If you're like most people, you're really busy and it's hard to keep up with all the latest new music and playlist mixes, band profiles, festivals, etc. going on in the world of "indie rock" - whatever that is (insert your own definition here).

Anyways, we thought it would make sense to have a monthly wrap-up of the most popular posts and mixes we featured on IRC, including a Top 20 songs of the month playlist.


One thing that we didn't get to feature on IRC in March, but that we'd like people to know about is The Voice Project, supported by artists like Andrew Bird, Joe Purdy, Mike Mills of REM, Dawes and others. The project supports an effort of women from the Uganda Gulu Choir, who are using songs to tell hundreds, and thousands, of Ugandan men who as child soldiers were forced to kill family and friends, that they are forgiven, and it is safe, and time, to come home. Many of these boys-now-men have been hiding in the brush of Uganda for years too ashamed, and likely traumatized, to return home for the crimes they were forced to commit as children.


Top 20 Songs on IRC for March 2010
(based on what you listen to/download the most)


Philadelphia's Free Energy, and their debut album, Stuck On Nothing, dominated our top songs list for March, followed closely behind by The Morning Benders, thanks to the release of two great singles from their new album, Big Echo, "Excuses" and "Promises." In addition, hot songs included new tracks from The Black Keys, Delorean, Titus Andronicus, Woodhands, Titus Andronicus, Judson Clairborne, Josh Rouse, MGMT, Broken Bells, Big Star, Frightened Rabbit, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, She & Him and more.

"Excuses" - The Morning Benders

"Hope Child" - Free Energy

"Dream City" - Free Energy


"Tighten Up" - The Black Keys

"Promises" - The Morning Benders

"Stay Close" - Delorean


"A More Perfect Union" - Titus Andronicus

"Dissembler" - Woodhands

"The High Road" - Broken Bells

"I'm in Love with a Girl" - Big Star


"Swim Until You Can't See Land" - Frightened Rabbit

"Flash Delirium" - MGMT

"In The Sun" - She & Him


"Conscience Killer" - Black Rebel Motorcyle Club
Live video of BRMC at SXSW 2010

"O My Soul" - Big Star

"Song for Dreaming" - Judson Clairborne

"Don't Haunt This Place" - Rural Alberta Advantage

"Bloodbuzz Ohio" - The National

"I Will Live on Islands" - Josh Rouse

"King Basement" - Thunderhawk


Top Five Special Playlists in March: RIP Mark Linkous and Alex Chilton, Bands That Rock!, The Latest Buzz and Singer and Songwriter Spotlight



Not counting the weekly mix Best New Releases series, and our on-the-ground SXSW festival coverage (see below for those), the top special playlist mix and story on IRC for March was our tribute in memory of Mark Linkous, the brilliant songwriter, vocalist, musician, and producer best known for his work with Sparklehorse (he essentially was the band) and his frequent collaborations with other musicians, including last year's Dark Night of the Soul compilation album that featured songs from Danger Mouse, Iggy Pop, Julian Casablanas (The Strokes), James Mercer (The Shins), The Flaming Lips and many others. The popular album was co-produced by Linkous, and included a track from Vic Chesnutt, who passed away last Christmas.

March was a rough month for music fans. On Wednesday, March 17, Alex Chilton, of Big Star, died of a sudden attack in New Orleans. Considered a legend in the opinion of many music writers and fans, Chilton was set to reunite with Big Star at South By Southwest on March 20 in Austin; instead, a widely publicized tribute show was held for Chilton, featuring an impressive lineup of musicians, including Mike Mills (REM), Curt Kirkwood (Meat Puppets), M. Ward, and many others.

RIP: Artists Remember Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse (1962-2010) - March 8, 2010

Day Four at SXSW: Alex Chilton Tribute, Broken Bells, Ben Gibbard, Matt Pond PA, Titus Andronicus ,Small Black, No Age - March 21, 2010

Bands That Rock! Vol. III - Australia's Violent Soho and Brooklyn's Awesome Colors - March 25, 2010



The Latest Buzz: Hot New Songs from The Black Keys, Delorean, Ariel Pink, MGMT, Caribou, She & Him, The National, Jonsi & More - March 26, 2010

Singer and Songwriter Spotlight Series Vol. V - Iceland's Lay Low and California's Noel Carlon - March 5, 2010

IRC's Full SXSW Coverage: A Day-By-Day Journal of Shows, Shows and More Shows



2010 SXSW Music Video Award: Cinnamon Chasers by Luv Deluxe

South By Southwest 2010 was a blast; too bad it's only possible to see one band at a time, otherwise, we would have been able to see so many other performances, not including the ones that we could not get into. We did our best to cover SXSW, but it's really difficult when you are pretty much going from one show to another for 12-14 hours a day for four days straight.

SXSW 2010 Bands to See, Vol. I: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Princeton, Real Estate, The Drums and Surfer Blood - March 12, 2010

Day One of SXSW includes shows from The Walkmen, The Morning Benders, Free Energy, Real Estate, Frightened Rabbit, Broken Bells and More - March 17, 2010

Day One of SXSW Wraps Up With Big Success, St. Patrick's Day Madness, and Plenty of Great Music - March 18, 2010

Day Two at SXSW: Shearwater, The Low Anthem, The Middle East, Peter Wolf Crier, Rogue Wave, Beach Fossils, Delta Spirit - March 19, 2010



Day Three at SXSW: Neon Indian, Memory Tapes, Fool's Gold, We Are Scientists, Pains of Being Pure at Heart - March 20, 2010

Day Four at SXSW: Alex Chilton Tribute, Broken Bells, Ben Gibbard, Matt Pond PA, Titus Andronicus, Small Black, No Age - March 21, 2010

Other Posts and Playlists Published in March: Screaming Females, Fictionist, Adam Green, Barzin, Tropical Depression and More

Recent Releases That Almost Got Away: Screaming Females, Prizzy Prizzy Please, Fictionist, Fresh & Onlys, Adam Green, Roadside Graves & more - March 27th

Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. IV: Barzin, Laterns, Tropical Depression, and The Parlophonics - March 1, 2010


March was a big month for New Releases, so if you missed anything, you can go see all of the playlist mixes of great new songs from the best releases of the month, week by week. The amount and quality of officially released music during March (the month is already over?) is mind-boggling.

Week of March 2nd, Part I: Rogue Wave, Portugal The Man, The Whigs, These New Purtians, Peasant, A Weather and more.

Week of March 2nd, Part II: Twin Tigers, Man/Miracle, Bridges & Blinking Lights, Megaphonic Thrift and more.

Week of March 9th, Part I: The Morning Benders, Free Energy, Titus Andronicus, Ted Leo, Josh Rouse, Judson Claiborne and more.



Week of March 9th, Part II: Broken Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Frightened Rabbit, Mighty Tiger, Thunder Power and more.

Week of March 16th: Drive-By Truckers, Standard Fare, Casper Bangs, The Rest, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and more.


Week of March 23rd: Woodhands, Thunderhawk, Quadron, Yukon Blonde, Love is All, Bettie Servert and more.

Week of March 30th: Annuals, Velvet Davenport with Ariel Pink and Gary War, Henry Funeral Shoe, Seabear and more.

Labels: Music Month in Review