SXSW - Neiman Marcus Make Some Noise Party

My favorite "unofficial" party was the Nieman Marcus Make Some Noise Day 2 music line-up. I really want to be friends with whoever picked the artists on this one. I went to see Marina and the Diamonds so I decided to plant myself there for the day to make sure I got a spot and I enjoyed every single artist in the line-up. The only bummer was how short everyone's sets were because every single artist left me wanting more. Also, because of the rain, I didn't take many pictures so apologies that this is so text-heavy.

I got in toward the end of Meg Mac’s set, and I don’t remember much about it since I only caught the last few songs but I thought she had a great voice and the two songs I heard were very catchy. I added her to my Spotify playlist and have been quite pleased with everything I've heard so far.

Next was Christine and the Queens, the only act I saw at SXSW who had dancers. More artists/bands should really consider having dancers on their tour – it added a whole level of awesome entertainment value to an already high energy and fun set. Most of the dance moves she did herself were relatively simple but it looked totally killer when she and her dancers were in sync. She was super sassy and interacted with the audience a fair amount, which I always enjoy.

Next up was Melanie Martinez, who was delightfully disturbed. I have to say, I much preferred her manic, intense, full voice in-person to the breathy, child-like vocals on her recordings that I listened to after the fact. Her songs are very catchy but dark and quirky enough so as to set herself apart. I hope she moves her recording voice in the direction of her live performance technique – I’m not sure when she recorded the songs but from the looks of her videos she may have been younger (and she’s young in general) so hopefully this is a sign of a maturing artist and I look forward to watch her grow.

Milo Greene is a band, not a person. Or well, I think also a person. To be honest, this was the least memorable of the sets for me but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. There just wasn't really anything to set them apart the way there was for everyone else.

When Marina and the Diamonds came on, I swear to God, grown men in the audience screamed like teenage girls. It was intense. I will say, one thing annoyed me: every person in the audience just about had their cell phones up and recorded pretty much her whole (very short) set. LIVE IN THE MOMENT PEOPLE. Plus, I’m not here to watch her perform through your phone screen, thanks. That being said, she put on a great show. She danced quite a bit (she could’ve taken a note from Christine and the Queens and incorporated some back up dancers!) and seemed like she was having a really good time. Her joy was infectious but she was also seemed really humbled by the adoration of the fans. I will say, I knew a few of Marina’s songs but I was surprised at how bubble-gum-poppy some of them were, although there was still usually a little edge to them (there’s literally a song called “Bubble Gum Bitch”). Her voice is spectacular though. You can really tell she’s classically trained.

My SXSW

This year I had the privilege of finally attending SXSW. I went for all three festivals (Interactive, Media, Film) and was there for all 10 days. It was intense. This was my SXSW:

• Those moments when people you've literally just met are so supportive of you and offer to put you in touch with so-and-so who might be able to help you with such-and-such.
• That moment when some kind strangers let you squeeze in next to them on the rail so you have a primo spot to see Future Islands and The Flaming Lips (the show you happen to be most excited about for the whole festival) and you bond.
  

  
• Those moments when you're waiting in line and it feels endless and you're thinking "I paid $1600 for this Platinum pass! How does that not give me line-skipping privileges?!" and wondering what it takes to be a VIP.
• Those moments when you think there's going to be a line but there's not and you waltz right in to whatever amazing thing you are attending.
• That moment when you’ve decided to take it easy for a night to recover a little and you’re in bed by 11pm but then can’t sleep, despite being completely exhausted, because your body is now used to staying up until 3am.
• Those moments where the panelists just say the perfect thing.
  

    

  
• That moment when someone you met on Friday invites you to his birthday dinner on Tuesday.
• That moment when you run into your college roommate from freshman year completely by chance in a food truck lot at 1:30am.
• That moment when you're so sunburned that it hurts to wear clothes.
  

  
• That moment when you're so hungover that it hurts to exist.
• That moment when you throw up in a trashcan outside your friend's apartment the morning after drinking and realize why people who live in Austin hate SXSW.
• That moment where you're sitting on a floor blindfolded with a bunch of strangers and eating an apple and thinking "this panel was not what I thought it was going to be."
  

