Crystal Skulls

No Room For Change

Recently here with The Constantines, they sound like fellow Seattlites Minus The Bear on ludes or maybe a loungier Kingsbury Manx. The bass player was unbelievable. David Barzan of Pedro The Lion called them his favourite band when he was here last year, and the blogosphere appears to be all over them.

Blocked Numbers

Suicide Squeeze

Tom Vek

Green Lights

Speaking of the blogophere, this is one of the first bands that I have discovered solely from mp3 blogs. Usually I'll hear of a band, then it will be reinforced later when I read about them somewhere. Also, I like my picks to flow together, and this one follows the Crystal Skulls nicely: earnest vocals, dancey but not spazzy, and infectious. All this and he's only 24.

We Have Sound

Island Records

Grand National

Drink to Moving On

In keeping with songs I've heard first on the internet, and also songs that are disco-drenched and lazy, with big beats and baggy bass lines, Grand National aren't as intense Bloc Party, aren't as obviously disco as Franz Ferdiand, and just aren't angry. A bit of Krautrock and a bit of something else, this song is addictive.

Kicking The National Habit

Sunday Best

Hot Chip

Keep Falling

One line to sum up the song, and also the band? "I'm like Stevie Wonder, but I can see things." Like Trans Am, these revivalists mix humour with fat beats. They make no attempt to hide their bell bottoms and laugh about it. "I'll move ya like you stood in something nasty".

Coming On Strong

Moshi Moshi

Gang Gang Dance

Glory In Itself/Egyptian

This might be a little too off the hook for you all, but give it a shot. More African-influenced weirdness. I have no idea what she is saying, and she sounds like a crazed haggler in Paris trying to save a dinar in the crowded market. Full of mystery and orientalism, this song takes a trip through the Kasbahs of North Africa all while keeping you on the edge of your seat.