If you missed Part 1 - check it out here.
To continue on...
11: Cobra Starship I think I'm a little late here, as "Good Girls Go Bad" is all over the radio right now, although that is probably mostly due to Leighton Meester, of Gossip Girl and foot job sex tape (SFW actually) is on the track. Regardless, love Cobra Starship... "Guilty Pleasure" is one of my favorite songs of all-time.
If you like this song, find: Snakes on A Plane (Bring it), You Can't Be Missed if you Never Go Away, Send My Love to the Dancefloor I'll See you in Hell, Kiss My Sass
12: Arctic Monkeys
One of the most popular bands in the UK, but not so much here in the United States. Might have come across a bit gimmicky at first, and without much staying power, but they've established themselves as a quality band with a good follow-up and a much anticipated third album coming out later this summer. Fun band.
If you like this song, find: I Bet You Look Good on the DanceFloor, Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts, Leave Before the Lights Come on, Mardy Bum, A Certain Romance
13. The Fratellis Another band that's much bigger in the UK, but got a little traction here in the states with their song "Flathead" appearing on an iTunes commercial spot. Mostly a good singles band with a lot of crap on their albums, there are usually a few gems. Very danceable, fun, peppy. If you're looking for really in-depth music with chord progression and things of that nature, you're looking in the wrong place. But it's so fun.
If you like this song, find: Flathead, Henrietta, Whistle for the Choir, Chelsea Dagger, Stacie Anne, Shameless, Look Out Sunshine!
14: The New Pornographers
Indie royalty - Canadian indie supergroup. Nearly all the members have other famous projects, including Neko Case, A.C. Newman having solo careers and Dan Behar having Destroyer. They are at their best when they are together, though and have been making solid music for over a decade now. Their 2004 album, Twin Cinema, is really the masterpiece, though. Hopefully due for a new album relatively soon. Got to see them in concert last year and it really was an awesome show. Over a decade of hits for them to run though. You've probably heard a lot of their music on random commercials, such as for the University of Phoenix... that one still bothers me.
If you like this song, find: Mass Romantic, Twin Cinema, Slow Descent into Alcoholism, A Testament to Youth in Verse, Use It, Myriad Harbour, My Rights Versus Yours
15: Manchester Orchestra
Came upon this band quite randomly... I was going to see the band fun. in concert and they were opening for a band I have never heard of, called Manchester Orchestra. I looked up their stuff and I liked it... it was soft, quiet, thoughtful and powerful at times. Imagine my surprise when they took the stage and it was a rocking, hard affair with a massive moshpit and people being carried out of there with bloody faces. Anyway, the songs are good either way but there was a lot of energy in the live show. I heard one of their songs on rock radio the other day so I think they might be making a name for themself pretty soon. And obviously this video clip is from David Letterman so I'm not exactly picking out a bunch of nobodies.
If you like this song, find: Golden Ticket, I Can Feel A Hot One, I've Got Friends, Shake it Out, In My Teeth
16: The Hold Steady
Singer Craig Finn's voice takes some getting used to, but this is a fun, fun sing-along band that is adored (maybe too much ) by the Stereogum/Pitchfork crowd. But they have some really good songs... good melodies. If you can get past the voice, you'll love them. I put a slow one up as the embedded clip, because it's my favorite song (crazy guitar solo!) but their fast songs are probably their bread and butter.
If you like this song, find: First Night, Stuck Between Stations, Stay Positive, Constructive Summer, Sequestered In Memphis, Massive Nights
17: Stellastarr*
If I had included Stellastarr* in part one, which was possible because I'm doing this kinda randomly, then I would have missed writing about their third album, which just came out in the past few weeks. I first heard of this band in college, so in 2004. I only really liked one song from their first album, but I really loved the song. Luckily, when their second album came out, it was a big step up from the first. It was full of great songs. The third album is no different. This is a pretty typical Brooklyn band aping on that new wave/indie sound from the 80s, but I have a pretty big soft spot for them. The embedded clip was on an episode of Gossip Girl, if you happen to watch that show (and we're back to footjobs again - as an aside, WHO THE HELL wants a footjob?)
If you like this song, find: Prom Zombie, Freak Out, Sonja Cries, Lost in Time, Somewhere Across Forever, Love and Longing, Sweet Troubled Soul, Damn this Foolish Heart
18: Stars
I have a bit of a softspot for bands/groups with both a male and female vocalist, such as Stellstarr* above...Stars is another one of those groups. The song "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" is one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life, just because it's so well crafted. They have some really fun songs, too. I didn't care for their last album, so much, but that doesn't take away from the two great ones before that. Just listen to the lyrics in this clip.
If you like this song, find: Elevator Love Letter, Calendar Girl, Take Me to the Riot, The First Five Times
19: Los Campesinos!
This is the kind of self referential, crazy, all over the place music that I really enjoy. Really peppy and upbeat, with crazy videos, voices coming from all over the place and lyrics that really personify this current livejournal/facebook culture that we live in now where everything everyone does is the MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER. I really love this band.
If you like this song, find: Death to Los Campesinos!, Ways to Make it Through the Wall, Don't Tell Me to Do the Math(s), Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks, You! Me! Dancing!
20: Say Anything
A little over the top in terms of lyrical content and "pushing the envelope" but they have some really good songs. Catchy songs. There are parts where the lyrics are so good that you have to really check that they said that. They reached a little too high making their last CD a double album, it had some garbage on it, but their album ...is a Real Boy, is really outstanding.
If you like this song, find: Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too, Belt, Woe, The Futile, Baby Girl I'm A Blur, Have At Thee!, Spores
I'll be back with part three in the very near future. Hopefully you can get some new music out of this!
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