
Accordions, glockenspiels and handclaps dominate on the indie pop gem, Heirloom [ buy ], from Vancouver collective Wintermitts . Alternating between French and English, lead singer Lise Monique 's enchanting vocals are a combination of Karen O ( Yeah Yeah Yeahs ), Josephine Olausson ( Love Is All ) and Sue Tompkins ( Life Without Buildings ). Enjoy. Schoolyard mp3 DANS mp3 [...]

Merging the tense post-punk sensibilities of Talking Heads with the emotion and volatility of Arcade Fire , Montreal's Parlovr is a fiery three piece that demands to be heard. Their compelling self titled debut [ buy ] is a set of fist pumping indie rock anthems filled with urgency, drama and just the right amount of sarcasm. Enjoy. On the Phone mp3 Hiccup mp3 [...]

This really isn't a "Best of" list as much as it's simply a highly subjective grouping of my favorite and therefore most played albums of 2008 ... in no particular order . Gang Gang Dance: St. Dymphna [ The Social Registry ] St. Dymphna [ buy ] from Brooklyn's experimental outfit Gang Gang Dance is light years ahead [...]

The whimsical track Not the One from the album Yes or No [ buy ] by France's François Virot is experimental folk-pop for fans of Benoît Pioulard and Panda Bear . Not the One mp3 My Big Bonus Mp3s Strike Again: Benoît Pioulard: Ragged Tint mp3 [...]

After a very successful pressing of the 7" single, I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana) , San Francisco's Nodzzz have sprinted to release a short ( 10 songs in 16 minutes ) but very satisfying self-titled 12" [ buy ] full of catchy garage pop on Brooklyn's What's Your Rupture? label. I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana) mp3 Is She There mp3 [...]

With the release of the LP, Clangour [ buy ], Iceland's Sindri Mar Sigfusson takes a break from the mellow alt/folk sounds of Seabear to become experimental/weirdo popster Sin Fang Bous . A gorgeous transition. Enjoy. For fans of The Microphones , Animal Collective , The Music Tapes . Advent in the Ives Garden mp3 Catch the Light [...]

Beneath it's lush layers of sweet scum, the track So Bored from San Diego's Wavves is a charming little lo-fi slacker anthem that sounds like The Beach Boys , My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain ... being played on vinyl all at the same time . So Bored mp3

The San Francisco indie label, Absolutely Kosher , is gaining a reputation for delivering some wonderfully offbeat artists --- 60 Watt Kid , Okay a nd now Little Teeth . The track Japanese Candy, from the album Child Bearing Man [ buy ], is laced with bizarre vocals and [...]

Via the Biography section of BridgeUnderwater.net : Facts: Bridge Underwater is the music of one man. The music is created in Philadelphia, Pa. Bridge Underwater has been active since 2005. All Bridge Underwater music is available for free at Last.Fm. Here are [...]

Pollution is the brilliant and bizarre opener to the album Heavy Duty [ buy ] --- which incidentally was recorded on a digital 8 track --- from weirdo pop warbler Rex Marshall a.k.a. Mattress . Think Nick Cave ... but creepier . I love it. Pollution mp3

Reaching back to a chapter of the 1980's that many would just as soon forget, the pop-folk duo of Homesick Elephant ( Kevin Kelly and Sara Fitzsimmons ) have delicately reinvented the track Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins from the Top Gun soundtrack [ buy ]. Enjoy. Danger Zone mp3

The blossoming U.K. band, They That Cried Wolf , is a clever little indie pop four piece that reminds me of ( Wild Mood Swings era ) The Cure and more recently Black Kids . With super catchy synth driven pop hooks and alternating male/female lead vocals, They That Cried Wolf's upcoming EP is certainly a release to keep an eye out for. Enjoy. She's Been Drinking mp3 [...]

Videotape 's track Night Lights , from from the album My Favourite Thing [ buy ] is gentle and non threatening indie rock for fans of Band of Horses and Rogue Wave . I like it like a fat kid likes cake. Night Lights mp3 My Big Bonus MP3s Strike Again: Band of Horses: The Great Salt Lake mp3 Rogue [...]

Relying heavily on the sound of bands like Wire and Gang of Four , Los Angeles' Meho Plaza 's self titled debut [ buy ] is an aggressive and urgent collection of post-punk tracks for a new generation of disinterested and angry youths --- that actualy have good taste in music . Well done lads. I Sold My Organs mp3 Your Future Looks Bright mp3 [...]
The U.K's The Duke Spirit brought their blend of retro- psychedelia and alt-rock to the Tonight Show on 7.22.08. Enjoy. The Duke Spirit: The Step and the Walk mp3

File Under: Shimmering West Coast dream pop. The patient and moody tracks on the gorgeous debut LP Mirror [ buy ] from San Diego's Calico Horse are masterfully guided by the dark and lovely vocals of Emily Neveu (formerly of The Clock Work Army ). Enjoy. Awake in the Clouds mp3 Onomatopoeia mp3 [...]

File Under: It will rot your teeth. Indie/twee pop doesn't get much better (or sugary) than the single Sweethearts in Disguise [ buy ] from the Glasgow, Scotland three piece Zoey Van Goey ( Matt Brennan , Michael John McCarthy , Kim Moore ) ---think Harriet Wheeler ( The Sundays ) fronting Belle & Sebastian or maybe even one of my faves, The Field Mice . Enjoy. [...]

Golden Phone [ buy ], is the fresh and playful single from the U.K.'s newest indie/electro-pop sensation --- 21 year old Micachu . I think we'll be hearing a lot more from her shortly. Enjoy. Golden Phone mp3

Nite Jewel is avant/synth-pop Los Angelite Ramona G . With a keyboard, erratic song structures, unsettling lyrics, enchanting vocals and a seductive delivery, she stole the show at Glasslands Gallery on 7.19.08 opening for Rings (who actually released one of my favorite albums of the year ) and San Francisco's Girls . Set highlights: Heart Won't Start mp3 [...]