This year, we debuted our Groupee Sessions series, where we bring bands into recording studios and videotape them performing four songs live.  It's an exciting way to discover gifted musicians.  We've focused on emerging artists, primarily in the Los Angeles area.  A good number of our sessions form this past year are yet to be published, but of the ones published so far here's our list of the Top 20 session songs. 

20. The Happy Hollows : My Wet Tongue




19. Yellow Red Sparks : A Play To End All Plays



18.  Correatown : All The World (I Tell Myself)



17. Jason Falkner : I Don't Mind



16.  The Donnas : Take It Off



15. Liz Pappademas : Vacation Romance

The video is necessarily simple because all we had to film was Liz at the piano, but what you see here is an artist just walking into a room and laying into a truly great song.



14.  The Jakes : Cough Syrup



13.  The Sweet Hurt : Take This Away

Wendy Wang deserves a special award because she appeared in so many of our session videos, but here she is with her own band, demonstrating just how talented she is.



12. Barrett Johnson : 4 AM Blues

Known more for his folk music, this gospel/blues number was an unexpected surprise.  Joined by John Hanson of Melanoid and Justin Grennan on backing vocals.



11. Avi Buffalo Music : Where's Your Dirty Mind

Expect big things from Mr. Buffalo after he graduates high school.



10.  Kárin Tatoyan : Well Beyond A Grave

This session was marred by bad sound (recording issue), but we walked out of this session completely blown away by Tatoyan and her band.  Were it not for the sound issues, this would likely be in the top 5.



9.  Big Phony : I Love Lucy



8.  The World Record : We're #1

Andy Creighton can write himself a pop song.  Doubt that? Watch this and find yourself not humming this song for the next three days.



7.  The Shys : Savior



6.  The Monolators : We Fell Dead

Wherein it was made clear what it means to bring the rawk energy.



5.  Spider Problem : Big Thunder

By far the most intense session thus far.  Things tend to break around this band.



4.  Kenan Bell : Like This



3.  Melanoid : Right

We described John Hanson of Melanoid as a cross between Roy Orbison and Elliott Smith, but no matter the comparisons, this song is a timeless classic.  Look for his debut record in January. It's amazing.



2.  Billy Boy on Poison : When It Rains It Pours

Teenage swagger, but the tunes to back it up.  



1.  The Weather Underground (now called Red Cortez): Old Man Jude

Rarely do you see a band with such passion and purpose.