Elsinore "Lines" (2010) & "Chemicals" (2010)

Elsinore is a Illinois band with a limited budget, but certainly not limited talent. A band to keep an eye on.

Les Savy Fav "Lets Get Out Of Here" (2010)

Relentless, catchy guitar hook and sound that draws comparisons to 90's-era Pavement. A current IRC indie favorite.

The Walkmen "The Rat" (2004)

This showed up on many decade ending lists of the greatest rock songs of the Aughts. Likely because there was a raw anger that comes through, as if it was recorded in their landlady's basement with eviction note in hand. Actually, they have done that. Interestingly, the song of theirs that has heard the most ears was featured in a Saturn Ion commercial in 2006.

The Walkmen's upcoming sixth album is getting good pre-release buzz. Check out four of the songs here (pre-clip ad alert).

Crystal Castles "Celestica" (2010)

Name your adjective...lush, dark, dreamy, gothic...they all fit. Alice Glass is the face and voice of Crystal Castles, who hail from Toronto. Her striking video presence notwithstanding, the mood is similar to the long-defunct British band Lush .

Check Out The Modern Rock Charts To The Right

Links to the modern rock charts of various issues of Billboard magazine are included in the right column. You may notice that throughout the Aughts, the music on the chart became increasingly less "alternative" (or what used to be called "modern rock"), in favor of more corporate, less inventive, and often downright bland rock. Bottom line, a lot of it sounded the same, and it continues up until this day. There is still a lot great music being made, but the majority of it isn't showing up on the Billboard "Alternative" charts.

The chart below is from January 20, 1996.

Tame Impala "Solitude Is Bliss" (2010)

Extremely listenable, modern psychedlia from this Australian four-piece. I came across this at the excellent We Are Involved music blog.

V.A.S.T. "Touched" and "Flames" (1998)

VAST stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theatre, an Austin based collaborative led by multi-instrumentalist Jon Crosby, who came onto the scene in 1998 with a highly regarded debut. Two standout tracks are featured here. The former got some play on modern rock radio, while the latter, with it's haunting violin, is as dark as a love song can get.

Ra Ra Riot "Boy" (2010)

A recent indie rock hit from this Syracuse NY band, who have created a lot of buzz with their great live performances.

Cowboy Indian Bear "Saline" (2010)

A modern, though mildly psychedelic aural & video trip back to the '70's from this Kansas based trio. They may not have opened for the Dead in 1975, but listening to this you may think they did.

The Ruby Suns "Maasai Mara (2006)

Interesting sound with more than a passing nod to XTC in their prime. One of the nuggets from the '00's that should have been played more on the radio (then again radio rarely played XTC in THEIR prime, because most program directors are incompetent, ass-kissing zombies).

Harlem "Friendly Ghost (2010)

Relentless guitar riff & a lo-fi vibe make this a great tune for hangin' in the cellar with a some friends and a six pack of PBR. Or perhaps the Arizona garage where Harlem honed their sound.