You Know What I Mean?

You don't have to be at CMJ to be in the know about the upcoming buzzworthy bands. Sure CMJ is a pretty epic display of developing to antique artists showcasing themselves to the music industry and like-type folks in New York City for about 5 straight days of non-stop back-to-back shows. It is undeniably a really fun time, a drunken time, a time for networking over a cheers and a time to collect as many business cards as you can to impress your co-workers.

Anyway, I am sad to say that this year I am not at CMJ, but that certainly did not stop my mailbox from overflowing the last few weeks with the need-to-knows about CMJ parties, first time shows and baby bands about to burst.

So here it goes, in no particular order, a list that is not only bands I wish I was seeing live this week at CMJ, but bands that I think you (whoever you are) outta check out. Just google these bands, a myspace page or a hypem free mp3 is bound to show up.

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UNICYCLE LOVES YOU - Vacation music in my opinion. But, thats cool cause everyone needs a distracting sound or two once in a while to take their mind off of something. Unicycle Loves You sounds like a throwback to the 60's mashed with the music Tom Cruise would play behind the bar in the movie Cocktail. What genre are they? I am going to consider them - pool party poppy.

EVAN VOYTAS - My favorite track by Evan Voytas is 'What Would I Do That For?' Evan's music is youthful and flirtatious. Sick of Passion Pit. Dig Autolux? Get your Evan Voytas on.

CHOIR OF YOUNG BELIEVERS - This Is For The White In Your Eyes - I really dig this album. My favorite track is 'Action/Reaction'. It's kind of melancholy, but songs like 'Why Must It Always Be This Way' and 'She Walks' remind me of Band Of Horses meets 1/4 of Radiohead's 'Amnesiac'.

SURF CITY - They say pink is the new black, but I am going to say that 2009 is the new Beach Boy. A lot of the bands I have been digging on and are digging up the origins of the original shoegaze mainstream pop sound.

FANFARLO - This is def one of my favorite bands I have discovered in 2009. Their album Reservoir is not one to miss. Listen to 'Fire Escape'. For some reason I find this band patriotic, but in an acceptable matter. I am not talking totally poppy, like cheerleaders and pom-poms, rather trumpets, violins and mandolin sounds to have a somewhat marching band spirited effect on the ear.

DAM-FUNK - Earlier this year Dam-Funk remixed Animal Collective's 'Summertime Clothes'.  DJ sets pretty often in LA. Dam-Funk can get a dance party started and is a great in between set, vibe-keeping DJ.

CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE - Raise your glasses and make a toast, because you might want to be under the influence a bit to take down the music of Champagne Champagne. This is not a bad thing, in fact I predict this band might go over well with the CMJ attendees. I can't imagine this band not making a decent amount of music fans heads bubble a little. Happy go lucky music for sure, totally weird too. They have a song called 'Molly Ringwald' - come on, don't you want to give them a shot?

FREE ENERGY - I will suggest that you give the song 'Dream City' a listen first, let that be your first taste of Free Energy. They have a young sound. I could see Free Energy appealing to fans of 3OH!3 or even fans of VHS or BETA.

SURFER BLOOD - The new Kanine Records artist and Kanine never fails me, at least not in 2009, with their signing of my boys in Blind Man's Colour and of course their more reputable artist release of 2009 - Grizzly Bear's Vecktamist. If Garden State 2 were to release in 2010 I would say that Natalie Portman would be digging on Surfer Blood the way she dug on The Shins. Surfer Blood will be touring after CMJ with Japandroids, which they too have made a little name for themselves. Listen and download their track 'Floating Vibes'. Their harmony is pretty smooth. Very interested in their live show. Will they be as tightly composed and as in-sync?

RUMSPRINGA - As I have said before and I will say again, any band that covers The Seeds is making the right moves in my book. Rumspringa has been signed to Cantora Records, making them label mates with MGMT. I am going to say that if MGMT can't pull through on more 'Electric Feel' like tunes with their new album, then leave your desire to hear fun loopy, cleanly collaborative instrumentals and catchy choruses up to Rumspringa.