Surfer Blood

Like Pavement? Vampire Weekend? Built to Spill? Than Surfer Blood is for you. They are a fun alternative rock band that are also great... yes that is the correct word, Great! Their album Astro Cast is a fun album to listen to. They definitely have a 90's rock feel to them but that just makes them sound even more appealing.

Now obviously they have a surfer vibe to their songs. Now you might be wondering what a surfer vibe is in music. Now you might be wondering why I have started every sentence in this paragraph with "Now." Now I am wondering the same thing.

A surfer vibe is a fun sounding, somewhat distortion, small sense of reggae feel to it, harmonious tones and singing. Overall it's just basically awesome.

Song to listen to:

Swim

Harmonix

Floating Vibes

Take It Easy

Catholic Pagans

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/artist/Surfer+Blood/1228067

The Antlers

Bands that make you think. The Antlers fit perfectly under this. Lyricist and lead singer Peter Silberman is a lyrical genius. He does a great job at finding the perfect lyrics to put you in that reflective and pondering mood. His voice is "different" but it fits perfectly with the primarily quiet and simple melodies.

Song to Listen To:

Bear

Two

Wake

In the Attic

Kettering

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=the%20antlers

Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit is an Indie Rock band originating from Scotland formed in 2003. They are known for there light rock style and the distinct voice of lead singer and founder, Scott Hutchinson. The distinction in his voice not only comes from the fact that he has a Scottish accent, but in the amount of feeling you can clearly hear in Hutchinson's voice. Simply put, it is pure art.

Songs Recommended:

Good Arms vs. Bad Arms

The Modern Leper

Poke

Set You Free

Swim Until You Can't See Land

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=frightened%20rabbit

2 Bands ALL Should Know

Ok so it has come to my attention that I should have put these two bands up here earlier because well I thought they had more notice than they really do. These two bands are Needtobreathe and My Morning Jacket.

Needtobreathe:

A southern/christian rock band that is incredibly good. So good in fact, that Taylor Swift chose them of all people to open for her in her new tour. Now I know that the fact that they are a christian rock band some people will automatically dismiss them but those people are missing out. They aren't like most and don't PREACH in every song, they rarely do. Seriously if you like good music check them out. They have a song featured in the movie Employee of the Month with Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson.

Songs to listen to:

Shine On (Employee of the Month)

Don't Wait for Daylight

More Time

The Outsiders

You Are Here

The Heat

And many others

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=needtobreathe

My Morning Jacket:

A true modern day rock band. this band knows how to be chill and psychedelic and how to rock hard. Jim Jame's voice is very very unique and very very good. Somehow still unknown to a ton of people even after having an entire American Dad episode dedicated to them. I have personally seen this band live and it was great, they really know how to put on a show. They talk to the crowd a bit but mostly they just play great music. Jim James, also known as Yim Yames, was one of the people to play the character Bob Dylan in the movie "I'm Not There." his voice is why.

Songs I recommend

One Big Holiday (Watch the video on youtube for when they performed it on Conan O'Brien)

Off The Record

I'm Amazed

Anytime

Librarian

Thank You Too

Touch Me I'm Gonna Scream (pt.1 and pt.2)

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=my+morning+jacket

Animal Liberation Orchestra

These guys are good and more importantly for them they have good... great connections. The keyboardist for Animal Liberation orchestra (ALO) went to college with the one and only Jack Johnson. They became friends and because of that Johnson put them on his record deal. Their style is unique but I would put them under a bluesy/funk/ well a Jam band.

ALO has a music style that you can just listen to their music and love every song and just jam out to them playing air guitar, air drums, or sing into a fake microphone. They are a great band to listen to on the beach or outside on a sunny summer day while cooking up some BBQ or just grill.

Overall, the one thing you should get from this is that you NEED to listen to Animal Liberation Orchestra.

Songs to listen to:

Maria

Monday

Try

Plastic Bubble (A very fun song)

Lady Loop

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=animal+liberation+orchestra

Animal Collective

This band is hard to describe because they are not one specific genre. They are like Psych/Folk/Alternative but each song is very different from the next. They own their own record label which they used to host their music. Their vocals have a beach boys feel to it but the music is way more well like I said before Psych/Alternative with a definite folk vibe to it. They are gaining some popularity from their newest album which is by far the poppiest and it is great. With catchy electronics and vocals its hard to stop listening to this band.

Songs to listen to:

My Girls

Grass

The Purple Bottle

Did You See The Words

Brother Sport

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=animal+collective

Brandon Flowers

A little behind in posting the solo album of Brandon Flowers Flamingo. The album was released a little over 3 months ago and is fantastic! You can clearly tell that it is solo work from the front-man of The Killers because of his distinct voice, but their is a difference in the music. The best way to tell the difference is to listen to it yourself.

