Get Down On Bleeding Knees

Queensland's Bleeding Knees Club lost their Virginity when they released a five-track EP of that name a little while back. Not sure how they slipped by for that amount of time because they are now a firm listening favourite - and carpet-burned knees has become a way of life. The two brothers play lo-fi garage punk in the vein of Harlem and Male Bonding, citing the surf punk scene as a primary influence. There's not much more that can be said except to make sure your year doesn't end without experiencing some Knee action. Now signed with the I Oh You mob, you can download some tracks for free or purchase the entire Virginity EP from your local iTunes or some such shop of music sales.

Bleeding Knees Club - 'I'

Harlem, Texas

Harlem hail from Austin. The trio released Hippies, their second album of garage power pop, in April through Matador. The album is a solid set of short, punchy cuts that only proves its worth over time... well, over the past six months anyway. Five months ago Harlem went online with the first of a handful of clips made for tracks from Hippies. Lifting 'Gay Human Bones' was a good choice as its Standells-ish qualities sets Harlem apart from the hip(pie)ster scene and plumps them squarely with fellow music-before-mushrooms types The Soft Pack and Jeff The Brotherhood. It was also a good choice to feature queer Cali rawker Hunx (of Hunx & His Punx and Gravy Train!!!!) in a song called 'Gay Human Bones'. Another clip followed for 'Friendly Ghost', a no-nonsense roller in the early-Elvis (Costello) vein (actually, two clips appeared for the song...). Most recently 'Someday Soon' has been clip'd (this time by Focus Creeps who made Girls' attention-getting 'Lust For Life' clip), highlighting another aspect of the band's sound - Harlem's lo-fi take on the girl group sound of the '50s and '60s.

Harlem - 'Someday Soon'

Harlem - 'Gay Human Bones'