Top 10 Albums of 2013

I haven't had as much time as normal to compile my list of the top ten albums of the year.  But I've given it my best shot, and here's what I came up with.  First of all, notable EPs:

Paper Hearts (Silver Trees)

This new group from Nashville has a really nice, melodic, indie rock sound.  Their music is very full, with a variety of instruments and very tuneful vocals.  I like the way the songs build.  Their four-song EP is pretty powerful, and I thought it was one of the better EPs of the year.  The song "Paper Hearts" is really awesome.

The Struggle (Grizfolk)

This band seems to be from California.  They are more poppy than my normal taste...but their music is really catchy.  This EP is fairly electronic, and beat-driven.  Their song "Vagabonds" is amazing.

The Oh Hellos' Family Christmas Album (The Oh Hellos)

This EP came out just a few days ago.  It's the same style of music as all their other stuff (really excellent).  It's a collection of Christmas carols, joined together into long "movements".  Parts of it are slow and contemplative, but there is a lot of the driving beat and fast percussion that marked "Through the Deep Dark Valley".

You Are Here EP (Magic Man)

I came across Magic Man through noisetrade a few months ago, and I really like their sound.  It's fast, electronic, and somewhat poppy.  The chord transitions and rhythms are really catchy.  I was pretty impressed with the EP.

Top ten albums:

10. Magnetic (Goo Goo Dolls)

The Goo Goo Dolls have stayed fairly active since their glory days of the late 1990s and early 2000s.  They released a new album, Magnetic, in May of this year, and I thought it was quite good.  Some of the songs were overly predictable and somewhat unimaginative, but I enjoyed a lot of them.  A few songs in particular were quite compelling...the lyrics are pretty wholesome, and the tunes are highly enjoyable.

9. The Bones of What You Believe (CHVRCHES)

This was one of the better electropop albums of the year.  CHVRCHES is a Scottish electropop group with an amazing 1980s sound.  They have been around for a few years, but only released their debut album a few months ago.  The music is really good, with catchy beats and great use of electronic effects.  The lead singer is a girl, and she has an awesome voice.  The group is getting pretty popular in the US this year.

8. Comedown Machine (The Strokes)

The Strokes had a long gap in their discography between 2003 and 2011.  Their last album, Angles, was not particularly good in my opinion, but this year they released a new LP in April, and I enjoyed it immensely.  The style of the music is very close to their previous work, but there is more variety in the sound of the songs, and the lead singer is more adventurous with his voice.  He has a huge vocal range on this album; it's quite remarkable.  If you liked the Strokes at all in the early 2000s, you should listen to this album.

7. Above the City (Club 8)

Club 8 is a Swedish electropop duo that I came across a couple of years ago.  It had been a while since they released any music, but they came out with a new album this year.  The songs have a wider range of sound than their previous almost chill-wave music.  Some of the songs are pretty dark, but others are very upbeat indeed, and almost electronic.  I enjoyed this album very much.

6. Searching For You (Army of Me)

I came across Army of Me on noisetrade earlier this year, before the release of this album, and then heard about the release a few months ago.  It's an excellent collection of songs, although some of them have been included on EPs in the past.  The lead singer's voice is extremely powerful, and the music itself is the perfect combination of pop and rock in my opinion.  The melodies are really tuneful.  Some of the songs are highly catchy.

5. Heartthrob (Tegan and Sara)

Tegan and Sara's music is not for everyone.  Their previous releases have not interested me much; their stuff seemed too poppy without any memorable melodies.  This new album, however, is incredible.  The lyrics are questionable at best, and occasionally very inappropriate, but aside from that the music is excellent.  The songs will get stuck in your head.  Some of them are better than others, but on the whole I really like their new sound.  Their voices work really well with the rest of the music.

4. The Weatherman (Gregory Alan Isakov)

Gregory Alan Isakov is a genius.  His more recent work is more compelling to me than his earlier stuff.  I really enjoyed "This Empty Northern Hemisphere".  This year he came out with a new album, "The Weatherman"; it didn't initially grab me, but over time it grew on me quite rapidly and now I can't get enough of it.  It's very consistent with his earlier work, with very retro and acoustic sounding guitar work and powerful melodies.  His voice is unbelievable.  I struggled to decide where to place this album on the list, it's so good.  It almost went higher on the list.

3. Dear Me, Look Up (Marble Sounds)

Marlbe Sounds is a Dutch band.  I think I came across them on youtube a couple of years ago, and they only had one album released.  It was decent, although I didn't like every song.  This year they came out with a new album and I immediately loved it.  The style of music is consistent with their previous stuff, but a lot more polished with catchier melodies.  I really like the upbeat sound on most of the songs.  The instrumentation is really good.  If you like alternative rock music and you don't mind accents, you should love this.

