South by Southwest, that annual whirlwind of musical hype, prompts music critics, bloggers and journalists to fall all over each other in a rush to declare the year’s break-out act.
It has taken a while for a front-runner to emerge this year, but it’s safe to say some of the more crowded shows at SXSW will feature Vampire Weekend. But they aren’t the only group worth watching in Austin this week:
More Top Picks Best Field Watches For Everyday
Vampire Weekend
Frontman Ezra Koenig and his cohorts already are racking up kudos for a clean, catchy sound, splashed all over VW’s self-titled debut. Fresh from a performance on “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, this foursome is poised to become gigantic.
MGMT
This trio boasts a ferociously psychedelic sound. MGMT (pronounced “management”) deploys a razor-sharp wit throughout its debut, “Oracular Spectacular.”
She & Him
Forget Scarlett Johansson’s forthcoming album — if it’s Hollywood glitz and indie cred you want, look no further than She & Him (actress Zooey Deschanel and singer/songwriter M. Ward). “She & Him, Volume One,” is due in stores Tuesday.
Kate Nash
Brash, bawdy and brimming with potential, the piano-pounding Nash has a small hit on her hands with her debut single “Foundations.” Nash’s debut album, “Made of Bricks,” has elicited comparisons to Nash’s far funkier but equally tart compatriot Lily Allen.
Kate Walsh
Walsh’s recently released “Tim’s House” is a hopelessly romantic, winsome batch of songs that marks this Brit as an engaging, emotionally charged singer/songwriter. If SXSW doesn’t raise her profile, she’s at least a lock for counter space at Starbucks.