting punched in the face by your lover followed by a subsequent blood filled rusty booze fest. This is without a doubt a ten track lamb of an audio treat. So genuinely rock.

Choice Track: Set You Straight


1. Flight of the Navigator
2. Talk About It
3. I Woke Up In a Dream
4. Snake Girl
5. No Way Home
6. Just a Dreamer
7. Younger Daze
8. Face in the Crowd
9. Set You Straight
10. Not This Time



Try It.
More About The Band.

Brightblack Morning Light - Motion to Rejoin

Genre: Psychedelic, Ambient Blues, Folk
Year: 2008
Label: Matador
Who: Rachael Hughes, Nathan Shineywater, Paz Lenchantin,
Andy Macleod, Ann McCrary, Elias Reitz, Gail West
Where: New Mexico
Like: Heroin
Rating: 9/10

Compare to: Hypnotism

Great Band. Great Sound. Great Tonal Continuum. Great Sophomore Release. Yet again, I am thrust into uncontrollable waves of chills where I throw my head back and roll my eyes as if I'm falling into an extremely dense cloud of sexiness.
"I was not singing for war, but to engage the spirit of the maker of the arrowhead itself, to offer up Peace, that his warrior effort find a new respect, and to help my own warrior spirit sing in Peace," reveals Naybob (Nathan Shineywater if you please).
If you haven't heard of this seductively entrancing collective then jump on the mothafuckin train. Here it is, Motion to Rejoin.

Choice Tracks: Gathered Years, Past a Weatherbeaten Fencepost

1. Introduction
2. Hologram Buffalo
3. Gathered Years
4. Oppressions Each
5. Another Reclaimation
6. A Rainbow Aims
7. Summer Hoof
8. Past a Weatherbeaten Forecast
9. When Beads Spell Power Leaf



Try It.
More About The Band.

Magik Markers - Pwtre Ser

Genre: Noise, Rock, Experimental, Garage
Year: 2008
Label: Arbitrary Signs
Who: Elisa Ambrogio, Pete Nolan and Leah Quimby
Where: Hartford, Connecticut
Like: Jamming the electrical socket, catching the wall on fire, and no one noticing, Triptastic
Rating: 8/10

Compare to: Old Time Relijun, Abe Vigoda, Raccoo-oo-oon, Pocahaunted, Yellow Swans

This elusive Magik Markers release hits hard with a lesser degree of vocalage and a more guttural instrumentation. Its significantly more ambient and slightly more minimalist and bit less palpable in comparison to their past releases. Pwtre Ser is like swinging too high for too long alone, or hanging out with people who don't listen to you scream.

Choice Tracks: Lengthy Rule

1. Star Jelly
2. Lengthy Rule
3. Sfosa-Mosa
4. Leah

Try It.
More About The Band.

Mother Mother - O My Heart

Genre: Indie, Folk, Rock
Year: 2008
Label: Last Gang Records
Who: Ryan Guldemond, Molly Guldemond, Debra-Jean Creelman, Jeremy Page, Ali Siadat
Where: Vancouver, Canada
Like: Muffled brass on wet roads surrounded by lots of emotional sex
Rating: 7/10

Compare to: Immaculate Machine, No Kids, Metric, Mono in VCF

Mother Mother's previous release, Touch Up, was legitimately harder to come across, but that was before this recent blow up of album linking. Regardless, O My Heart, their 2008 sophomore album, shows up the chirp of a debut in good fashion. Perfect for a happily spent lonely day in your sunshine dimmed flat, Mother Mother harmonize vocals and instrumentation far better than any band has done in a few years now. The album has an amazing collection of variations making it quite effortless to listen to all the way through.

Choice Tracks: Hayloft, Try To Change, Body

1. O My Heart
2. Burning Pile
3. Body of Yours
4. Try to Change
5. Wisdom
6. Body
7. Ghosting
8. Hayloft
9. Wrecking Ball
10. Arms Tonight
11. Miles
12. Sleep Awake

Try It.
More About The Band.