2. Black Bear (Andrew Belle)

Andrew Belle released his sophomore album "Black Bear" this year, and it's a huge leap from his previous work.  I always thought he sounded a lot like Mat Kearney in his previous stuff; both his voice, and the poppy nature of his music.  But this new album is a lot more interesting: it sounds a lot more like Beach House than Mat Kearney.  The opening track is unbelievable, and it sets the tone of the whole album.  Almost every song is excellent, and I can't recommend this album enough.

1. Trouble Will Find Me (The National)

This was the best album of the year in my opinion.  I had very high expectations for it, but oddly, I wasn't enthralled the first few times I listened to it.  I thought it was a lot less powerful than "High Violet".  It probably took about three or four listens before it started to grow on me rapidly.  Now, eight months after it came out, I can't get enough of it.  All the essential elements of the National are there; the (mostly) vague and nonsensical but emotional lyrics, the building of each song to a crescendo, the powerful percussion and background instrumentation including what seems like a full orchestra.  I had the privilege of seeing them live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in September, and was highly impressed.  They are among my favourite bands right now.

Silver Trees

This group is one of the most ground-breaking that I have come across in the last six months or so.  They are phenomenally talented.  The music style is highly melodic and orchestral.  I don't know if I would even classify it as rock; it's not particularly percussion-driven.  But the melodies are undeniably powerful.  Check out this video of one of their songs.  The group is from Nashville, and as far as I can tell they only have one EP released at this point.  It was recently given away on noisetrade.  This is their website.  The first song I heard from them was this one; it might be the best song I've heard all year.

Alpha Rev

I came across this alternative rock band about a month ago, possibly through noisetrade.  Their sound seemed familiar, even though I had never come across them before.  I'd describe their style as melodic, slightly poppy rock music.  The tunes remind me of Mat Kearney pretty strongly, although the lead singer's voice actually sounds a bit like David Bazan.  Here's a music video of one of their better songs (their videos are all a bit weird and jumpy).  This is another good one.  I like the balance of the guitars and the percussion, and the melodies are all pretty powerful.  Apparently they released a new album in 2013, but I haven't listened to it yet.  They are worth checking out if you like good alternative rock music.

Club 8

This is a Scandinavian guy-girl duo (Sweden, I believe).  They have a number of albums out (around five I think), and historically their sound has been an extremely mellow pop.  Here is an example of some of their earlier work.  Their most recent album, which was released earlier this year, is a significant shift in style; it's a lot faster and more danceable.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to find much of this most recent album online, check out this video of one of their songs from it.  It's really good, and I highly recommend checking it out if you like their style.

Love Inks

This is a band mentioned to me by my younger brother.  The style of music bears some resemblance to Beach House, or a mellower version of Sleigh Bells or Purity Ring.  It's chill dream wave, and I really like it.  Their recent album "Generation Club" is streaming here; I highly recommend giving it a listen.  The beats are unbelievably catchy.  Their songs will get stuck in your head, and they grow on you with each successive listen.  This new album is their best work to date in my opinion; some of their earlier stuff is less compelling.

MNDR

My youngest brother introduced me to this electropop duo from New York when he came to visit me last weekend.  I really like their sound; it's comparable to the similarly named Ms Mr, but with perhaps a bit more of a poppy vibe.  In other ways the music resembles Mø.  Check out this trippy video for one of their awesome songs.  The (girl) lead singer's voice is also different from the Ms Mr girl's voice; it's deeper, but similarly powerful.  You can listen to their album "Feed Me Diamonds" on their bandcamp site.  I recommend giving it a listen.  However I can't vouch for the cleanliness of all their lyrics.

Magic Man

This group is my most recent groundbreaking discovery.  They are hard to describe; I guess they could be considered psychedelic rock.  It's a bit poppy, but there is enough innovation in the music that I don't mind, and it's exceptionally catchy.  Check out this song, which is representative of their style.  The lead singer's voice has a retro air about it that I really like.  The percussion is excellent; not overwhelming, but pretty crisp and tight.  And on top of all the various electronic-sounding instruments they use, there is a layer of distortion that gives the music a really interesting sound.  Here's another good one.  Apparently the group only has one album "Real Life Color" (2010) and an EP out currently.  I think they could go far, though...they clearly have a lot of talent.

Zoe Sky Jordan

This is another recent noisetrade discovery.  The style of this girl's music reminds me most of Imogen Heap, although it's more melodic and less poppy, and less unpredictable for the most part.  This song is pretty sweet, with some really cool chord transitions; I really like the mood.  She's got kind of a haunting voice.  Here's another live song with some nice guitar work towards the end.  You can listen to the cleaner studio versions of her songs at her bandcamp site.  Apparently she only has one album released so far, but she's pretty skilled.

