<p>Have the first Vampire Weekend. I remember listening to it thinking it was good, but haven’t played it much since. Agree about Spoon, I have the new one. Not the masterpiece of Ga, Ga, Ga, Ga, but pretty darn good.</p>
<p>For some reason, I’ve never gotten much into World Music, unless it’s a mainstream artist making a foray there, such as Paul Simon or Peter Gabriel. I will check out all the recommendations here, though.</p>
<p>Can’t believe I forgot them, but add She & Him to my list. Zooey Deschanel is an actress and a singer–was in Failure to Launch and 500 Days of Summer–and wanted to sing on one of her soundtracks. They threw her together with M. Ward, a very highly respected guitarist, and let them have at it. The rest is history. They have two albums now, but my very favorite song of theirs is “In the Sun” (check out the video on YouTube…it’s the epitome of their sound/style).</p>
<p>She & Him is waaaaaay better than the normal run of filmstar vanity music projects (see: Scarlett Johansen, Minnie Driver, Russell Crowe, Jared Leto, and, yes, everything out of the Disney Channel). M. Ward is not a bad singer-songwriter on his own, although it’s probably a good idea for him not to compete for the limelight with THE indie starlet. Note that as of a few weeks ago Ms. Deschanel is married to another not-so-bad songwriter, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie.</p>
<p>It’s old now, but my favorite filmstar vanity project was by Milla Jovovich–she sings well, and the songs are interesting.</p>
<p>I’m not crazy about the snippets, but they might appeal to others. Ren</p>
<p>Bettye was on NPR’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me” this past weekend.</p>
<p>JHS–I wholeheartedly agree! :D</p>
<p>I saw La Roux, Vampire Weekend, She & Him, MGMT and a whole bunch of others a few weeks ago at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival.</p>
<p>Zooey is quite the performer…she played tambourine and ukulele, and you could tell how excited she was to be there. I’d definitely see them again.</p>
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<p>He’s used to it. His last musical partner was Beth Orton. Among other things, Ward and Orton recorded this most excellent cover of the terrific Bob Dylan song, Buckets of Rain:</p>
<p>[MySpace</a> Player](<a href=“Redirect Notice”>Redirect Notice)</p>
<p>The Apache Relay. Madie Diaz. Trent Dabbs. Greg Laswell. Needtobreathe. Passion Pit. Arcade Fire. (all recommended courtesy of my D, who is a big Mumford & Sons fan, as well, but they have already been recommended here)</p>
<p>Also … Andrew Belle, Steve Moakler.</p>
<p>If you like the unusual, check out Joe Henry. I went to high school with him - had no clue he was so talented. He’s not a “new” artist, but he is not well-known in the traditional sense. Very cool stuff.</p>
<p>New release from an established artist…</p>
<p>Hank III (grandson of Hank Williams, Sr. looks/sounds eerily like grandpa)- “Rebel Within”</p>
<p>Warning: Some “Explicit” / “Adult” themes lyrics, but much tamer than previous releases.</p>
<p>[Hank</a> Williams III ::::: The Official Website](<a href=“http://www.hank3.com/media.htm]Hank”>http://www.hank3.com/media.htm)</p>
<p>My latest favorite in the indie/folk world…Mandolin Orange</p>
<p>http:<a href=“http://www.myspace.com/mandolinorange[/url]”>www.myspace.com/mandolinorange</a></p>
<p>Latest new must have : The XX</p>
<p>here’s something out of the mainstream: Sage Francis “Best of Times, End of Times”</p>
<p>Heard and liked this today: a cover of Young Hearts Run Free by a band called Swell Season.</p>