Honkeyfinger - Invocation of The Demon Other

Genre: Dirty Lo-fi Blues
Year: 2008
Label: Hoarse! Records
Who: One Sexy Creep of a Man
Where: UK
Like: Dirty blood coated backseats and sweaty shoulders
Rating: 9/10

Compare to: Flat Duo Jets, Tree Machine, Orange Goblin, Royal Trux, old Kills, D-66

A one man force of evil seduction. I dare say he tops Rob Zombie. Hailing from Bethnal Green, he describes his sound as skronk blues beast rock partial to fuzzy harmonicas and driving percussion. He's got the sound of an entire angry shotgun toting hillbilly ensemble all to himself, expect magnified to the grimmiest most careless sense of that analogy. Throw a little beatboxing loops and rattlesnakes into the mix and you've got one bad ass motherfucker. Oh wait, he's from the UK? I don't get it either, but it sounds pretty damn nastalgic.

Choice Track: Trouble

1 Honk N Skronkin
2 Got This Rage
3 Margarine Man
4 Jiherbode Boogie
5 Trouble
6 Parchman Farm
7 Cobra
8 True Believers

9 Farmer George

10 Fine Things

11 Margarine Man (Pt.2)

12 Burning Skull Blues

13 Boss Honk

14 Running On Empty

15 Subaquatic Homesick Blues

Try It.
More about artist.

Mac Blackout - Mac Blackout

Genre: Post-Punk, Experimental, Noise Rock
Year: 2008
Label: Dead Beat
Who: Mr. Blackout
Where: Illinois
Like: Grinding our teeth and taking sheers to bonfire
Rating: 9/10

Compare to: Blank Dogs, Digital Leather, Human Eye, Jay Reatard

Mr. Blackout's album is his side-project aside from his band The Daily Void. He's no newbie. In fact, he's been around putting out his work since the late 90s, but here is his full length released this year, an extremely cohesive and compressed collection of genuinely great post-punk noise rock. Very very listenable guy.

Choice track: You've Lost Your Eyes

1. Everybody Rock
2. Voodoo Doll
3. Heartache in the City
4. Dreamin’ of Summertime
5. Nowhere Man
6. March of Love and Hate
7. Baby Face Killer
8. Searchin’ for an Angel
9. The Lonely People
10. You’ve Lost Your Eyes
11. Delirium Trim Man
12. I Came from Another World

Try It.
More about this artist.

Metallic Falcons - Desert Doughnuts

Genre: Freak Folk, Experimental, Psychedelic
Year: 2006
Label: Voodoo-EROS
Who: Sierra Casady and Matteah Baim
Where: Brooklyn
Like: Being in a rough tall tree patch at the foot of a mt. range
Rating: 9/10

Compare to: Jana Hunter, White Magic, Vashti Bunyan, Islaja

Casady of CocoRosie and Baim, make an enticing haunt of a duo. With densely Gothic vocals, Metallic Falcons take dark psyche to a whole new level of beautiful. Their albume Desert Doughnuts, released in 2006, certainly inspires visions of a young self figure in the 1800s splashing free-heartedly in a vine engulfed fountain.

1. Journey
2. Airships
3. Night Time And Morning
4. Snakes And Tea
5. Desert Cathedral
6. Silent Night
7. Berry Metal
8. After Metal (Sound Of Stars)
9. Pale Dog
10. A Heart Of Birdsong
11. Misty Song
12. Ocean
13. Disparu
14. Four Hearts

Try It. (fixed) x2
More about the band

Talkdemonic - Eyes at Half Mast

Genre: Post-Rock, Instrumental, Experimental, Strings
Year: 2008
Label: Arena Rock
Who: Kevin O’Connor and Lisa Molinaro
Where: Portland
Like: Traveling through the rundown country without stopping
Rating: 8/10

Compare to: Growing, The Octopus Prjoect, The Dead Texan, Horse Feathers, Whip

Formed in 2002, this folktronic duo, Talkdemonic, certainly knows the trade of instrumental music. Their September release of Eyes at Half Mast makes this their fourth studio album; one that is intricately orchestrated to an honorable degree, and meticulously dynamic throughout. It's a perfect fusion of electronics, strings, and percussion.

