Unknown and Unheard

I'm A Goddamn Coward, But Then Again So Are You...

noreply@blogger.com (The Unknown and Unheard) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:20:01 PST

It's gonna take a lot to top this album. Here's the title track from First Aid Kit's The Lion's Roar.

The Unknown and Unheard Show 266!

noreply@blogger.com (The Unknown and Unheard) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:24:46 PST

First Aid Kit - Blue - The Lion's Roar (2011)

- 2nd full length.

- Swedish folk outfit.

- They also have one EP out and a DayTrotter session well worth your time.

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : DayTrotter

M. Ward – Rave On – Hold Time (2009)

- 6th album and a 2009 Best of the U & U selection.

M. Ward - Magic Trick - Post-War (2006)

- 5^th album

- Also in the Monsters of Folk with Jim James and Conor Oberst.

- a 2012 SXSW headliner.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Lucero - Sometimes - Women & Work (2012)

- New album due out in March!

- Ben Nichols, lead singer, has been working on solo stuff since this came out.

- Best bar rock band going!

Official Site : Myspace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Craig Finn – Apollo Bay – Clear Heart Full Eyes (2012)

- Opening track on The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn’s solo debut.

- This seems to have a looser feel than most of what you get from the Hold Steady.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Brendan Benson – Bad For Me – What Kind of World (2012)

- 5^th solo album

- Co-leader of the Raconteurs with Jack White.

- Polished power pop rock style, though this one’s more of a ballad.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Shearwater – You As You Were - Animal Joy (2012)

- 7th album

- 6th album, Golden Archipelago was out in Feb of 2010

- they pack so much intensity in their songs. No one sounds quite like them.

- Austin band with ties to Okkervil River

- Almost a voice you’d expect at the opera

- Palo Santo is their best album.

- This is the most frantic track I’ve ever heard by them.

- Almost sounds like the band Wilderness here which would normally sound like a ridiculous comparison. Hooray for the evolution and open mindedness of musicians.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Yellow Ostrich - Marathon Runner - Strange Land (2012)

- 2nd full length.

- Debut full length was 'The Mistress' and made the 2011 Best of the U & U.

- Sounds a bit like the Beatles and the White Stripes and even at times Menomena.

Official Site : BandCamp : HypeMachine

St. Vincent - Dilettante - Strange Mercy (2011)

- 2nd full length. Debut was out in 2009, Actor.

- Was a member of Sufjan Steven's backing band along with My Brightest Diamond, arguably two of the biggest breakout female artists of the past couple years.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Tennis - Tears in the Typing Pool (Broadcast cover)

- New album is on it's way.

- Playing an Indy show in Feb.

- Debut was out in very early 2011. 2010 Debut EP made the Best of the U & U.

MySpace : HypeMachine

Zoo Animal - Worker Bee - Zoo Animal (2010)

- 2nd album

- debut out in 2008.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Delta Spirit – When In Roam - I Think I've Found It EP (2012)

- One of two simultaneaously released free EPs. The Waits Room EP is the other.

- New album is out March 13th.

- debut album was 'Ode To Sunshine' and it exploded in 2008.

- I admit to not being totally sold on these guys, but I've come around on them.

- If you get into the Cold War Kids or the Strokes you should like this band.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Heartless Bastards – Late In the Night - Arrow (2012)

- 4th full length. Out on Valentines day 2012.

- Powered by the big voice of lead singer Erika Wennerstrom and some big rock riffs

- Out of Dayton

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

Eagle Eye Williamson - Black Gold / Comanche Peak - Black Gold (2011)

- Debut album from hard blues rock one man band.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Dirty Three - Rising Below - Toward the Low Sun (2012)

- Instrumental act that includes members of Nick Cave's bad seeds.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Cloud Nothings - No Sentiment - Attack on Memory (2012)

- 2nd album.

- Band led by 20 year old from Cleveland.

- Brooding, building track that starts like a Pixies song then explodes into something like that found on a raucous Nirvana track, or some other early 90's grunge act.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

The Unknown & Unheard Show 265!

noreply@blogger.com (The Unknown and Unheard) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:15:11 PST

King Khan & The Shrines – Bite My Tongue - Bruise Cruise Records Split 7" (2012)

- latest single from King Khan. Split with Mikal Cronin.

- Best album was 'The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines’

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears – She’s So Scandalous – Scandalous (2011)

- Second full length.

- foul-mouthed soul/R&B frontman… reminds you a bit of James Brown

- this track mixes in some talking blues and a bit of humor.

Official Site : MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

First Aid Kit - This Old Routine - The Lion's Roar (2011)

- 2nd full length.

- Swedish folk outfit.

- They also have one EP out and a DayTrotter session well worth your time.

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : DayTrotter

Withered Hand - Religious Songs - Good News (2011)

- Best of 2011 leftover.

- Debut full length, but has two previously released EPs

- 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

He's My Brother She's My Sister - Escape Tonight - Escape Tonight Single (2011)

- Latest single. Available on their BandCamp site.

- One EP out in 2010 as well.

- Catchy male/female folk pop group.

Official Site : BandCamp : HypeMachine

Thao & Mirah - Squareneck - Thao & Mirah (2011)

- Best of 2011 leftover.

- Debut collaboration between Thao Nguyen and Mirah

- if you are unfamiliar with Thao you need to correct that quickly. Look up Thao Nguyen & the Get Down Stay Downs

- Her last album, We Brave Bee Stings And All, was highlighted by the track 'Bag of Hammers."

Thao's Official Site : Thao's MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine : Mirah's MySpace

Mikal Cronin - Am I Wrong - Bruise Cruise Records Split 7" (2012)

- Solo debut

- Album is produced by fellow west coaster, Ty Segall.

- Also in a surf-punk band called the Moonhearts.

BandCamp : MySpace : facebook

Diamond Rugs - Gimme A Beer - Diamond Rugs (2012)

- Debut release from garage/folk supergroup featuring Deer Tick's John McCaualey and Ian Saint Pe of the Black Lips (that’s the guy who produced the Turf War debut album).

- An appropriately titled first single from a band who says their name is a play on the phase ‘I’m on drugs.’

Facebook : HypeMachine

WU LYF – Such a Sad Puppy Dog – Go Tell Fire To the Mountain (2011)

- Debut album.

- ‘World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation’ or ‘Love You Forever’

- Sound like Wilderness or Explosions in the Sky with lyrics.

- Cinematic pulses and swells of powerful spacey guitars.

- RIYL: Explosions in the Sky, Wilderness or Lord Dog Bird

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

Spirit Family Reunion - When My Name Is Spoken - Spirit Family Reunion (201

- New single.

- Rolling style track from a moderately traditional folk band.