Off the beaten path (pt. 1)

There are several bands I've come across in the last few years that are now some of my favorites though they continue seem to be off the beaten path.  Quite honestly, I don't watch Mtv or VH1, and I don't listen to much radio so I can't say for certain how often they show up in the media's eye.  What I do know is when I mention them to others (friends, colleagues, family, random strangers on the metro :) they give me that baffled "is he speaking english" look which tells me they probably aren't that well know.

Check them out!

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And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead (usually known as The Trail of the Dead)

Ok...don't get distracted by their seemingly violent name or their somewhat mystical looking website.  This Austin based group makes up an intelligent, political, psychedelic rock band.  Check out the album Worlds Apart from 2004.  Their manic calm to heavy to calm sound is reminiscent of early 90's grunge mixed with a dash of early 80's political questioning.

Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens is a brilliant musician.  Building complex textures of sounds with seemingly endless numbers of instruments he saranades his listeners with wonderful tales as dense as ancient philosophy but as easy to consume as a babies lullaby.  His sounds embraces a new age form of folk music though his sound isn't restricted to a guitar alone.  Sufjan isn't timid about inviting a collection of horns to back up his point or perhaps a collection of strings to move him a long.

Kings of Leon

Because of the Times, the third release of these squealing heavy rockers from Tennessee, is a hypnotic and addictive sound full of raging guitars, hooking melodies and sometimes gentle lyrics and sometimes painful squealing.

Enjoy!  

more to come