Welcome back! The first three rounds were HEATED, but we still have a ton of bands we want to hear from! We last left off with Travis on the clock!

Pick #7 (Travis) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I don’t understand how this band is still on the board. Their unique take on electronic garage, punk rock has evolved over the years, but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been making bangers for well over a decade.

Even if you don’t know their name, you would definitely recognize a number of their songs if you heard them. It’s hard to believe we haven’t had a new album from them since Mosquito in 2013!

I’m sure “Maps” is a heavy favorite for many people, but I personally can’t get enough of “Heads Will Roll.”

Pick #8 (Josh) - Middle Brother

I’m gonna let y’all in on a little secret here. They were still on the board because we forgot about them when we compiled our list. That is on us, but we have rectified our mistake!

For my next pick, it was close and very difficult. There were AMAZING options still sitting there, and while you might feel this pick is a reach, I’ve been clamoring for more music from this super group for a decade!

Middle Brother was a side project from the lead singers of Deer Tick (John J. McCauley III), Dawes (Taylor Goldsmith), and Delta Spirit (Matt Vasquez). We only got the one release, 2011’s self-titled album, and I want more! No, wait….I NEED more; we all do! The harmonies from their unique voices are just not fair.

Here’s the album version of “Blue Eyes“ for a rocking twangy version of that harmonization. I wanted a live video, but none capture what I was looking for here.

Pick #9 (Travis) - Little Green Cars

Considering you know how massive of a Dawes fan I am, I have nothing but respect for Middle Brother.

For my next pick, since I was the one that introduced you to Little Green Cars, it is only fitting that I draft them before you.

They hit the ground running after signing with Glassnote in 2012, and their 2013 debut, full-length album, Absolute Zero put them on the map. That was followed by another amazing album with Ephemera in 2014.

This pick is bittersweet as the band decided to mutually part ways in 2019, but the fact that bad blood was not a factor gives me a sliver of hope.

Here’s the song that started it all for me. I was hooked within the first minute, and I fell deeper in love with ‘The John Wayne” from there.

Pick #10 (Josh) - High Highs

And what a glorious introduction that was! Seeing LGC at The Parish was such a great show, especially when they came into the crowd and played right next to us during the encore. That was phenomenal, and I randomly watched the video I took the other day too.

To wrap up our top 10, the High Highs HAD to make my list! I’ve been tracking them since their 2011 self-titled, debut EP, which I reviewed on the original Music for Nomes. We haven’t gotten a new album since 2016’s Cascades, but you may recognize “Open Season“ from the movie Pitch Perfect, and a few commercials .

Despite their being on a bit of a hiatus, and Oli Chang’s new project (Animal Feelings), I am hopeful for more from this wonderfully talented duo!

Here’s the song that started it all for me, “Flowers Bloom“ recorded live in 2012

You can find the remainder of our draft results below:

Pick #11 (Travis) - Night Beds

Pick #12 (Josh) - De La Soul

Pick #13 (Travis) - Free Energy

Pick #14 (Josh) - Monsters of Folk

Pick #15 (Travis) - Civil Twilight

Pick #16 (Josh) - Small Black

Pick #17 (Travis) - Temper Trap

Pick #18 (Josh) - El Vy

Pick #19 (Travis) - Foxy Shazam

Pick #20 (Josh) - Divine Fits

We hope that you enjoyed reading this reflection on artists that we have been missing as much as enjoyed writing it!

We took the time to create a playlist with songs from all of our picks for your listening pleasure!

Enjoy!

Josh & Travis