1. Steve Aoki with Kid Cudi “Cudi The Kid”

2. Paper Diamond “Imagine The Possibilities”

3. Skrillex “Right In”

4. Porter Robinson “The State”

5. Koan Sound “Funk Blaster”

6. 12th Planet “Bass Ships”

7. Zedd “Shave It”

1. Foxy Shazam “I Like It”
2. Curren$y “Plot Talk”
3. School Of Seven Bells “Lafaye”
4. Sleigh Bells “Comeback Kid”
5. Mind Spiders “Wait For Us”
6. Band Of Skulls “Sweet Sour”

1. Miike Snow with Lykke Li “Black Tin Box”

2. The XX “Open Eyes”

3. Lana Del Rey “Born To Die”

4. Wiz Khalifa “Oh Gee La”

5. Cloud Nothings “Fall In”

6. Every Time I Die “Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space”

This week, we take a look at one of life’s topics that shall not be spoken of and its place in music. So sit back and enjoy – by yourself or with a friend.

We’re currently working on M.E. exclusive youtube videos for these songs …In the meantime… indulge yourself in the podcast at the bottom of the page.

1. Yes Nice – “Horses” – Vancouver B.C.

2. Rege Lark – “Have Caution” – Boston, MA

3. The Cadillac Saints – “I’m Giving Up” – Chattanooga, TN

4. Ian James – “Worth”

5. Madly In Dub – “Danger Dub”

6. Camacho – “Empire”

7. Becoming Machines – “Helpless”

8. Statue Of Liberty – “Thick Of It All”

9. Crystal Yates – “No More Sighin”

10. The Rising Sun All Stars – “Lucky Monday (clean version)”

11. The Quartet Of Woah! – “Could This Man?” -Lisboa, Portugal

12. The Moth & The Flame – “How We Woke Up” -Provo, UT

13. Until Dawn – “Richard Master”

The Comparison Chart is obviously very subjective to personal opinion, please don’t hate …

Honorable mentions:

—–The Curses – “The Whistling Man”
—–Calcaska – “Enough”
—–Nikki Lorenzo – “Selfish”
——San Telmo Lounge – “Tristezas de Monoblock (feat. Juan Subira and Adrian Abonizio)”
——Terry Fancher – “The Dance”
——MaG – “Paper Airplanes”

Thank you to all my friends for introductions and bands for their co-operation. Be sure to join us next month for the best Unsigned and Wound Up bands of the year. Don’t forget the top vote-getter receives an album review from one of our staff writers.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

***FAQ***
1. Why doesn’t the total voter count match the total votes for all of the bands?
A. The voting results are adjusted every day for multiple votes stemming from the same IP address and/or user name

2. When does the polls close
A. December 31st, 2011

1. The Candyskins – “She Blew Me Away”

2. East Village – “Strawberry Window”

3. The Sandkings – “Rain”

4. Ever – “Sleepyhead”

5. The Wedding Present – “Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft”

6. The Popguns – “Still a World Away”

7. The Stars of Heaven – “Widows Walk”

8. Close Lobsters – “Mother of God”

Voodoo Experience 2011

For more info, please visit The Voodoo Music Experience online and you can also listen to all of these songs on our Spotify playlist.

Featuring songs:
Dj Z-Trip “Tom Sawyer, Soundgarden “Rusty Cage”, Mastodon “Curl of Burl”, Givers “Up, Up, Up”
T.V. On the Radio “DLZ”, Snoop Dogg “Gin & Juice”, Girltalk “Play Your Part (Part 1), City & Colour “Fragile Bird”, Ani DiFranco “Both Hands”, Band Of Horses “The Funeral”, Kreayshawn “Gucci Gucci”, The Limousines “Internet Killed The Video Star, Civil Twilight ” Letters from the Sky”, Fitz & The Tantrums “The Money Grabbers”, Violent Femmes “Kiss Off”, Social Distortion “Alone & Forsaken”, Ozomatli “Cut Chemist Suite”
Fishbone “Swim”

