something new from this year perhaps, but not that widely recognised. I'm tired of looking for myself for once, so...any recommendations?

I merged your threads into one. I hope that's ok. I have no recommendations for you though.

What would you find for yourself? Where do you look, when you're a-finding?

well im all the way down under, so really i have no connection to y'all's 'underground' scenes and such.

and since the more 'rare' bands/artists i like don't really have much album circulation, and mostly dont release anything in the US, i dont bother recommending.

Heh, I keep finding myself buying kiwi and aussie stuff lately. But mostly older, just the vagaries of the used bins I guess. I have no connection to my underground scene either, and aboveground where I live at present it's all that-guy-from-toad and jack-talentless-johnson (forgive me, jack--maybe it just hasn't made it to tape yet, eh?).

We have some folks called the Coral Sea (I liked their old name, Rey, better) who just released an album getting good local press. I saw them live once and they were quite good but haven't heard the new one. Rumor has it strings are involved, which wasn't the case when I saw 'em. Not as close but also seen at dinky local gigs: Petracovich, fun lady with a laptop. Has some stuff on her site, too, petracovich.com. Again, saw the show, don't have the disc (it's not that I'm a jerk, but the shows in both cases were pre-release).

The Nein - Wrath of Circuits



I wasn't sure about recommending this because, despite the fact I like it, it kinda fits into the dance-punk genre that is facing a backlash lately. It won't change your world, but it's worth a listen.

wow, i live right next to the Coral Sea. Literally, however...

This is my beef, exactly. They live in Santa Barbara.

Just like how Flying Nun actually lived in CA!!

Yeah yeah.

The Nein is a terrific choice. Check out Kings of Convenience... "Gold in the Air of Summer" is a good song. "I'd Rather Dance With You" is their more often played tune, so you might have heard it.

Matt Elliott, Drinking Songs

i picked this up a while back, really enjoyed it, but havent listened to it in months.

Black Mountain.

just rules my world the last 2 months.