This post was submitted by Zack Rosen

It might be the encroaching warmer weather, but this week’s new music selection didn’t include very many stinkers. So thank you, publicists of the world, for being more or less done with SXSW and getting the good music flowing again.

As always, I’ve valiantly taken some time out of my work week to listen to them all and let you know which are worth your time and which wouldn’t even be suitable to cover up the sound of Roseanne getting acupuncture.

Full list, in descending order of awesomeness, below the fold:

REALLY AWESOME:

Artist: Alaska in Winter
Album: Holiday
Who the hell are they?: Melancholy one-man synth outfit
Sounds like a combination of: Crystal Castles and Grandaddy
For Example: Berlin
Recommended?: Yes.
Release Date: Nov. 2008

Artist: Elizabeth and the Catapult
Album: Taller Children
Who the hell are they?: Gentle, jazzy NYC trio
Sounds like a combination of: Aimee Mann and Obi Best
For Example: Momma’s Boy
Recommended?: For turning your living room into a smoky hotel lounge, and for Elizabeth’s voice.
Release Date: June 9

Artist: Erik Blood
Album: The Way We Live
Who the hell are they?: Shoe-gazey Seattle homo
Sounds like a combination of: Bob Mould and My Bloody Valentine
For Example: Home and Walk
Recommended?: For bringing back 90′s style alternative radio.
Release Date: May 12

Artist: Papercuts
Album: You Can Have What You Want
Who the hell are they?: Dreamy, hazy, low-key pop
Sounds like a combination of: The Shins and The Zombies
For Example: Future Primative
Recommended?: For easing yourself gently into an overcast, early summer morning.
Release Date: April 14

PRETTY AWESOME:

Artist: Black and White Years
Album: The Black and White Years
Who the hell are they?: Austin band produced by Former Talking Head Jerry Harrison
Sounds like a combination of: Talking Heads and Madness
For Example: Power to Change
Recommended?: Yeah.
Release Date: Sept. o8

Artist: Diamond Watch Wrists
Album: Ice Capped at Both Ends
Who the hell are they?: Prefuse 73 side project
Sounds like a combination of: Dark Captain Light Captain and a disorienting nap.
For Example: Onward Push Me Out.
Recommended?: For napping on glaciers.
Release Date: April 28

Artist: Mapei
Album: The Cocoa Butter Diaries
Who the hell are they?: Bushwick party starter
Sounds like a combination of: MIA and Kelis
For Example: Leader of the Pack
Recommended?: For swaggering
Release Date: Our now.

Artist: Obits
Album: I Blame You
Who the hell are they?: Quarter of Brooklyn-based indie veterans
Sounds like a combination of: The Buzzcocks and Them
For Example: Pine On
Recommended?: For killing time until the next Strokes CD
Release Date: March 24

Artist: Pansy Division
Album: That’s So Gay
Who the hell are they?: San Francisco homocore pioneers
Sounds like a combination of: Green Day and The Bloodhound Gang
For Example: Twinkie, Twinkie Little Star
Recommended?: For smart gay content and an unwavering devotion to writing about sex
Release Date: March 31

Not Awesome At All:

Artist: Diamond Watch Wrists
Album: Ice Capped at Both Ends
Who the hell are they?: Prefuse 73 side project
Sounds like a combination of: Dark Captain Light Captain and a disorienting nap.
For Example: Onward Push Me Out.
Recommended?: For napping on glaciers.
Release Date: April 28

Artist: 1090 Club
Album: Natural selection
Who the hell are they?: Baroque pop band from Billings, Montana
Sounds like a combination of: The Cardigans and Jukebox the Ghost
For Example: ITSON
Recommended?: For people who wish Los Campesinos were a little more tranquilized
Release Date: March 24. TNG

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