Introductions by:
Artists: Portugal. The Man, Chain Gang of 1974 and The Dirty Heads. Listeners: Will Worland, Josh Johnson, Jason Henshaw, Kraig Faulkner, Jordan Davis, Andrea Dasing, Jason Mooney. Staff Writers: Benjy Oliver & Dennis Scanland

***All apologies to the fans of Blink 182, we simply ran out of time***

No matter how bad the U.S. economy might be doing, there are always certain things you can depend on. We will always spend money on food, electronics, vacations, and music. And you can certainly count on the festival scene to not only continue, but to expand and grow.

One of the best reasons to go is to discover new music! Anyone who has ever been or considered going to experience a massive event like this knows what it feels like when looking towards the bottom of the schedule. It can almost feel like reading a foreign language, seeing bands listed that you have never heard of. That’s where we come in to help. This can be used as a planning guide for deciding who to catch for those of you lucky enough to be able to attend. For everyone else, this is intended to be used as a primer for armchair quarterback fans. We will be providing first hand live coverage for the first time ever, thanks to our newest staff member Carina! It takes place October 18th-22nd. We usually only have a top 10 list for festival podcasts, but that is impossible with 1000 bands. This episode will feature 10, and our previous podcast has the other 10, for our 1st ever Top 20 Indie Picks Of CMJ 2011.

Neon Indian

Alan Palomo, the leader of chillwave group Neon Indian, is no stranger to Indie music. Formerly in bands Ghosthustler and Vega from Denton, TX, Alan formed Neon Indian and never looked back. They moved to Austin, then finally to Brooklyn, and the rest they say is history. He has performed at Bonnaroo, and more recently on Jimmy Fallon, their newest album is called Era Extrana.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO), is one of the hardest working and touring bands today. They take both the audio and visual psychedelic elements of the 60’s and 70’s, then add their own touch to make some of today’s best new music. Their story began last year when uploading their first single to Bandcamp. Since then, they have toured this year with Portugal.The Man, Smith Westerns, and currently are opening for Toro Y Moi. The Portland trio will be making their CMJ debut.

Zola Jesus

Russian American singer/songwriter born in Phoenix, but then raised in Wisconsin on over 100 acres of forest. In the last three years Nika Roza Danilova has gone from being an outsider experimental teenage noise-maker to a full fledged internationally celebrated electronic pop musician. Zola Jesus is not a singer; she is a musician. Zola Jesus is not a band; it is a solo project. Nika however, is a woman who can command a room, any room, without needing a band, a stage, or even a microphone. Her voice is unmistakable; it cuts right to the core. She has performed at Pitchfork 2011 fest, been streamed on NPR, featured in Vogue and Spin, and has had a Daytrotter Session.

Sarah Jaffe

This Denton singer/songwriter has been making music since she was a teen. Her first major full length, Suburban Nature was really well received and gained attention from both Paste Magazine and Rolling Stone. She has played ACL before, and has a brand new EP out in which she covers both Drake and Cold War Kids.

Braids

BRAIDS is an art rock band from Calgary, Alberta and presently based in Montreal, Quebec. Described as Experimental rock/Shoegaze, they was formed by four best friends in their last year of high school. Convincing one another to skip university, they stayed in the garage all year and practiced obsessively, even while their fingers froze during the cold prairie winters. On June 16, 2011, the album was named as a long listed nominee (one of 40) for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize. On July 6, the album was named as a shortlisted (one of 10) nominee for the 2011 award.

The Stepkids

Have you ever been undecided on the fence between whether to go see a band live or not? You don’t go and then later regret it? That was my introduction to The Stepkids. They came through town opening for The Horrors, and I passed. It ended up being one of the best concerts all year here. Like a new version of Pink Floyd, the Connecticut trio combines both audio and visuals for 21st century psychedelia. This is self described futuristic electro soul, produced, engineered and recorded themselves on a reel-to-reel. Live, kaleidoscopic projections by experimental video artist Jesse Mann consume the stage with light for a multi-sensory experience.