  
• That moment when you really wish people would watch the show instead of recording the whole thing on their phone because you came here to see the artist in person and not through the person in front of you's screen.
• That moment when grown men scream like teenage girls over a musician.
  

  
• That moment when you're eating free ice cream in the rain.
• Those moments when no one will dance and you're so frustrated on behalf of the band because they're not getting any energy back from the audience.
• That moment when someone crowd-surfs and you really wish you weren't wearing a skirt so you could too. 
  

  
• That moment when you really wish people would stop crowd-surfing so you could enjoy the band without getting kicked in the head.
• That moment when some guys behind you are bitching loudly and you turn around and offer them a hug because their harshing your good mood and you actually turn the mood around and then you're toasting to how awesome life is
• That moment when you can tell you're getting sick because your body just doesn't want to do this anymore but there's still several more days of the festival so suck it up and take some vitamins.
• That moment when the party ends very abruptly and the staff is all "get the fuck out" and even take your drink away that you paid for before you can finish it because they are so over SXSW.
• That moment when someone friends you on Facebook and you realize you already have 11 mutual friends.
• That moment when you hang out and eat cupcakes with the band you just saw and wishing one of them a happy birthday.
  

  
• That moment when you get a Lyft driver for a second time and realize that's how long you've been in town.
• That moment where you realize you only saw one movie the entire time you were here.

• That moment when the Mexican restaurant hands you what you think is a poncho to keep dry from the rain and it turns out it’s just a trashbag but you poke a hole for your head and wear it anyway.
• That moment when people are dancing in the rain on 6th street and you would join them if there weren't so many cameras filming it and you didn’t want to be recorded literally wearing a trashbag.
• That moment where you pay $5 for a poncho so you look slightly less ridiculous than you do in a torn up trashbag and get the last ponchos at the store and everyone behind you in line hates you.
• That moment when you see a sign that says free ice cream and realize how jaded you are because at first you don't believe them.
• That moment someone you met 20 minutes ago tells you he thinks he loves you.
• Those moments when the audience does dance and it makes it a noticeably better show experience.
• That moment when you have to say goodbye to the wonderful people you've just spent 10 days with and you get a little emotional.

Check out the rest of our pictures here. And come back later for more on the specific bands we saw and loved!

Honorable Mentions of 2010

Here's the albums that we felt were worthy of recognition but just didn't quite make our Best Albums. Stay tuned tomorrow for our Artist to Watch in 2011 list!

note: mp3s are no longer available as of 1/20, but you can still listen to them on our hype page.

Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
Lise was enthralled the first time she heard Irish-bred Conor O'Brien aka Villagers in June of last year, calling this debut album comprised "enriched numbers filled with instrumentation, wind-whipped into guitar-strafed sensations that are remarkably expansive yet intimate." Still, this album doesn't mount as high in style as others, but lays enough to reason that Villagers is well on its way to great albums to come.
Becoming a Jackal [mp3] (Amazon / iTunes)

Ellie Goulding - Lights
Although Ellie Goulding's Lights album has yet to officially hit the US, we state-side have gotten a good glimpse via An Introduction to Ellie Goulding. As one of our Artists to watch for in 2010, Ellie has done quite well for herself this year, topping the BBC Sound of 2010 poll,winning the Critics Choice Award at the 2010 BRIT Awards, landing no. 1 on the UK albums chart and having her lovely cover of Elton John's "Your Song" place as the 30th best selling single of the year. With trembling vocals that seem delicate but are surprisingly elastic, shiny Starsmith pop production, catchy hooks and the power of the UK's adoration, this album is worth the notice.
Under the Sheets[mp3] (Amazon / iTunes)

Sleigh Bells - Treats
No one can deny this album's infectious loudness by the grungy noise pop duo of Sleigh Bells, however, it is often over-fuzzed to the point of wondering why they even bother to use lyrics instead of meaningless babble ("Crown On The Ground," "Infinity Guitars"). Few stellar and clearer pop tracks such as "Rill Rill" and "Kids" and the superb infusion of hip hop beats (thanks, M.I.A.) give it enough oompf to place on our lists, with "Rill Rill" being one of our favorite singles of the year.
Rill Rill [mp3] (Amazon / iTunes)

