#145 SXSW

I didn't actually go to SXSW. But I did the next best thing. I downloaded a free and legal torrent featuring free mp3s from the hundreds of bands playing the fest. Since March, I've been listening and grading the songs as they pop up on my iTunes playlist. Here's some notes on the tracks that merited five stars so far.

• Avotor "Glacial Weapon" -- Mogwai-style post rock
  
• Bexar Bexar "Krinkle of Henry's Heart" -- Glitchy abstraction with tender guitarwork
  
• Cardinale "Untitled" -- Epic metal via Tortoise
  
• Dengue Fever "Sni Bong" -- Vintage Asian pop meets Stone Roses!?! Awesome.
  
• Jean Grae "Give it Up" -- Fierce female hip-hop

And here's a quick list of the four stars:

Abigain Washburn, Big Juss, Bound Stems, Brother Ali, Cadence Weapon, Daniel Francis Doyle, El Ten Eleven, Flip Grater, Flogging Molly, God's Temple of Family Deliver, Gogogo Airheart, Harrisons, Holy Fuck, Jenny Owen Youngs, Live Fast Die, Mad Staring Eyes, The Meligrove Band, The Minni-Thins, My Education, Rainer Maria, Sarah Harmer, Saviors, Shifter, The Southland, Talib Kweli, Troy von Balthazar, Whitehouse and Zombi.

If you can sift through all the boring singer-songwriters there's quite a bit of interesting stuff going on at SXSW. Gotta make it down to Austin one of these days.

I'll post more bands as I rate 'em. Still tons I haven't heard yet. iTunes is saying 2.3 days worth of music.