Mahjongg is an ancient Chinese tile game responsible for the academic downfall of countless college students. The band Mahjonng has similar powers with their frenzied pop disarray (a la the supremely underrated Beatnik Filmstars). Be strong.
Arab Strap
Like the Scottish tongue: lots of burrs and still a great listen.
Puritan
With a penchant for literary lyrics, Puritan manage loose, almost off-handed pop songs to dark, dusty anti-ballads with a Malkmus-esque flair. Imagine Lloyd Cole making music in an American bedroom without the Commotions.
Guitar Wolf
Is Guitar Wolf a Japanese homage, pastiche, or caricature of U.S. garage rock? As with “Iron Chef,” does it really matter? Guaranteed to be the best 2:27 of your otherwise dull day…
RF
If you had to pigeonhole RF, you might label it Intelligent Acoustic Music. His whispering guitars and gentle programming make me want to snuggle up with my iPod and a good Haruki Murakami novel.
Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter
Like Cowboy Junkies after a few drinks, Jesse Sykes and her all-star band swing the heartache with equal parts grit and beauty.
Dave Derby
The former lead singer of The Dambuilders (if you don’t have Against the Stars, you’re not really living life to the fullest, are you?) and solo-monikered Brilliantine assumes his own name for his token easy-on-the-ears acoustipop record — except this is one token that shines.
Johnny Dilks and His Visitacion Valley Boys
Country that is as timeless as a shot of Jim Beam and a soft pack of Marlboros.
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The Aisler’s Set
Amy Linton, indie pop/rock songwriter extraordinaire…and, damn, can she play the drums! You see, I love Amy from her days in the long defunct Henry’s Dress. Now we are blessed to hear her in the Aisler’s Set doing simple, pleasant songs tinged with the sounds of the ’50s and ’60s.
Eyes Like Knives
Urgent, angular post-post punk with boy versus girl vocals not unlike their neighbors in Boston who quietly redefined rock music some twenty years ago.