When it was pitched, this episode was known informally as an “underrated bands” mix, a label that seems as unworkable as it feels insulting. In an age of increasing access to a perpetually growing volume of music, and a culture that focuses on always keeping an eye out for the next big thing, the idea that any band could hold attention long enough to be over- or under-rated seems unlikely. Forget ratings and rankings: just remembering what you like can be challenging enough in a constant barrage of new music.
With that in mind, as we approach 2012’s halfway point, here’s a mix of eleven bands, some local, some not, that have all released interesting albums this year. These records may have slipped past you when they first came out — and include some that we haven’t written about much or at all — but they’re some of the recent works that continue to stick with us even as new sounds stream forward every day. These days, that’s no small feat.
About the bands:
Mac DeMarco — “Baby’s Wearing Blue Jeans”
In March, Captured Tracks released Rock and Roll Night Club, a terrific collection of warped and inventive bedroom pop songs from Vancouver’s Mac DeMarco.
Billy & Dolly — “Gold”
This SF duo’s second album delivers classic-feeling power pop, aided by tight harmonies and recording help from Papercuts’ Jason Quever.