I discovered The Decemberists about a year and a half ago thanks to a friend who happened to have one of the largest and most diverse cd collections I've ever seen (which is saying something compared to my own. Thanks Cody). Since that time they have been one of my favorite new music discoveries.

The Decemberists hail from Portland, Oregon and have a rather unique style of music. They have been around awhile, but if you're a new listener, you will definitely hear the influence of bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Belle & Sebastian, Sufjan Stevens and maybe even bands like Elliot Smith and Guster in their story telling lyrics. However, you can also hear a definite folk influence in their use of unique instruments like the banjo, accordion and various organs. The folk/historical influence is also prevalent in the lyrics of songs like The Mariner's Revenge Song (one of my favorites) and A Cautionary Song. Much of their music evokes thoughts of late 19th century port villages full of salty old sea dogs and buxom wenches.

Needless to say, they are difficult to place into one specific genre. But if I had to try and categorize them, I guess I'd go with something like Indie-ish Maritime Folk Rock. For anyone who has never heard them, just believe that's about as close as I can get. So if you like any of the other bands I've mentioned above, they are definitely worth a listen. And if you had to pick one particular album to start with, you can't go wrong with Picaresque. It's perfect for anyone looking for some new tunes to transport them back to the turn of the century with stories of the shenanigans of gnarled old sailors (think Jim Carrey in A Series of Unfortunate Events).

You can check out The Decemberists here.

Do you ever find yourself in need of some new chill out tunes? Then The Kings of Convenience may be for you. Consisting of two guys from Norway, The Kings of Convenience have what can only be described as a very calming sound. With smooth vocal harmonies like those of Simon & Garfunkel, calming acoustic melodies and great story telling lyrics, these guys really set themselves apart from the rest of the "indie" scene.

The best way to describe these guys is by saying that I love to lie in bed with my headphones on and let them sing me to sleep. It's not that they're "sleep inducing", it's just that they have such a smooth sound that I find it very easy to relax while listening to them. And I think the key there is not even so much the music, but their smooth vocal harmonies. If you enjoy bands like Belle & Sebastian, Death Cab for Cutie or The Decemberists then you should really give Kings of Convenience a listen.

Check out Kings of Convenience here.

I recently discovered a great ska/reggae band called The Aggrolites. This discovery was prompted by a request from my wifes sister after she heard them on the radio and asked if I knew who they were or if I had any of their albums she could check out. I didn't then, but I sure do now.

The Aggrolites got together in 2002 and their sound covers the gamut of the ska/reggae genre. At times their instrumental tracks remind me of classic ska bands like The Skatalites (but with less horns) and at other times they have a very classic reggae sound akin to The Wailers. Other tracks even remind me of 2-tone greats like The Specials and The English Beat but with a lyrical styling like Sublime.

The Aggrolites are extremely tight musically speaking and they bring a lot to the table for any fan of the genre. Bands like this make me sad that the 90's ska revival is dying (ok... I realize it's dead, I'm just in denial). The Aggrolites are a must have if you enjoy a bit of Caribbean sound on a sunday afternoon. And even if you're not a reggae fan, you should give 'em a listen. You won't be sorry.

Check out The Aggrolites here.