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Band: Enslaved
Song: "The Watcher"
Album: "Vertebrae" (Nuclear Blast)
Sounds Like: Experimental death-prog metal.
D.C. Bound: Not yet. They were supposed to play Jaxx on May 28, 2009, but the whole tour was canceled. Until Enslaved can rescheduled, which it's planning to do, tune into ligx.de on Fri., Dec. 5, at 2 p.m. to watch the band play live.
Get More: Web Site | MySpace | Wiki
Band: PAS/CAL
Song: "Summer Is Almost Here"
Album: "I Was Raised on Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura" (Le Grand Magistry)
Sounds Like: If the Beach Boys produced Belle and Sebastian. This CD is one of the best (and most overlooked) albums of 2008. It's truly amazing, and it's the perfect CD for headphones because the recording is so detailed. And I don't say all that just because the singer is one of my oldest friends. I have plenty of friends in bands, and most of their groups stink. (Still love ya, though, fellas!)
D.C. Bound: Nope.
Get More: Web Site | MySpace | More Music
Band: Various Artists
Song: "Lecturer Riddim" mega-mix
Album: A vintage riddim based on Owen Gray's 1967 song "The Lecturer." I heard it for the first time in a while on Sirius XM's "The Joint," which was playing Frankie Paul's 1986 tune "String Up the Sound," and fell in love all over again.
Sounds Like: Rocksteady rub-a-dub soul.
D.C. Bound: You can't tour a riddim, but you can tuna fish.
Get More: Download an MP3 of the whole mega-mix. | Check out the full list of artists and tunes on this 11-minute mix.
Band: M.I.A.
Song: "Shells"
Album: "How Many Votes Fix Mix" EP and the deluxe edition of "Kala" (XL/Interscope)
Sounds Like: Music to buy M.I.A.'s clothing line by.
D.C. Bound: Nope.
Get More: Web Site | MySpace | Wiki
Band: Shaggy
Song: "Bad Man Don't Cry"
Album: 7-inch single
Sounds Like: Crossover dance-pop in a raggamuffin style.
D.C. Bound: Not at the moment, but he played here three times in 2007.
Get More: Web Site | MySpace | Wiki
Band: The Hold Steady
Song: "Stay Positive"
Album: "Stay Positive" (Vagrant/Rough Trade)
Sounds Like: If you don't know by now, you haven't clicked on a music blog in 2008. Or in 2007. Or 2006. And so on.
D.C. Bound: Came and went; no plans to come back.
Get More: Web site | MySpace | Wiki
Band: Solange
Song: "T.O.N.Y."
Album: "Sol-Angel & The Handley St. Dreams"
Sounds Like: Beyonce's kid sister.
D.C. Bound: Not yet.
Get More: Web site | MySpace | Wiki
Band: Brand Nubian
Song: "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down"
Album: "In God We Trust" (Elektra)
Sounds Like: Early '90s militant rap. And like Guns N' Roses with "One in a Million," Brand Nubian had their own brush with ugly homophobia because of this song (though the offensive line was later excised).
D.C. Bound: No, but surprisingly, Brand Nubian is still around.
Get More: Label Site | MySpace Tribute Page | Wikipedia
Band: Deleted Scenes
Song: "Fake IDs"
Album: "Birdseed Shirt"
Sounds Like: Read our recent feature on this D.C. band.
D.C. Bound: Nov. 22, Rock & Roll Hotel.
Get More: Web Site | MySpace | Last.fm
Band: Fight Bite
Song: "Swissex Lover"
Album: "Emerald Eyes" (Fight Bite)
Sounds Like: Epic dream pop.
D.C. Bound: Nope.
Get More: MySpace | Last.fm | CD Baby