SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 56:

Both new acts and returning OEB favorites make up this latest set, with eight bands scoring a “5” or above.  Highlights:

The Whigs (10) - Songs like “Gospel” and “Waiting” exhibit a tied-in rhythm section that is often overlooked with bands focusing on instrumental dynamics so much these last couple of years.

Wildcat! Wildcat! (9) - This isn’t quite radio-friendly material, rather Wildcat! Wildcat! focuses on inventive melodies and diversions with an experimental eye towards songwriting.

Whitehorse (8) - The vocal back-and-forth they display on tracks like “Mismatched Eyes” and “Achilles’ Desire” is enchanting, an interplay that continues musically throughout the bluesy record.

Wild Child (8) - On the opposite side, Wild Child has a, well, wild side to them.  “The Tale of You & Me” builds into a rambunctious sing-a-long, like Edward Sharpe for a woodsier crowd.

Wheeler Brothers (6) – Austin’s Wheeler Brothers are a passionate outfit, which is displayed through raucous acoustic strums and soul-searching vocals on their 2011 LP.  Their strongest track is the laid back “Portraits”, which sounds to be an updated take on “Friend of the Devil”.

The Wellspring (5) – Indie folk pop duo The Wellspring have ‘mainstream’ written all over them, so look for some breakout potential at SXSW.  The band aims for sugary melodies with a soft rock edge, but there’s tenderness to their songwriting and vocals that warrants a mention.

Wet Nuns (5) – Musically, I’m really digging on Wet Nuns’ heavy, pounding blues-rock riffs.  Their vocalist knowingly screams through his lyrics, which surprisingly doesn’t really mesh well with the loose grooves of the band.

White Violet (5) - Athens, Georgia indie rock band White Violet sounds like a gritty, dark version of Wilco on their latest record Hiding, Mingling.  Most of the tracks hit at most a mid-tempo beat, creating a sadness that resides over the whole album.

SXSW 2012 Spreadsheet 43:

The ladies rule the roost in this wonderful set featuring a record six bands ranked at a “7” or above.  Here are the highlights, Kevin’s last before the big band announcement expected sometime next week.  Highlights:

Whitehorse (8): Being a couple in life translates well to their music.  There’s an endearing quality to watching these established artists interact playfully both in lyric and performance.

Grace Woodroofe (8): Most of her songs move along at a crawling pace, almost like a spaced out Norah Jones. 

Wussy (8): Wussy jumps into all sorts of directions throughout their rich catalog, but there is a distinct sound that remains their own throughout. 

Young Galaxy (8): Like dance remixes of Florence and the Machine tracks, Young Galaxy combines vocal drama and danceable beats to some really engaging results.

Carolyn Wonderland (7): Wonderland’s territory is the blues, playing with the pop side of the genre in a timeless fashion.

Zeus (7): Driven by shiny piano melodies and 60’s British rock, Zeus definitely had Beatles records in rotation when defining their own sound.

Wheeler Brothers (6): This band of folksters from Austin deliver a pleasant sound, as if the boys in Wilco had grown up listening to emo-tinged rock from the early 00’s.

Workout (5): This ultra-catchy band from Brooklyn goes for broke with power pop song structures driven by bouncy piano runs and ripping guitar licks.