Grizfolk

I came across this group on noisetrade (seems to be the new medium for me to hear music these days).  Their sound is a bit poppy for my taste, but some of their songs are incredibly good.  I couldn't find out much about the group, except that they are from California and...Sweden?  Give their noisetrade EP a listen.  My personal favourite is the song "Vagabonds".  I believe I can personally guarantee that you will like it (unless you don't like music).  Apparently they are on tour right now, currently in California.

Army of Me

Army of Me is an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C.  I came across them on noisetrade, and really like their sound.  There are some resemblances with Jimmy Eat World.  Here's their bandcamp.  Apparently the band was pretty active in the mid 2000s, and that material sounds pretty hard and rocky, but then the lead singer's voice somehow got destroyed and the band stopped making music for several years.  On noisetrade they've released a new EP, which has a much more acoustic and melodic sound...apparently they plan to release a full length album soon.  "Modern Times" is my favourite...it's a hard-hitting song.  Check them out.

Mary Cassidy and Jon Lawless

Sorry for the inexcusably long break between posts.  I've been very busy.  I recently came across this interesting musical duo via noisetrade.  The combination of styles makes them very hard to categorize...I would probably call them electro folk pop.  I like how their voices work together, and the rhythms are quite catchy.  In some ways they remind me of Matt and Kim, but less annoying.  There are some other songs here and here.  You should give them a listen.

Andrew Belle

Not many people seem to have heard of this guy; he's a Christian singer-songwriter from Chicago.  My roommate David Runkles introduced me to his stuff several years ago.  It's been quite a while since he's put out any new music, but his debut album "The Ladder" was exceptionally good.  It sounded a lot like Mat Kearney, but maybe less poppy.  The title track is an excellent example of his talent.  His voice is really interesting, but what sells it for me is the instrumentation; there is a huge variety of instruments, always arranged very well.  A couple of years later he came out with an EP, which featured this song.  Suffice to say it blew my mind; it kind of took over my life for a few months actually.  Incredibly powerful song.  So, fast forward to about a week ago; it turns out he's coming out with a new album next Tuesday.  For some reason I hadn't heard that much about it and wasn't too excited about it, but then I heard a single from it and was immediately obsessed.  Turns out the entire album is currently streaming on Paste magazine here, but only for the next few days.  The new album is a significant style shift from his previous work; it's more dream wave-esque.  I can't get enough of it right now.

Bastille

I heard this English band on the radio a few weeks ago and thought they warranted a follow-up search.  This is the song I first heard.  I like the melodic rocky sound, and the lead singer's voice is really cool, although the chanting is a bit weird.  Listening to the rest of their stuff, some of it is pretty melodic and has cool rhythms, but I'm not sure I like the majority of it.  The group sort of sounds like a slower Everything Everything to me.  Here's another song fairly representative of their work.

Smallpools

I heard one of this band's songs on the radio a couple of weeks ago and liked it a lot.  The particular song, "Dreaming", is super catchy.  The style of the music is fairly classic pop rock, but it has a very fresh, energetic feel and I really like it.  Check out the music video.  I don't think the video does the song justice, it's a bit stupid actually and doesn't make much sense, but the song is incredible.  The rest of their music is not quite as immediately catchy, but it's all pretty fast, tight, and melodic.  Here's another good one.  Right now I think the band only has one EP released, but I think they have decent publicity and a lot of momentum, so perhaps they will release a full album soon.  They have a cool sound, and are worth checking out.

Twenty One Pilots

I know some people would want to burn me at the stake for this, and I struggled for a long time to decide if I really liked this band.  I first heard one of their songs on the radio, and was immediately intrigued.  They are a duo from Ohio, but the style of the music is hard to describe.  It definitely has elements of really good electronica, as well as general alternative rock, and some potentially annoying-sounding white kid rap.  It's probably hard to visualise how this would sound, so just listen to this song.  It's pretty representative of their stuff.  Here's another of their songs.  Their lyrics are unexpectedly deep and meaningful (even borderline explicitly Christian), which is really cool.  The guys are undeniable weirdos; I'm not sure what's with the ski masks.  But when it comes down to it, they just have a really sweet sound.  A couple more cool songs: Trees and Holding on to You.  Take it or leave it; I really like this band.

Branches

This is another band from the girlfriend...they are from California.  I would describe the music as folky, bluegrass-style acoustic music.  The band seems to have kind of a quirky, playful style, and I quite like it.  The guy and girl singers have incredible voices and the harmonies are excellent.  Check out this song; if you don't like it, I can't help you.  Here's another good one.  The group also does a lot of covers of popular songs; this one of a White Stripes song is really good.  If you like their sound, check out their bandcamp site.

