Why we like it: Walk It Off breathes fury. It’s like The Shins all adopted distortion, and a drug habit that they couldn’t stop. While the band would like to classify themselves as ’style-defying,’ I say it’s your average record coming out about now, and you guys have nothing stellar to offer. That being said, I really want to go see them live and get drunk.
Why we don’t: Nothing stands out. I can’t pick out a favorite song, a single, or a given song that I’d like to recommend to you. The same is true of Of Montreal, so if you love them, you’ll get into Tapes N Tapes. The lo-fi production, while stellar, doesn’t leave any room for greatness here. Highly disappointed, but hell, you might dig it.
Like Artist: Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, Of Montreal
Genre: Indie, Rock, Lo-Fi

Oh me. Oh my. Oh Yipee! On tax day, Austin City Limits released it’s lineup for its fall music festival taking

place on September 26th - 28th. At only $170, you should get your tickets now, as I’m sure they are bound to sell out with a lineup like this. As headlining will be the Foo Fighters and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (does anyone else think this is an unusual duo?), you have 3 days filled with amazing music.

For anyone near Texas, this is your festival. Maybe not as hard rock as Lollapalooza, but the diversity is there, and even with great headliners, there are some amazing unnoticed acts at this time. Once the summer dies down, this is a perfect time to be in Austin, as the weather is extremely nice, and it’s a great 6 month spread from SXSW. Some other noticeable artists throughout the weekend are….

*Gnarls Barkley *Manu Chao *Band of Horses *Silversun Pickups *Patty Griffin *Tegan and Sara *Beck *Okkervil River

Some artists that are going to be there that you might have not heard about yet, but SHOULD.

*Vampire Weekend *Flyleaf *Stars *Mates of State *Tristan Prettyman *Ryan Bingham *AA Bondy *City and Colour

I’ll do my damndest to get to Austin. For the whole lineup, follow picture…

Pitchfork Media, a site I frequent for up to date music news on some of my favorite artists, has released ‘most’ of their lineup for the Chicago festival on July 29th and 30th. An indie music lovers dream, this event offers a lineup to please a specific crowd, and its not for everyone. If you’re one of those people like me, that love going to concerts early to see the opening bands because they might be great, or if you were at your latest festival before the doors opened, you can be guaranteed to love what Pitchfork is offering. Tickets are $20 for a day, or $30 for both days, which makes me think the $300 plane ticket to Chicago might be worth it. Why not spend a couple days in one of Americas biggest, most beautiful cities, (with my sister and brother in law), and also get a wooden spoon serving of some up and coming bands. The lineup is not fully released, but here are some acts that Pitchfork has put on the table so far that should have your attention.

*Aesop Rock *Spoon *Yo La Tengo *Jens Lekman *Tapes ‘N Tapes *Band of Horses *Matmos and *Ada

Genre: indierock, indiepop, alternative

Why we like it: Smooth like Texas sweet tea. (Well, if you happen to be from Texas, or even like sweet tea.) This sophmoric accomplishment from Denton, Texas college buddie is an easy listening masterpiece. Full of sweet lovin harmonies for a long road trip, it’s also a disc you can keep in the background and it won’t bother you too much.

Why we don’t: Some songs like Head Home can get a repetitive, like they were actually shooting for radio play, or to be the montage music in a movie. We’re not saying you won’t like it, we just don’t. If you’re more into the gritty vocals that aren’t perfect, this isn’t your cd. It’s very acoustic, so consider that as well. But wonderfully so.

Like Artists: Great Lake Swimmers, Band of Horses, Grandaddy