1. Leaving Light
2. Ending the Orange Glow
3. Duality of Deathening
4. Shattered into Dyes
5. Tides in their Grave
6. Civilian
7. Black Wood Crimson
8. March Movement
9. Dim Sky
10. Shallow Doldrums
11. Dust and Heat
12. Huancayo Orchestrelle
13. Dream by Heart
14. A Hundred Faces in the Neon Forest

Try it.
More about this band.

Lackthereof - Your Anchor

Genre: not-so-quirky, Lo-Fi, Folk, Solo Project
Year: 2008
Label: Barsuk Records
Who: Danny Seim
Where: Portland
Like: Driving over a big bridge in a foreign city
Rating: 8/10

Compare to: School of Language, Menomena, Field Music, Throw Me a Statue

Seim, the drummer and founder of Menomena, started Lackthereof in 1997, but since the recent touring and grand attention garnered by Menomena, Lackthereof has become the side project. Alone, Seim has a significantly less orchestrated sound, respectfully, as well as a noticably more energizing, light-hearted style compared to his usual, yet still achieves equal texture. Great for a midafternoon listen. Not peppy indie riffs, but instead a hint of electronic fuzz and lo-fi undertones mixed with extremely accesible vocals. Seim's third studio album for Lackthereof, Your Anchor, was released this july and has gained some critical acclaim thus far.

1. Chest Pass
2. Fire Trial
3. Choir Practice
4. Doomed Elephants
5. Locked Upstairs
6. Last November
7. Ask Permission
8. You Can
9. Vacant Eyes
10. Fake Empire

Try It.
More about this artist.

Grouper - Draggin a Dead Deer Up a Hill

Genre: Lush, Dark-Ambient, Experimental, Shoegaze
Year: 2008
Label: Type
Where: Portland
Like: A muffled, slow-motion replay of a tragic montage
Rating: 10/10

Also listen to: Belong, Growing, TwinSisterMoon, Inca Ore

1. Disengaged
2. Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping
3. Stuck
4. When We Fall
5. Traveling Through A Sea
6. Fishing Bird (Empty Jutted In The Evening Breeze)
7. Invisible
8. I'm Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill
9. A Cover Over
10. Wind And Snow
11. Tidal Wave
12. We've All Time To Sleep

Try It.
More about this artist.

Wildildlife - Six (Limited Edition 08)

[Psychedelic, Accessible Noise Rock, Sludge, Hookish Experimental]

Yea thats right, hookish experimental aka Animal Collective gone manic! Just what we've always wanted! These guys do everything perfectly. Watch me dance to experimental doom rock, better yet watch a twee-pop indie kid (not me) dance to this album, because it'll happen. You just wait. O.K. maybe just the single, but whatever.
This is their debut album Six, formally of the SXSW showcase, each track is different and each incredible. Wildildlife is most definitely three Seattle men of top ability, especially on the track "Things Will Grow".

Slightly Similar to These Crazies or Vice Versa: Om, Earth, Raccoo-oo-oon, Pocahaunted, A Place To Bury Strangers

Wildildlife - Six(LE 2008) (pt. 2)

Wovenhand - Ten Stones (08)

[Gothic Americana, Rock, Experimental]

Finally, heres the fifth release from David Eugene Edwards' solo project, Wovenhand entitled Ten Stones. It's a wealthy combination of lulling drones, gothic nuances, and experimental charm. It's rock solid and a respectable follow up to 2006's Mosaic.