Empire of the Sun

I think this Australian eletropop group is decently well-known now; at least most people have heard of them.  They are a weird pair of dudes, apparently using over-the-top costumes not just in their music videos but also during live shows.  This song made the rounds a few years ago; it's pretty catchy.  Their style of music is very similar to MGMT in my opinion.  A lot of their earlier work is a bit too out there for my taste, and overly weird and ridiculous.  However, they released a new album last month which is quite a change in style and really excellent.  It sounds like a throwback 80s album, and I love it.  If you want to give it a listen you can actually stream the whole thing on youtube here.  See what you think.

Just A Band

My brother mentioned this group to me a few days ago, and after I checked them out I was blown away.  They are a Kenyan electropop group; the style of their music varies greatly though.  Here is the first song off their 2010 album "82", which in my opinion is nothing short of genius.  It's the chillest, most awesome song I've heard in quite a while.  Some of their other songs resemble daft punk (like this one), and still others are more rap-influenced.  The language switches between English and Swahili.  Apparently the group has some earlier albums, but I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet.  They don't seem to be on grooveshark, but you can listen to "82" in its entirety on their bandcamp site...I would recommend buying the album, it's only $8.  Here's another unbelievably good song from their more recent 2012 album "Sorry for the Delay".

The Boxer Rebellion

I had the privilege of seeing this English alternative rock band at the Bluebird in Denver last week.  I hadn't really heard of them, but my friend Henry turned me on to their music a few months ago and managed to put together a group of 8 people from church to go to this show.  Their music is very atmospheric, slightly dark rock with a lot of electric guitar.  There are some similarities with Coldplay, although most of the melodies are not as compelling or catchy, and it's overall quite a bit less poppy.  This is my favourite song; it was cool live, too, because they switched up their normal instruments (3 guys on guitar and one drummer) such that the lead singer was on keyboard and everyone else was playing drums.  I like the lead singer's retro-sounding voice.  The show was decent overall, although the balance of the instruments was a bit off; it was pretty hard to hear the vocals, and sometimes the electric guitar was painfully loud.  They just released a new album last month; here is one of the songs from it (more representative of their overall style).

Alice and the Glass Lake

This is sort of ethereal electropop; I wouldn't expect everyone to like it, but give this song a listen and see what you think (the video is a bit trippy).  Apparently it's just the one girl...she began by doing some cool covers on youtube, and now has started this project.  She just released an EP this week, which includes "Higher" and this other sweet song "Luminous".  I like the tone of the music a lot.  The percussion and instrumentation works together really well, and she has an amazing voice.  You can actually listen to the new EP in its entirety on her website.

Tove Lo

This is not for everyone; but if you like some darker pop music I would recommend checking out this Swedish girl Tove Lo.  I first heard this song on Ms Mr's latest "track addict" mix, and thought it was really catchy...it's also fairly intense.  She has a really cool voice, and I like the backing instrumentation a lot; it's simple but it works really well.  Some of her songs work pretty well in an acoustic arrangement, well; check out this one Paradise.  She gets really into it.  I don't think she has released an album or anything yet, but it's probably only a matter of time.

SHEL

I've known of this Fort Collins band for several years but never made an effort to see them perform until last night at Hodi's.  It's a group of four sisters; their style of music is impossible to characterise.  Overall, I guess I would call it bluegrass rock with a strong Celtic feel, although some of their stuff is more freestyle and almost jazzy.  Anyway, I was extremely impressed last night; their technical skill is exceptional.  They play keyboard, mandolin, violin, and drums, and they are all incredibly good.  They opened with this song which blew my mind.  Also check out this cover of a Led Zeppelin song (I have to admit I've never heard the original song, but I like this version).  They also have a few songs that I don't care for; some of their stuff is too playful and ridiculous for my taste.  But the group clearly has some serious talent.

Gungor

Sorry I haven't been updating much; I had a somewhat disastrous trip to Oklahoma all last week and didn't have much free time.  So, a friend of mine put a song by this group on a mix CD she made for me...I had never heard of them before, but I really liked the sound of the song: check it out here.  The group is a collective of Christian musicians from Denver.  Since hearing that song I've listened to some of their other stuff; I think I recognised some of their earlier work from some college campus ministry meetings.  Their most recent album, "Ghosts Upon the Earth", is flipping good...it's very creative musically and really a delight to listen to.  The lyrics are solid too.  I recommend checking it out; you can find it on grooveshark.

