Catfish HavenDevastator (Secretly Canadian) |
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George Hunter's voice is a truly glorious instrument, a husky amalgam of Joe Cocker's world-weary croon and Bill Medley's baritone bombast. Whether inciting a get-off-yer-bottom dance riot ("Are You Ready?") or laying his heart on the line ("Invitation to Love"), Hunter's old-soul blues exposes other rock'n'roll kings as pretenders to the crown.
Listen: Catfish Haven, "Set in Stone" |
El Perro Del MarFrom the Valley to the Stars (The Control Group) |
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Lykke Li's genre-bridging debut became an '08 breakout, but fellow Swede Sarah Assbring, a.k.a El Perro Del Mar, released a more challenging and introspective set -- and you can even "dance, dance, dance" to it. Lo-fi with sparse church organs, strings, and xylophones, this record proves Sarah is the mature atristic mainstay to Lykke's rambunctious younger sister.
Listen: El Perro Del Mar, "You Can Steal a Gift" |
Flowers ForeverFlowers Forever (Team Love) |
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In his other band, Tilly & the Wall, Derek Pressnall shares the stage with three gorgeous, tap-dancing gals, so it's not surprising that this solo foray sounds a bit more, well, manly. Fuzz-drenched rockers like "Wet Diamonds" veer sharply into aggressive garage rock, while the shocking electric riffage of "Jealous Motherfucker" is part acid trip, part barroom blues.
Listen: Flowers Forever, "Black Rosary" |
The Gaslight AnthemThe '59 Sound (Sideonedummy) |
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Frontman Brian Fallon isn't the first Jersey boy to sing about beachfronts, convertibles, and squandered romance, but his heartfelt, punk-tinged tunes might make him this decade's next best thing to you-know-who. It's not time to mimic '70s rock critic Jon Landau's famous quote about that other Jersey guy, the one about "the future of rock'n'roll," but there's a lot to admire about these emotionally earnest, musically urgent tunes.
Listen: The Gaslight Anthem, "The '59 Sound" |
The Helio SequenceKeep Your Eyes Ahead (Sub Pop) |
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By adding acoustic guitars and raspy vocals to their ambient, psychedelic sound, these Portland, OR, vets crafted their best record yet and -- thanks to layers of fizzling guitars, burbling computer-generated noises, and intricate drumming -- possibly the year's best "headphones" album. Find a pair and enjoy!
Listen: The Helio Sequence, "Keep Your Eyes Ahead" |
More after the jump >>
