alt-J

Okay, alt-J is so well-known now that's it's almost tacky. Not that alt-J could ever be tacky. But I am in love with them, so let me have my moment, and then I'll shut up. For those who don't already know, alt-J is an English indie-rock band, which was named for the triangle that appears when pressing "Alt" and "J" on a Mac. They were formed in 2008, originally called FILMS. All four members met at Leeds University and spent two years practicing before grabbing a deal with Infectious Records in 2011. The group came into play with their singles Matilda and Fitzpleasure. The group's first full-length studio debut, An Awesome Wave, arrived in 2012, earning them several prestigious awards. The following year, they jumped into worldwide tours, before releasing This Is All Yours a couple of months ago.

It is probably impossible to not love alt-J. The flowing rhythm of "Breezeblocks", or the soft tones of "Every Other Freckle," or the hard jabs of "Left Hand Free", there is nothing that this band cannot do or accomplish. They have all their bases covered. Their first album flows perfectly into the second, and they both contain the perfect amount of rock and folk. You can practically tell the record is going to be good by the album art. The more abstract an indie cover is, the better it will turn out to be. Both of alt-J's are shapes, the second more crudely-drawn, and the first seemingly photographic. Also, if an album has intros, you know thought was put into it. You only put intros in an album if you are confident enough to add them, otherwise people will think your album more of a flop.

What more is there to say? Alt-J is a force to be reckoned with, and will continue to be.

Check out their website: http://www.altjband.com
Music: http://www.altjband.com/music/

{for week of 10/17}