Band: The Laughing
From: Austin, TX
Sound: dirty jungle smut; or, dubbed-out dance-psych-rock
Similar Artists: Yeasayer, Wolf Parade, Talking Heads, Liars, Tapes ‘n Tapes, TV On The Radio
Listen Now: “Canopy”
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Band: The Walkmen
From: New York, NY
Sound: The brash, reckless, romantic soundtrack to a late night in reverb city, starring impossibly dramatic guitar swells, hazy cathedral organs, and cathartic croons
Similar Artists: The French Kicks, Spoon, Calla, White Rabbits, U2
Listen Now: “In The New Year”
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Band: Grizzly Bear
From: Brooklyn, NY
Sound: haunting neo-psychedelic indie folk-rock constructed with heavy doses of Spector-esque vocals and a love for stretching the boundaries of sound
Similar Artists: The Beach Boys, The High Llamas, Panda Bear, Mercury Rev, Pink Floyd
Listen Now: “Two Weeks” (live on the Late Show with David Letterman)
“Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves, or whether it should be ours here and now and on this Earth.” - Ayn Rand
Band: Extra Golden
From: USA and Nairobi
Sound: A blissful marriage of traditional rock and Benga with shades of Afropop, shuffling guitars, and stuttering rhythms
Similar Artists: Konono No. 1, Kapere Jazz Band, Fela Kuti, Orchestra Extra Solar Africa
Listen Now: “Obama”
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Band: Takka Takka
From: Brooklyn, NY
Sound: laid back layers of guitars upon percussion upon vocals upon percussion that ranges from bar band rock to tribal and new wave influences to folk and then back again
Similar Artists: Orange Juice, Talking Heads, The National, Peter Gabriel, Yeasayer
Listen Now: “Silence”
Band: Torche
From: Miami, FL
Sound: Blistering metal that borders on entirely accessible: more smashing than the Pumpkins with tighter-than-Foo melodies
Similar Artists: Melvins, Queens of the Stone Age, Baroness, Jesu, Saviors
Listen Now: “Healer”
Band: Albert Hammond, Jr.
From: New York, NY
Sound: Guitar-driven, melodic rock with laid-back tinges of reggae and glassy-eyed soul softening the edges
Similar Artists: Sean Lennon, Spoon, T. Rex, Ambulance LTD and uhh, The Strokes
Listen Now: “GfC”
Band: The Wedding Present
From: Leeds, England
Sound: angst-ridden guitar rock that ranges from jangly to thunderous; witty lyrics to boot
Similar Artists: Superchunk, The Fall, Buzzcocks, Pixies, Teenage Fanclub
Listen Now: “The Thing I Like Best About Him is His Girlfriend” (Jet Age Remix)
Band: Silver Jews
From: Nashville, TN
Sound: Profoundly literate, wry sketches and tales delivered with laid-back swagger and bittersweet grace
Similar Artists: Sebadoh, Will Oldham, Stephen Malkmus, Beck
Listen Now: “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat”
Band: Ratatat (or RATATAT depending on who you ask)
From: Brooklyn, NY
Sound: Imagine majestic melodic 8-bit video game soundtracks played in perfect intervals by Eddie Van Halen and the ghost of Duane Allman
Similar Artists: Daft Punk, Walter Meego, Hot Chip, Trans Am, Laromlab
Listen Now: “Mirando”
Band: Steinski
From: New York, NY
Sound: the O.G. of sample-based hip-hop sound collages
Similar Artists: DJ Shadow, Girl Talk, Cut Chemist, Liam Howlett, RJD2
Listen Now: “The Payoff Mix”
Band: These United States
From: Washington, D.C.
Sound: Delicately dense portraits and hyper-literate lullabies to the American soul and spirit
Similar Artists: M. Ward, Andrew Bird, Iron & Wine, Bon Iver
Listen Now: “First Sight”
