CMJ Discoveries: Casiokids, Firehorse, Caveman, More
Clockwise from upper left: Casiokids, Firehorse, Ava Luna.
As it does every fall, the CMJ Music Marathon came to New York City last week. They don't call it a marathon for nothing: For a band, performing in the festival can mean playing 10 shows in five days. For a fan, the choices of what to see are daunting and distant. Alabama Shakes might be playing on Delancey Street, while Teen is in Brooklyn and The Lonely Forest is playing KEXP's Showcase at the Ace Hotel, 20 minutes away. For music journalists, it's hard not to wish you could clone yourself to take it all in. In the end, the best way to have a rewarding CMJ experience might be to talk with a friend whose taste you trust.
On this edition of All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen sits down with two New York journalists: Maura Johnston, music editor for The Village Voice, and Sydney Brownstone, a writer and videographer for The L Magazine. Together, the three pick a dozen favorite acts from this year's CMJ, while sharing stories of their disparate journeys through the festival.
Check out a video of Zola Jesus in concert, performing in New York during the week of CMJ.
CMJ Discoveries: Casiokids, Firehorse, Caveman, More
Old Friend
- Artist: Caveman
- Album: Coco Beware
Purchase Featured Music
- "Old Friend"
- Album: Coco Beware
- Artist: Caveman
- Label: Original Recordings Group
- Released: 2011
Keep Time
- Artist: Gauntlet Hair
- Album: Gauntlet Hair
Purchase Featured Music
- "Keep Time"
- Album: Gauntlet Hair
- Artist: Gauntlet Hair
- Label: Dead Oceans
- Released: 2011
Dresinen
- Artist: Casiokids
- Album: Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen
Purchase Featured Music
- "Dresinen"
- Album: Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen
- Artist: Casiokids
- Label: Polyvinyl
- Released: 2011
See You Hurry
- Artist: WIM
- Album: WIM
How Can U Luv Me
- Artist: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- Album: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Purchase Featured Music
- "How Can U Luv Me"
- Album: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- Artist: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- Label: The Sounds of Sweet Nothing
- Released: 2011
She's A River
- Artist: Firehorse
- Album: So They Ran Faster...
Learn more about this release at Firehorse's website.
Purchase Featured Music
- "She's A River"
- Album: So They Ran Faster...
- Artist: Firehorse
- Label: Pledgemusic Recordings
Where The Asphalt Dies
- Artist: Clouder
- Album: Serious Business EP
Learn more about this release on Bandcamp.
Mayday
- Artist: Pujol
- Album: Nasty, Brutish, and Short
Purchase Featured Music
- "Mayday"
- Album: Nasty, Brutish, and Short
- Artist: Pujol
- Label: Saddle Creek Records
- Released: 2011
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.


Comments
Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.
NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its website or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.