TLC’s Artists to Watch at CMJ 2009

CMJ is here once again! With a sigh of simultaneous excitement and premature exhaustion, we begin our festival week. We’ve outlined some of our most anticipated acts below. Read, listen and then get away from the computer and go see some amazing artists.  See you at the shows + afterparties!

Pete and the Pirates

We put this dynamic and endearing band from Reading, UK under our spotlight a little over a year ago and interviewed them right before their BBC Electric Proms 2008 gig. They’ve been to SXSW but never NYC. We are so glad they are finally here.

See them here: The Bell House, Brooklyn 10/21

MP3: Pete and the Pirates – Knots or zShare

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Sleigh Bells

Quiet Color selected Sleigh Bells as Your New Obsession last week as a part of our feature and we couldn’t agree more.  Don’t miss them this week at the shows below!

See them here: Santos Party House, Manhattan 10/21, Market Hotel, Bushwick 10/23

MP3: Sleigh Bells – Infinity Guitars or zShare

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Let’s Wrestle

A lo-fi indie punk trio from London, Let’s Wrestle just released their debut album “In the Court of the Wrestling Lets” on Stolen Recordings. They’re charmingly self-aware, kooky and they love Paul McCartney. ‘Nuff said.

See them here: The Bell House, Brooklyn 10/21

MP3: Let’s Wrestle – I Won’t Lie to You or zShare

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The Love Language

We first heard of North Carolina’s The Love Language on one of Steve Lamacq’s last shows on BBC Radio 1. We were immediately enamored with the band’s (who just signed to Merge) breezy yet rich, retro  folk-pop.

See them here: The Living Room, Manhattan 10/23

MP3: The Love Language – Lalita or zShare

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Surf City

This quartet of Kiwis create lush aural landscapes a la Animal Collective but way poppier and, as their name suggests, with a subtle surf sound.

See them here: The Cake Shop, Manhattan 10/20

MP3: Surf City – Headin’ Inside or zShare

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Mumford and Sons

Despite hailing from London, these fellas very clearly play alt-country, folk, Americana music — refreshing considering the deluge of generic indie rock these days. We first saw them open for and perform with Laura Marling in June ‘08. Since then they’ve become Radio 1 darlings and we approve.

See them here: Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 10/22

MP3: Mumford and Sons – Little Lion Man or zShare

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The Temper Trap

If you’ve seen 500 Days of Summer then you’re very much familiar with Australian The Temper Trap’s moody love song Sweet Disposition. Sure to be a big draw at CMJ!

See them here: The Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 10/22, Bowery Ballroom, Manhattan 10/23

MP3: The Temper Trap – Drum Song or zShare

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Golden Silvers

London trio Golden Silvers released their debut album True Romance earlier this year to critical acclaim and will surely get the kids on the dancefloor this week!

See them here:  BLVD, Manhattan 10/20, Bowery Poetry Club, Manhattan 10/21, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 10/22

MP3: Golden Silvers – Please Venus or zShare

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Dan Black

We’ve been championing Dan Black’s quirky electro tunes since discovering his MySpace page early this year and have been anticipating his live show since!

See him here:  Norwood, Manhattan 10/23, Santos House, Manhattan 10/24

MP3: Dan Black – Symphonies or zShare

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Midnight Juggernauts

Rolling Stone magazine once described Midnight Juggernauts as “David Bowie if his Berlin Trilogy was a collaboration with Kraftwerk and Faust.” Enough said.

See them here: Bowery Ballroom, Manhattan 10/21, Santos Party House, Manhattan 10/21, Santos House, Manhattan 10/24

MP3: Midnight Juggernauts – Raised by Wolves or zShare

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Restless People

We saw Restless People last night with Washed Out at Santos Party House and had a blast! Welcome our latest addition to the list, loving the Underworld sample in the tune below!

See them here: Pianos, Manhattan 10/24

MP3: Restless People – Days of Our Lives (Light In Mix) or zShare

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A Million Years

Brooklyn natives, A Million Years, are making their CMJ debut this year. They earned their stripes gigging all around NYC since ‘07 hawking their uncompromising and infectious brand of indie rock.

See them here: Bowery Electric, Manhattan 10/22

MP3: A Million Years – Suspicious or zShare

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Rumspringa

TLC caught LA’s Rumspringa back in April (after a heads up from our UK friends) and thought they had a “minimalist and unpolished raw sound that reminds me of garage jam bands of yesterday with a throw back to classic rock.”

See them here: Webster Hall, Manhattan 10/24

MP3: Rumspringa – Can’t Seem to Make You Mine or zShare

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Male Bonding

Robin, John and Kevin set up camp in Dalston, East London and became the poster boys of the burgeoning DIY/no-fi scene. This isn’t your dad’s punk rock, but it sure is a raucous good time.

See them here: Silent Barn, Ridgewood 10/21

MP3: Male Bonding – Pumpkin or zShare