Slightly Similar to These Crazies or Vice-Versa: 16 Horsepower, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Celestine, Jay Munly, Bauhaus

Wovenhand - Ten Stones (2008)

Chairlift - Does You Inspire You (2008)

[Electronic, New Wave, Lushhh]

In some parts this band is too cute for me or shall say bubblegum, but despite their single "Evident Utensil" the album is a pretty solid mix between cute pop and trippy electronic rock. "Chairlift formed in Boulder, Colorado in early 2006 to make live music for haunted houses. Frequenting the Broker Inn on the edge of town for empty late-night jazz shows, Caroline Polachek, Aaron Pfenning and Patrick Wimberly were mystified by the 1980's faux-gothic architecture, oak-cabinet aquariums, vacant dancefloors, fake trees, crystal chandeliers and dark velveteen booths. The inn provided them with the ideal setting for a new breed of pop: a place where subtle clashes blossomed into uncanny pleasures."Their debut album, Does You Inspire You, following their EP, Evident Utensil, is a refreshing and appropriate upgrade. The album is growing on me for sure, especially "Make Your Mind Up." Some tracks her vocal tone gives me huge chills. The album is due out in stores at the end of October.

Slightly Similar to These Crazies or Vice-Versa: Chromatics, Beach House, Fountainheads, Lights the band, Acrylics

Chairlift - Does You Inspire You (2008)

Free Blood - Royal Family EP (08) & Never Hear Surf Music Again (08)

[Electronic, Dance, Indie, Fryk Beat]

"The concept was simple: A soundtrack for parties gone awry.

Music to fuel awkward sexual dalliances, desperate yelled misunderstandings on the dance floor, toilets over-flowing with the night's collective regurgitation, lonesome midnight ramblings, hair-brained (possibly illegal) parlour games, stereo components fried by heat and moisture, backyard furniture bonfires, power outages, mass hallucination, etc." This is pretty much perfect. I love this band.

"Free Blood, the Brooklyn-based duo consisting of former !!! (Chk Chk Chk) member John Pugh and fashion designer Madeline Davy, are releasing their debut single (through Rong Music / DFA Records) entitled “Never Hear Surf Music Again” (due out tomorrow on 12” vinyl and digital download). A second single dubbed "Royal Family" (due out July 15th) comes with the title track, the B-Side "Grumpy", and some bangin' remixes from The Brothers and Greg Wilson. You can expect a Fall 2008 full length release with all these singles and more. Below are a couple Free Blood tracks and a Hot Chip remix that will help convince you of this band's greatness."

Slightly Similar to These Crazies or Vice-Versa: Shocking Pinks, Muscles, Holy Hail, The Whip, Riot in Belgium

Free Blood - Royal Family EP (2008)

Free Blood - Never Hear Surf Music Again.mp3

Free Blood - Quick And Painful (Hot Chip Remix).mp3

Thee Oh Sees - The hounds of Foggy Notion (08) & The Master's Bedroom...(08)

[Garage, Lo-Fi, Psychedelic, Acid Folk]

These two album may just be my favorite garage albums of this year, though I am not fully certain yet. There is an admirable distribution of mellow riffs and memorable hooks throughout, but theres no telling if that'll be enough to drive this band toward the same kind of acknowledgment. All I know is I enjoy, listening to them even if they've been several different bands over the span of a few years. Maybe this will be their year. I personally prefer the faster pace of Master's Bedroom compared to the lullish lo-fi sound of Hounds of Foggy Notion.

Slightly Similar to These Crazies or Vice-Versa: No Kids, White Denim, Women

Thee Oh Sees - The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending The Night In (2008)
Thee Oh Sees - The Hounds of Foggy Notion (2008)

Women - Women (08)

[Noise Pop, Lo-Fi, Shoegase]

Women is a vaguely named quartet from my beloved Alberta, Canada, signed to Flemish Eye Records. Their respectively titled debut released this July is rapidly creeping up the yearly top charts of many fellow music collectors. The album was produced my veteran Chad VanGaalen in the guys' basement. I took a quick liking to it, but I am prone to loving the tacky lo-fi trend. Nonetheless, the album is a sturdy debut.

Slightly Similar To These Crazies or Vice-Versa: David Burt, Chorus, Dr. Dog, Parenthetical Girls, Animal Collective

Women - Women (2008)

Black Taj - Beyonder (08)

[Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Southern Drive]

Hailing from Chapel Hill, but you would never know it, Black Taj is one rock band of epic proportions. They do it right. This is a beautiful example of intelligent, quality, classic rock n' roll from a group of four highly talented men. This is what music is all about. By far a better example of their driving rock ability than their debut album in 2005, their 2008 release Beyonder is a must have psychedelic, dirty rock album, specifically the leading track "Move Me".

