Jeremy Jay - "Airwalker"

Jeremy Jay - "Airwalker": "I caught a part of Jeremy's set at SXSW and just realized I had never made him part of my SXSW `08 coverage. This song is one of my highlights from him - the vocals are a tad understated but the music sounds like a great 70s roller-skating groove."

X - "Los Angeles"

X - "Los Angeles": "This song still blows me away - and it's been around for how long now? The interplay between John and Exene sounds just as fresh today as it did when they made it - literally: I saw them do this song at SXSW this year and they still rock this live. The energy of this song is always infectious - a classic song for the City of Angels."

White Shoes & The Couples Company - "Tentang Cita"

White Shoes & The Couples Company - "Tentang Cita": "Another band I fell in love with at SXSW. Imagine what the band that did the Love Boat theme song looks like - but from Indonesia and in their early 20's - and in the present day. Their earnest interest in 70s soft pop - often sung in Indonesian - is what elevates their music over mere kitch. This is not some irony-filled NYC hipster band, these kids really love this sound.
Live, their secret weapon is lead singer Aprilia who, while cooing at you softly, swings her arms around in a gentle and completely hypnotizing way. You may not understand what she's singing about, or even what her 'hand dances' mean, but she's completely mesmerizing anyway."

The Wombats - "Lost In the Post"

The Wombats - "Lost In the Post": "Giddy British rock with a touch of snottiness, ofset my great backing harmonies and energetic riffs. A Rhapsody U.S. premiere!"

Does It Offend You, Yeah? - "Dawn of the Dead"

Does It Offend You, Yeah? - "Dawn of the Dead": "This album brings the party in a serious way, but not nearly as much as they do live, as I witnessed recently in Austin. Strangely, with all the robodance on the album, it's this awesome new-wave-influenced track that wins me over, even if it is a bit out of place with the rest of the record. Hell, I'll admit - it's probably the synth hand claps. Always a sucker for those."

Ringo Deathstarr - "Down On You"

Ringo Deathstarr - "Down On You": "I missed these guys at SXSW because I got the memo about them too late - but missing them is what made me check out their EP, which features this highlight track. Fabulous noise-pop, it takes the lurching melodic buzz of the first Lilys record to an even sweeter conclusion."

A Place to Bury Strangers - "Don't Think Lover"

A Place to Bury Strangers - "Don't Think Lover": "I stumbled onto these guys at the Hot Freaks party at the Mohawk. It starts off like harsh JAMC, before shifting into `60s guitar rock in an echo chamber, before shifting back to JAMC distortion, then back again to 60s rock with a wistful, garage-y guitar lead. It's not nearly as jarring as it sounds."

Cut Copy - "Lights and Music"

Cut Copy - "Lights and Music": "These guys helped people to get their dance on at our party (Rhapsody Rocks Austin), despite it being 2:30 in the afternoon! Not radically different from their first album, although not in a bad way, this track manages an excellent blend of 80s synths with catchy guitar riffs to make a futuristic jam."

Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat"

Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat": "I first got turned onto this song when on vacation in London last fall, but it wasn't until the tidal wave of attention started for her in the US that I really got into it. Robyn's candy-coated but emotional vocals paired pulsing synths are a simple but great combo - made even better by the fact that she can bring it live, as I witnessed first hand at SXSW last week."

Santogold - "Creator"

Santogold - "Creator": "So, yes, I can see the similarities to M.I.A., but having been familiar with Santi White's (a.k.a. Santogold) past work (which spans rock to R&B), I know she's just a chameleon and this is just one element of what she does. Plus, I'm in love with her female dancers - dressed in clothes that mix military and flight attendant looks, they do funky robotic dances/poses while they sing, all behind dark shades. I know it sounds like a gimick, but it lets Santi party while her girls hold down the Kraftwerk lock and step around her. It's tight."

The Ting Tings - "Great DJ"

The Ting Tings - "Great DJ": "I feel like this was one of the breakout songs of South by Southwest this year - lots of people went to see them live and I heard this song played at other parties too. It takes a second to get exciting, but every time they get to the chorus, there's some serious electro-rock pogoing going on. I'm sure it'll be in a commercial soon enough!"

Chikita Violenta - "Laydown"

Chikita Violenta - "Laydown": "This sounds like great Brit-styled alt-rock, even with a touch of shoegaze-tinged hushed vocals, except that this band is from Mexico! Thanks to IODA's SXSW day party for helping me to stumble onto them quite accidentally!"