CMJ 2012 Begins Tuesday: Listen to the Bands; Get Suggestions of What to See

The CMJ Music Marathon starts Tuesday, Oct. 16th, giving music fans a wealth of gigs (and impossible choices in trying to choose between them). And many of the showcases are free or cheap. If you have specific bands in mind you want to see or are just feeling adventurous, you can dive headlong into the CMJ schedule.

If you'd prefer some guidance and suggestions on what to see, here's a roundup of suggestions from a variety of music sources, including ways to listen to songs by the artists. (List will be updated as more recommendations are found.)

* MySocialist.com has a day-by-day list of CMJ shows, including its own showcases and day parties. Also see their list of free shows

* If you've got Spotify, check out their playlist of what they see as the 100 artists that are performing at CMJ, including DIIV, Mountain Goats, Dum Dum Girls, Metz, Doldrums, and many more

* Brooklyn Vegan doesn't have a CMJ section per se, but you'll find plenty of coverage in its several-time-daily posts. BV is also sponsoring two free day parties on Friday and Saturday (which are not part of CMJ), the 19th and 20th, at Public Assembly in Brooklyn

* NPR Music is running a continuous stream of music by CMJ artists, recommended by staff at 11 different radio stations. They're also sponsoring a CMJ showcase on Wednesday night with Flying Lotus, Death Grips, and Buke & Gase, which you can watch live online. WFUV will host a show with Savoir Adoir, Indians, Little Green Cars, and Wax Poetic on Tuesday at 7 p.m.; the station will broadcast it live on air at 90.7 FM

* The New York Times suggests "Six Hopefuls Worth Watching," including the all-female British band Savages, the punk trio Merchandise, and the 21-year-old rapper Angel Haze

* New York Magazine's CMJ guide includes recommendations such as Angel Haze, Little Green Cars, and Pissed Jeans

UPDATES, Oct. 16th:
* Pitchfork's day-by-day recommendations for CMJ 2012

* David Greenwald (Rawkblog) has an article in Billboard on 10 acts to watch at CMJ; among them: Ghostface Killah, Sky Ferreira, and Kimbra

Two showcases I'm planning on checking out: Slimstyle Records on Wednesday with Local H,  The Hounds Below, and The Life and Times (at Union Square Ballroom, 27 Union Square West), and Kiam Records/Comedy Minus One on Friday (Left Field, 87 Ludlow St.).

The latter includes Tim Foljahn, Ma'am, the Karl Hendricks Trio, and Rebecca Gates (formerly of The Spinanes), and headlined the excellent singer-songwriter Jennifer O'Connor, who also happens to be the head of Kiam. (I did a brief mention of O'Connor and Foljahn when I saw them earlier this year.)

What are you checking out at CMJ this year? Who are your must-see acts? Leave your comments below and let us know!

Free Album Streaming: Listen to New CDs from Bruce Springsteen, Kaiser Chiefs, & More

The big release this week is "Wrecking Ball"by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, but there are some other fine new albums streaming online this week. That includes the new album by Kaiser Chiefs, the first album by Tanlines, and new albums by Now, Now and Miniature Tigers.

As I wrote the other day, Springsteen and band appeared on Jimmy Fallon last week; you can see the videos here.

"Wrecking Ball" comes out March 6th, and it's streaming online at Soundcloud.

The Oscar-winning movie "Once" (starring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) has been turned into a Broadway musical, and you can preview the original cast recording below. I'll be curious to see how that sounds. Speaking of curiosity, you can stream a new album featuring a collaboration between Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki.

And I have to mention another intriguing selection, the latest album by journeyman guitarist, singer, and songwriter Tim Foljahn. He's been in the band Two Dollar Guitar; played on albums by artists as diverse as Cat Power, Townes Van Zandt, and Thurston Moore; and has made albums of song cycles and experimental music. His new album "Songs for an Age of Extinction" is his first "song-based" album in several years, according to his website. (You can download a couple of tunes from the album at Foljahn's website.)

I saw Foljahn Friday night at Cake Shop, opening for Jennifer O'Connor (who I wrote about last week before the show). I enjoyed his set, which featured songs that had a kind of '70s-style feel: sometimes psychedelic; other times recalling English folks songs of that era. Foljahn is touring with O'Connor, (see dates here), which is no coincidence: his new album is released on the Brooklyn singer's own Kiam Records label (which released her latest album, "I Want What You Want," among others).

O'Connor and Foljahn will be doing a series of dates this spring, including at South by Southwest next week.

Tim Foljahn and band playing at New York's Cake Shop Friday night.

Check out the titles streaming below (and see the websites for additional albums), and leave your comments below on which of these new albums you're enjoying.

Soundcloud:
"Wrecking Ball" by Bruce Springsteen

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Start the Revolution Without Me" by Kaiser Chiefs
"In the Bright Rain" by Crushed Stars
"Threads" by Now, Now
"Songs for an Age of Extinction" by Tim Foljahn
"Milk Famous" by White Rabbits
"Mia Pharaoh" by Miniature Tigers
"The Clearing" by Bowerbirds
"Secret Music" by Secret Music
"Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968" by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin

Rolling Stone:
"We Will Raise Our Voices to the Air (Live Songs 04.11-08.11) by The Decemberists (disc one of two available for streaming)

NPR First Listen:"Mixed Emotions" by Tanlines
"Once" - Original Cast Recording
"Krzysztof Penderecki / Jonny Greenwood" by Krzysztof Penderecki and Jonny Greenwood