Our Favorite Discoveries From The 2013 CMJ Music Festival
Lucius was just one of the many bands worth discovering at this year's CMJ festival. Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption
The View From Bob Boilen's Camera At CMJ
Every fall, hundreds of bands flock to New York City for the annual CMJ Music Marathon, a large festival where independent, new and emerging musicians hope to be discovered. All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen was among the countless journalists, bloggers, college radio DJs, record label reps and others who attempted to navigate the sea of live performances, hoping to find new music to love and share.
On this week's show, Bob's joined by music critic Maria Sherman and WSPN's Becka Schwartz to talk about and play some of their favorite discoveries out of the hundreds of shows they saw, including D.C. punks Priests, British multimedia duo Public Service Broadcasting, rockabilly singer King Dude, '60s-era soul from Nick Waterhouse and many more.
Hear The Songs
Priests
- Song: Leave Me Alone
- from Tape Two
Music critic Maria Sherman shares this cut from Priests, a group from Washington, D.C., that Sherman describes as "a female-fronted, arty proto-punk band," reminiscent of the District's bustling '80s punk scene.
Our Favorite Discoveries From The 2013 CMJ Music Festival
Nerve Endings
Eagulls
- Song: Nerve Endings
- from Nerve Endings
Becka Schwartz from WSPN in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., joins the show and brings with her a song from the British rock group Eagulls (not The Eagles). "Nerve Endings" is driving Brit rock with a Billy Idol-sneer.
Avant Gardener
Courtney Barnett
- Song: Avant Gardener
- from
Australian singer Courtney Barnett's brand of hazy pop has melancholy, but sweetly endearing lyrics. "Avant Gardener" is a fun jaunt with an off-the-cuff, stream-of-consciousness story.
Where Will You Go
Jacco Gardner
- Song: Where Will You Go
- from Cabinet of Curiosities
Another discovery from WSPN's Becca Schwartz, Jacco Gardner's "Where Will You Go" is a mysterious, dreamy pop wonderland.
Weekend
- Song: July
- from Jinx
Maria Sherman rediscovered why she loves this band so much at this year's CMJ festival. Weekend's latest album, Jinx, is a mix of swirling, shoegazy guitars. But "July" is one of the brighter, poppier tracks.
July
Public Service Broadcasting
- Song: Spitfire
- from Inform - Educate - Entertain
An innovative British multimedia duo, Public Service Broadcasting, was one of Bob's favorite surprises from CMJ. The band borrows clips and audio samples for public service announcements and infomercials and turns them into music.
Spitfire
King Dude
- Song: Holy Land
- from Burning Daylight
"Holy Land" is a deep and imposing dust-up drowned in reverb. King Dude's rockabilly voice will likely remind listeners of Johnny Cash.
Holy Land
Arcade Fire
- Song: Reflektor
- from Reflektor
Arcade Fire played by far the most popular show at CMJ, so we thought it was a good excuse to share the title track from the band's upcoming new album, Reflektor. It's got supremely danceable synths, a writhing bass line, and a cameo by David Bowie.
Reflektor
Perfect Pussy
- Song: I
- from I Have Lost All Desire For Feeling
Reviewer Maria Sherman shares a track from Perfect Pussy, a smart, pop-punk band. "One" is a furious cut, teeming with overdrive, and lots of noise. It comes and goes in a flash.
I
Celestial Shore
- Song: Rabbit Hole
- from 10x
"Rabbit Hole" from Brooklyn's Celestial Shore evolves like a Dirty Projectors song, morphing from straightforward indie rock to John Zorn-inspired madness, and back again.
Rabbit Hole
GEMS
- Song: Medusa
- from Medusa
Gems is a dreamy pop band from Washington, D.C., comprised of Lindsay Pitts and Cliff Usher. "Medusa" is the title track from the duo's first official EP.
Medusa
Yuck
- Song: Middle Sea
- from Glow & Behold
Though the group was without one of its founding members (Daniel Blumberg, who left to form Hebronix), Yuck proved with its performances at CMJ (and new album, Glow & Behold) that the band is as strong as ever.
Middle Sea
Jonathan Rado
- Song: Seven Horses
- from Law and Order
Jonathan Rado is a founding member of Foxygen, one of the most talked about bands from CMJ 2012. A year later, he released his debut solo record, Law and Order.
Seven Horses
Shark Week
- Song: Baby Maybe
- from Santurce
As the group's name implies, Shark Week is a fierce, surfy rock band with a lot of charisma.
Baby Maybe
The Bots
- Song: 5.17
- from Sincerely Sorry
One of the more surprising acts at CMJ, The Bots are an L.A.-based duo featuring young brothers Anaiah and Mikaiah Lei. Though just 20, Mikaiah plays guitar, bass, keys and sings in the group, while his 16-year-old brother Anaiah handles percussion and background vocals. Their sound is not too far removed from The Black Keys or The White Stripes, but with a bit more R&B influence, and a dash of Jimi Hendrix thrown in.
5.17
Margot MacDonald
- Song: Speed of Sound
- from Canvas
Margot MacDonald is yet another artist from Washington, D.C. who stood out at CMJ. She makes her unique sound by layering live vocal loops with percussive beatboxing.
Speed of Sound
Anti-Parent Cowboy Killers
Joanna Gruesome
- Song: Anti-Parent Cowboy Killers
- from Weird Sister
One of the most talked about bands of the entire week, and a band we've featured on All Songs Considered, Joanna Gruesome was a big splash at CMJ, with a raucous, raw sound and a charismatic lead vocalist in Alanna McArdle.