James Yuill - Movement in a Storm
Some have said he's a genius, others have said he's inspired the folktronica generation, whatever that means. Keith just says he's amazing. His debut Turning Water For Air was a massively under-appreciated electro folk gem and he managed to follow it with a more accomplished album this year (although the US has yet to acquire it). Just amazing.
On Your Own [mp3] (Amazon)

Marina & the Diamonds - The Family Jewels
Marina is a New Wave Indie Pop diva who sings with the confidence of Kate Bush and the vigor of Florence and the Machine. Also listed as one of our Artists to Watch in 2010, Marina was runner-up in BBC Sound of 2010, won Best UK and Irish Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards and was featured on Vogue UK.com throughout November as their famous blogging fashionista. Although her albums has clear standout tracks such as "Mowgli's Road," "Oh No!," and the introduction-friendly "I Am Not A Robot," some find the mesh of 80's "Rio"-esque groove in "The Outsider" to be oddly placed and the overall album lacking total cohesiveness and strength. Still, it's clear that Marina and the Diamonds aren't going anywhere and have set their place amongst the new up and coming sensations of the decade.
I Am Not A Robot [mp3] (Amazon / iTunes)

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Arcade Fire broke down imaginative barriers this year with the release of their revolutionary interactive music video (best used on Google Chrome) for their song "We Used To Wait." Although none of the tracks reach the epic dramatic levels of 2004 Funerals' "Wake Up," it is still a wondrous compilation of well-constructed melodies, spacious-feeling guitars and anthem-laden lyrics.
We Used To Wait [mp3] (Amazon / iTunes)

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
As expected, the Gorillaz released another solid album of future-pop marked by an even more illustrious group of collaborators (this time around: Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, and members of the Clash, among others). Although this one's foregone the marquee superstar producer-of-the-moment, as head Gorilla Damon Albarn's produced much of the album himself. As the title suggests, things have gotten a bit more synthetic, but the electronics are deftly juxtaposed with the soul of Bobby Womack and the string of sinfonia ViVA. The result is dark and melancholy with a glittery sheen. And quite good, even if, as usual, it runs a bit long. (And now, as a holiday treat, Gorillaz have gone and released another album, The Fall, recorded entirely on the iPad. Enjoy that as well.)
Rhinestone Eyes [mp3] (Amazon / iTunes)

Andrew Belle - The Ladder

This simultaneously melancholy yet plucky debut album quickly set Andrew Belle apart from other male singer-songwriters with his well-written, thoughtful songs, warm voice and rich orchestration. Overall, a beautiful album.
Static Waves ft. Katie Herzig [mp3] - ( Amazon / iTunes )

Emanuel and the Fear - Listen
While a little heavy-handed at times (there's something a little hypocritical-sounding about a white guy who went to NYU, one of the most expensive schools in the country, singing lyrics like "but the gringo concerned only if the boy has washed his hands"), but his attempt to get people to really think about the world we live in and provoke social change is admirable, and the music that Emanuel and his 11-piece orchestra make is catchy, rockin' and highly enjoyable. And, in their defense, some of the lyrics are actually quite insightful.
Dear Friend [mp3] - ( Amazon / iTunes )

Fredrik - Trilogi
This album twists and turns with layers upon layers of haunting instrumentation that builds and subsides like waves, as seems to be Fredrik's style. This album was actually a trilogy of EPs that Fredrik created long ago, and it is certainly a bit darker than their previous album, but, as is always the case with Fredrik, the magnificent layers of each song reward multiple listens and makes the album grow on you with every play. They also came out with a vinyl-only 3-song EP this year that is quite wonderful.
Locked in the Basement [mp3] - ( Amazon / iTunes )

Glasser - Ring
This album is epically spacious in sound, swirling with slightly revered vocals on top of exotic instruments and infused with a swish of electronica. The result is something tribal, dream pop and quenching, seemingly taking you away to a different world. It twinkles in a way that never gets tiring or old, yet due to its dreamy nature, there are few tracks that immediately grab, meaning that this may go under-appreciated by the main masses.
Home [mp3] ( Amazon / iTunes )


