It's like the world has suddenly turned into a really fucked up carnival (or perhaps the Care Bears Movie). Check these guys out: Deep Dark United I am strangely drawn to it's neurosis inducing powers... you just gotta listen to it.

and then there is THIS by Gentleman Reg. I am really diggin this guy. His music is upbeat and alternapop-y, but in an endearing way. Good driving music.
king_jesterman, go. look. listen. now.

I stumbled on New Pornographers and I'm sort of torn on them. I really want to like them, but it's just not doing it for me. Actually, Mass Romantic isn't too bad but the rest on that site just leave me wanting them to be different. They come too close to something I'd really like for me to be able to be indifferent and so I find myself really disliking them for being almost just what I want to hear.

Snailhouse, on the other hand, is exactly what I want it to be and pleasantly more. It is pretty far musically from where New Pornography left me feeling annoyed: sparse and folky for the most part, but there is nothing felt lacking when listening to this. Clay especially is beautiful. It is onse of the earlier recordings. I really have a thing for raw tracks with little mastering and Clay is perfect. For those who actually like a more pollished sound, Birds and Bees is my second favorite and the song I was origionally going to link to.
This is a cd I may actually buy.

Maritime is also a pretty sweet group. I don't know how to describe them. I suck at even putting music in genres honestly, but they are alternative pop I suppose. Sort of Guster meets Jack Johnson. "Someone Has to Die" is really upbeat and fun and "King of Doves" is a relaxing thoughtful type song: both very good and worth a listen. No listening links for these, but there is a built in payer on the main page that you can't miss.

I suppose I should thank missionlessdays for this, which is kind of strange since He has no idea who I am, but I linked to his journal through a community and it somehow started this musical goosechase... I honestly couldn't tell you what I clicked on in there that did it, but, yeah, thanks dude-I-don't-know!