So my apologies for missing my post yesterday, I spent the day in bed attempting to write essays, but instead ending up skyping my sister in Singapore. Better than essays if you ask me!
So you want some bands for X and Y you say... Well here you go my splendiferous readers.

X is for XYLOS: a five piece pop group fro New York City. They have some great songs, that are upbeat, and playful, but that don't have awful lyrics. With great vocals, and electronic sounds, as well as your typical band instruments. They have an indie pop kind of sound. Their EP album 'Bedrooms' came out in 2008, with their latest self-titled album out in 2011. They also released a single this year called 'Summerlong'.
One of my favourites is called 'Not Enough'

VETIVER: are an American folk band. They great sound, with yes indeed, the banjo featuring on a lot of their tracks. :D Their first album came out in 2004, and they have had a steady stream on various labels, they have also had some good collaborations with artists like Devendra Banhart Recently being signed to SubPop records, their recent album is titled 'The Errant Charm' and was released in 2011. They have a nice laid back sound to them as well.
One of my favourite songs is called 'Wonder Why'

THE VETTES: are a band headed by lead singer Rachel Vette, who recruited her brothers to be in the band. They have a very synth rock/pop sound. So a bit different to the bands I normally post. They released their first EP in 2008 titled 'T.V.' and their first album came out in 2010 called 'Plasticville'
One of their best known songs, which I really like is called 'Give 'Em What They Want', supposedly speaking about the celebrity culture.

Thats all for V.
Love and Peace everyone, hope you are enjoying the A-Z :D

URBANTRAMPER: is a 'future folk' band from New Zealand. The number of members seems to fluctuate, but they have released a few albums. Originally more of an acoustic sounds their latest tracks have developed more of an electronic sound. But all their albums have some good tracks. Their first album was in 2007 titled 'Tokon and The Colours', another in 2009 titled 'Rise and Toward' and their latest being in 2010 titled 'All That is Solid Melts into Air'.
One of my favourites is called 'How do you have your tea?' off of their first album

REID JAMIESON: A Canadian singer, who has a very relaxed and acoustic sound. His voice has a really nice tone to it, and has a kind of Jack Johnson sound. His first album was country based, released in 2004 titled 'The Unavoidable Truth', he has had a few since then, one was titled 'The Presley Sessions' which featured Elvis songs, in 2007. His latest album is called 'Staring Contest' and came out last year.
His songs are really great to listen to, and to have on the in background as well, they are so relaxing.
One of my favourites is called 'My Green Thumb' off of his latest one... the song starts at 46 seconds in!

POKEY LAFARGE/POKEY LAFARGE AND THE SOUTH CITY THREE:
He/They are a band originally from St Louis, Missouri, and have a ragtime, early american, string, banjo type music. Pokey himself has grown up travelling being inspired by the cotton kingdom, and legendary blues-men. In 2007 he released a solo album titled 'Marmalade' and a follow up one in 2008 called 'Beat, Move and Shake'. In 2009 he started working with The South City Three, and they released an album in 2010 titled 'Riverboat Soul'.
One of the songs I like is called 'La La Blues' >

THE OH HELLO'S: are a brother sister duo from Texas. They have a very acoustic, mumford & sons sound, creating a folk rock type sound. Their self-titled EP was released in 2011, and has a slightly Irish folk sound to it, if perhaps a little less upbeat jig like. (Please go and listen to all 4 of their songs if you click on their name, I honestly love them all... so addictive)
If I had to pick one (which is impossible) I will go with the more upbeat one called 'Trees':


O is also for OF MONSTERS AND MEN: They are slightly more well known band from Iceland. Their first EP album called 'Into the Woods' that came out in 2011, and then released their first full album called 'My Head is an Animal' early this year I think. They released a single called 'Little Talks' that went to number one in Iceland.
If you this song go and have a look at the album on the US itunes, I also really like the songs 'Dirty Paws' and 'King and Lionheart'

Love and Peace.

MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS: are an English band, who have an alternative folk sound. Some of their instruments include a banjo, an accordion, piano, and other usual instruments. They have released two EP albums in 2010, one titled 'To the North' the other 'Kingdom of Our Own'

My favourite song (mainly because it was the first one I heard, that made me love them) is called 'I followed fires'

The next band for M is MELODICA, MELODY AND ME: they are also a folk band, but they try and combine some ska into their songs. It's very chilled music, but has a nice beat to it underneath that keeps it happy, rather than melancholy. From Brixton, UK, they have a really nice sound. They have two EP releases, one in 2010 called 'Piece me Back Together' the other in 2011 called 'Come Outside' (with some bonus tracks on them as well)
Here is 'Piece me Back Together'

THE KOPECKY FAMILY BAND: are a band that blends neo-classical, folk and electric, and rock like sounds. Originally from Nashville, they have starting gathering a following. They have released two albums one in 2010 called 'The Disaster' the other coming out last year called 'of Epic Proportions', and I think there is one more called 'The Embraces'

My favourite one is called 'Little Baby Sister'

JOY KILLS SORROW: is a Boston based string band, that draws on bluegrass roots, and ties it with a modern acousticy sound. They first cropped up in 2005. Their self titled album was released in 2006, and Their second album came out in 2010 titled 'Darkness Sure Becomes This City'. And the most recent was released in 2011 title 'This Unknown Science'

My favourite song is called 'You Made it Easy' but it's not on youtube so if you click the name it will take you to the page you can listen to it on! Another good one is called 'Send Me a Letter'

So, sorry for the delay with this post... Have had a couple of assignment deadlines recently. But F is indeed for The Fruit Tree Foundation! This is actually a foundation, that released a CD of song collaborations with different artists from the folk and indie scenes.
It was started in Scotland, by Musicians Rod Jones and Emma Pollock. The aim being to raise awareness for mental health problems and their preconceptions. The songs also try to explore the stereotypes and childhood mental health issues.

Their album came out last year- which you can listen to on spotify if you have it.... a lot of the songs are on youtube, or you can buy them here.
This song is called 'Just as Scared'- its got a slow feel to it, and they use some minor notes to give it a creepy kind of sound, and not as upbeat. But I enjoy it....

Also for F- is the New Zealand band FIVE MILE TOWN: who have just released their single 'Saturated'
This song reminds me a little of The Kooks, and the singer sounds a bit mumford and sons but I like their stuff so far.

Love and Peace

Erland and The Carnival are a British folk rock band. They have had only two album releases, the first being 'Erland and The Carnival' in 2010, and the second coming out just last year titled 'Nightingale'. You can listen to the whole albums by clicking the links. They also released a small EP in 2008, so they have been building up recognition for a while. They are good at merging pop and folk tunes and melodies.

Since I am only showing you this one band for E, I will show you my favourite song from each album.
The first song is titled 'Trouble in Mind'. I chose this black cab sessions video over them singing live just because its quite a nice song to her without background noise. Quite a melancholy tone, but nice and light.
My second favourite is from their most recent album, which is called 'Springtime'
Again I've used the more commercial video, as the live ones didn't have as much oomph. But I really like the way it builds up and his vocals are really good.
I'll also give you the link to their other videos on Youtube, they are in the Full Time Hobby Records channel.

Hope you like them
Are there any bands you like starting with E?

Love and Peace.

DAVID WAX MUSEUM: They are a folk band that blend Mexicana son music with Americana, otherwise dubbed 'Mexo-American'. They have only been around for a few years, but I love their music. Recently they have been getting some recognition, and have done songs and interviews with NPR.