Discoveries At SXSW 2011
Clockwise from top left: Austra, Cheyenne Marie Mize, Mount Kimbie and Holger.
South by Southwest is nothing if not overwhelming. With roughly 2,000 bands to choose from in four days, even the toughest, savviest, most dedicated music fan can wind up feeling crushed — just ask NPR Music's Stephen Thompson, who came home nursing a sinus infection of biblical proportions. But there's one clear advantage to the avalanche of options: You're bound to stumble on something you've never heard before, and it might just blow your mind.
More Discoveries
Check out the gang's late-night dispatches for even more new finds from this year's SXSW.
That's what happened to the All Songs Considered crew, and this week we've got SXSW goodies galore:
∙ At the end of each night, Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Stephen and Ann Powers assembled to recap all the new music they saw that day. Hear their late-night dispatches in the sidebar at left.
∙ Bob went to (count 'em) 67 shows this year, and you can see his one-minute videos from each one on the All Songs blog. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday's posts are up — check back for more.
∙ The Tiny Desk tradition lived on in Austin, as bands crowded into the NPR team's hotel room for special acoustic performances. Check out the Tiny SXSW Concert videos.
And listen to this week's show to hear Bob and Stephen's reflections on this year's pleasant surprises, which include riotous Brazilian rock, lilting Kentucky folk and lush Canadian synth-pop. As always, you can head to our SXSW hub for NPR Music's complete coverage.
Discoveries at SXSW 2011
Literal
- Artist: The Calm Blue Sea
- Album: The Calm Blue Sea
Find out more about this album at The Calm Blue Sea's website.
Millions of People Running in Circles
- Artist: Magic Bullets
- Album: Magic Bullets
Find out more about this album at Mon Amie Records.
Upside Down
- Artist: Off!
- Album: First Four EPs
Purchase Featured Music
- "Upside Down"
- Album: First Four EPs
- Artist: Off!
- Label: Vice
- Released: 2011
Surfacing
- Artist: Chapel Club
- Album: Palace
Purchase Featured Music
- "Surfacing"
- Album: Palace
- Artist: Chapel Club
- Label: Polydor
- Released: 2011
Won't You Be My Girl?
- Artist: Deep Dark Robot
- Album: 8 Songs About a Girl
Purchase Featured Music
- "Won't You Be My Girl?"
- Album: 8 Songs About a Girl
- Artist: Deep Dark Robot
- Label: Custard Records
- Released: 2011
She's So Up
- Artist: The Knux
- Album: She's So Up
Find out more about this single on The Knux's website.
More All Songs Considered
All Songs Considered
It's Gonna Get Sweaty: A Maryland Deathfest Preview
Get your skull goblets out: Bob Boilen previews some of the bands at this year's Maryland Deathfest.
All Songs Considered
Can't We All Just Get Along? Our Search For The Albums Everyone Loves
Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton begin their quest to pin down the most universally loved albums.
All Songs Considered
Patti Smith, Best Coast, Debo Band And More
On this week's show, hear some of our favorite new tracks, plus a few musical surprises.
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