Reptilians by Starfucker (2011)

Kind of Like: Cut Copy, Ratatat, Matt & Kim
Genres: Electronica, Indie

You have heard Starfucker before.  You heard the annoyingly-named "Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second" on Target commercials (funny that target would allow a music to be on their commercials by a band called Starfucker). I think this album is a bit better than their last. But I'm only halfway through it.

Download Here

Girlfriends by Girlfriends (2009)

Kind of Like: Piglet, Rooftops, Giraffes? Giraffes!
Genres: Math Rock, Experimental

Girlfriends is just one guy, Jerry Joiner, but he makes music like he is three or four guys.  I can always appreciate someone that names songs like "Brobocop", "Bernie Mac Attack", and "Yeah!? What's It Tuba!?".  I also appreciate musicians that make their music available for free and it doesn't sound like garbage.  Saying it doesn't sound like garbage isn't saying much though, it's actually really good.

Download Here

Friends For Now by Young Prisms (2011)

Kind of Like: Minks, White Fang, Animal Collective

Genres: Experimental, Shoegaze, Indie, Electronica, 

Heres a debut album from a dreamy band from San Francisco.

Download Here

Tryptych by Demdike Stare (2011)

Kind of Like: Horror movies, dark ambience

Genres: Experimental, Electronica

This band is ridiculous.  First I ever heard of them.  They just came out with this album that was a culmination of three of their previous albums plus a few bonus tracks (like a tryptych, get it?).  I managed to find these two links that include all of the songs but the bonus songs.  I'm sure these will keep you busy until you want to look into getting the bonus tracks anyways.  Here is an example of how weird they are:

Download Part One Here
Download Part Two Here

If you want the actual album and aren't afraid to use sites besides mediafire, here is the actual tryptych album via fileserve

Download Here

Pulse by Thomas Giles (2011)

Kind of Like: Trent Reznor, Eurythmics, The Dear Hunter, Coheed and Cambria

Genres: Electronica, Progressive, Metal

You've heard of Between the Buried and Me, right?  This is the debut solo album of Tommy Rogers, vocalist/keyboardist of BTBAM.  I think you should check this shit out.  This is barely a metal album though.  Barely.  There are like only two songs you can consider metal at all.

Download Here

Loma Prieta Discography (2010)

Kind of Like: L'antietam, Adorno, Kidcrash

Genres: Screamo, Post-hardcore, Chaotic Hardcore

My friend's sister is dating one of the guys in this band, and did the artwork for one of their albums.  So, I was told to put this up.  It's a good thing I like it.

Download Here

Everyone I Ever Met by Spokes (2011)

Kind of Like: Godspeed You!, Sigur Ros, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene
Genres: Post-Rock, Ambient, Folk, Shoegaze

There are too many shitty regurgitated post-rock bands.  This is not one of them.  This is actually much more chorus and melody driven than most post-rock bands.  Probably because this is nowhere near a conventional post-rock album.  One issue I'm having: is Everyone I Ever Met even a sentence?  Shouldn't it be Everyone I've Ever Met?  Oh well....

Download Here

The Cartographer by The Republic of Wolves (2011)

Kind of Like: Tigers on Trains, Brand New, As Tall As Lions
Genres: Indie, Post-Hardcore, Emo, Experimental

I was taken aback by this album.  I never heard of this band, and I certainly wasn't expecting this when I started the download.  This is what they call an extended play, it came out a few months after their debut Verona. The Cartographer is the band’s way of reaching out beyond what they already know, and exploring the boundaries within themselves and within a genre.  I haven't had a chance to hear Verona, but many people are claiming this extended play is better than their debut album.  If that's the case, I hope they keep going in this direction.

Download Here

All Through the Night by The Sand Band (2011)

Kind of Like: Bright Eyes, Elliot Smith, Neil Young
Genres: Folk, Indie, Ambient

Another great soft folk band.  The only problem I have is that sometimes they have a lack of deliberateness at certain points and just fall off into too much atmosphere and not enough melody.  That does not outweigh all of the good things going on with this album though.  At any rate, this album is sensuous; just plain luxurious.

Download Here

The People's Key by Bright Eyes (2011)

Kind of Like: A rockier version of Bright Eyes, Belle & Sebastian, City and Colour

Genres: Indie, Folk, Emo

The new album set to be released February 15th.  What does it sound like? “Just heard half of the new Bright Eyes record. Best sci-fi emo album of the last 20 years!!!"-Bright Eyes/Rilo Kiley drummer Jason Boesel.  Here ya go.

Download Here

In Search of Elusive Little Comets by Little Comets (2011)

Kind of Like: Foals, Vampire Weekend, Bloc Party
Genres: Indie, Experimental, Math Rock

This album just came out today.  Definitely can tell where they are from early on.  I am listening through this album right now, and my first impressions are good, but I'm gonna take this with me to class and see how I like it after a few listens.  I can see a lot of people loving it.  So here it is for you to enjoy.  I'm sure people are going to eat this up.

Download Here

The Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Emanuela Orlandi by End of a Year (2011)

Kind of Like: Adorno, Make Do and Mend, Life at these Speeds

Genres: Hardcore, Post-hardcore, Punk

These guys are pissed at Jesus/catholicism.  This is a short EP; only three songs.  I like the middle one the most.

Download Here

Good Old War Discography (2010)

Kind of Like: Fleet Foxes, Days Away, Avett Brothers
Genres: Folk, Indie

I saw these guys for the first time last night after first listening to them 3 years ago.  I don't know why I never got around to it before, they are from Chicago after all.  It was in Kalamazoo and after we drove out their I was wondering if it was really going to be worth it.  It turned out to be a great show.  They had good beer on tap at the Strutt (I had some Short's Good Humans, a hoppy brown ale).  The first two bands weren't that memorable, which is probably why I had my doubts until Good Old War played.  They played a great set; mostly stuff from their first album which I like more and after playing on stage for awhile they came down into the crowd to play four or five songs, kind of like what Maps and Atlases did in Toledo.  When they came down into the crowd I asked their lead guy, Keith, if he's ever been told he looks a lot like Charlie Day, to which he replied: "Everyday".

Download Only Way to Be Alone Here

Download their self-titled newest album here