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'

WALK OFF THE EARTH: is a Canadian indie band. They have been around since 2006, and have some awesome songs. They have been gaining a following recently from doing popular covers and kooky videos. It was only this year that they signed with a record company. They have great guitar skills, and mainly do acoustic covers, in inventive ways. Their vocals have a good blend of male and female. Their first album came out in 2007 titled 'Smooth Like a Stone on a Beach', their second came out last year titled 'My Rock', they feature mostly covers of other bands. Their most recent hit was a video them covering the popular song by Gotye 'Somebody That I used to Know'
One of my favourites though is one they did a cover of 'Little Boxes' that is also above, and one final one because, Hey, lets got a little nuts today, is their most recent video release called 'Polly' which I believe is an original song.
W is also for THE WAVE PICTURES: are a 3 man English indie rock band. They have recorded a string of EP's and singles, and have a couple of albums. They have an amazing light, acoustic sound, with soft vocals and catchy melodies. Their lyrics are often quite whimsical as well. There are too many albums to list, and too many songs I like, but one of my favourite songs by them is called 'Sweetheart'

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

SHE KEEPS BEES: is an indie rock duo made up of Brooklyn residents Jessica Larrabee and Andy LaPlant. They are unsigned, and have realsed 3 full length albums and 2 EPs. The vocals have a smokey sound to them, and the instrumentals have a really clean sound to them, with most tracks having just bass and guitar and drums. Their first album came out in 2006 titled 'Minisink Hotel'. Their latest one being released last year titled 'Dig On'.
I quite like their song called 'Cuddle Alone', but you should also check out Ribbon, which can be found on their CD 'Nests' in the link on their name.

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.

THE NARCOLEPTIC DANCERS: is a half-brother and sister duo from the Netherlands. They have a kooky indie pop type sound, with nice melodies. Their trademark look is that they drape their hair over their eyes, kind of a cousin it look. Their first EP came out in 2010 titled 'Not Evident' and their album 'Never Sleep' came out last year.
My favourite song is the first one I heard by them called 'Not Evident'

N is also for NOUS NON PLUS: they are a french indie-rock band, based in New York City. They have been around for a while but only released albums quite recently. Their songs are really upbeat, and happy to listen to. They always put me in a good mood. Their first self-titled album came out in 2005, their second titled 'Menagerie' was released in 2009, and their latest titled 'Freudian Slip' came out last year.
My favourite song is called 'Ye-Ye C'est L'ete- Summer song' but I couldn't find that one anywhere but on spotify for those of you in the UK. So Here is 'J'en Ai Marre- Had Enough'

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'

My second band have a bit more of an alternative/indie sound. They are called IS TROPICAL: a recent band from London. They choose to perform with veiled faces, and masks, I'm not sure why, but it's an interesting visual hook. They have a more electro, bass, pop sound. Their debut album was released last year titled 'Native To'. My favourite song is called 'The Greeks', but I would also recommend listening to 'South Pacific'. 

THE HONEY BROTHERS: are a group of guys, who came about around 2001with their folksy harmonised, mariachi type style. They have instruments such as the ukelele, banjo, cow bell, electric guitar, and drums, keyboards all the usual things! Their debut album came out in 2003 called 'Honey 4 U' which was engineered by Adrian Grenier (actor in Entourage and other things).
They had a couple of other albums released in 2006 called 'Songs for your Sister' and ones from 'The Winter Tour'. If you want to check out the rest of their albums there are some on their last.fm page, as well as on youtube, and spotify.

My two favourites are called 'Little Boy' (sorry I couldn't find a live version for this one)

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.