Blouse

Another feminine retro-pop ditty.  This is a trio from Portland that has been getting lots of buzz.  Very familiar sound but I can't place the similar bands.  My synapses aren't firing this morning. Help?  The Motels?

Into Black

Grimes

This week is theme week.  The theme is female singers in electro-pop bands.  In the vein of Phantogram, Class Actress and Cults, these seem to be multiplying.  First up is Grimes.  She was at SXSW last year and built up quite a buzz.  I think she's on regular rotation on XMU now.  This year is expected to be her breakout year.  This song is pretty good.  I like the vocals contrasted with the Kraftwerk-style background sound.  

Genesis

La Femme

A little Friday fun.  This is a new band from Paris that is heading over for SXSW.  The singer reminds me of Yelle.  This song has me cruising in an Aston Martin in Monte Carlo with Sean Connery in the 60s.

Sur La Planche

Brown Bird

Here's a band from Providence, R.I. (and Seattle?) that plays country/folk/rock/blues.  Different from Deer Tick, though.  It looks like it's one main guy with a rotating cast of backups.  Right now it's a duo but who knows what will show up at SXSW.  This is a good song.

Bilgewater

Honeyhoney

Another Coachella band, this is a duo from L.A. that sings folk/Americana. They have one song (Ohio) that sounds almost exactly like Civil Wars.  I guess the L.A. music machine that brought us my favorite band has decided to try and cash in on the Civil Wars success by promoting a band with a similar sound.  I won't share "Ohio" but here's a song that's a little more poppy and not too bad.

Turn That Finger Around

Gardens & Villa

Here's my first predicted breakout band.  They're from Santa Barbara but have been adopted by Portland and are starting to get some buzz.  I've listened to 3 of their songs and love them all.  Signed to Secretly Canadian (home of Here We Go Magic), they're also playing Coachella.  I bet they'll be at all the big showcases and day parties but hopefully we can catch them at some point.

Black Hills

Dragonette

We'll stick with Coachella bands coming to SXSW and might as well stick with Canada, too.  This is an electro-pop band originally from Canada but now in London.  They scored a huge hit in Europe singing to this song by Martin Solweig.  I'm not sure what else they've done but it could be a fun show.

Hello

The Sheepdogs

From Saskatoon, Canada.  These guys won the contest to be the first unsigned band on the cover of Rolling Stone.  They're playing Coachella so they should get some attention at SXSW.  Total throwback sound (more cowbell!) but this sure is a fun song.

I Don't Know

Zola Jesus

Here is one of the big buzz bands that will be getting lots of attention this year.  Reminds me a little of Bats for Lashes.  I like it.

Vessel

Letting up Despite Great Faults

This band is from L.A. and I think they were at SXSW last year.  They're coming back again.  This song sounds like Raveonettes to me.  I listened to another song that reminded me of Postal Service/Death Cab.  Kind of derivative but good.

Teenage Tide

Imperial Teen

I don't think this band has been to Austin since SXSW 2007.  I saw them at the Merge Showcase at Antone's and loved them.  Lots of enthusiasm and very entertaining.  They have a new album out but I like this old song so much I figured I'd share it instead.

Yoo Hoo  

Great Lake Swimmers

I'm going to lazily start the SXSW previews as I'm not ready to dive into discovery mode yet.  I'll post bands that have been around before or that I already know.  First up is a Canadian band that played SXSW last year  and has been around awhile.  I previewed them but we didn't get to see them so maybe we can catch them this year.

Pulling on a Line

Top 10 of 2011

Might as well get this in writing to see if my picks stand the test of time. These are the albums I found myself listening to the most this year. As usual, some of these may have come out in 2010 but I discovered them in 2011.  In no order:

Ryan Adams-Ashes and Fire
Other Lives-Tamer Animals
Decemberists-The King Is Dead
Bon Iver-Bon Iver
Jessica Lea Mayfield-Tell Me
Wye Oak-Civilian
Lower Dens-Twin-Hand Movement
Wilco-The Whole Love
Elbow-Build a Rocket Boys!
My Morning Jacket-Circuital

Honorable mention to Antlers, Belle Brigade, Lykke Li, The Head and the Heart, Mother Falcon, and Suzanna Choffel.  I also liked the new Fleet Foxes but I don't think it was better than their debut.  My personal opinion, obviously.

I haven't even listened to the new Real Estate or M83 yet but they're on everybody else's top 10 list so I'll be getting them shortly.