Horse Stories

Pairing nicely with the barren alt-country of Radiogram is the energetic, jangle-pop of Melbourne's Horse Stories. Even though the bit-rate is lousy, download the total perfectness of "Bloody Time of the Year" and "You Explained Away Everything," if only to put a smile on your face. Thanks to Jennifer for the suggestion here; it was one of many that we could eventually track back to Jon's wife Heather, who politely chatted us up on Dooce not too long ago.

Firewall [MP3, 3.1MB, 128kbps]
Bloody Time of the Year [MP3, 2.3MB, 80kbps]
You Explained Away Everything [MP3, 1.7MB, 80kbps]

www.loosemusic.com
www.horse-stories.com

Director

You do one Irish band, you have to do another. This comes from the suggestion box, courtesy of David from Dublin, pointing out to 3hive what he calls "the most interesting new band here in Dublin." Be sure to also check out Director's new single "Reconnect" at their myspace page.

Last Time [MP3, 5.7MB, 224kbps]

www.directormusic.com

The Wombats

This Liverpudlian marsupial is a distant cousin to the sorely missed Los Angeles marsupial, Possum Dixon. Note the similar lyrical delivery, a kind of snotty, melodic talking. The two species also share a certain jerky jangle in their guitars. The resemblance is most notable on "Derail and Crash." The Wombats are known to travel as a trio and were first spotted in the wild, open myspace. Everyone here at 3hive looks forward to this fine specimen arriving to this continent for a prolonged stay.

Derail and Crash [MP3, 4.0MB, 160kbps]
Moving to New York [MP3, 4.0MB, 160kbps]
Patricia the Stripper [MP3, 4.3MB, 160kbps]
Little Miss Pipedream [MP3, 4.7MB, 160kbps]
The Ostrich Song [MP3, 3.2MB, 160kbps]

www.thewombats.co.uk
www.myspace.com/thewombatsuk

Butterfly Explosion

Irish and Swedish bands. I'm a sucker for them. Irish caused I lived there for two years (even saw Bono's house/castle/mansion on a road nicknamed, what else, Millionaire's Row). Swedish cause they have some unexplained disposition to creating great pop music. Is it nature or nurture? Personally, I blame ABBA.

Butterfly Explosion are Irish, are unsigned, and recently played at SXSW. One reviewer names Duran Duran, Sigur Ros, Smashing Pumpkins, and My Bloody Valentine as comparisions. While I reject the MBV link (for reasons we won't go into here), I would add Lush as a strong starting point. "Sophia" will be on a soon-to-be released EP.

The Great Game [MP3, 5.1MB, 128kbps]
Sophia [MP3, 4.6MB, 128kbps]
Comfort of the Dark [MP3, 3.5MB, 128kbps]
Vision [MP3, 7.0MB, 128kbps]

www.butterflyexplosion.com

Conner

Where's that deliciously pouty, funky sound coming from? South London? NYC? Try Lawrence, Kansas. (Hey, they're entitled to deliciously pouty, funky music, too, you know.) These tracks are from Conner's forthcoming album Hello Graphic Missile which is due out June 6. June 6?? But I want it NOW...

Cold Feelings [MP3, 5.9MB, 192kbps]
Up to You [MP3, 3.1MB, 160kbps]
Silent Film Score [MP3, 2.9MB, 160kbps]

www.sonicboomrecordings.com
www.connermusic.com
www.myspace.com/connermusic

Woody Whatever

Athens, Ohio's Erik Schmall has been recording frayed, cuddly lo-fi at a blistering pace. He's already released over 100 songs since he first started in 2001, at age 17. Like many prolific bedroom songwriters, or any prolific songwriter for that matter, not every track will blow you away. But these ones here do, and I'm sure I've overlooked a few. If you're looking for a good place to get started, hop (Happy Easter!) over to the lovely blog/netlabel Beat the Indie Drum to download Woody Whatever's Big One Shout Out EP that just came out in March 2006.

From Big One Shout Out
Rave Time [MP3, 3.2MB, 192kbps]
Keep Your Breath [MP3, 2.1MB, 192kbps]
Lost Energy [MP3, 2.4MB, 192kbps]

From Dayton Satellite Firm
Counting Cracker Barrels [MP3, 2.5MB, 160kbps]

From Sunday Definitely
Glass Mountains [MP3, 1.8MB, 160kbps]

From I Trip the Reverend
Hold Me Forever [MP3, 2.6MB, 160kbps]

From Liquor Stores on Blank Stares
Missing Misses Halloway [MP3, 3.0MB, 160kbps]

From Roar
Navy Brats [MP3, 1.6MB, 160kbps]

From Hiding From the Bomb Shelter
Crash These Digs Tomorrow [MP3, 5.1MB, 160kbps]

www.beattheindiedrum.com
www.ionikrecords.com
www.agriculturerecords.com
www.woodywhatever.com

Eiffel Tower

Nevermind the snappy drums. Ignore the catchy licks. Pay no attention to fuzzy hooks. Tight harmonies? What tight harmonies? See, Eiffel Tower have got something hidden underneath all that. Songwriting. That unique ability to craft a pop, or rock, song, a talent that mainman Benjamin Wheelocks has been honing and developing since he started writing songs at age 6. Okay, you can now go back to the snappy drums, catchy licks, etc., etc., like you could even ignore them in the first place.

Smallish Things [MP3, 6.1MB, 192kbps]
A Perfect Day [MP3, 4.3MB, 192kbps]

www.eiffeltowermusic.com
www.marchrecords.com
monitorrecords.com

The National

Here's how out of it I am (and not even because of our new month-old kid) — it took a couple of burned CDs from Katherine delivered in a Ziploc to clue me in to The National. All the while, I thought it was just the CBC's nightly news program hosted by the stately, handsomely balding Peter Mansbridge. Instead, we're talking a brooding, dark, intensely rocking band with heavy duty coverage from CMJ, BillBoard, Rolling Stone, The Chicago Tribune, Pitchfork and a bunch of other media sources I never have time to read. For those who are as clueless as me, try "Murder Me Rachael" for starters, though you might have to listen to it twenty times before moving on to the next track. Don't worry; it stays good. Thanks, Kath!

Wasp Nest [MP3, 4.6MB, 192kbps]
From Cherry Tree

Slipping Husband [MP3, 3.8MB, 160kbps]
Murder Me Rachael [MP3, 8.6MB, 320kbps]
From Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers

Cold Girl Fever [MP3, 3.7MB, 128kbps]
From The National

www.beggars.com
www.americanmary.com