PrettyMuchAmazing’s Open-Mic Mondays

Any music blogger knows how tough it is to pick new music from your inbox. It fills up so quick, it makes your head spin. Even if you try to squeeze in some unknown acts into the game, you always feel guilty that you couldn’t put everyone in. So, here’s to hoping that these Open-Mic Mondays will help spread word on the massive amount of undiscovered talent out there. If you want your music to be displayed here, just email me.

First up is the UK’s The Aliens with the psychedelic, folk-funk of “I am the Unknown”, off of their critically acclaimed debut Astronomy For Dogs LP. I totally feel dumb for not noticing this band before Jessie from Cornerstone pointed them out to me. I guess online promotion does still work. Watch the video brewed up by the Aliens and Zune Arts, then catch some MP3s after that visual sexcstacy:

MP3s
The Aliens - I Am The Unknown
The Aliens - Robot Man (Hot Chip remix)

The Shondes (taking their name from the Yiddish word for “shame” or “disgrace”) are a rock quartet making dramatic music that has been compared to Sleater-Kinney, Patti Smith, and Rasputina. The Shondes are known for their complex, melodic rock sound combined with rich vocals, and a live show that explodes with energy. Their songwriting fuses the various musical traditions of feminist punk, classical, Jewish, and queercore, while their vocal melodies move effortlessly from anthemic to haunting, textured by the distinct qualities of each of their voices.

MP3s
The Shondes - Don’t Look Down
The Shondes - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

Married duo Jane Dowe and Hank Hofler are both rooted firmly in experimental music, but with the Oh Astro project they continue their move towards odd interpretations of popular forms. Club music, children’s songs, and fragmented samples of pop/rock all intersect on their first full-length album, Champions of Wonder. Highly Addicting.

MP3s
Oh Astro - Snow Queen
Oh Astro - Hello Fuji Boy
Oh Astro - Candy Sun Smiles

Following a month spent bundled up in the deep freeze of the Arctic Circle making music & art, Hello, Blue Roses’ Dan Bejar and Sydney Vermont return to their hometown of Vancouver just as the greater part of North America feels a shivery winter continue to cover the country with mounds of white fluffy stuff. What better time, then, for Stereogum to unveil “Sunny Skies”.

MP3s
Hello, Blue Roses - Shadow Falls
Hello, Blue Roses - Sunny Skies

“If the name didn’t tip you off, Die! Die! Die! have little patience for pop concessions. Abrasive and bare-bones, the band makes a lot out of a little… …the result is mind-numbingly satisfying.” – Spin

MP3s
Die! Die! Die! - Sideways, Here We Come

It is always refreshing to have your pleasure spots tickled when you hear Nancy’s generously sweet alt. indie country sound. The quintet from Brazil completely clean my musical pallet out. Almost a complete aural foil to CSS (a fellow Brazilian group) in so many perfect grooves, it’s hard to stop listening to this band.

MYSPACE / RCRDLBL

The seven-piece Darla Farmer are prepping for their 2008 debut Rewiring the Electric Forest with a handful of hometown shows and a SXSW date. I can honestly say, Darla Farmer are a powerhouse. Fusing ska, folk, and rock together with violin, mandolin, trumpet, and trombone; and all I wish is that I was going to SXSW to see them.

MP3s
Darla Farmer - Big Accident

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Tagged as: Darla Farmer, Die Die Die, Nancy, Oh Astro, Open-Mic Mondays, The Aliens, The Shondes

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