I found this guy's track list and the bands I do know are really good. I've been out of the loop mucically and I respect y'alls input. If you could, tell me what you think about the bands listed...

A C Newman
Apollo Sunshine
Bishop Allen
Circulatory System
Jon Brian
Mull Historical Society
Neva Dinova
Now its Overhead
The Bees
The Unicorns
The Elected

Circulatory System, briefly, is essentially Olivia Tremor Control without Bill Doss. CS has less of the pop elements of OTC and expounds on more of the experimental leanings. If you liked Black Foliage more than Dusk (or if you really dug the "Green Typewriters" suite on the latter) than you should like CS. It's a pretty good record overall, but I don't like it as much as either OTC record (but those are both amazing, so...)

Circulatory System has a new record coming out in ~March of 2005. Hope this helps.

AC Newman - very sunny pop. I'm not a huge powerpop fan, but this is great. Sounds like New Pornographers (not surprisingly).

Bishop Allen - closest comparison is Talking Heads. Seen them live a few times, and they're really good.

Now It's Overhead - kind of synthy. Don't own either of their albums, but I like what I've heard.

The only one I own is the AC Newman. He is essentially the chief songwriter for the New Pornographers. He writes mostly quirky fast/slow tempo pop rock songs. I personally think he is one of the best pop tunesmiths going today. His new one is in my top 20 for the year.

If you like the New Pornographers you'll like this.


aero is spot on as far as Circulatory system goes.

I've only heard one song from Now it's Overhead off of a mix that OPA gave me and I liked it. It kinda had this mid to late 80's vibe that had guitars and electro-bass elements. Kinda moody ala Depeche Mode or the Cure. If I ever see it used I'll probably pick it up. They're on Saddle Creek.

Only one I can even remoitely speak on is Now It's Overheard.

Loved the first CD. Second one was a big drop off.....

yea, synthie indie rock....mellow-ish...

The first Mull Historical Society is a pretty strong record. Although be warned the follow ups aren't as impressive.

The descriptions of AC Newman and Circulatory System are good. I may be one of the only people out there who actually prefers Circulatory System to Olivia Tremor Control, but if you like CS, definitely check out the two OTC albums.

The Unicorns are a quirky faux-art-pop band. They've got some catchy songs with slightly off-kilter structures. The lyrics are generally tongue-n-cheek indie preciousness. I enjoyed their album for a while, btu I'm not sure what I think of it now. They're a little too eclectic and eccentric just for the sake of being that way. The fact that they're now supposedly making a hiphop album kinda says a lot about their aimlessness.

I'm assuming Jon Brian is Jon Brion - and I'd recommend buying anything he's even remotely involved in. Find the Grays Ro-Sham-Bo for one of the better power pop collections in the last two decades, look for his soundtrack work (I <3 Huckabees, Punch Drunk Love, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), and search for what is so far his only solo album Meaningless. And then get the albums he's produced for other artists: Aimee Mann, Rhett Miller, Fiona Apple. Oh, and don't forget Macy Gray's On How Life Is and Jimmie Dale Gilmore's Braver Newer World. Put simply, it's a mark of qaulity if Brion's name is on it.

The AC Newman album is good stuff, but I wouldn't say it's got a long shelf life.

And Apollo Sunshine, to my ears, is just wretched, although they may be more palatable to fans of the Fiery Furnaces and any other examples of pre-fab quirk. Not my cup o' pee.

The Unicorns are shite.

Apollo Sunshine - I've really soured on this band. Their live show is amazing but their album is horrible. Too polished and over produced. Let the band rock for God's sake.

Bishop Allen - Really fun band. Their live show is very quirky if you see some of the instruments they actually use. Their album is worthe owning if you like quirky folky type music.

Now It's Overhead - I love this band. I liked their first album but their second album is amazing. More down to earth where their debut was a bit pretentious at times.

Apollo Sunshine - great live band. Spent too much time on their debut record (hell, they lived at their studio for a whole summer..that happens!), but I expect great things from these kids. And they throw swell parties.

Bishop - actually, I don't think I've seen them any of the times they've been up, but their record is pretty fun. Light-hearted stuff.

CS - I haven't listened to their debut in a while, but whenever I do, it's all I listen to for a few days.

KPH

Totally agree...that album blows

re: Bishop Allen. Very cool record. Made my top 20 last year. It's fun and catchy pop like everyone says. They are entirely different live though (IMO). Talking Heads rock out fer sure.

I'll second the good things, if any, that were said about AC, Unicorns, and Now It's Overhead.

That first album is great. Full of great pop songs like Public Service Announcement, Animal Cannibus and This Is Not Who We Are. Check out those tunes for a sampling. From what I understand there is one guy who is the mastermind behind it all but I'm not sure if that means he plays all the instruments as well.

Thanx for the gracious input.

Now It's Overhead is at the top of my list.

I'll put in the order for them along with Sufjan Stevens and David Sylvians latest.

[badfinger]If you want it (the latest NIO and Sufjan), here it is, come and get it (at Clever Cactus)...[/badfinger]