For anyone who doesnt know what SXSW is, South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of interactive, film, and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas. SXSW first began in 1987 and is centered on the downtown Austin Convention Center. Each of the three parts runs relatively independently, with different start and end dates. The music section ran from 18th - 22nd March.
Over 6GB of upcoming artists can be obtained legally via a torrent, all music was released freely from the organisers. After extensively listening through all the bands, a few notable artists are to be had here, some to watch out for as future stars, and some who wont make it, but are still stars in my eyes.

Alex Cuba - Not knowing what to expect listening to all the artists, the first one to strike me is Alex Cuba. Already having a good fan base in Cuba, his music can be seen as Spanish led guitar music mixed with a funky bassline that is instantly catchy and a perfect tune to lounge about lisening to him.

Alexandre Grooves - A Brazilian, with the capability to mix indie hook lines in with Jazz and traditional Spanish music. A marvel to listen to, even if you dont know what he’s singing, its easy listening at its finest.

Baddies - A heavy Indie band for England to come all the way to US before they’ve made it in their home country, is a bold move. And rightly so. A prefect blend of rock shout-abouts, and a great hook to catch the imaginations of anyone listening, highly recommended.

Bart Davenport - Destined for great things, Davenport brings what Corainne Bailey Rae brought to the table, bright, bubbly pop at its finest. Surely going to make it, with some great songs already under his belt, a highly regarded album is inevitable.

Black Lips - Out to bring classic punk music to the modern age, these guys got a good thing going, with instantly catchy guitar riffs and a powerful singer to back it up.

Bleeders - A hardcore punk band thats got the perfect blend of power driven guitars and an a great lead guitarist and to wrap it all up, a voice that doesnt make a cliche of the hardcore punk scene.

Braille - I dont often recommend rap artists, but this guy has a lot of talent mixing sample sounds with his own rap style thats impossible to ignore.

Casxio - With a fantastic mix of classic 70’s funk dance guitar and bass, mixed up with the more modern styles of indie synths and vocals, this bands creativity is certainly a band to look out for. Watch this space.

Choo Choo - A band set out to reinvent garage rock, from what I heard they seem to be doing a good job about it.

Thats it for now, stay tuned for D-F!

The album starts off reasonably fast paced, the intro song ‘The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella’ is a decent synth-filled dance-along, but unfortunately lead singer Paul Noonans voice seems drowned in the flurry of activity surrounding him, making it sound almost as if the synth effects are over-the-top. ‘How your Heart is Wired’ is a complete contrast, heavily dependant on the drum, bass, and the lead vocals. A much better attempt. The sliding bass adds a sense of lazy activity on the song, but the blissful transitions really add to the beauty in this song. ‘The Great Defector’ has had a lot of airplay since its release, and is totally deserved. Pauls vocals take a page from David Byrne, the synth-bass is simple, yet perfectly exectute, and while lyrically, isnt exceptional, the chorus bounces elegantly along with the guitar, some great work from the Irish lads.

Unfortunately, thats where they should have stopped. The rest of the album is a shambles sub-par Doves attempt at mainstream recognition. Which they’ll get, because in this day and age, it’ll get you far. ‘Blows in’ is a dull, drawn out, piano-led load of drivel. The vocals are good, but thats about it. Everything has been done before here. ‘Amelia’ attempts to raise the bar a bit again with a great bass led tune, but everything else again, sounds like its done before. No suprises, just samey music from start to end. ‘A Better Band’ is certainly a good name to the song, they could have been, but again, it sounds like they’re just trying to get the album full.

The rest of the album follows along the same path. If the first 3/4 songs were released as an LP, I would praise it to high heavens. But as an album as a whole, its underperformed, underacheived and certainly disappoints me in nearly every department.

At first listen, you’d really think quite strangely of the album with it’s Delta Blues psychedelic influences but it is a truly great listen. In terms of tracks it’s really an album you listen to all the way through. the lyrics are, in all songs, absurd and up for interpretation. Real freak-out stuff. Like, in Pena his love of the words “Fast and Bulbous” appears for the second time in the album quite humorously. And then the legendary tracks like Ella Guru and Dachau Blues who hundreds have claimed to be there inspiration, such as Tom Waits.

