Over the course of the last three weeks, we’ve given you an A to Z preview of the best of SXSW. Our ears are still numb, after listening to mp3′s of every single band playing the festival. With SXSW finally here, we thought we’d give you a round-up of the ten bands we deem to be “the best”. Whether you’re coming down to Austin or sitting at home in….London, Paris or Beijing, we suggest you check out these bands. Click on the band name to find out more about the band. In our opinion, these are the bands that combine great music with great live reputations. These are the bands that will leave a lasting impression on SXSW and the music industry for years to come.

#1- Warpaint

#2- Surfer Blood

#3- The Boxer Rebellion

#4- The Soft Pack

#5- Lovvers

#6- Band of Horses

#7- The Ganjas

#8- Avi Buffalo

#9- Grand Analog

#10- Kilians

View our picks for #31-40 here
View our picks for #21-30 here.

20) Radiohead- Hail To The Thief (2003)
Recommended Track: There, There
Why We Like It: Where to rank the albums of the greatest band of this decade… We choose to put this album here because it was the bands’ return to a more guitar-based sound. With shorter songs than on Kid A or Amnesiac, it was a more palatable entry into the world of Radiohead for many. Recorded in a mere two weeks, it proves that you don’t have to pull your hair out in the studio to create a work of genius.

19) McLusky- McLusky Do Dallas (2002)
Recommended Track: To Hell With Good Intentions
Why We Like It: Yet another materpiece produced by Steve Albini. Hooks, noise, tempo changes and more emotion than Black Francis with a buzzsaw chopping at his arm.

18) Darker My Love- 2 (2008)
Recommended Track: Two Ways Out
Why We Love It: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club got all the attention for creating dark, intense, melodic pop songs, but DML did their best to match the intensity. On their second album they created another masterpiece that take the JAMC principal’s of noise meets melody and sang vocal melodies that Jim Reid could only have dreamed of.

17) Rilo Kiley- More Adventurous (2004)
Recommended Track- Portions For Foxes
Why We Love It:

16) The Bronx- I (2003)
Recommended Track- Heart Attack American
Why We Love It: Since the beginnings of this site, we’ve questioned whether punk is dead. The Bronx are the strongest (only?) argument of it’s continued vitality. With perhaps the greatest living drummer in rock, a guitarist that writes melodies unlike any punk guitarist in memory and a vocalist who can fashion a melody in the middle of this storm of chaos. Brilliant and arguably, the best punk record of the last 20 years, not just this decade.
To read our interview with Matt from The Bronx, click here.
Criminally unavailable on lala.com. Here a video:

15) The Hives- Your New Favorite Band (2002)
Recommended Track: Hate To Say I Told You So
Why We Love It: While they may not have lived up to the hype, this Swedish band knocked alternative on its ass by playing straight-ahead rock with a sense of flair.

14) Darker My Love- S/T (2006)
Recommended Track: Post-Mortem, Post Boredom
Why We Love It: In the midst of the shoegaze revival, DML showed that merely creating a wall of feedback wasn’t enough to entrance the masses. On their debut album, they immediately showed an ability to craft beautiful melodies inside of their cavernous sound. Epic.

13) Radiohead- Amnesiac (2001)
Recommended Track: Knives Out
Why We Love It: If you need to ask, you’re on the wrong website.

12) Band of Horses- Everything All The Time (2006)
Recommended Track: Our Swords
Why We Love It: An album so beautiful, it still brings tears to our eyes every time we listen to it. The failure of this band to become massive has stumped us for years. While frequently compared to My Morning Jacket in a genre that’s become over-crowded with wannabes, BOH is heads and shoulders ahead of the pack.

11) Fugazi- The Argument (2001)
Recommended Track: Cashout
Why We Love It: The last album from one of the greatest punk bands of all-time. A criminally under-rated album from a band that should have received even more accolades. By the time The Argument came out, this band had become far to complicated to be pigeon-holed as “punk”. Complex rhythm changes; on drums, guitars and vocals made this band a challenging and rewarding experience throughout their career. How many other legendary bands can claim that their last was a “classic”?
To read our interview with Brendan Canty from Fugazi, click here.

Unavailable on Lala.com

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Zee Avi- I already posted her brilliant Morrissey cover.  Here’s her single and another great cover (Interpol).  Amazing voice proving you don’t have to be loud to move me, despite what you’ve been saying about me.

Phoenix- Their new album is terrific and this band will certainly make the transition live.

BrakesBrakesBrakes- For those about to fall asleep, we salute you…

Alberta Cross- They ignore my plaintive cries for an interview, but I still love them.  I could post a video of every song they’ve ever recorded and you’d be impressed.  I’ve chosen my favorite song despite it not being a true “video”.  It might be the most heartbreakingly beautiful song I’ve ever heard.  What a joy it would be to see them live.

White Rabbits-The kind of band that ought to be blogged about every single day by the cool kids.  I was on the fence until I saw this performance on Letterman.  What do we learn from this?  They must be amazing live, hence our Bonnaroo recomendation.

The Knux- Silly?  Yep.  Fits the mold of most of the bands we like? Nope.  Breaking news: I don’t listen to alternative 24/7.  Love this song and I’m not apologizing for it.

St. Vincent- Oh the hype.  But in this case, it’s justified.  Check out this rehersal video and realize that this is how good they are when they aren’t even really trying.  Imagine the Bonnaroo-goodness!  Annie Clark is an amazing talent, worthy of the adulation.

Jenny Lewis- She is the lead singer of one of my favorite bands and as you can see from this Coachella video, she is amazing on her own.  Another of the great singers at the festival this weekend.

Gomez- Why isn’t this band one of the top 5 biggest alternative bands in the blogosphere?  Did they pass on going bowling with Stereogum?  I saw them in Dallas last night and was blown away.  Technical ability- A+, Songwriting- A+.

Bon Iver- As I progress through this post, my heart continues to sink as I look at this amazing roster that I’m missing.  I envision walking the grounds carrying a box of kleenex, crying at the beauty and the majesty.  Bon Iver, you’d make me weep with joy.

Tremendous video from Jools Holland’s show

Band of Horses- I’m going to stop here, although their are bigger names on the top of the bill.  For me, this would be the perfect way to end the weekend.  A band who’s music I hear everywhere (commercials, movies, tv shows, the soundtrack of my dreams) and who really should be running their own country by now by virtue of their amazing ability to craft songs.  Dude, we elected an actor and a cowboy.  Could BOH do any worse?