Prides

This is a very new and totally unknown electropop group out of Scotland...I literally know nothing about them, but I'm really liking the way this song sounds.  It reminds me of their compatriots CHVRCHES...that's actually how I heard about them.  The song was released about a month ago, and they have no other material out at the moment.  But they have apparently been playing some shows around the country, so they must have other songs.  At some point maybe they will put out an EP.  Until then, I will be listening to "Out of the Blue".  It's a great summer song.

Angus and Julia Stone

This is an Australian brother and sister duo.  Their music is pop rock for the most part, with a distinct folk influence in some songs.  This is the first song of theirs I heard; the tone is light and the instrumentation is pretty simple, but it works quite well.  Both of them have very interesting voices, particularly the girl.  In general the songs are pretty upbeat and lighthearted, but there are some intense ones, particularly this.  I recommend giving these songs a listen, and checking out the band.

Wye Oak

I recently came across this guy-girl duo from Maryland.  The style of music is sort of a mix of genres...I would classify it as indie rock with a strong folk influence.  It also has some resemblance to dream pop.  There is quite a lot of atmospheric electric guitar in the background, but there's not much annoying distortion.  After listening to a couple of their albums, I was under the impression it was a full band (with at least 3 members), and I had a hard time believing only two people could make music this intricate.  Then I saw video proof.  It's fairly impressive.  The dude is playing the drums AND the keyboard at the same time. Here's a somewhat mesmerizing video of another song representative of their overall style.

Overseas

David Bazan, in my opinion, is a musical genius.  You may not agree with his philosophical or religious views, but the power of his music is hard to deny.  Since he basically renounced Christianity and quit Pedro the Lion in 2006, he has been recording solo albums (most notably Curse Your Branches in 2009; a provocative but spectacular record), and doing a few living room shows for his fans.  He recently completed a tour in which he played the Pedro the Lion album "Control" in its entirety.  About a month ago he announced he was forming a new band with several musicians from other groups.  The band is called "Overseas"; their first album is coming out on 11 June.  You can listen to two of their songs on their website.  I am fairly obsessed with these songs.  I love Bazan's approach to lyricism...he has no qualms dealing with difficult issues, and makes frequent references to his own life story including his alcoholism.  The music itself is extremely simple but powerful, with strong guitar riffs and loud percussion.  It's incredibly dark.  I'm sure it won't be to everyone's taste, but this record is going to be one of the most anticipated of the summer for me.

Young Galaxy

This group is a relatively new (last 10 years) rock/dream pop band from Montreal (a lot of good music comes out of that city).  Again I can't remember how I came across them; it may have been through my Paste magazine sampler.  To me, their music sounds like a cross between the Republic Tigers and CHVRCHES.  Maybe a bit less rocky than those the Republic Tigers, but less 80s than CHVRCHES.  Here's my personal favourite: Embers.  It's more chill and less experimental than most of their stuff, but an undeniably great song.  Here's another good one.  And one more.  You have to be in the right mood to enjoy their music, but if you are it can be pretty excellent.  The group has four albums out, one of which, "Ultramarine", came out about a week ago.

Young Man

Sorry, this is yet another electropop band...I promise I'm into other types of music, I've just been listening to a lot of this recently.  I figure I should post about stuff while it's still fresh.  This group is very mellow, and slightly atmospheric (aimless, you could even argue).  Most of their songs are a bit too meandering for my taste, without a compelling melody or chorus.  But this song is undeniably catchy and cool, and might get stuck in your head.  I really like the intricate layering of the various instruments, and the drum beat.  It reminds me a little bit of recent Beach House.  Here's another song more typical of their style.  Apparently they have a new album that came out this month, but I haven't had a chance to hear it yet.  They are also performing in Salt Lake City and Denver on 6 and 7 May, if you want to check them out live.  Apparently they are really good live...

London Grammar

I recently came across this mellow, almost classical-sounding electropop group a few days ago, and I really like their stuff.  Here's a representative song.  The instrumentation is very tight and clean, and the lead singer has a ridiculously powerful voice.  I like the dark tone of this song a lot.  The group (two dudes and a girl) seems to be getting some traction in the UK, and they have been playing at some larger venues in London.  Currently they only have an EP out, called Metal & Dust: this is the title track.  I look forward to hearing more music from them soon.

Mates of State

This band consists of an American husband-wife duo.  They play all kinds of instruments, and have a lot of other instrumental support in much of their music, too.  The style is very melodic pop-rock, with a focus on very clean vocals and awesome harmonies.  Here is a weird music video for a typical one of their songs.  They apparently have tons of albums out and have been around since the late 1990s, but I never came across them until the last few months.  Some of their albums are better than others.  Many of their earlier songs have slightly weird transitions in the middle, which I don't particularly enjoy.  But on the whole, their songs are creative, quite catchy, and extremely well-executed.  This is another one worth checking out. And here's my personal favourite, which happens to be from their most recent (2011) album.  Give them a listen and see what you think.

