beirut

Thanks to commenter Andrea, there is yet another artist I HAVE to see at SXSW, and his name is Beirut. Beirut's unique sound has been compared to Neutral Milk Hotel, Magnetic Fields, Antony & The Johnsons, and Caetano Veloso, but I think he sounds like Owen from Final Fantasy (vocally, at least) backed by a band of Middle Eastern gypsies. If you're wondering if that's a good thing, yes, it is. And even better, the kid is 19.

Beirut Postcards from Italy mp3
Beirut The Canal mp3
Beirut The White Whale mp3

look for Beirut's debut album, Gulag Orkestar, to be released in April on Ba Da Bing.