This year I pledge not to log my drinking like our Editor-in-Chief did last year, I’m not in search of free booze—I’m only in search of a type of musical zen and sensory overload that can only occur at SXSW. I could go on forever about what I plan on seeing, all the way up until I hit the Austin concrete and head straight for Beerland.

Here though, are a few recommendations for both the pros and the uninitiated.

1) Gun Outfit Rambling guitar riffs tempered with mumblecore vocals, this Olympia, Washington trio assembles a motley mess that could have easily come from K Records, but has a gruff exterior that place them among the best from labels like SST and Homestead. Classic college rock that doesn’t age oneself.

2) Crocodiles Who can resist a marriage of Jesus and Mary Chain buzz-und-clang and San Diego sun-soaked melodies?

3) Thursday Night Between the Siltbreeze showcase at the Soho Lounge to the Columbus Discount Records showcase at the Music Gym (and many points in between) navigating Thursday night will be a logistical nightmare. So many good bands packed within a mile radius of each other should have most geeks’ heads exploding.

4) Rye Rye Sure enough Diplo, under the pseudonym of Major Lazer (his dancehall blast team with Switch), will again be the pied piper leading the booty beat caravan to sound systems in a variety of locales. The entire Mad Decent roster present this week will be massive. The highlight of it all will be his latest find from Baltimore, Rye Rye, a young and vicious female emcee who has previously spit on her minimal-quake debut “Shake to the Ground” with Blaqstarr and now shares the stage with M.I.A. as protegees about to blow up.

5) Hoek’s Pizza Also known as death metal pizza. Much like Ron’s suggestion, I can’t confirm quality from this hole in the wall (literally a hole in the wall, blasting Carcass from its dark, dank, inner sanctum) but I can confirm the thrift and efficacy of their NYC-styled slice. Just dump a handful of red pepper flake and parmesan and you’re ready for the next round.

6) Eat Skull If last year was the year of the Viking, 2009 at SXSW is the year of the Skull. With a soon to be released lo-fi masterpiece in their holster, Wild and Inside (Bee Thousand Apocalypse?), the hooks that inform songs like “Stick to the Formula” and “Oregon Dreaming” will likely be anthems by week’s end that surface in competition with your morning hangover.

7) Psychedelic Horseshit Like King Lebron James, I’ve bore witness to the abject madness/magic of PHS many times in the last month. The many transformations/modifications Matt and Rich Horsehit have gone through in that time is all leading up the trail of trash and bubblegum they plan on leaving behind them this week. Now flanked by two extra guitars, tablas, more synths and more songs, they are currently the scum-cult equivalent to Beefheart’s Magic Band, blurring the lines between tried and true indie rock, genuinely treated reggae, electronic-wasteland improv, and enlightened, albeit awkward, pop bliss. Don’t expect the same show twice.

8) Nite Jewel We warned you about Ramona Gonzales a few weeks back. I’m expecting the live show to be just as entrancing as the recordings. Bedroom disco and freestyle by way of Munich circa 1978.

9) Ms. Beas Venturing out of the 6th St. sphere looks to be a requirement this year. Ms. Beas, though I’ve never been, is a couple of blocks east of I-35, but they’ve stacked their days and nights with enough quality (and free) entertainment, that one could potentially sit still here and never notice the chaos going on down the road. Especially with Saturday night’s Woodsist extravaganza including Blank Dogs, No Age, Wavves, Crystal Stilts, Woods, and many, many, more. Attendance required.

10) Futurecop Any child of the ‘80s will marvel at these London DJs innate sense of cultural overload—siphoning the neon imagery from that decade’s synth-fueled movie soundtracks and cartoon paradises, then warping them into their own original fantasy worlds. Dance party commence.