It is really a great listen and the songs are short even though there is about 28 of them. There isn’t a whole lot to say on this one it really just has to be heard to be understood. Hard to find but, if you have an hour or so to spare it is well worth a listen. A great achievement, my favourite Beefheart and the best album I’ve heard in a long time. The critics reception was fantastic but the sales were unfortunately low. An absolute must hear beyond any shadow of  a doubt. Probably one of the greatest albums of the Century.

1. Mystery Jets - Young Love
2. The Maybes? – Talk About you
3. Panic At the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon
4. The Ruby Suns – Oh, Mojave
5. Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor
6. Radiohead - House Of Cards
7. The Ting Tings - Great DJ
8. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
9. Hadouken! - That Boy that Girl
10. Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me
11. Baddies - Battleships
12. Amy McDonald – This Is the Life
13. King Khan and The Shrines – Land of the Freak
14. The Hold Steady – Sequestered In Memphis
15. The Maybes? – Summertime
16. Alphabeat – Fascination
17. The Enemy - We’ll Live and Die in These Towns
18. Biffy Clyro - Who’s Got a Match?
19. Be Your Own Pet – Heart Throb
20. Beck – Gamma Ray
21. The Futureheads - Beginning Of the Twist
22. Ida Maria – I Like you so Much Better when You’re Naked
23. Razorlight – Wire to Wire
24. MGMT – Kids
25. Flight of the Conchords – Business Time
26. Hadouken! – Crank It Up
27. The Maybes? – Boys
28. The Ting Tings – Be The One
29. Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down
30. Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
31. The Feeling - I Thought it Was Over
32. The Blizzards – Trust Me, I’m a Doctor
33. Kanye West ft Coldplay – Homecoming
34. Aya Hirano - Bouko Desho Desho?
35. Kate Perry – Hot N Cold
36. MGMT – Electric Feel
37. Duffy – Mercy
38. The Kooks - Always Where I Need to Be
39. The Courteeners – Cavorting
40. Mark Ronson ft. Phantom Planet – Just
41. Biffy Clyro – Mountains
42. Noah & The Whale – 5 Years Time
43. Cajun Dance Party – Colourful Life
44. Weezer - Pork and Beans
45. Good Shoes - Photos on My Wall
46. Mystery Jets – Flakes
47. The Wombats - Lets Dance To Joy Division
48. The Mars Volta – Aberinkula
49. The Hives – T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S.
50. The Futureheads – This is not the World
51. AC/DC – Rock n Roll Train
52. The Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name
53. Black Kids – I’m not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend how to Dance
54. Alphabeat – Boyfriend
55. Snow Patrol – Take Back the City
56. Metallica – The Day that Never Comes
57. Coldplay – Viva La Vida
58. Panic At The Disco – Mad As Rabbits
59. Kaiser Chiefs – Never Miss a Beat
60. Madonna – Give it 2 Me
61. Keane – Spiralling
62. 1990’s – You Made Me Like I
63. Flight of the Conchords – Robots
64. Kate Perry – I Kissed a Girl
65. Paramore - Riot Business
66. The Verve – Love is Noise
67. Hot Chip – One Pure Thought
68. Sam Sparro - Black and Gold
69. The Futureheads - This is not the World
70. Beck – Chemtrails
71. Madonna - 4 Minutes
72. The Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let me Go
73. The Fratellis - Mistress Mabel
74. Panic At the Disco - That Green Gentleman
75. Kings of Leon – Be Somebody
76. Aya Hirano – Ashita no Prism
77. The Killers - Human
78. Kid Rock – All Summer Long
79. Kylie Minogue - In My Arms
80. The Zutons – Always Right Behind You
81. The Wombats – Kill the Director
82. We Are Scientists - After Hours
83. R.E.M - Supernatural Superserious
84. Iglu and Hartley – In this City
85. Los Campesinos – Death to Los Campesinos!
86. Journey - Don’t Stop Believing
87. MGMT - Time to Pretend
88. Duffy – Warwick Avenue
89. The Automatic – Steve McQueen
90. Rihanna – Disturbia
91. Pink – So What
92. The Hives – It Wont Be Long
93. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of the Understatement
94. Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
95. Aya Hirano – Breakthrough
96. Adele – Chasing Pavements
97. The Courteeners – No You Didn’t, No You Don’t
98. Basshunter – All I ever Wanted
99. Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse – Valerie
100. Cajun Dance Party – The Next Untouchable

