Have you witnessed the furor over L Magazine’s “8 NYC Bands You Need to Hear” list on Brooklyn Vegan? Spare yourself, I guess! With much love to all the bands who made it, especially The Beets, here’s my own the list. My exciting eight have been picked with much less consideration for obscurity, but all these bands are still in a position where they could gladly use more hype/love/praises.

Sharon Van Etten

Sharon Van Etten (pictured) is one bold woman. She wraps all her heartbreaks in a blanket and spreads ‘em out, all at once, with a devastating voice accompanied by just an acoustic guitar, in a place like New York City. Can you imagine the amount of guts that is required in this preferred activity of hers? A newly produced version of “Consolation Prize” will be available in Sharon’s upcoming debut, Because I Was in Love, out in May.

Download “Consolation Prize (Demo)“

Suckers

In a world where mediocre singers and drummers have it surprisingly easy, Suckers is strung along four very strong co-ordinates: Quinn Walker and Austin Fischer both have notable voices, and with help from drummer Brian Aiken and multi-instrumentalist Pan, the rhythms and melody constructions are refreshing. Despite their four-track EP, it’s still too early to say what kind of might they will bring to their recordings, but if you’re lucky enough to catch them at a decent venue, their live shows are a pleasure. Quinn’s voice is stellar not in the “he’s got amazing volume/control/range” way, but in the “he really knows what he wants” way. Here’s an interview I did with them for The Tripwire.

You should really listen to “Beach Queen”, which is the strongest off their EP, but I’m not allowed to post it and it’s not on their myspace either. I guess you’ll have to buy it.

Download “Easy Chairs (Demo)“

Callers

Any NYC emerging-band list that excludes Callers is an incomplete list. Sara Lucas’ voice is a marvel, and we should send her and Ryan Seaton weekly gifts of thanks for even deciding to move to this brutal place. “Rone” is taken from their album, Fortune (Buy it).

Download “Rone“

Harlem Shakes

Even though I don’t consider myself a huge Harlem Shakes fan, I find no good reason to deny, from any perspective, that this is a solid band showing all signs of having its shit together. Apart from the singer, who’s somewhat low key on stage, everyone in the band is well-versed in the art of rocking out, too.”Nothing But Change” is taken from their latest, Technicolor Health (Buy it).

Download “Nothing But Change“

Glass Ghost

Glass Ghost are Eliot Krimsky and Mike Johnson. It seems that Eliot is interested in sonic experiences in the physical landscape, and a lot of this comes through the music. The haunting timbre of his voice is apt for the style. Their full-length is in the works, and an EP is available for $5.50.

Download “Like a Diamond“

Motel Motel

Their sound isn’t quite breaking new grounds, but I’m enamored by the drumming and singing on their newest album, New Denver. You might hear some distant cousins of a band like Muse in there, but none of the big, leaping gasps of breath or the eternal sense of doom. The song structures feel harmonious and they come with a quirky sense of playfulness. Buy the album.

Download “Coffee“
Download “Harlem“

Telepathe

These two are label mates of Suckers (on I Am Sound Records), but that’s not the reason why the two bands are somewhat comparable. Fresh beats all around. “Lights Go Down” is taken from their Dance Mother (Buy it: CD or Vinyl).

Download “Lights Go Down“

Bell

Though there aren’t many recordings to go by, I love Olga Bell’s voluminous voice; I’m tempted to call it busty. But from the little I’ve heard, it seems like she’s got the sensibility to keep things engaging, though some of it feels a little too constructed at times.

Download “Magic Tape“