As Maura Johnston was too polite to note in her recent Village Voice article, if you went to Austin looking for the next big thing, good luck.
Small bands were playing 12 sets in three days and were entirely overshadowed by Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z. So not only is everybody exhausted, nobody got what they came from.
Except for me.
I read Jon Pareles overview in the New York Times and then went on to spotify to listen to em! So here are some potential breakouts and a review of one of their songs
Black Is The Colour – Arborea – Interminable folk with a girl emoting through out it. Grade: C+
This Is The Last Time I Ever Shake Your Hand – The Suicide Of Western Culture – Electronic jerk off that only gets it together when the beats take over and get loudly. Unfortunately, they subside too soon. Grade: B
Thee trip (feat TheeSatisfaction) – Hlleadope – Theesatisfaction are the ones… it sounds like Floetry with a deeper sense of Pro Tools. Grade: B+
Fantastic Explosion Of Time – Pond – The opening chord sounds like it just emerged froma Beatles song, this Aussie band sound like they coulda be big in late 70s nyc. Grade: A-
Sebastian – Reptar – Starts like Fall On Your Swords sound oscillating and ends like a Jenny Lewis ex-boyfriend Grade: B+
No Way – Doomtree – Sorta doomy garage rock Grade:B+
One Of Them – Carsick Cars – Here is a real found. The first minute or so is the instrumental intro of the year and the song is a really ace modern rocker like indie rock never died. Grade: A