For those of you that don’t pay close attention to the latest goings on in the music world, let me inform you that the CMJ Music Marathon is happening in New York City this week/weekend. What is the CMJ Music Marathon? Well, it’s a conference for music industry professionals and a showcase for bands and labels at almost every concert venue across the city. It’s a great way to discover what the next big bands are going to be, and maybe hear some interesting/informative discussions about music issues. Call it the SXSW of the East Coast. I had the privilege of going to CMJ back in 2004 and it resulted in some of the craziest and best shows I’ve seen to this day. I walked to every venue in and around Manhattan and never took a cab, bus or train once. Doing that helped me to fall in love with the city itself, which is certainly not a unique experience for the millions that live there already. I got to visit legendary concert venues like CBGB, Arlene’s Grocery, Webster Hall and the Bowery Ballroom as well, which continues to give me perspective every time I hear them mentioned by somebody or in a publication. So we’re quickly creeping up on my 10th anniversary of attending CMJ and I’m starting to realize that unless I start to make some serious plans I’ll probably never return for it again. Maybe 2013 will be that year. Or maybe I’ll hold off until 2014 to officially celebrate 10 years of memories like the time …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead almost killed me in a drunken, riot-style set that destroyed every instrument on stage. Oh CMJ, you are sometimes cruel, but always fun. As I wipe away a wistful tear from my eye, let’s talk about today’s Pick Your Poison. Good stuff in this set from The Amends, Call Answer, James Hand, Matt Bauer (covering Prince), Prince Rupert’s Drops and Red Wanting Blue. In the Soundcloud section let me advise you to stream tracks from Holy Ghost!, Kenna, Toro y Moi and Woodsman.

The Amends – A Certain Speed

Bing and Ruth – And Then It Rained

Call Answer – Now Attract

Fresh Wreckage – Say Yeah

James Hand – Now Not Later

Matt Bauer – Under the Cherry Moon (Prince cover)

Passion Pit – Constant Conversations (Little Daylight Remix)

Phoenix – Lisztomania (Bomb Coltrane Remix)

The Presets – Ghosts (Senor Coconuts Remix)

Prince Rupert’s Drops – Almond Man

Psychobuildings – Wonderchamber

Red Wanting Blue – Stay on the Bright Side

Sean0Sean – Mexico

Sei A – Miss

SOUNDCLOUD

Holy Ghost! – It Gets Dark

Incan Abraham – Springhouse

Kenna – Long Gone

Lower – Someone’s Got It in for Me

Toro y Moi – So Many Details

Woodsman – Sonic Tomb