Band of the Year: Mystery Jets
Disappointment of the Year: We Are Scientists
Comeback of the Year: AC/DC

As stated, the first two songs break into an eclectic barrage of electronic of pure harmonic melodies and bursting guitar effects that could deafen an ear. This is by no means a bad thing, as ‘Hot Tent Blues’ and  ‘Broken’ are really well done. Catchy and effective, the songs put you on a high as the band adds lyrics to the songs…

Theres something familiar with the lead singer, mind you. Alex Kapranos would have been proud, but thankfully this band isnt a Franz Ferdinand clone, the electronica synths and the deep, dark, brooding riffs would deter anyone from making that comparison. ‘Space and the Woods’ is calling out to be noticed, as his vocals blissfully slide in between the hectic arrangements consuming the song. Some may think its over the top, but this song suits well.  ‘The Bears are Coming’ sounds like a Kings of Leon song, and I’m not trying to make comparisons again, but it does smell a bit fishy. Its still a great song that anyone can pick up and listen to instantly.

The album hits a grey spot next though, as ‘Random Firl’ and ‘Heartbeat’ sound like an end-of-album filler, but thankfully it does pick up. ‘Whitesnake’ will no doubt be in the indie clubs in the coming months, its insanely catchy guitar lifts combined with some of the most melodramatic synths makes for a winner. ‘VW’ reverts back to an instrumental barrage with rapid pace before its climaxes to the next song, ‘Focker’, which would make early Hot Chip proud. The final three songs do a decent job wrapping it up, nothing spectacular with some frenzied drumming and guitar heavy indie songs. Done before, but it stands up above the rest - just.

All in all, its a decent debut album, that many a band would be proud of, a lot of inspiration has been taken from some newer indie and electronica bands, and combines it into an all round winner.

The Kings gave us a taste of what was to come by releasing Crawl, second track on the new album. It was very clear to see that the band were looking in a different direction, branching out into darker sounds, which is by no means a bad thing. In Kings of Leons case, this was a very good thing. Crawl is an epic song song, with Calebs now trademark sound giving the song more personality than most bands can muster. After listening to it a few times, you would imagine that the song would get repetitive, but the growling bass and Calebs sensational vocal performance drags you back for more. The opener, Closer, is eerily sinful sounding, but again, Caleb puts his own twist on it to make it an enjoyable experience. The albums lead song, Sex on Fire, is one of their finest songs to date, and cements the bands status as one of the best of this century. Use Somebody shows that the band can produce a ballad indie song without difficulty and goes down well as a stand-out from the darker songs.  But, like most albums, this album isnt without its flaws.

Manhattan, as good as the vocals are, it just seems to sink a bit, it sounds more of a filler to a sub-par album, as if they had writers block about half way through the song, but thankfully they get back on trackquickly. Revelry is a heartfelt epic song, the lyrics touching every heart and soul of whoever listens to it, but its a very relaxed song, and the bass and guitar complementing each other perfectly. 17 shows a bit of creativity changes in the band, and although they do their best efforts, theres no escaping that the song doesnt work all too well. Its not that the song is bad, its a mixed bag, out-of-sorts in places, then suddenly rise to the occasion that is Kings of Leons brilliance. The album finishes off with Notion, a strumming great songs and powerful vocals, the sub par, almost grunge-like guitar, I Want You, the speedy Be Somebody, and the closer, Cold Desert, which is a fitting ending.

Only By the Night will meet fans expectations, and theres no doubt, this is a great album, but a bit more polish and consideration into a few of the songs, and this could have been one of THE greats. But for now, Kings of Leon should hold their heads high and pat each other on the back for a well made, and well executed album. Recommended for anyone.