Pterodactyl

There are 4 members in this Brooklyn noise-punk crew. They just released their 3rd record, Spills Out. They have been playing mainly near home, in addition to touring.

Trash Talk

Formed in the fall of 2005, Trash Talk hit the ground running. 3 years of relentless touring, 5 releases and 4 vans later, they are still running at the same frantic pace that has established them as one of the hardest working bands today. With live performances deeply rooted in chaos and a track record to match, Trash Talk is a band to be seen as well as heard. Nomadic, outcast and poised to release their 6th chaotic outburst, and first LP, Trash Talk is hungry for more. They have collaborated with Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Off!), and have a recent split 7-inch with Wavves. On their brand new 7-inch EP for True Panther Sounds, Trash Talk continue to bodily propel their sound down the gnarled, grime-swathed path they’ve hewn for themselves.

The Death Set

The Death Set, a trio from Brooklyn, originally hails from The Gold Coast, Australia. It was here where Johnny Siera met co-founding member Beau Velasco in 2005. Drawn to one another’s reckless care of music, the duo united to write fleeting songs with lifelong hooks and overdriven melody. Hell-bent on recording and touring, The Death Set moved the U.S. originally to the gnarly streets of Baltimore then to Philadelphia then finally to Brooklyn. Buoyed by the DIY network they found there, the band recorded and released the To and Rad Warehouses Bad Neighborhoods EPs, honing the noise of jury-rigged gear and overblown mics. The Death Set quickly became known for out-of-hand live shows, and carried that energy onto its first full-length recording, done at The Copy Cat in Baltimore, an artist warehouse studio where the band and many others lived at the time. The Death Set have found touring partners and friends in Girl Talk, Bonde Do Role, Spank Rock, Ninjasonik ,Japanther, Best Fwends, Dan Deacon, Ponytail and many more. While The Death Set’s sound is most like that of its punk influencers — Black Flag, Minor Threat, and Buzzcocks – it also bears the distinct mark of hip-hop and electronic styles in production, and as interludes in their raucous offstage outbursts.

Casiokids

Old analog, trashy keyboards and pop melodies make up the Norwegian electro-troupe that is Casiokids. With tunes often sung in their native language and influenced by afro-beat, techno and out-and-out pop, the band draws similarities and takes inspiration from Paul Simon’s “Graceland”, Ivor Cutler, New Order, King Tubby, Bob Hund, Cornelius and Fela Kuti.

Part One Link

No matter how bad the U.S. economy might be doing, there are always certain things you can depend on. We will always spend money on food, electronics, vacations, and music.  And you can certainly count on the festival scene to not only continue, but to expand and grow.

One of the best reasons to go is to discover new music! Anyone who has ever been or considered going to experience a massive event like this knows what it feels like when looking towards the bottom of the schedule. It can almost feel like reading a foreign language, seeing bands listed that you have never heard of. That’s where we come in to help. This can be used as a planning guide for deciding who to catch for those of you lucky enough to be able to attend. For everyone else, this is intended to be used as a primer for armchair quarterback fans. We will be providing first hand live coverage for the first time ever, thanks to our newest staff member Carina! It takes place October 18th-22nd. We usually only have a top 10 list for festival podcasts, but that is impossible with 1000 bands. This episode will feature 10, and the 2nd podcast will have the other 10, for our 1st ever Top 20 Indie Picks Of CMJ 2011.

The Wombats

Referred to as one of Britain’s most exciting live bands, this Indietronica trio from Liverpool were nominated for Best UK Act at the MTV Europe Awards. They have been together for since 2003, and are currently touring North America in support of their newest record This Modern Glitch. In addition to CMJ, they are also scheduled to perform as part of The Voodoo Experience in New Orleans over Halloween weekend.

