Rahim is hands-down one of our favorite new bands. Think spazzy (but not so spazzy it's annoying), hard, art-pop similar to Afghan Whigs meets Les Savy Fav meets a little bit of Fugazi. Rahim have tremendously strong melodies supported by a plastic-whistle-blowing drummer, handclaps, and an unlimited supply of energy.

It's refreshing to see a band that is actually into what they're playing. Because if you have fun up there, we have fun down here. And Rahim shows are always fun. Leave the mopey vocalists and sneaker watcher strummers to someone else; we'll take yelps and shakes any day. We can't wait for their debut on Frenchkiss so we can spazz out with them too, albeit in the privacy of our own apartment. (Sadly, we're too shy to shake it at Sin-e.)

Catch Rahim at SXSW 2006!