David

New York, New York

"The Lion's Roar," First Aid Kit. It's beautifully spare, ethereal, lyrically stylistic, and just lovely. Two sisters from Sweden who evidently grew up on American country and folk music, and their contribution to the genres has been impressive.

"Fading Listening," Shiny Toy Guns (III). It sounds a bit yacht-rock-y at times, I concede, and it definitely makes thorough use of production values (and a falsetto), but there's something just wonderful about this song. It's simultaneously one-dimensional and complex; there's not a chorus but instead an assortment of different bridges connecting just two verses, and the combination of keys and guitars is just perfectly balanced.

Lord Huron. Comparisons will be made to The Tallest Man on Earth, and even that high praise is insufficient.

I'm ashamed, but I would not have believed a pop song could be as irresistibly catchy as Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me (Maybe)." I realize I have to hand in my hipster card.

Taylor Swift is evidently using Avril Lavigne as a role model. That "We Are Never Getting Back Together" song makes me think her parents need to ground her.

First Aid Kit at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

EVERYONE IS DOING AN UNFORTUNATE IMPRESSION OF LMFAO. This was not good news.

Insane Clown Posse---that's still a thing, right? There's really very little point in having a contest so long as they still exist.