1. Mystery Jets - Young Love

Song of the first half of the year, many a band will come close to toppling this instant classic, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

2. Panic At the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon

A song that you can sing to in two minutes, make you smile and feel good about yourself, its an essential in any library, a song that will lifts anyones mood.

3. Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor

First single on their new album, Ready for the Floor certainly captured peoples attention when it made it popular on the radiowaves, unexpectedly. Totally deserved, the band are finally getting their recognition.

4. The Ting Tings - Great DJ

Chart topping song from the Ting Tings, this is what an indie dance song should sound like.

5. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

Screeching guitars, funky bassline, powerful vocals, then suddenly a change to bliss. This song is a must have for anyone.

6. Hadouken! - That Boy that Girl

Re-released to coincide with the bands ridiculously un-tagged album, this song is a typical teen whine, but done so in a way that anyone can listen to and shout, for no real reason at all.

7. Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me

Co-written by Calvin Harris, Harris has been the man of the year. Bringing Kylies comeback to the top, and moving Dizee finally into the limelight, where he belongs. Himself and Kanye are the best rappers around, and full credit to them.

8. The Enemy - We’ll Live and Die in These Towns

The Enemy has made no enemies here, with one of the pop songs of the year, which makes you think what Girls Aloud would be like if they had songwriters like these guys.

9. Biffy Clyro - Who’s Got a Match?

Biffy has been recently compared to the Foos, which, they have a long way to go before that, but until then, heres a taste of excellent riffs from the scot band.

10. Alphabeat - Fascination

Danish duo Alphabeat fascinate us all with their debut song thats too good to ignore. Harmony and melody is perfect, it cant get much better.

11. Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down

THE band of the year so far, the Mystery Jets are leading the way of bringing 80’s music into the 21st century, with a truly rollicking good song.

12. The Futureheads - Beginning Of the Twist

First single on their new album, its a song that MUST be in your library, regardless of what tastes in music you have.

13. Duffy - Mercy

Welsh singer Duffy cashes in with the sudden spark in interest of Jazz-pop after the Amy Winehouse fiasco, she does a great job not to make it cheesy and to turn everyones head away from Ms Winehouse

14. The Kooks - Always Where I Need to Be

A disappointing album, the promotion single is one of their best to date. Simple, energetic, catchy, it ticks al the boxes for a great song.

15. Mark Ronson ft. Phantom Planet - Just

Mark Ronsons Radiohead cover pushes all the right buttons, and changes it so much, that it barely sounds like the original anymore, yet make it sound just as good.

16. Radiohead - House Of Cards

Eerily excellent, downright bloody amazing, Thom Yorke still hasnt run out of new ideas, pushing music to new levels with the most heartfelt song of the year.

17. Weezer - Pork and Beans

The single puts a wet towel over claims that Weezer are splitting, this song shows after 15 years in the biz, they still got it with heavy powerful chords and a chorus that andy band would kill for.

18. The Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name

Their first ever single, its bewildering how they manage to make such an elgant song so blissfully easy. And lyrically, while its not great, why do we chant it anyway!!?

19. Paramore - Riot Business

Emo punk from the all-american Paramore, this does enough to tempt any drawings from Fall Out Boy. Please, dont go there. Paramore are 100 times better than they are.

20. Sam Sparro - Black and Gold

Pop gold from an otherwise crappy album, this song justifies buying the album alone… or.. just go download it on itunes.

21. Madonna - 4 Minutes

Madonnas comeback single featuring JT, shows that age is no barrier in the music industry, with a song to rival Timbalands own.

22. Good Shoes - Photos on My Wall

Underrated band this year. The song is simple, planned, and packs a punch when listened to on full volume.

23. The Feeling - I Thought it Was Over

First single from the new album, the camp piano pop songs are still there, and still go down a treat. They also manage to do things a bit different, cant complain though, its still magificent.

24. The Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let me Go

More of a singles band than full on album epics, the song has had plenty of radio play, and while some people may be getting weary of it, theres not doubt its a hugely catchy song.

25. The Fratellis - Mistress Mabel

In my opinion, one of the weakest songs on one of the albums of the year. If they release My Friend John, its going straight into my top five, no doubt.