Blood Red Shoes - Fire Like This
This is party rock at it's best - almost every song at a frenzied tempo with epic vocals, screaming guitars and thumping bass lines that you can't help but jump up and down to. Their single, Light it Up, is particularly catchy and fun to yell along with. All in all, a really fun album.
Light it Up [mp3] - ( Amazon / iTunes )

New Marina and the Diamonds music video

It's a music video-filled Monday here at GFP, as I was going through a backlog of emails after being out of town for 10 days and I stumbled across this video from Marina and the Diamonds and I am totally love it - all the bright colors and fast cuts. It's perfect for the song (which I have to say I really relate to at the moment) and is a lot of fun to watch.

Artists to Watch in 2010

For the last of our lists this year, we have artists that have shown promise and/or generated buzz, and that we're expecting to see interesting things from in the year to come. So, just in time for the New Year, we present you with "Artists to Watch in 2010":


Ellie Goulding
21-year-old Ellie Goulding has already been chosen as one of the 15 best rising music stars on BBC's Sound of 2010 list. She's been generating tons of buzz over the last few months, and with an electro-pop sugary sound, musicians like Little Boots and Marina and the Diamonds (more about her below) are often mentioned alongside her. Her first single "Under the Sheets" was released a couple of months ago and her debut set to release in March, so, like we've said before, expect this one to hit big.

Under the Sheets [mp3] - (no online purchase available in US)

Marina and the Diamonds

"I Am Not A Robot" was one of Lise's tracks-on-repeat this last summer, and like Ellie above, Marina and the Diamonds have also made BBC's Sound of 2010 list. People love her for her don't-care-what-others-think attitude and robust, thickly vibrato-ridden voice, but Lise is still waiting to be impressed with a live performance, although perhaps that will change in this upcoming year. Until then, you should at least check her out if you are unfamiliar, cause there is no doubt you will be hearing more about her in 2010.

I Am Not A Robot [mp3] - (no online purchase available)

Heathers
This Irish twin girl duo, named after the infamous '80s movie starring Winona Ryder, is kind of like Tegan & Sara 2.0, but more folky perhaps. They're how I imagine Tegan and Sara were when they were just starting out - talented and adorable, keeping things simple but lovely, with rocking acoustic guitar and awesome vocal harmonies. It sounds like things are starting to pick up for them in Ireland and we're hoping that they'll pick up for them here in the US too, so that they'll come back stateside for a tour again soon.

Veronica [mp3] - (iTunes)

Drink Up Buttercup

Em first saw Drink Up Buttercup by chance back in May, instantly loving them, and has watched their audience grow and expand at shows in NYC in August and November. They are worth seeing again and again live because they have such great energy as they bang and plang and clang on everything from your typical keyboards and guitars to the less typical garbage can tops, tool boxes and plastic maracas. Their EP is superb and hopefully we can expect a full-length album from them in 2010.
Sosey Dosey [mp3] - (iTunes)

Pattern is Movement
Much to our surprise, these two lumberjack-looking guys make the most elaborate, fanciful, delightful and downright bizarre music we've possibly ever heard. It certainly wasn't what Em was expecting when they opened for St. Vincent earlier this year, but they ended up blowing her away and we can't wait to hear more from the Philadelphia duo.

Jenny Ono [mp3] - (iTunes)

Local Natives

One of LA's top indie acts that are ready to break out in a big way, all 4-part harmonies and pounding toms. They're already popular overseas, having toured the UK and Europe in 2009, and they've just been signed to NY label Frenchkiss Records (home of The Antlers, Passion Pit, The Dodos, etc.) They played a soldout show at the Echo the other night - their last US show until the domestic release of Gorilla Manor (February 5) - and any Angelenos who made it out will be lucky enough to say they were there first.

Camera Talk [mp3] - (Amazon)

Marching Band
Unlike a lot of the Scandinavian music we receive here at GFP, this isn't dark, experimental, or haunting. Marching Band's music is for the most part poppy, pretty and highly enjoyable. It will definitely leave your head bopping and your toe tapping, and since a lot of amazing stuff is coming out of Scandinavia right now, I think we can expect to see them fair well here in the US.

