Sky Ferreira - Obsession

TIm WIlliam - Tripping starring Travie McCoy (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Tripping over Tim William

Should you be unaware of this electro-pop craze that has been sweeping the nation, you may want to give Tim William (not to be confused with Tim Williams) a quick listen. You may also want to climb out from under that rock from which you've been living. Just a suggestion.

In any case, Tim William does the genre good with tracks like "Tripping," "Vampire SEX", "Sun and Moon," "Move It Girl" (featuring Travie Mccoy) and even a collaboration with Bjorn Yttling entitled "Feel Young."

Check out his myspace page to hear these and more (www.myspace.com/margot). But check out his video for "Tripping" first.

i L.O.V. Fitz and the Tantrums

It's easy for me to love Fitz and the Tantrums. And unless you dislike Motown, Soul, Indie Pop, the entirety of the 60's and the general sound of good music, you'll love them too. What's even better than their use of saxophone is their story - the classic culmination of hard work, a good product and great timing. Newly formed and virtually unheard of, the LA band had a fan in a tattoo artist from New York who happened to have Maroon 5's Adam Levine as a customer. When Adam heard their EP playing, he decided the unsigned and unknown Fitz and the Tantrums would be their opening act on their Fall 2009 tour. The rest is history.

Their album Pickin' Up The Pieces, released this past August, is sure to please with (my personal favorites) "MoneyGrabber", "Breakin' The Chains of Love", "Don't Gotta Work It Out", and "L.O.V."

Check out the band's website at http://www.fitzandthetantrums.com/.

The Key to Success

Originally from Akron, Ohio, this good ol' American blues/rock duo was formed almost 10 years ago and has since rendered eight studio releases. Their past two albums, Attack & Release and Brothers, yielded some undeniable hits for the pair and ascended The Black Keys to contender status.

With their countless commercial successes -- including song features on "Big Love," "Lie to Me," "One Tree Hill," "Entourage," "Sons of Anarchy," "Hung," The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, promos for "Gossip Girl" and "Dexter," and even a Lee's jeans commercial -- I'll bet that you know the Black Keys and you just don't realize it.

If you're looking for a sound reference, their indie, almost amateur garage sound is often compared to another successful rock duo- The White Stripes. Ultimately, though, it's hard to find a sound comparable to that of Dan and Patrick. My top 5? "Your Touch", "Tighten Up," "Strange Times," "Next Girl" and "The Only One."

Thanks, LM.

I Dream of Sara

When I dream, I dream of Sara Jackson-Holman. And it's no wonder. With her delightful use of both staccato melodies and soothing undertones combined with her Adele-esque vocals, this is truly a must-hear album that is sure to become your Autumn soundtrack. Raised in Oregon, her music personifies the picturesque landscapes and natural qualities of her surroundings, and exudes a sound you just can't find on a coastline.

Entitled "When You Dream," her debut album was released this past May and exhibits a sound that is well beyond her 21 years. One of the most popular songs on the album, "Into the Blue" was featured on the season finale of ABC's "Castle" and immediately became the focus of music chat rooms nation-wide. Everyone wants to know more about this young Portland native with her mature style and ageless voice. And while I hesitate to make comparisons, she will undeniably be grouped with the soulful and spunky voices of Adele, A Fine Frenzy, Regina Spector and even Feist.

There is literally no bad song on this album, so it's hard to give my picks. But if I had to narrow it down, I'd say buy these tracks first: "Into the Blue," "When You Dream," "Come Back to Me," "Cellophane" and "California Gold Rush."

Mum's the Word

If you're into that folk-rock, bluegrass sound of the Dropkick Murphys, you'll love Mumford and Sons. This band, led by front-man Marcus Mumford, hail from across the pond and embody that indie rock sound that I find most characteristic of Irish rock, utilizing instruments such as banjos, accordions and mandolins. What's even more unique than the band's sound is the members' ability to assume various roles, switching instruments during live shows in random rotation.

Their debut album Sigh No More was released in the States earlier this year following its release in the UK last fall. Visit their site and give their music a listen. My favorites? "Little Lion Man" and "The Cave."

http://www.mumfordandsons.com/