Here are some favorites from this past year:
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
I saw Blitzen Trapper and Alela Diane in concert at Kilby Court last spring. Blitzen Trapper is a 6 piece band, lots of fun and a very full sound. They have a definite Greateful Dead sound, so much so that one of my co-workers overheard me playing the song Furr and asked me what year it came out, indicating he thought it was the late 60's.
Alela Diane, is a bit of a departure for me. I had never heard of her when she opened for Blitzen Trapper but I was blown away by the beauty of her songs. She has great melodies and a fantastic voice. She struck me as being a modern Joan Baez. Great voice, and a folk style.
Dinosaur Jr., I just discovered them even though they were a late 80's and 90's staple. They just didn't get played on the radio and back then if it I didn't hear it on the radio, it didn't exist. Excellent 90's alt. sound. I just bought the new album, Farm, on vinyl.
Cold War Kids. I don't know how to describe their sound. Sort of a modern pop with a somewhat bluesy beat. Kind of a White Stripes + The Bravery sort of sound.
