I agree with you, that opening guitar riff makes you think I tried to sneak SURVIVOR’s ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ onto the disc, but instead the familiarity should only come as these former Future Sounders, VENUS INFERS, have been featured before on the comp (FS28). What’s new, besides a full-length that is getting play locally on Indie 103. 1 FM, is a line-up change at the vocalist spot, and the arrival of Davis Fetter as a frontman to reckon with. The band is just out of high school and has nothing but ambition and potential ahead of them.

Needs: Management, legal, booking.

VENUS INFERS – VENUS INFERS (WHI TE ALBUM) - UNSIGNED

6. CUT OFF YOUR HANDS – CLOSED E YES

Auckland, New Zealand’s CU T OFF YOUR HANDS were tipped back on FS27, but have since recorded a full-length worthy of the world’s notice – ‘Blue On Blue EP’, which had four key tracks produced by SUEDE’s Bernard Butler. Recently signed to 679 Records in the UK, the kiwi four-piece have toured with the likes of BLOC PARTY, WE ARE SCIENTISTS, FOALS and RATATAT to name a few as well as appearing on Steve Lamacq’s BBC sho w. Live, heads up for them at SXSW 2008 as well as Big Day Out 2008. Manager: David Benge. Booking: Mahmood Saikh, Flower Booking. Legal: Craig Averill. Needs: US Publishing, US label. CUT OFF YOUR HANDS – BLUE ON BLUE EP – SPEAK N SPELL (AUS TRALIA)

7. MY BEST FIEND – DEAD MAN

It’s early days on this brooding band from Brooklyn, NY, but it won’t be long before their tour history fills up quickly. The self-titled full-length debut dropped digitally on Itunes in December, and they look to announce West coast tour dates starting around the Noise Pop Festival in late February. The album is deep, fiendish and diverse, and will immediately become the best friend of fans of THE SILVERSUN PICKUPS, SPIRI TUALIZED and AU TOLUX.

Legal: Michael Pampalone. Needs: Booking, management

MY BEST FIEND – MY BEST FIEND – UNSIGNED

8. WISELY – THROUGH AN Y WINDOW

Los Angeles’ WISELY has this familiar feeling to it, kind of like the band, AMERICA, and their big hit, “Ventura Highway”. If that doesn’t lift the skirt, anyone that can get Jenna Fisher (PAM) from the OFFICE to star in their video must be doing something right. Getting love at radio from KROQ, KCRW as well as Paste and Harp Magazines. A gorgeous song! Booking: Ella Records. Needs: Management WISELY – WISELY – OGLIO RECORDS

9. GRAND POCKET ORCHES TRA – LI T TLE MESSY

Dublin, Ireland’s GRAND POCKET ORCHESTRA are a four-piece that people are comparing to PAVEMENT and THE GO TEAM, but I think it’s more like MODEST MOUSE in the corner pocket. It doesn’t matter who the influences are, the result is a good times song like WHITE RABBITS ‘The Plot’. GPO was a big hit at this year’s Hard Working Class Heroes Festival in Dublin. Their debut EP release will be on February 1st as well touring in UK and Germany in early 2008.

Manager: David Curran. Legal: Phil Hanna (Ire). Needs: Booking, publishing

GRAND POCKET ORCHESTRA – EP - UNSIGNED

10. PLUSHGUN – JUST IMPOLI TE

Brooklyn’s PLUSHGUN is actually the name for the classically trained, 23 year old composer Dan Ingala, who sings as well as he writes. You immediately here some POSTAL SERVICE and maybe some HELLOGOODBYE in there, and if this isn’t ready for TV and ad placements then I’ve lost it entirely. Early days on his live show, but a lifetime of training can make up for lost time very quickly. The EP was politely done in Ingala’s bedroom.

Legal: Eric Ingala. Needs: Management, booking.

PLUSHGUN – PLUSHGUN EP – UNSIGNED

11. JUPITER ONE – UNGLUED

Names after a starship in the ‘ 60’s TV series, Lost In Space, New York’s JUPI TER ONE actually formed in 2003. A five-piece on Cordless Records, they feature lead vocalist K Ishibashi sounds like a modern day JACKSON BROWN one moment, while building on the groundwork that THE SHINS have built, there are moments when you’d swear James Mercer was singing the “wa-a-oh’s”. This song is featured in FIFA 2008, and the album was sequenced by the legendary Jac Holzman (ELEKTRA/ THE DOORS). Management: Ryan Ruden, Aerial Entertainment. Legal: J. Reid Hunter. Publisher: Artwerk Music. Needs: Booking. JUPI TER ONE – JUPI TER ONE – R YKO/CORDLESS RECORDS

12. OSLO – THINGS FALL APAR T

While we all wait for the next OASIS record to drop, filling the void nicely is a band that has members in Los Angeles and Oakland - OSLO. The four piece supported BLUE OCTOBER on their last Fall US tour, and come with support from The LA Times and Indie 103. 1. This is their second release and they co-produced it with Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Mickey P (Beck, Peaches) and Sam Fogarino (Drummer, Interpol). ‘ The Rise & Fall of Love & Hate’ is in the Top 200 on CMJ Radio and added to over 100 college stations.

Booking: Mob Agency. Publishing: Songs Music. Needs: Management

OSLO – THE RISE & FALL OF LOVE & HATE – SIX FEE T MUSIC GROUP

13. OLD MAN RIVER – LA

Sydney, Australia’s OLD MAN RIVER is built around the koala-bear-haired Ohad Rein. His 60s influenced sound makes him seem familiar way that is comforting, and to make him even more warm and fuzzy, this song ‘La’, was written while in a workshop for disadvantaged children. He’s toured with THE SLEEP Y JACKSON, YOUTH GROUP and DAMIEN RICE. ‘Good Morning’ is finally set to release out of Australia, in Germany, UK, France and Japan in early 2008.

Manager: Troy Barrott. Booking: Harbour Agency (AU). Legal: Media Arts Lawyers.

OLD MAN RIVER – GOOD MORNING – RED LABEL/ SON YBMG

14. IGLU & HARTLY – IN THIS CI TY

In this city, Los Angeles, locals IGLU & HARTLY don’t just play parties, they are the party. Backed by KROQ DJ Kat Corbett, her “new favorite band”, the band’s live shows are part indie rock, part hip hop, and not in that LINKIN PARK way either. You’ve probably seen them popping up on Myspace frequently, their friend count is a runaway train.

Management: Red Ghost Music. Booking: Larry Webman, Paradigm. Legal: Jason Russell. IGLU & HARTLY - … AND THEN BOOM EP - UNSIGNED

15. GABRIEL RIOS – I’M GONNA DIE TONIGHT

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, GABRIEL RIOS followed his heart (a woman) over to Ghent, Belgium where he’s made his home. This former Border Breakers winner is like ‘Debra’-era BECK meets PRINCE. His first two albums have been collaborations with TECHNOTRONIC (yep, ‘Pump Up The Jam’) main man Jo Gogaert. Rios is full of talent and style. Management: Gentle Mgmt. Legal: Richard Grabel. Publishing: Megadisc. Needs: US booking. GABRIEL RIOS – ANGELHEAD – MEGADISC RECORDINGS (EU)