The DECEMBERISTS "Don't Carry It All" If you are not listening to this creative storytelling band, you are missing out. "Buried wreath of trillium & ivy, laid upon the body of the boy, lazy will the long come from it’s hiding, return his quiet certitude to the soil, so raise a glass to turnings of the season, & watch it as it arcs towards the sun, & you must bear your neighbors burden within reason, & your labors will be borne when all is done." Indie
SOCIAL DISTORTION "Alone & Forsaken" Mike Ness loves to cover the classics & beautifully retouches Hank Williams Sr. here on the new album. The best honkey tonk/punk band in the biz today! Punk
J RODDY WALSTON & The BUSINESS "Pigs & Pearls" Sticking with older sounding rock n roll, J Roddy dedicates a track to a former love comparing her to a pig & putting her in her place. Funny & brilliant. Rock
DOG FASHION DISCO "Baby Satan" Its not as bad as it sounds. The Satan lovers weave a fascinating tale about the Anti-Christ in a chipper metal sort of way. "Into another burning hell, falls angel from the sky, cursed from birth, until the day that he dies, you must be the devil, because I've always loved you so, baby Satan, you've got the devil in your eyes." Metal
HEY MARSEILLES "Hold The Morning" Fresh on the scene, this 5 year old band employs accordions, piano, trumpet, cello, viola, & drumbourine (whatever that is). "We will leave, our sails on trees, while chariots, swing by the breeze, lift our lamps unto the streets, may all the kings & soldiers see." I seem to be into storytelling these days. A great new band. Indie
CHILDISH GAMBINO & MC CHRIS "Tru Dudes" Donald Glover & the dead MC team up again snorting about their nasal voices & dropping the most interesting & unique rhymes in the game today. Its also nice that the already rich Glover gives away all his music for free! Hip Hop/Rap
I’M FROM BARCELONA "Anywhere You Looked" Emanuel Lundgren leads his band of multiple singers who almost chant this song more than sing it. A great introduction piece if you are just hearing about this band from, guess where, Sweden. Ha! You thought I was going to say Spain. You have to read about where they got their name on your own. Indie
SARA BAREILLES "King Of Everything" Music this poppy is not my usual kind of thing. That is why I participated in the 2010 Mixtape Exchange (google it). This song has such a nice way to tell someone to fuck off that I can't resist. Pop
MUSE "Supermassive Black Hole" The music on this is so funky & driving at the same time. The Englanders really know how to create "space rock" in a dazzling way. Already super popular but they deserve another mention anyway. "Glaciers melting in the dead of night & the superstars sucked into the supermassive." Rock
The BAND PERRY "If I Die Young" Mainstream country music? What has happened to me? Well, this is yet another fable song that is just so sad, sweet, & has some great mandolin in the background that just kills me. "A penny for my thoughts, oh no I’ll sell them for a dollar, they're worth so much more after I’m a goner, & maybe then you’ll hear the words I've been singing, funny when you're dead how people start listening." Also given to me in the 2010 Mixtape Exchange. Thanks Beth! Country
CAGE The ELEPHANT "Right Before My Eyes" The sophomore effort features this lo-fi track that is more surf music than straight up rock like their other songs. They made their bones at SXSW & touring with ImpOp favorite Silversun Pickups just to prove good music can get on the radio every once in a while. Rock
JENNY & JOHNNY "My Pet Snakes" Ms. Lewis is always good whether solo, with Rilo Kiley, or with boyfriend Johnathan Rice. Its a throwback to duets where the man & woman are arguing back & forth. "We walked in on you while you were polishing your knives, sleeping in a twin bed with a serpent by your side, Talk a lot of shit but you would never start a fight, God it makes me queasy when you smile." Also listen for John answering a phone call from his Dad during the middle of the song :) Indie
ADMIRAL FALLOW "Squealing Pigs" My personal find from SXSW 2011 (formally called Brother Louis Collective). "It's that sinking feeling of being alone, & it's the way it makes you screech & pulls the skin off your bones, & I can't help but think as I pick my mouth off the floor, Will you still know me in a year?" Indie
MADBALL "All Or Nothing" Nobody questions the punk/hardcore credibility of this group slamming you with maybe the best track off their album "Empire" from last year. Loud does not mean negative as this positive song encourages. "I strive to be the best at whatever I do, even when I'm being bad, Yeah that's the honest truth, But being bad never got me anywhere good, So I chose the other road I had a choice." Punk
DEVILDRIVER "Black Soul Choir" This band is really starting to slip with some weak rushed albums these days. However, this is the best track from the new average album that rocks like this metal band did in the early days. Take your time boys & we'll try again next time. Metal
GETO BOYS "G-Code" This is to celebrate the "Greatest Hits" album from the originators of the "dirty south" sound. Ya gotta have some straight gangsta shit every now & then & few do it better than these game veterans. With all the snitching these days this beat had to be made. Hip Hop/Rap
GANG OF FOUR "Who Am I" They began in 1977 and have been putting out music sporatically ever since. The Leeds natives have inspired Nirvana, REM, and Red Hot Chili Peppers to name a few. Known as English post-punk political music without being so heavy on material that you can't dance to it. Rock
TROUBLE ANDREW "Trouble" Its his name & the name of the song. I stumbled onto this searching for an old Elvis Presley tune and enjoyed it. Its kinda Depeche Mode like though the band calls it "crunk rock" which I hope is a joke. Interesting. Rock
RISE AGAINST "Midnight Hands" According to Tim McIlrath, their new album "Endgame," discusses grim topics, though taking a positive view, & were written from the perspective of: "What if the place on the other side of this transition is a place we'd all rather be living in?" Its another classic album from the punk political activists. Try to ignore that they are vegans who support PETA. Nobody is perfect though the album is amazing as all of their efforts have been. Punk
DROPKICK MURPHYS "Deeds Not Words" The Irish-American Celtics return with their new album "Going Out In Style." Thank your god that they are back to form after the mediocre at best "Meanest Of Times" that came out 2007. This is my personal favorite but listen for guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Fat Mike (of NOFX), Chris Cheney (The Living End), Milan Lucic, Bobby Orr, & actor Lenny Clarke. Punk
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