When you have a band made up of about-to-graduate MIT students, you can pretty much guess what they are going to sound like. Lots of computers and samplers, probably some kind of one-of-a-kind instrument made with lasers, and herky-jerky new wave music that could be called the opposite of “Americana”. And in the case of Adrien and the Fine Print, you’d be dead wrong. And with results like these, we’re glad you were. As a matter of fact, the band has just relocated to Nashville, where they are preparing their first full-length album.

Song List:

Adrien and the Fine Print’s website

Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

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After seeing a duo version of Tallahassee at the Johnny Cash tribute that we helped put together, we knew we had to get them in for a session as soon as possible. Lead singer Brian Barthelmes honed his songwriting chops as a lineman for the New England Patriots (no joke), but the soulful americana that pours out of this band is probably not what you’d expect from a guy who at one time made a living smashing into other people. They just released their second album, Tallahassee Schmallahassee (a cheeky reference to Harry Nilsson’s magnum opus).

Song list:

Tallahassee on MySpace

Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

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Stopping by for their third session (check out their earliers here), Brooklyn’s The Press continues to be one of those “Why doesn’t EVERYONE know about this band?” kinda bands. In our humble opinion, their brand new album, INTEOTWIJTEOAE (listen closely and you’ll know what it stands for), finally does justice to the intricate patchwork of rhythms and melodies that almost don’t seem to make sense when taken separately, but combine to make some of the most original and yet accessible songs to come out of New York in a long time.

Song List:

The Press online

Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

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