January 7, 2009
DJ ‘Ette’s Top 10 Artists
Who doesn't like knowing about things that no one else knows about? That's one of the best parts of discovering indie bands – finding new sounds and sharing them with friends.Here are my top 10 favorites – meaning these are the bands that take up the most space on my iPod. They're in no particular order, except for the last one, which is my all-time favorite:
Cobra StarshipThis is one of my favorite bands. It's great party music and you feel good when you listen to it. I feel like they're my band. They're close to their fan base. They make their own YouTube videos. My favorite song: My Moves Are White.
Buy Cobra Starship's ¡Viva la Cobra! from Amazon!
This Is Ivy LeagueI found them when I was searching for Cobra Starship on YouTube. Two of the guys have a side project called This Is Ivy League and it popped up. They have a late '60s pop feel. My favorite songs: Modern World and Til the Day. They're awesome, so you should buy their CD. DJ Urban Kobbb reviewed them last year.
Buy This Is Ivy League from Amazon.
Of MontrealThis is a happy, feel-good band that I learned about in my favorite magazine, Alternative Press. I also read Rolling Stone. Both are good for discovering new bands. Of Montreal talks a lot about love, but the theme doesn't feel overdone. My favorite song: Nonpareil of Favor.
Buy Of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping from Amazon.
WeezerEveryone who likes alt music likes, or at least has heard of, Weezer. I like the lyrics – they're funny. The first album was very popular, but people considered the second album a failure. Now people like Weezer again. My favorite songs: El Scorcho and Troublemaker.
Buy Weezer's Red Album.
Family Force 5I found this band the same day that I found Of Montreal. They sound different and include a mix of electronic sounds. My favorite song: D-I-E-4-Y-O-U.
Buy Dance or Die from Amazon
The Hush SoundThis is an alt band that has a piano. The singers are a guy, who sings faster songs, and a girl, who sings slower and sadder songs. They're gaining popularity. All my friends know about them and almost all have a favorite song. My favorite song: City Traffic Puzzle.
Buy The Hush Sound's So Sudden.
The Bird and the Bee
All their songs are soothing, and sometimes the chorus part sounds like something I've heard before. My favorite songs: Tonight You Belong to Me and Birthday.
Pre-order Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future!
Noah and the Whale
Their MySpace page is amazing, and one of their songs was featured in a Saturn commercial. I like their artwork, which is a horrible reason to like a band. When you listen do them, you'll like them right away. They have a catchy sound, which is a good thing, I guess, when you're in a band. My favorite song: Five Years' Time.
Buy the 5 Years Time single
The Academy Is…This band is made up of five guys who are close friends with Cobra Starship. They opened for Fall Out Boy, which was the first concert I've ever attended. I missed them, though, because I was waiting in a very long line to buy a Fall Out Boy T-shirt. My favorite songs: Coppertone and After the Last Mid Town Show.
Buy Fast Times at Barrington High by The Academy Is...
Fall Out BoyThis has been my favorite band for the past four years, just when they were getting popular. It's the first band that I've really, really liked. Their music has a smoother sound than it did two albums ago. Everyone knows them now, which I don't like. So you either love them or hate them. And the fact that Pete Wentz married someone famous bugs me just a little. But this is still my favorite band. My favorite songs: She's My Winona and $20 Nosebleed.
You can buy Fall Out Boy's Folie A Deux here.