26. Panic At the Disco - That Green Gentleman

Excellent melody and songwriting from PATD, who take a total U-turn on their emo style music, to produce an album full of colour, magic and happiness.

27. The Wombats - Lets Dance To Joy Division

Sing-a-long chanting from the Wombats, the song has had decent airplay on MTV2, flagshipping the song. One of the indie songs of the year.

28. Kylie Minogue - In My Arms

Writting by Calvin Harris, you can notice its 80’s electron feel come to you, as Kylies voice powers over it all. Recommended for anyone.

29. We Are Scientists - After Hours

May have been scathed my some media, we think its a fitting single to justify the new album, although, the album itself didnt live up to expectations.

30. R.E.M - Supernatural Superserious

REMs comeback album may have been a bit weak, but they chose the right single to promote it. A typical REM song, that reminds us of why Bad Day was so good.

31. Journey - Don’t Stop Believing

Re-Release from the 80’s band, this song has been many a times played around the country, and it deserves to be.

32. The Courteeners - Cavorting

Highly anticipated single from the Courteeners, well received in the media, and also well recieved here. The melody cant get more perfect than this.

33. MGMT - Time to Pretend

MGMT shot to fame with this song, and its no wonder. The heavy synth electro feel going on here is enough to make you fuzzy inside.

34. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of the Understatement

The second good song, from the mediocre album, this dramatic songs build up has to be heard to be believed. An epic for a soundtrack.

35. Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma

One of my personal favourite bands of the year, Oxford Comma delivers in areas that most bands cant reach; sheer beat-tastic songs.

36. Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse - Valerie

Mark Ronson struck gold with this Zutons cover, and totally deserved. Brilliant vocals from Amy, the twist on the song is a joy to listen to.

37. Scooter - Jumping all Over the World

I might get stick from this one, but Scooters comeback with Jumping all over the World is just what the dance genre needs, a good kick up the arse with an upbeat, instantly catchy dance tune.

38. Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - Find The Time

His first single from the new album, its more acoustic ballads for him here, but steers clear of any cliched indie songs, and delivers a great one, with his vocals leading more than the guitar this time round.

39. The Futureheads - This is not the World

The second single from their brilliant new album, its not quite universally appealing, but get your head around the rhythm madness, and you got yourself a shout-a-long that wont escape your head.

40. Scouting for Girls - Elvis Aint Dead

Another pop-tastic piano plink from the scouts, from what is otherwise a disappointing album.

41. Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me

Made famous from a deodrant add recently, this song deserves all the success it has gotten. Pity her album is a letdown.

42. Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy

One of Kanyes better work on the latest album, this is what collaborations should be all about. Drawing totally different backgrounds, they make it work, and very well at that.

43. Aya Hirano - Bouko Desho Desho?

JPop Musician/Actress Aya is gunning big this year, with her first worldwide release, and this is a winner. Its blissful, and her voice makes this go down a treat.

44. Scouting for Girls - Heartbeat

One of the biggest suprises of 2008, they came from nowhere with She’s So Lovely, and done it again with this catchy tune.

45. Madness - NW5

Madness return with NW5. Not quite Come On Eileen scale, its much darker, but very addictive piano-led pop from the post-ska era they once held crown to.

46. Kylie Minogue - Wow

Her comeback single after her tough 2 years, this song is up there with one of her best. The only rival in the music business to Madonna, this is a song to cherish.

47. Hadouken! - Game Over

Electro-funk-indie-something or other that makes you wanna scream bloody murder in your head, but not before banging your head to this.

48. The Feeling - Turn It Up

Sunshine pop from the Feeling has been done before, and this time around they stick to the winning formula. It works, and feels fresh enough that you wont easily get sick of it.

49. Be Your Own Pet - The Kelly Affair

Riff-tastic garage rock song from the new queen of… garage rock. You’ll be humming the riff after 10 seconds, guarenteed. And her vocals are out there too.

50. The Last Shadow Puppets - Standing Next to Me

Dark pop song, that some may be comparing to post Beatles songwriting, but to us, it’s a straightforward catchy song.