Here are my ratings and brief reviews for all the acts I've seen through the first two days of the SXSW Music Festival. [NB: All acts are rated on a 10-point scale, with only whole-integer ratings given. Ratings reflect the quality, energy, and fan-friendliness of the performance, not my overall assessment of the artists' music.]

Wed. 3/12:
The Kills (The Fader Fort) 8/10
Good show overall, but not as dirty as I'd hoped, and the set-up at Fader Fort was difficult to navigate & left a gap between band and audience. Free drinks were a major plus.

Ravens & Chimes (The Spider Room) 6/10
Good band on CD, but too much volume and a poor audio mix at this sparsely-populated UT venue doomed the show. I think they would definitely be worth another shot, though, as their recordings are reminiscent of early Arcade Fire tracks.

Simian Mobile Disco (Antone's) 4/10
The only song they played from their (kick-ass) debut album, Attack Decay Sustain Release, was "It's The Beat." Other than that, their set--which also lacked any sort of introduction, farewell, or dialog with the audience--was just a random assortment of ill-matched obscure songs. All in all, SMD were more like in-house DJs than an actual performing act. 'Twas a real bummer...

Todosantos (Ms. Bea's) 9/10
This Venezuelan electro-party trio would be a 10 if the crowd had more energy (the frijoles rancheros and sausage wraps they were doling out at the door didn't help matters), and if they hadn't tripped the power three times before the police intervened to end their set. These guys (and girl) were possibly the best new discovery of SXSW for me so far. Actually, they weren't exactly a "new discovery," since I initially fell in love with them after hearing their 2005 LP, Aeropuerto, but their new dance-friendly sound is a complete turn away from the slow, sample-laden fuzz-pop of their previous incarnation.

More reviews after the jump

The Russian Futurists (Habana Calle 6) 8/10
Welcome to America, boys! After being held up at the US-Canadian border and banned from the States for the last five years (according to the band, it was due to their sickle-and-hammer logo), this Peterborough, ON, quintet finally made it to SXSW. An old favorite of mine, they were true to the synth-laden pop sound they've perfected on their albums, and if they'd played "Your Life on Magnetic Tape" (my personal favorite), it would have been at least a 9/10.

Wizardzz (Emo's Jr.) 7/10
A good band, and an interesting discovery for me. Wizardzz are definitely derivative of their forebears in Lightning Bolt, and they make possibly the loudest music i've ever heard two dudes create. I would definitely see them again (this time, with earplugs handy).

Dan Deacon + Jimmy Joe Roche's Ultimate Reality (Emo's Jr.) 11/10
F'ing incredible. Nothing more need be said. Do yourself a favor and see this if you ever get the chance.

Thurs. 3/13:
Clipse (Mohawk patio) 10/10
Clipse have more energy than I've ever seen from a hip-hop live performance (save perhaps The Roots, who bring the funk every time). They didn't rely too much on the DJ or backing vocal track, which was refreshing. Unlike other jaded big-name hip-hop acts, Pusha T & Malice display the kind of exuberance and just-glad-to-be-here mentality that really connects with blog-happy indie kids. They played a perfect mix of tracks from Lord Willin', Hell Hath No Fury, and their new We Got It For Cheap, Vol. 3 mixtape. Performing together with their VA Beach cronies, the Re-Up Gang, it was truly a family affair.

Man Man (Cedar Street Courtyard) 8/10
Perhaps better suited to a more intimate venue with better sightlines, these white-clad, war-painted psychobillies from Philly still rocked the mixed-age crowd that had packed into the cramped outdoor venue (an oxymoron, i know). Man Man always delivers, though the vibes were better the last time i saw them: playing to a small college crowd at Illini Hall in Champaign-Urbana, IL, back in October.

Shout Out Out Out Out (Beauty Bar Backyard) 6/10
I love these guys, but they have way too much gear! It took them half an hour to set up and do sound check, and periodic power outages to their various gadgets (synths, soundboards, vocoder, bass guitars, etc.) led to a kind of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants show. Of course, the fact that the entire sextet admitted to having been drunk all day indicated that perhaps something more sinister was afoot, sabotaging their performance. Given all their problems, they had to cut their set short at just four songs, but a special cameo from their fellow Edmontonian, Cadence Weapon, helped elevate the energy in the place.

Dizzee Rascal (Scoot Inn) 9/10
The perfect end to a great night. Despite playing at 1AM at an off-the-beaten-path venue, Dizz rose to the occasion, getting the crowd amped immediately and maintaining the high level of energy through the end of his hour-long set. With a nod to southern crunk pioneers (and Texas natives) UGK, as well as to old-school 1990s gangsta and party rap, this Grandmaster of Grime set the outdoor stage on fire with infectious hooks, shout-along choruses, and a full posse of his fellow LDN-ers. Highly recommended performer.