UK bands with big buzz are right up there with death and taxes. Luckily, they’re a lot more frequent and the hype surrounding them quite often pay offs. Like Arctic Monkeys before them, Cajun Dance Party is the most recent band of youngsters (their oldest member is 17!) from across the pond to generate high levels of excitement based entirely on demos and live performances.

Their name accurately reflects their nu-pop sound, which was described by The Sunday Times as “liable to make confirmed grouches dance like loons.” The five-piece are so catchy, they’ve even managed to score Thom Yorke’s approval and a deal with XL Recordings. CDP’s debut single “The Next Untouchable” was Single of the Week in both NME & The Guardian and their second single will be out later this summer.

MP3: Cajun Dance Party - “The Next Untouchable”

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After a couple of years of playing Midwestern dives, The Wildbirds are a Wisconsin-based quartet who are ready to unleash their unadulterated classic rock sound beyond the dairy state. Void of synthesizers or technical fairy dust, their sound is a raucous spin on the musical template forged by classic rockers. In fact, most of The Wildbirds’ material was written in the woods of northern Wisconsin, where the band could play as loud as they wanted without worry of being harassed by their hometown police.

The Wildbirds have just finished recording their full-length debut album with producer Greg Fidelman (U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond), which is scheduled for release on August 14th. Songs like “Way Down Low” and “421 (Everybody Loves You)” pack the immediate punch of a slug of bourbon on a Saturday night - check them out and listen to a couple of more tracks on The Wildbirds’ MySpace page.

MP3: The Wildbirds - “421 (Everybody Loves You)”
MP3: The Wildbirds - “Way Down Low”

Also, here’s a music video for “421 (Everybody Loves You)”:

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With the kind of pop sensibilities that could’ve only come out of England, Palladium are four guys who make music that is self described as “joyful and ludicrous, bringing to mind things that you love, and things that might make you feel rather uneasy.” In other words, they play songs that sound like they got lost on the AM dial between 1972 and 1982. They are currently recording their debut album with Tony Hoffer (Kooks, Fratellis, Beck) and will release their debut single “Happy Hour” on July 16.

Here are two demos of what to expect from Palladium. Filled with keyboard flourishes and references to drowned sorrows, “Happy Hour” is a sunny ode to those parts of the ‘80s that no one dares talk about anymore. “Midnight Service” sounds like a funkier flute-laced track one might hear long after happy hour has ended and last call is looming.

MP3: Palladium - “Happy Hour (Demo)”
MP3: Palladium - “Midnight Service (Demo)”

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After splitting from Band of Horses last July, guitarist Mat Brooke has resurfaced less than a year later with a new band, Grand Archives, and a self-released CD-R demo. Although the band is very new and has only recorded a handful of tracks (four, to be exact), it’s very understandable why Sub Pop was quick to sign them (also, Band of Horses’ accolades couldn’t have hurt…). Grand Archives’ music is dream-pop that is never sleepy - ethereal, gorgeously crafted, and capable of crescendoing into truly powerful climaxes. It’s uncertain when their full-length will be released, but it will definitely be one to anticipate.

MP3: Grand Archives - Torn Blue Foam Couch

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Hailing from our nation’s capitol, singer/songwriter (or as his MySpace page says “songer singwriter”) Paul Michel has been in several bands over the years and is currently bassist for the DC power pop outfit Georgie James. However, since 2004 he has been recording and touring extensively as a solo project. Paul’s voice is a soaring tenor wail (something akin to Jeff Buckley, Thom Yorke, or Cold War Kids’ Nathan Willett) and his music is best described as a blend of folk, prog, indie, and brit pop. “The Backup Plan,” from Paul’s most recent album, Quiet State of Panic, is an excellent showcase of his sincere falsetto set against electronic backbeats.

MP3: Paul Michel - The Backup Plan

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If Fleetwood Mac and Phil Collins time traveled to the year 2080, whenever they returned their first song would probably sound something like Yeasayer’s “2080″. After one listen of this track, I found myself immediately hitting repeat and feeling that early fall is too long to wait for this Brooklyn band’s debut album to be released. “2080″ is filled with the kind of harmonies and sing-along moments that feel like you’re lucid dreaming of being under the stars at the best outdoor dance party. I just wish I could wake up and hear Yeasayer’s entire album - they are definitely a band to watch!

MP3: Yeasayer - 2080

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Formed in 2002, The Mae Shi are an LA-based experimental pop/rock band from California. Terrorbird, their 59-minute-long debut EP, was a hyper ADD-afflicted hip-hop concept album about monsters and the Old Testament. Having already released four albums and other interesting “projects” (like a documentary and a 2004 mix tape that collected their favorite 1200 songs in under 80 minutes), The Mae Shi are getting ready to release a fifth(!) album that is certain to be crammed full of their trademark “busted electronics, spazzier-than-fuck drums, crazy-ass boogie guitar, distorted caveman bass and throat-destroying vocals”. Details about their new album are still unclear as there is no official release date or title (it may be called either 7XX7 or PWND). However, the released track “Run To Your Grave” is unbelievably catchy and makes The Mae Shi a definite band to watch.

MP3: The Mae Shi - “Run To Your Grave”

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