Sounds Slightly Similar To These Crazies and Vice-Versa: Idyll Swords, Helium, Pavlo, The Black Keys, Cuban Knights, Libraness

Black Taj - Beyonder (2008)

Tilly and The Wall - O (08)

[Female, Pop-Rock, Folk, Vomitously Catchy]

Tilly and the Wall sprang out of Omaha, NE - a Midwestern band of like-minded friends with pockets full of melodies, and a lot of pockets. The serendipitous result of five Omaha residents with a penchant for the same classic '60s pop, boy/girl harmonies and Americana folk records, Tilly and the Wall celebrates the petulant, determined, feisty nature of youth. They rejoice in tales of dreams followed, mistakes made, and hearts broken. If you're by chance a fan, here is their 2008 elusively, mysteriously named album, "O", follow up to Wild Like Children.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-verse: Mates Of State, The New Pornographers, Rilo Kiley, Mirah, Eisley

Tilly and The Wall - O (2008)

Stay alive, judging by tomorrows narsty forecast, I will inevitably be bored into a posting coma frenzy.

Ponytail - Ice Cream Spiritual (08)

[Noise, Experimental, Hookish Lawlessness, Garage]

Ponytail is a noise rock band from Baltimore, known for the stop-on-a-dime fervor with which they assault their instruments and the animalistic sounds emanating from their vocalist, Molly Siegel. Currently releasing records on We Are Free with their brothers Yeasayer and Indian Jewelry. Here is their 2008 sophomore release, Ice Cream Spiritual.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: Times New Viking, Japanther, Deerhoof, Indian Jewelry

Ponytail - Ice Cream Spiritual (2008)

White Denim - Workout Holiday (08)

[Garage, Lo-Fi, Dub, Voodoo Rock]

The Austin Chronicle published a list of "10 ATXers to Watch in 2007." Opening act White Denim placed ninth on the list, and the band’s set this evening completely justified the accolades. Their kinetic sound recalls everything from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s garage stomp to Old Time Relijun’s lo-fi voodoo to the Minutemen’s funk-flavored punk. The drummer did awe-inspiring things with polyrhythms and beat displacement. The bassist played fleet-fingered runs with such intensity that his glasses frequently flew off of his face. Here is there 2008 debut release, Workout Holiday.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: No-Age, Black Lips, Apes, Foals, Brazos, Tacks

White Denim - Workout Holiday (2008)

Tickley Feather - Tickley Feather (08)

[Lo-Fi Gold, Experimental, Freak Folk, Lyric Dub, Electronic]

Tickley Feather is the moniker for Philadelphia four-track enthusiast Annie Sachs, with the similarly titled album Tickley Feather, respectfully. She is signed to Paw Tracks who released her debut album on April 28th 2008 in the UK and April 29 Stateside. She is lovely, and all together alluring. The true sister of Ariel Pink opposed to my claimed sibling of his. Aside from her rather lame and hard pulling title "Tickley Feather", she is amazing. Good thing I have enough self-confidence to claim I enjoy listening to an artist and album of such name. I hope you do too.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: Ariel Pink, Lights, Jana Hunter, Holy Shit, Peter and The Wolf, Rings, Fantastic Magic, Nemes, Money Bags

Bad name, Bad album art, Unbelievably fantastic music

Tickley Feather - Tickley Feather (08)

Dr. Dog - Fate (08)

[Blues, Lo-Fi, Alt.]

Most my friends aren't huge huge fans of Dr. Dog, and although they might claim a few reasons why this is so, I have come to the conclusion that there is only one defining difference between our contrasting point of views. They haven't seen these guys live! I was front and center almost half a year ago for Dr. Dog, and I can proudly say that after seeing them perform I completely caved to the Dr. Dog craze, which can only explain why I am super excited to be listening to their latest release entitled Fate. And, I can happily say that they have lost a bit of their washed up Beatles sound and have instead turned toward a heavier lo-fi, bluesy sound this time around.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: M.Ward, Stephen Malkmus, Tapes N' Tapes, Quiet Life, Windmill

Dr. Dog - Fate (2008): 1. 2.

