Lightning Bolt Discovered: They opened for The Locust at Gilman back in 2003 or 2004. Textbook case of the warm up act wiping the floor with the headliner. The Locust hit the stage and were pretty much an afterthought to the noise and sheer lose-your-shit mayhem brought on by The Bolt. The records are awesome but these mofos HAVE to be seen live. Period. Recorded output this decade - 4 Albums, numerous comps and splits. Fav album - Wonderful Rainbow (2003) Fav song - 'Assassins' from Wonderful Rainbow
A Place to Bury Strangers Discovered: Only found out about them this year, through the Aquarius Records website, naturally. They've only released 2 full length albums–both in the latter half of the decade–so why include them on this list? Well, both albums rule the school for one, and I also feel they're just getting started. I'm expecting APTBS to really hit their stride in the next decade. Recorded output this decade - 2 Albums, 7 EPs, 2 singles Fav album - Exploding Head (2009) Fav song - 'Ego Death' from Exploding Head
Camera Obscura Discovered: Probably the good old Aquarius Records website. If consistency is everything, then these Scots have done rather well for themselves this decade, serving up album after album of their own brand of sugary pop bliss.
Recorded output this decade - 4 Albums, 13 Singles Fav album - My Maudlin Career (2009) Fav song - 'Eighties Fan' from Biggest Bluest HiFi (2001)
Thou Discovered: Either late last year or early this year on omgvinyl.com. Like A Place to Bury Strangers, these youngsters haven't been around very long, but they've already put out a ton of material. And like APTBS pretty much everything I've heard so far is amazing.
Recorded output this decade - 1 Demo, 3 albums, 1 box set, tons of splits, EPs and comps Fav album - It's ALL FUCKING GOOD Fav song - 'Smoke Pigs' from the Thrive & Decay split 7" (2008)
Mono Discovered: I believe it was through the Sigur Rós web board. People there were talking about this epic Japanese band called Mono, so when they came to town I just went, having never heard any of their music beforehand. After that I became a lifelong fan. Recorded output this decade - 5 albums, 3 EPs, 2 splits, 1 live, Compilation, Remix album each Fav album - Hymn to the Immortal Wind (2009) Fav song - 'Everlasting Light' from Hymn to the Immortal Wind
Patty Griffin Discovered: Through a friend, exchanging music we liked. I got a pile of CDs that introduced me to the likes of Hem, Iris Dement, Gillian Welch–all wonderful discoveries. But Patty Griffin shone from the rest like a bright silvery beacon in the dark with that voice. Recorded output this decade - 4 albums, 2 live albums Fav album - A Kiss in Time (2003) Fav song - 'Mary' from A Kiss in Time
Dälek Discovered: Another introduction from a friend, who gave me a burn of their first album and an EP. I'd pretty much given up on rap, but these guys have eschewed the tired ass conventions of mainsteam hip hop music and have brought something new and different to the table. They've given the genre the swift kick in the ass it's sorely needed. Dälekwill never find mainstream acceptance, but who gives a fuck? They sure don't. Recorded output this decade - 4 albums, numerous EPs, comps, collabs Fav album - Abandoned Language (2007) Fav song - 'Paragraphs Relentless' from Abandoned Language
OM Discovered: Through the Aquarius Records website. They have very informative reviews of new CDs every 2 weeks, complete with sound samples. When they reviewed the first OM record by stating that the band is made up of the rhythm section from Sleep, fuuuuckk, I was sold! Recorded output this decade - 4 albums, 3 singles, 2 live albums Fav album - Conference of the Birds (2006) Fav song - 'Flight of the Eagle' from Conference of the Birds
Youtube clip of the band throwing down at Amoeba, SF below...
Múm Discovered: Their song 'We Have a Map of the Piano' was in a CD sampler that came with an issue of UK music mag The Wire. I'd never heard electronic music sound so organic–cold, yet so cozy at the same time. Recorded output this decade - 4 albums, 2 EPs, 4 singles, numerous comps Fav album - Loksins erum við engin (2002) Fav song - 'Grasi vaxin göng' from Loksins erum við engin
Jolie Holland Discovered: I think it was through Rolling Stone magazine. There was a buzz about her around the time her second album, Escondida, came out that Tom Waits was a fan and signed her to his label. I figured if TW likes her sound, I should hop to it and check her out.
Recorded output this decade - 4 albums Fav album - Springtime Can Kill You (2006) Fav song - 'Mexico City' from The Living and the Dead (2008)
Not a big Star Wars fan, but dude just put out an amazing R2D2 poster. The video below detailing how the print was created is mind-blowing (for any computer design nerd, anyway!). The print goes on sale tomorrow, 11/26 at a random time here. Geek on...
