NADA SURF - The Weight is a Gift
...perhaps my fave so far for 2005. Amazing melodies, perfect songcraft.
...pop that goes beyond the pop idiom
THE HIGH DIALS - War of the Waking Phanotms
...awesome new release on Rainbow Quartz. Beautiful, breeezy 60's-inspired.
....'Sick With The Old Fire' could be *the* single of the year - very
    reminiscent of the Model Rockets.
THE LIKE
....quirky, dark, and emotive...like the Throwing Muses circa 1989
TRUE LOVE - Wings
...off-kilter song structures that still remain hooky as hell. Superdrag
   meets Squeeze with a little Weezer in the mix.
OK GO - Oh No
....more grit and grime than their polished debut - but the sharp
    pop songwriting sensibility remains. Coming to a car commercial near
you...
NINE BLACK ALPS - EP
   I don't believe the full-length is out in the states yet. Brazen
post-punk inspired
   modern rock. Looking forward to more.
THE LOVEMAKERS - Times of Romance
  If these guys get big enough, they'll inspire a reunion tour with the
Human League
  and Berlin as openers. Their sex-charged live show has been likened to
"...driving
  a pink Ferrari  through mountains of coke." Good times...