The Cave Singers

This ban, from Seattle, is pretty hard to describe, and quite unlike anything I've previously enjoyed.  Here is one of their first songs I heard.  I was initially drawn to the understated and simple acoustic guitar riffs, with creative peripheral instrumentation.  I didn't know what to think about the vocals at first, since they are quite bluesy.  After multiple listens to their most recent album, I decided I really liked it.  The instrumentation is so simple and folky, and the lead singer's voice gives it a unique nineteenth-century feel.  Here's another great song.  You should listen to some of their stuff if you like this style of music.

Marble Sounds

This band is a relatively new group.  It's the project of a Belgian singer-songwriter, Pieter Van Dessel.  It is relatively soft, melodic rock music, a bit melancholy at times.  Their initial full-length album, "Nice is Good", came out in 2010.  I liked the tone and the instrumentation a lot, although the lead singers' voice took some getting used to...it's all in English.  Here is a video for one of the songs from that album, pretty representative of the style.  The group recently released a new album, "Dear Me, Look Up"...you can actually stream it in its entirety at this Belgian magazine site.  Some songs are better than others, but on the whole I think it's really good.

Brolly

I honestly can't remember how I came across this band...it was just a few weeks ago, too!  They are an unknown alternative rock group from northern California, but extremely talented.  Check out this live video of one of the songs from their EP.  Apparently you can download the entire EP for free on noisetrade.  The music sounds like a cleaner version of early Coldplay to me, with simple but excellent guitar work.  Here's my favourite of their songs; I love the simplicity of the guitar.  The band members all seem really young.  I hope more people discover them and they start getting some traction in the next few years.

Donora

Donora is an American indie pop-rock group from Pennsylvania...I had never heard of them until recently.  The style of their music is very poppy, but the lead singer has an awesome voice and the harmonies are really good.  The backing instruments are also excellent (especially the bass).  Some of their quieter songs sound a bit like The Narrative (a good thing).  Here's a video for one of their songs; a typical example of their music.  They also have a few songs that are a bit too ridiculous and cutesy for my taste.  Like this one...although the hula-hooping in that video is completely mad.

Inouwee

I came across this Danish group purely through their initiative using social media (weird)!  They followed me on twitter, and I generally try to check out the music of groups or individuals that take the time to do that.  It's actually not a bad publicity strategy.  Their music is quite interesting; I would call it a pleasing mixture of rock and electropop.  The girl has a great voice, and the instrumentation is pretty forward-looking and melodic on most of the songs.  This song is what initially intrigued me...I love the mellow mood and simple guitar riffs.  Then I heard this song You, which is a bit more electronic and beat-driven (although still pretty chill).  It's extremely creative in my opinion, and will get profoundly stuck in your head.  I think the group has a lot of potential.

Portage

Portage is a folky rock group out of northern Minnesota; the style of music is interesting, with a large combination of instruments and creative transitions.  The vocals are kind of soulful and bluesy.  The closest-sounding other group I have heard is Wake Owl (incidentally out of nearby Winnipeg), although Portage is louder and less contemplative and acoustic.  It took a few listens for their recent album, "Landings", to grow on me, but I think it is a significant improvement from their earlier album.  It uses a lot of cool piano riffs, and some nice variations in dynamics.  You can stream their music on their bandcamp site.  If you like some funk, check out the track "Down to the Floor"...normally I don't like that influence, but it works well with this song.

Everything Everything

I don't know where to begin in describing the English rock band Everything Everything.  They have gained quite a following in the UK and in the US in the last few months.  Their style is quite poppy, but at its core the music is rock.  The lead singer has a very interesting voice...I don't know how to describe it other than that it always sounds like it's on the verge of breaking.  Check out this video.  Can I just say, before I comment on the music, that the black dude is RIPPED OUT OF HIS MIND.  The song is extremely catchy; the central chord progression is quite compelling in my opinion.  Their other music is similar in character, although less immediately catchy in general.  If you like somewhat playful rock with cool chord progressions, I recommend checking them out.

Purity Ring

Purity Ring is a guy/girl duo that does dream wave-type pop music; you either love it or you hate it.  This video gives you a good taste of the style.  The beats and music are highly electronic, but it works really well with the girl's voice.  Sort of like a mellower version of Sleigh Bells.  It's impossible to discern any rational thought in the lyrics, but I don't think that detracts from the music at all.  Here's another example.  Their music videos take bizarre to a new level...they are among the weirdest pieces of film I have ever seen.  It's hard to argue against how cool and catchy some of their songs are though. They are worth checking out if you are willing to explore this type of music.

