Up to your ears.

The end of the year seems to have record companies a-buzzing with releases, eager to get them out before the holidays officially start. Good for me, because it means there's lot of quality landing in my inbox, so then I guess it's good for you as well. Take a listen to these three bands if it's the last thing you do before you get floored on eggnog. Or, if you're Australian, beer will do. In seriousness, these three have me a little excited for what's to come. They're all top quality, and you know I wouldn't recommend you anything but the best.eagleowl The line I'm introduced with is that they're from Edinburgh, but don't let that fool you. There's something distinctly earthy about eagleowl that doesn't resemble city living. It's folky, a little like Bon Iver, which is I guess the standard that every low-fi male fronted folk outfit is going to be measured against now. But Blanket is not as stripped back, with a subtle instrumentation backing what sounds like it could be a strong voice restrained for the purpose of the song. Pushed along by the gentle prodding of the violin, Blanket is thoughtful, slowly building towards the end but always retaining that folky essence. eagleowl carefully follow the lines of the American indie/folk formula, which is always one of success, it quietly pulls you in without you realising, and leaves you wanting more.eagleowl - BlanketThe Sweet SerenadesIn contrast to eagleowl, The Sweet Serenades' purvey that up-tempo Swedish sound that everyone can't quite get enough of. Mona Lee rolls along with a careful composition, yet an air of ease that many seasoned bands still can't conjure up. Not quite bubblegum, Mona Lee's got good teeth, and all the elements of the perfect hit. An enticing drum beat, quality vocals and classic repetition in the chorus that's striking but engaging. It's probably not what you'd call a sweet serenade, but then with a song quite as good as this, why would you want to? The Sweet Serenades definitely have promise, and there's quality in Mona Lee that surpasses so much of its peers.The Sweet Serenades - Mona LeeBird Dogeagleowl and Bird Dog, I know, right. It's freaky animal breading season apparently. Bird Dog send me a lovely link to their site, and I must admit I had fun looking through. Not only is the album cover beautiful, but so are the images which accompany the tracks for download. I really had a hard time deciding my favourite, so I've chosen two (I hope they don't mind). Omaha, not the Tapes 'N Tapes one but just as good, is a little low-key but it's sweet at the same time, and not one to fade into the background. Snow Day hits a little harder but it's still got the same distinguishable air of quality, and you know that songs like this can't keep being made unless there's a promising band behind them. They're only going to get better, which is exciting considering the diversity of their current range, and how well they do it already.Bird Dog - OmahaBird Dog - Snow Day