The Alt-J lads from Leeds were introduced to us by a savvy lass (thanks again H) long before they blew up big and their album An Awesome Wave won this year’s Mercury Prize (as best UK album of the year–no small feat).  Buoyed by the Mercury Prize, the gents (Joe Newman on lead vocals and guitar, Thom Green on drums, Gwil Sainsbury on guitar and bass, and Gus Unger-Hamilton on keyboards) seem to have the world sewn up (so to speak), as you can see below as they perform Matilda in an NYC button shop (Just Buttons–the missing Seinfeld episode?).  We’re suckers for bands who use kiddy xylophones.  Wrap it up and put it under the Christmas Twee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS_x25knS0w&feature=em-uploademail