String Quartet Tribute To Arcade Fire (08)

[Tribute to Arcade Fire, Instrumental]

If you're a fan of The Arcade Fire this is amazing.

String Quartet Tribute - The Arcade Fire's Funeral (2008)

The Young Gods - Knock On Wood (AS) (08)

[Industrial, Experimental, Acoustic, Swiss Rock]

The Young Gods are an electronic/industrial band, formed in Switzerland in 1985. Current and past members include Franz Treichler (lead vocals), Alain Monod (a.k.a Al Comet) and Cesare Pizzi (keyboards) and Frank Bagnoud, Use Hiestand and Bernard Trontin (drums). They are generally considered to have been about 20 years ahead of their times, generating music that could still be considered on the bleeding edge today (due to the reliance on samples and sequencers, their concerts sound pretty much the same today as they did then).


slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: Swans, Coil, Foetus, November, Mike Patton

The Young Gods - Gasoline Man.mp3

The Young Gods - Knock On Wood (Acoustic Sessions) (2008)

Those Poor Bastards - The Plague (08)

[Gothic, Drone, Alt-Country, Freak Folk]

Those Poor Bastards play miserable and primitive old-time gothic country music. Lonesome Wyatt (guitar, vocals) and The Minister (banjo, bass, etc.) are both legally certified holiness preachers. If you're looking for slick, over-produced, commercial songs, you'd better cover your delicate little ears. Those Poor Bastards play it raw and they play it mean. Here is there 2008 release, The Plague, off Tribulation Recordings.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: Diablo Swing Orchestra, Hank Williams III, Lonesome Wyatt and The Holy Spooks, The .357 String Band, Sons of Perdition

Those Poor Bastards - The Plague (2008)

Awesome Color - Electric Aborigines (08)

[Garage, Psychedelic, Noise, Rock]

Striking awe in nearly all concert goers who bare humble witness to their live performances, Awesome Color, a band of three hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, are quickly making a name for themselves. Signed to Ecstatic Peace/Universal Records, the band is still pushing onward with their outstanding sophomore release, Electric Aborigines, the follow up to their debut s/t album of 2006. The band is just about as trippy as you get without...well, actually tripping. Just look at that artwork alone. That has to tell you something. These guys jam not just for garage rock, psych rock, noise rock, or southern rock...these guys flat out jam on a whole new level of jamable rock.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: Oakley Hall, Danava, Witchcraft, Pride Tiger, Oneida, Black Lips

Awesome Color - Electric Aborigines (2008)

Deerhunter - Microcastle (08)

[Ambient-Punk, Psychedelic, Experimental, Shoegaze, Post-Rock]

The lovely minimalists of Deerhunter are back again with their 2008 release of Microcastle on Kranky Records, and its even more fantastic than their previous, Cryptograms. Deerhunter's sound is the perfect polarizing balance between electronic ambience, psychedelica, experimental and shoegazey dronage and nothing could exemplify this, as well as their progression as a band in general, better than this album.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: No Age, Liars, Atlas Sound, Oneida, BARR

Deerhunter - Microcastle (2008)

Maps - The Wick and The Fire (08)

[Experimental, Math Rock, Shoegaze, Instrumental]

MAPS is an instrumental rock band from Nashville, TN. They formed in February 2005 “in a town where instrumental music is virtually non-existent”. Within a year MAPS had played with post-rock heavyweights like Foxhole and Unwed Sailor and released their first demo titled “The Occidental EP” in February 2006. From there regional touring took place and the band recorded and released their first full length album “Oh, That Our Heads Were Waters” in November 2006. They have shared the stage with bands like Foxhole, Unwed Sailor, Caspian, Constants, Gifts from Enola, Cinemechanica and The Ascent of Everest among many others known in the instrumental scene.

slightly similar to these crazies or vice-versa: Foxhole, Caspian, Darkroom, Grails, Battles, Unwed Sailor

Maps - The Wick and The Fire (08)