Young Buffalo

Another trio, Young Buffalo call Mississippi home. They are currently signed to Fat Possum records and released an EP earlier this year, Young Von Prettylips. Jim Barrett is also the brother of John, who is another Mississippi band signed to Fat Possum, Bass Drum Of Death. They have opened on tour for both Arctic Monkeys and The Vaccines this year so far. Alex, who plays vocals, keyboards, bass, and guitar recently had to step down, he and is wife are expecting a child.

Givers

This 5 piece from Lafayette, LA oozes positivity, it’s no wonder their debut album is called In Light. Formed following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, they have exploded onto today’s indie music scene. They recently made their national television debut on Jimmy Kimmel, got remixed by Deerhoof, and have toured with Lord Huron, Portugal.The Man, Cold War Kids, and even had a recent Daytrotter session. They have already played SXSW and Bonnaroo, and were also one of MTV’s Push Artist of the week.

Seryn

A 5 piece folk-pop act from Denton, TX, featuring members playing violin, cello, banjo, ukulele, and even an accordion at times. Paste Magazine is already a big fan of theirs, naming this song as one of the 25 best this year so far. They have already played SXSW this year, make sure to catch them live when they come near you.

Bright Light Social Hour

Personally, this Austin band will always mean something to me–they were the very first band I was ever able to interview. Since that time last year, they have then gone and released a new full length record and have been touring all over America. They have played SXSW, ACL, Dia De La Toadies fest, and also won awards from the Austin Chronicle’s Austin Music Awards.
The 4 members combine rock and soul and funk and I cannot highly recommend them enough.

Portugal.The Man

One of the most popular and hard working bands in Indie rock today, the Portland based pop/rock/psychedelic group seems to be constantly touring. Originally from Alaska, even Wayne Cohen of the Flaming Lips is a huge fan. After playing Lollapalooza, they had their equipment stolen, then they recovered it by using social networking sites and Twitter. Their most recent work is called In The Mountain, In The Cloud. They have shared the stage with Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Givers this year, in addition to playing both SXSW and Bonnaroo.

Dum Dum Girls

Initially starting out as a solo project by Kristen Gundred–stage name Dee Dee, the name is a nod to both a Vaselines‘ album and the name of an Iggy Pop song. When Dee Dee needed a band to take her songs out of the bedroom, she looked to her friends: Jules (guitar and vocals), Bambi (bass), and Sandra Vu (drums and vocals). When the other three met for the first time a week before CMJ 2009, it was an instant girl gang. They have covered The Smiths, and have toured with Vampire Weekend. Their new record just got released by Sub Pop.

Doomtree

Doomtree is a hip-hop collaboration that consists of 7 members from Minneapolis. They have all already separately had successful stints as MC’s, producers, and DJ’s. They have been as equally as influenced by punk as they have rap, and even have a mixtape mashing up Fugazi. Their next release, No Kings, is set for a November 22nd release on the label of the same namesake.

Weekend

Within a grainy film-still between a summer sunset and the end of times lies the post-punk squall of Weekend. Weekend filter the aggression, tempo and sneer of punk through a wall of reverb, haunting melody, feedback and primitive garage guitar. Formed in San Francisco in late 2009 by three childhood friends, the band have quickly developed a totally distinctive take on the history of post-punk noise rock. Some touchstones along the way include the chaotic psychedelic noise of groups like Skullflower and Terminal Cheesecake, the bad vibes power-drone of “Feed Me With Your Kiss”-era MBV and No Age, and the scything racket of post-No Wave noise bands DUSTdevils and Sonic Youth.

Yellow Ostrich

This trio started as a solo project about a year ago. They have released their first full length, called The Mistress since then. Originally from Wisconsin before relocating to New York, they have already played ACL this year, and toured with Ra Ra Riot, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and The Antlers.

Part 2 Link

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