Honestly all the songs are great, but if I had to pick a few they would include:

Only the Young

Crossfire

Hard Enough

Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=brandon%20flowers

Also, on November 30 The Killers released their Christmas single for this year "Boots."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5S5Ljfp-0

Basement Birds

Do you like Wilco? If so, the Basement Birds are perfect for you. They are an Indie Band out of Australia that actually cites Wilco as one of their biggest influences. Basement Birds are another highly unknown band that are slowly gaining recognition. The dual use of vocals in some songs gives off a very folk vibe, but for most songs they combine the folk sound with a slower alternative sound. They definitely have the potential to turn a few heads in the near future and get the amount of recognition that they deserve.

Recommended songs:

Not the One

Bus Stop

Waiting for You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLyzmxvpzU

Trampled by Turtles

Trampled by Turtles are a band from Minnesota that fit under the bluegrass and/or folk genre. This is the first band that we have posted that is considered bluegrass, and it is different from any that we have posted thus far, but the catchy use of instruments including a banjo, a mandolin, and a fiddle drew me in. Also, the vocals come from four different members of the band, giving each song something new to offer and and a different sound from each other song.

Recommended tracks:

Wait So Long

Codeine

Never Again

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=trampled%20by%20turtles

NetherFriends

Super-Catchy-Fun Band!

Oh and did i mention HIGHLY unknown!

So far with just an EP and 1 album under their sleeves this band is already great and I am super excited to see what they can continue to do. With music similar to Oberhofer and Cloud Nothings this band will get you hooked immediately once you start listening to them. Slightly rough recordings of catchy songs give this band a unique vibe and it works great for them.

I for one would like to personally Thank Chicago for letting bands like this get together.

Songs to listen to:

Friends With Lofts

Mom Cop

Don't Invite Me

Washed Up 80's TV Star

More Than Friends Who Like Good Music

Yoni

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=netherfriends

Ra Ra Riot

Ra Ra Riot is an Indie Rock Band from Syracuse, New York. Their music is very similar to that of The Shins and Vampire Weekend. This band is a bit unknown but will soon be as recognizable as the two bands mentioned above. So seriously check these guys out. They know what they are doing and they know how to do it good. Their debut album The Rhumb Line was amazing and their follow-up album was just as good I highly recommend you listening to both

Songs to listen to:

Can You Tell

Boy

Too Dramatic

Shadowcasting

Oh, La

Ghost Under Rocks

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=ra+ra+riot

7 Days of Christmas

Ok so it's Christmas and we are in the giving mood, so our gift to you is that for the next week all the way up until Christmas we will be going nuts here. Updates every day, some days more than one!!!!

it's going to be really fun and crazy and we want you guys to help us out. If there is a band that hasn't been posted on the blog than tell us to listen to them, if we like (which we probably will) we will post it and your name.

So let the good times begin!

Paper Tongues

Ok so this is one of those time where I have realized I have made a mistake. I had no idea I never put these guys in the blog before, and for that I am sorry, to all of you and to this band.

Now that that is over we can get to this. LISTEN TO THIS BAND!!!

Paper Tongues formed in North Carolina while Aswan North and a few of his buds that would sing for charity decided to create a band and man was that a great decision. It took awhile but they all eventually decided it was the right idea to leave what they had behind to form this band. They ran into Randy Jackson(yes that Randy Jackson) at a hotel after a showcase and introduced themselves and told him about their band. 2 hours later he called them and signed them and that was the birth of Paper Tongues.

Paper Tongues is gradually gaining a larger fan base and are getting bigger and better shows. They are a very original band and their songs are not all the same. They do all share one common factor and that is that they are all original and great. Aswan North, the frontman, has an incredible voice that I have been able to see live in the front row and man it is something special. The vibe this band gives off live is amazing especially in their song Get Higher. Aswan gets the crowd involved and I promise you would love them in concert so if you get the chance DO IT!!


Their music is a combination of hip hop/rock/electronica. They found a way to perfectly blend these three very different genres and make songs that immediately you think to yourself, "Wow, this band is something special...something that the world needs to have more of." Paper Tongues have the ability and the talent to become one of the biggest bands of our generation and they would be one of the few that I would be proud of to have our generations name. Please help them by spreading their name to all of your friends.

Songs I recommend

Trinity

Ride To California

Get Higher

Rich and Poor

What If

Actually just listen to their entire album it's all great.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=paper+tongues

Brooks Hubbard

Ok so this guy will be the next Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, John Mayer. There isn't much else to say but that if you like any of those 3, which most people do, you will enjoy Hubbard's smooth and fun guitar riffs and lyrics.

I couldn't find anywhere to link to his music to listen to it so, well here is a link to download his album for free. I highly recommend downloading it and at least listening to Burn and Happy.

http://www.4shared.com/file/JdY0KK0c/MP_3_version_Love_and_Peace.html