Casxi-Me, Baby

Casxio (pronounced Cah-see-yo) is one of the most exciting bands coming out of LA right now as they put on one of the most impressive showings at SXSW. Reminiscent of french indie group Phoenix, Casxio takes funk rhythm guitar and throws a falsetto that sounds closer Mika (oh yeah, they can hit those notes). "Seventeen" has already gotten a lot of blog attention (as well as a great remix) and is well on its way to becoming an underground hit. "Roque Baby" delivers more consistent danceable funk/rock/pop. The band's video for "Boiling Points" directed by Fresh Kill is not for the faint of heart with a bloody plotline that's almost comical in contrast to the carefree music it's promoting. Just in time for the summer, get into Casxio before your annoying friend does.

Seventeen - Casxio

Roque Baby - Casxio

Seventeen (Noel Zancanella remix) - Casxio

Boiling Points - Casxio

Sleepy Heart

I was going to write about one of the numerous fantastic albums released, but the sounds of 2008's Lost Wisdom from Washington band Mount Eerie with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire forced my ink elsewhere. Mount Eerie, Phil Elverum's continuation of The Microphones, has created one of the most genuinely beautiful acoustic records I've ever heard. Everything from the lyrics to the harmonies to the melodies is masterfully constructed. Though the sound isn't innovative, it's perfect in its simplicity. Doiron's confident vocal intertwines with Elverum's shaky voice to create a fragile, almost discordant sound that leaves you hanging on every note. The album itself is a coherent unit with every track playing towards the vision of the album as a whole, which makes it difficult to pick standouts. "Voice in Headphones" introduces an electric guitar and a more expansive arrangement with vocal layers to create the closest thing this album comes to a crescendo. "O My Heart" showcases the softer end of the album driven by Doiron and Elverum's vocal interaction. "You Swan, Go On" is a more upbeat track that features Elverum's vocal heavily with a more assured melody that bears resemblance to Sufjan Stevens. There are rare times an album fits a day perfectly, so for anybody lucky enough to be in Boston by an open window, hit play and sink in.

Voice in Headphones - Mount Eerie

O My Heart - Mount Eerie

You Swan, Go On - Mount Eerie

Insectomania

The Bug, one of Kevin Martin's 20 aliases, takes London dubstep, Jamaican dancehall, and grunge and turns them on their face. The Bug offers dirty beats in clean arrangements that dabble in an array of styles for an aggressive sound like nothing you've ever heard before. "Poison Dart" feat. Warrior Queen is a feminist rant with an arrangement that's heavily reminiscent of Santigold. "Skeng" drops quite possibly the deepest bass I've ever heard with Killa P-Flowdan's decidedly flatline vocal giving the track an eerie march quality that listens like a war cry. "Angry" featuring Tippa Irie is the closest thing The Bug offers to straight Dancehall and is an infectuous party anthem that goes out to one of my favorite biddies back home who's always ready to rraaaaage (2 days, Nessyface). For adventurous hip/hop enthusiasts looking for something fresh, look no further than The Bug.

Poison Dart f. Warrior Queen

Skeng f. Killa P-Flowdan

Angry f. Tippa Irie