Radical Face

Radical Face is somewhat well-known now, although it recently came to my attention that a couple of my friends whose opinion on music I regard quite highly had never heard of him.  It's one guy, Ben Cooper, from Jacksonville, FL, and he manages to produce some fairly compelling music on his own.  He apparently records most of his stuff in an old shed behind his house, and obviously does a lot of layering.  The style is fairly orchestral and grand, but there are also rock influences.  Here is an example of one his songs.  He has released three albums to date: "Junkyard Chandelier", "Ghost", and most recently "The Family Tree: The Roots".  His recent project will supposedly involve several installments of "The Family Tree".  Radical Face isn't this guy's only project; it just happens to be the one that's got the most traction.  If you like it, you should also check out Patients, Clone, and especially Electric President (some of this stuff is really hard to find).  He blogs fairly frequently on his website.

Mammut

This is an Icelandic band that isn't particularly well known; I think all the members are really young.  The music is pretty hard rock for the most part, and all the vocals are in Icelandic.  The songs have a dark undertone.  Of course I can't understand any of the lyrics, but a lot of their stuff is still really compelling.  Check out this video of a live performance of one of their more awesome songs.  They all look like teenagers.  The studio version of this song is unbelievable.  The band is worth checking out if you aren't opposed to some harder rock (and non-English lyrics).

Family of the Year

I heard this song on the radio a couple of months ago and was quite captivated; I immediately looked up the band and listened to the rest of their stuff.  I must say, the song "Hero" is not particularly representative of the rest of their work.  Most of their songs are a lot more upbeat and lighthearted, even  a bit irreverent.  Here's a song more similar to the balance of their music.  I really like their tuneful melodies and pleasing chord progressions.  Also they have an undeniably awesome band name.  If you're in the mood for some pleasant, amusing alternative/rock music, I recommend checking them out.

Roadkill Ghost Choir

This awesomely-named band is a folky americana group from Florida.  They have quite a country twang, and the lead singer has got a strong southern accent, but the music feels a bit more rocky and alternative-influenced than a true country band.  I think they only have an EP out right now; it took me quite a few listens before I was convinced of its quality.  But now I'm of the opinion that it's quite good indeed.  Check out this live version of their catchiest song, Beggar's Guild.  Their lyrics are good, often pretty intense, with frequent Christian allusions.  Here is my favourite of their songs; it's a bit quieter.  You can download "Beggar's Guild" for free on their bandcamp site, but I recommend getting the entire EP for $5!

The Oh Hellos

I initially came across the Oh Hellos several months ago, and I can't remember how I heard about them.  I think it was through some blog or other...possibly thesixtyone.com.  I listened to some of their stuff but wasn't enthralled, so I sort of forgot about them.  Then my brother Will told me to check them out a few days ago, so I downloaded their recent full-length album.  It is rapidly growing on me.  The group is a brother-sister duo from Texas.  The music is very folky...they have a strong country twang, but a lot of cool riffs reminiscent of Mumford & Sons.  The girl's voice sounds just like the girl in the Head & the Heart.  Here's a song pretty representative of their style.  This is another song that's a bit more Mumfordesque.  Check out their bandcamp site; it has all their stuff.

My Name Is You

When I was thinking about EPs to include in my best of 2012 list, the first one that came to mind was My Name Is You.  Unfortunately when I checked the release date I saw it came out in 2011.  If I allowed myself to retroactively modify my best-of lists, this EP would certainly have a place in the 2011 list, but I only came across this band last autumn.  I was instantly mesmerized by their delightfully clean but innovative sound.  Here is a music video for one of their songs that some kids made; this song is pretty typical of their style.  I love the way the variety of instruments they use complements their voices, and the way their voices work together so perfectly.  The lyrics are also sometimes really hard-hitting; check out this song Come Back.  I cannot stress enough how imperative it is that you listen to this EP.  This collection of songs moves me deeply and it's without a doubt the best new music I've heard in years.

Gregory Alan Isakov

Hopefully many of you have already heard of Gregory Alan Isakov; he is a folk singer/songwriter and guitarist from Boulder.  Here is a song that's fairly representative of his musical style.  It's pretty retro-sounding folk music, but the combination of instruments and the chord progressions are still really good.  I had the privilege of seeing him play in Fort Collins in September (with the Head and the Heart); it was an incredible show, and I was really impressed with his delivery.  His backing musicians were excellent, too, especially the violinist.  He currently has two albums out, released in 2007 and 2009.  I much prefer the more recent one, and I like his more recent unreleased songs (like this one) a lot too.

