KWCW Top 5 Adds 1/22/12

First adds of the year. Potentially the last year ever. Woah. 

1. First Aid Kit - The Lion’s Roar

With Bright Eye’s musicians at the helm, First Aid Kit’s second album is more produced and contained but doesn’t sacrifice their lush, youthful harmonies, more civilian and less folky, they seem to have embraced indie stardom. Or maybe they’re just older. Try: 1,2,4,10 -Tom

Track 1 - The Lion’s Roar

2. Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory

This. Is. So. Good. I really liked Cloud Nothing’s previous work, but here they sound like they’ve grown into their sound. No longer glittery buzzing indie, now they’re getting grungier, dirtier, while remaining moody. Yeah. Think The Vines mixed with Pile and a dash of early Weezer. I would have been obsessed with this in middle school and I still love it! Try: 1, 2 -Kaity 

Track 1 - No Future/No Past

3. Porcelain Raft - Strange Weekend

Porcelain Raft is definitely a fitting name. This music is float, dreamy, simple. The vocals are totally androgynous. Cool. Try 1,6 -Julia

Track 6 - Unless You Speak From Your Heart

4. Rodrigo Y Gabriella and C.U.B.A. - Area 52

A super interesting mix of latin, jazz, and … METAL! Rodrigo y Gabriella are touring for the first time with a backing band, a 13 piece Cuban orchestra. This is sweet. Try 4,3,8 -Kaity

Track 3 - Ixtapa

5. Ani DiFranco - Which Side Are You On?

Equal parts liberal, hippie, feminist manifesto and playful acoustic rhythms, DiFranco sounds both profound and predictable. She’s preachy but palatable and so smooth. At least she has something to say. Try 3,4,5,7! 

Track 7 - J