Artist: MGMT

Hails From: Brooklyn, NY

Musical Style: Electronic, Indy Pop, Psychedelic, Glam

For Fans of: The Flaming Lips, The Kinks, David Bowie

Why you should check them out:

Named as one of Rolling Stone’s, top, “Artists to Watch in 2008, MGMT have become one of the most eclectic contemporary dance bands, while drawing the majority of their influences from decades past.

Background Check:

I have to admit, when I first heard MGMT I found myself initially turned off by the high pitch vocals and the thought of adding another sassy indie band to the list. And yet something happend as I continued to listen to MGMT’s most recent Oracular Spectacular, as the tracks continued to deviate from my initial stereotyping of the duo. With songs ranging from glam dance numbers to Daniel Johnston type ballads like “Pieces of What”, it is hard to not like something, or all of it really.

Formed by Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden in their freshmen year of college, MGMT turned into a full-time endevor when the duo graduated in 2005. Finding themselves opening for the wildly popular Of Montreal on their first tour, MGMT gained immediate attention from bloggers and music publications alike.

In 2006, MGMT signed to Sony/Columbia records resulting in their major label debut, Ornacular Spectacular, in 2008. With a long list of festival dates set to come, and having opened for such musical heavyweights as Radiohead in early 2008, it is clear that this Brooklyn duo has only scratched the surface of their undeniable musical potential.

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

http://www.myspace.com/mgmt

http://www.whoismgmt.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGMT

Where you can find them on tour:

Jambase

Artist: Dr. Dog

Hails From: Philadelphia, PA

Musical Style: Psychedelic, Rock, Pop

For Fans of: The Beatles, The Band, Blitzen Trapper

Why you should check them out:

Whether it’s through the lo-fi arrangements of their previous five albums, or the anthemic presence of their live rock shows, Dr. Dog is out to bring 60’s era pop rock to a whole new generation of music fans.

Background Check:

Dr. Dog is a band defined by their influences, and from the sound of their most recent album Fate, they certainly aren’t trying to hide it. Multi-part harmonies, psychedelic solos, and chunky guitar riffs, are all part of the quintet’s contemporary homage to rock and pop of the 60’s and 70’s. And don’t get me wrong, Dr. Dog’s albums certainly aren’t without some current day additions, with songs like “The Old Days” ironically filled with far more indie rock than nostalgia.

Surviving for years under the radar, Dr. Dog finally got their break in 2004 when My Morning Jacket personally selected them to accompany their band on tour. With the added critical success of their third album, Easy Beat (2005), Dr. Dog quickly gained increased national attention and consequent shows opening for the Strokes and Architecture in Helsinki to name a few.

Although the release of their fifth album, Fate (2008) finds Dr. Dog once again gaining high critical praise, the majority of their hype results from seeing the quintet live. Heavy guitar solos and walls of multi-part harmonies are always going to be best experienced live, and with back to back tour dates far into November, you’ll have plenty of time to catch the psychedelic rock adventure that Dr. Dog is sure to bring.

Where you can find them in cyberspace:

http://www.myspace.com/drdog

http://www.drdogmusic.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Dog

on tour:

Jambase

Artist: Lykke Li

Hails From: Sweden

Musical Style: Indie Electronic, Indie Pop/Rock

For Fans of: Bjork, Feist, Jane Birkin, Cat Power

Why you should check her out:

With looks like Cat Power and a voice similar to Bjork, Sweden’s newest pop sensation, 22 year old Lykke Li, brings a subdued blend of electronic pop beats and indie inspired vocals to an otherwise indistinguishable genre.

Background Check:

You get the impression from 22 year old Lykkle Li that she’s still carefully balancing the image of naive school girl singing about crushes and a sultry songwriter inspired by genuine loss and heartache. It’s this type of duality that both pulls you in and keeps you from fully pegging the young songstress as a stereotypical mainstream pop star. Naming her two favorite love songs in a recent interview as Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and Cat Power’s “Good Woman”, certainly gives her the necessary indie credibility that her outward appearance only enhances.

While recording songs on an eight-track for years, Lykke Li’s debut album, Youth Novels, was released to the U.S. just a few weeks ago on her own LL Recordings label. Supported by the sound of minimalist instrumentation courtesy of producer Björn Yttling (of Peter Bjorn and John fame), Lykke Li’s ghostly vocals are always on the forefront of her songs. From soft and mellow ballads to reggae tinged dance numbers, Youth Novels offers a diverse catalogue of songs, allowing Lykke Li plenty of room to grow in future releases. Through a list of captivating live performances and infectious dance singles, Lykke Li has danced her way into the hearts of bloggers and music critics everywhere who just can’t help being charmed by the singer’s sweet vocal style and mellow dance beats.

Where you can find her in cyberspace:

www.Lykkeli.com

www.Myspace.com/lykkeli

Where you can find her on tour:

Jambase