Daughter

I mentioned this band in my top EPs of 2012 list last month.  They are an extremely talented English group.  The musical style is pretty minimalist and simple, but one of their strengths is how they manage to achieve an incredible intensity in many of their songs in spite of there only being three band members and not a lot of electronic enhancement.  Check out this song for example.  The lyrics are generally very dark so you have to be in the mood for that.  If you approach it with the right mindset, though, their music can be really captivating.  Many of their songs lend themselves to acoustic arrangements; check out this version of Peter.  The band has two EPs out currently, and they are about to release a full-length album (March in Europe, late April in the US).  I recommend checking it out.

The Autumn Film

This is a three-person band from Boulder; the two guys play backing instruments, and the girl plays piano and sings.  The songs are all pretty melodic, but also have good percussion and rhythm; I really like the prominence of the piano parts.  Here is one of my favourite of their songs.  Some of them are quite a bit darker than this (here is an example).  The group has two albums out: their first one, "The Ship and the Sea", and the recent "Eight Track Tape".  They also recently did some cool Coldplay covers which you can listen to and watch on their website.  Apparently they have played at Everyday Joes in the past; I wonder if they will ever come back there.

Lights

Lights is a girl from Toronto who does some really catchy eletropop.  My youngest brother introduced me to the music; at first I was highly skeptical because it's so poppy.  However, after a few listens to her 2009 album, "The Listening", I couldn't deny it was really fun to hear if I was in the right mood.  Here's one of my favourite songs.  The songs are all clean and musically fairly interesting.  There is also an acoustic collection of songs which is really good: check this out.  I'm much more interested in acoustic stuff these days, and it's refreshing to know that there are pop artists who can still do it.  She released her most recent album, "Siberia", in 2011, and went on tour last year in support of that.

The Honeycutters

The Honeycutters are an alt-country/folk band from Asheville; apparently they've been around for a while but haven't become particularly well known.  They have started winning some awards recently.  A friend of mine saw them live a few times in North Carolina when he used to live there, and he has since tried to introduce as many people as possible to their music.  Their first album, "Irene", came out in 2009, and their second one came out this year.  Both albums have phenomenal songwriting, and the lead singer has an incredible voice.  The recent album feels a bit less twangy and country to me, and slightly more rocky.  In any case, both albums are well worth a listen at their bandcamp site.

Chvrches

Chvrches is a relatively new electropop group from Scotland; their music is pretty loud and beat-heavy. You definitely have to be in the right mood to enjoy it.  It sort of reminds me of Phantogram, or maybe M83, but it's a bit more predictable, or at least less wandering, with more traditional chord progressions.  Here is one of their really good songs.  They are about to go on a UK tour in support of their new album that is coming out this year.  I think some of their shows have already sold out, even though they were only announced like a week ago.  This is the single from the upcoming album; it's extremely catchy.

Kodaline

Kodaline are an Irish band that have been getting a lot of exposure in the US recently through TV shows and advertisements.  Apparently the group existed under a different name about five years ago, but reformed in 2011 and came out with a four-song EP.  Check out their website; they have several rather engrossing music videos on there.  The style of music is pretty mellow rock, although pretty dark in general (sorry if you're not into that).  In some ways it sounds like early Coldplay.  This song is their best-known.  Here is a song from their new EP (coming out in March).

Fierce Bad Rabbit

Fierce Bad Rabbit are pretty much the biggest band in Fort Collins right now, at least since the demise of Tickle Me Pink.  I've known about them for a few years, but other than the odd catchy song their music hasn't done much for me.  Their Live and Learn EP about a year ago interested me a bit more; I liked the direction it went.  Here's one of the songs from that EP.  I heard they were coming out with a new album this week, but I have to admit listening to it wasn't a high priority.  They posted it on their bandcamp site on New Years' Eve.  Give it a listen.  If the first song doesn't completely blow your mind, I don't know what to tell you; we must have fundamentally different music taste.  They put on an album release show at Hodi's Halfnote here in town on New Years' Eve.  Now I wish I had gone.

Mø

This is a girl from Copenhagen; she has only come out with a few songs to date but they've all been stunning.  I first heard this song on Ms Mr's "Track Addict Volume II" mixtape that they released just before Christmas.  It's very much in the same vein as Ms Mr's music: glitchy, retro electropop.  The trumpet fanfare in the background works extremely well, but it's the understated electric guitar just before the chorus that really seals the deal for me.  The end product is one of the catchier songs I've ever heard.  Here's another song, slightly more bluesy but still really good.  Apparently she is coming out with an album this year.