With their slackerfied-Blondie sounds, California trio Best Coast have a lot of potential as an up and coming band to get big on their first time around.
Shimmery Spector-tinged bedroom pop. The NYC couple follow last year's sweet, buzzy 7" with a surprisingly substantive album. Girlish vocals skirt the edge of saccharine and xylophones do tinkle, but thoughtful lyrics, solid bass lines and echoing crescendos give the songs backbone: this is pop that delivers. Album out 6/7.
The yelping + jangling emitted by Florida 4some Holiday Shores recalls '70's Talking Heads.
She & him frontwoman Zooey Deschanel has soulful, clever lyrics (ex: "running away from you is like running a business") and a voice like freshly-baked pie. Cooling on a windowsill. In Venice Beach. In 1945.
Caterwauling Brooklyn experimentalists Dirty Projectors have collaborated with Bjork; a track from their new Album Ascending Melody can be downloaded for free at their official website!
Cincinnati/Brooklyn croon-rockers The National are touring in front of their follow-up to 2007's acclaimed Boxer, coming in May of this year.
Atlanta-bred Deerhunter plays throbbing, druggy, sometimes experimental rock and has toured with bands like Dan Deacon and Lightning Bolt; their live show is said to be frenetic.
Author of numerous musical paeans to boston, Jonathan Richman's lyrics are sweet, sad, funny, and readily comprehensible; his melodies are witty and pretty; his live show is intimate. here's a video of Richman performing crowd favorite "I Was Dancing At A Lesbian Bar" on Conan.
"New York's loudest band" channels 80's angst heroes like the Cure and (especially) Jesus And Mary Chain. Don't be fooled: there are sweet melodies behind the fuzz and echo.
