Love Inks - E.S.P.

Austin's very own. This just came out a couple weeks ago and has been getting a lot of ink. Indie dream pop minimalism. If you like the xx, you'll like this.

d/l

A - FiB

Katie Stelmanis says her goal is "to make classical music with really fucked up, distorted crazy shit on there." I think she accomplishes this well.

If you want it!

TJF - TBR

TJF rocks my socks off.

The greatest light is the greatest shade

FtP - T

I might just start a dedicated what NPR recommends blog. They have been pretty spot on the past couple months. "Pumped Up Kids" is pretty great, but I really appreciate how upbeat this entire album has been so far.

NPR consistently rocks my socks off

d/l

Twin Shadow - Forget (2010)

I like this dude. 1980's new wave.

1980's NEW WAVE!

Ben Gibbard + Zooey Deschanel

I'm not posting names for things that will obviously get taken down. That being said, I love this band and have seen them no less than five times. I will see them again when they come to Cary later this year. I wasn't a big fan of narrow stairs, but this album seems to be pretty solid even if it's going in a slightly more upbeat direction. I'm can't freaking wait for Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel to actually for the indie superband that is inevitably about to happen. And while we are at it, where the hell is that second Postal Service album. Get it together Gibbard.

Katy Perry does not look like Zooey Deschanel

Discovery - LP (2009)

Arguably the best album cover in recent years. Discovery is love child of Ra Ra Riot front dude Wesley Miles and Vampire Weekend's keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij. This is seriously one of my top five records.

i'm serious, top five

Pedro the Lion - Control (2002)

Celebrate the rapture (track two) appropriately with David Bazan. Seriously one of the best albums of all time.

this line is metaphysical

Engine Down - Engine Down (2004)

Saw these dudes several times over the course of my college career, and they totally destroyed it everytime. I'm still pissed i never got that enginedown is for lovers t-shirt.

enginedown is for l<3vers

French Kicks - Swimming (2008)

Bands are like friends. Good friends are hard to find, but once you've found them you never let them go. I'll never let this band go.

relax

Phantogram - Eyelid Movies (2009)

Somehow all my friends found this independent of each other. My friends are awesome, and so is this band.

click here for dance party

New Cults

I love these kids.

for reals

Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose (2011)

I almost drove to Tennessee to see these kids, they are that good.

download it

Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde (2011)

Saw these dudes at Kings for the CAM afterparty. I loved it, but sometimes that Blenheim ginger ale and whiskey gets me feeling all warm inside.

download it

Small Black - Small Black (EP) (2010)

Love it, Despicable Dogs wins me over every time.

download it