Gorgeous Behavior [mp3] - (iTunes)

Avi Buffalo

One of our writers, Diana, has been into Avi Buffalo for a little over a year now and we can't wait to see what SubPop does for them in 2010. Seeing Avi play his Fender Jaguar will make you envious that you're not 19 years old, winning folks over with a high falsetto and lines like, "you are tiny and your lips are like little pieces of bacon."
What's In It For? [mp3] - (iTunes)

Fredrik
Their album Na Na Ni was on our Best Albums of 2008, and their album Trilogi was supposed to come out this year, but has been pushed back to January of 2010. So keep your eye out for that. The one track they've released from it is even more haunting, dark and stunning than the highly experimental Na Na Ni, and we've heard that the rest of Trilogi is supposed to follow suit.

Trilogi [mp3] - (iTunes)

Castledoor

We still don't know why this band isn't signed. Their debut Shouting At Mountains was quite solid, and the 3 shows Diana attended of their June residency at Spaceland were easily the best shows she's seen this whole year. Nate Cole has all the charisma a frontman needs and more, and the songs are just an awesome mix of blues, rock, and pop. They've been going strong in the LA scene for a couple years now, so we have my fingers crossed that 2010 will be their year.
Skipping Stepping Stones [mp3] - (iTunes)

tUnE-YaRdS
tUnE-YaRdS, aka Merrill Garbus is incredibly intriguing to say the least. Her unique rhythms, complicated music and full voice make for an interesting listen. However, her debut album, Bird Brains, was made very much DIY-style, and while she certainly does quite well with very little, we would love to hear what she can do with some real production value behind her. Hopefully we will get the chance considering how much buzz she has gotten this year.

News [mp3] - (iTunes)

Surfer Blood

Their debut album Astro Coast is dropping January 2010, and having listened to a couple of the tracks, we wager that it'll probably take a few months for news to properly circulate about this band. Surfer Blood has somehow managed to encompass that guilty pleasure of 90's pop-rock sound of Weezer and Keane and structure it into a sophisticated-yet-carefree indie rock throwback with added fuzzy flair for the upcoming decade.
Floating Vibes [mp3] - (iTunes)

Gamble House
One of Diana's bandmates introduced her to Gamble House a couple months ago, and she recommends them to anyone who is a fan of pre-Veckatimest Grizzly Bear. This year they self-released an album of low-key indie/folk-ish music that goes beyond the standard vocals/guitar M.O., incorporating banjo, bells, keyboards and other little flourishes that reflect the band's jazz background. Definitely worth checking out.

Central Park [mp3] - (no online purchase available)

Phantogram

For a duo that has yet to come out with a full-length album, Phantogram sure has a pretty big following. A bit reminiscent of Blonde Redhead, their electro-dance-rock certainly will get you moving. They're great live and we look forward to hearing what they come out with in the future.
When I'm Small [mp3] - (iTunes)


Ravens & Chimes
So they were on our list of Artists to Watch for 2009 last year, but unfortunately they didn't end up coming out with any new stuff this past year. However, it is confirmed that they will be coming out with an album in 2010, so we are putting them on the list again because we love them that much. Hopefully, after going through some major member changes this year (only two of the people in this picture are still in the band but we can't find any more recent ones...), next year will be a successful one for them. Here's one of the songs off their upcoming 2010 album.

Hearts of Palm [mp3] - (iTunes)

Marina & The Diamonds

The more I find out about Marina of Marina & The Diamonds, the more I really, really like her. This chick is not afraid to speak her mind, from calling Lady Gaga "the epitome of the word 'empty'," to discussing baby cheerleaders to bemusing about her Synesthesia (a neurological phenomenon that I would pay in KITTENS for). In addition, this Welsh-born singer believes her birthplace was "Ancient Greece" and one of her favorites, Britney Spears, is decked out as Jesus on her myspace. Her newest release is the Crown Jewels EP, which comes out physically in USA stores on June 22nd and features Marina's sizzling voice and attitude amongst electro-pop tunes that feature the repeating theme of "screw society, just be whoever you want to be." With those words in mind, check out a tune from the EP, and as always, if you like what you hear, go out and actually support the artist.

I Am Not A Robot [mp3]