Well, it's mid-October, which means for hundreds of bands, music industry insiders, college radio programmers, DJs, and music fans descending upon New York City, it's time for the CMJ Music Marathon. This week, from Oct. 16-21, there's a staggering number of showcases and parties, not to mention all the shows that normally are happening in the city, all with great music well worth checking out. (Here's a full schedule.)

The appeal in a festival like CMJ is discovering relatively unknown baby bands and up-and-coming artists with a ton of upside. Some could become that "next big thing" that we'll hopefully be talking about for the next year. And some may simply fade away.

It can feel logistically overwhelming when deciding where to go, and when (and how) to get there. Unlike Austin, Texas' annual South By Southwest Music Conference, CMJ is far more spread out across Manhattan and Brooklyn, so you may find yourself hoofing it across town. So, (like SXSW,) you've got make choices and tightly map out your schedule if you hope to catch multiple things in a night. 

Firstly, we here at Team Soundcheck are presenting our own showcase at WNYC's Greene Space on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. ET. (If you happen to be in New York, get tickets here or get in with your CMJ badge.) Our diverse lineup features the Ethiopian funk rock of Debo Band, the hypnotic dream pop of The Luyas, the danceable grooves of MNDR and comedian Dave Hill.

Also, Soundcheck and our pals at NPR Music are co-presenting a superb bill on Wednesday night at (le) Poisson Rouge with Los Angeles electronic composer Flying Lotus, noise-rap group Death Grips, and the fiery metal-infused indie rock of Buke & Gase. Plus a DJ set from A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad. (You can watch video the entire show over at NPR Music, starting at 9 p.m. ET.)

But because there's so much more going on, we've combed over the official (and less-than-official) schedules to pinpoint a few bands we're really excited to check out this year.

1) Sinkane

The Sudanese multi-instrumentalist Ahmed Gallab has played with Yeasayer, Eleanor Friedberger, Of Montreal and Caribou. But with his own project, Sinkane, he takes the lead, performing the majority of the instruments and vocals himself. He's now on the brink of breaking through with his upcoming debut, Mars, on James Murphy's DFA Records. (If you don't know Murphy from his role as frontman of LCD Soundsystem, perhaps you know him from his plan to revolutionize subway turnstiles that he revealed in front of Soundcheck's host John Schaefer). Sinkane recently offered up his "rock with an Afropop guitar lilt" at this year's Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn, and his bouncy, soulful tracks are sure to get even the most exhausted CMJ-goers dancing. (Katie Bishop)

Where's he playing?

10/18: Golden Ratio/BirdDog Promo CMJ Party @ The Delinquency, Brooklyn, NY -- 5p.m.

10/18: The FADER Fort @ Rubber Tracks, Brooklyn, NY -- 8:30 p.m.

10/18: Zebulon, Brooklyn, NY -- 11 p.m.

10/19: Inland Empire Touring Showcase @ City Reliquary, Brooklyn, NY -- 9 p.m.

10/20: Inland Empire Touring Showcase @ Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY -- 11 p.m.

10/20: Brooklyn Vegan Showcase @ Public Assembly, Brooklyn, NY -- TBA

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2) Daughn Gibson

In a time where bands book upwards of a dozen CMJ shows during the course of the fest, Daughn Gibson is playing just one. The elusive new Sub Pop artist spent years working as a long haul truck driver before releasing his rather noir debut, All Hell. It's an uncanny collision of Southern twang, spaced out atmospherics and dark tales that wind their way into the imagination. (Gretta Cohn)

Where's he playing?

10/18: Sub Pop CMJ Showcase @ The Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY

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3) Metz

Punk often carries this reputation that you don't need to have mastery over your instruments in order to play it; And in fact, if you want to be "authentic" or "raw," it's best if you don't. But Metz clearly does not adhere to that admittedly dumb myth. For five years,the Toronto band has been steadily playing brash, devastating live shows and honing its sludgy hardcore punk into a finely-sharpened weapon. The band has finally released its self-titled debut, a record brimming with brutalizing yet precise guitar riffs and relentless and muscular drumming that attacks with a primal immediacy. Still, most impressively, all that time spent woodshedding has refined Metz's songcraft, creating tightly-wound, economical pop hooks and anthemic choruses you'll be sure to be screaming along to at one of the band’s many shows this week at CMJ. (Mike Katzif)

Where are they playing?

10/16: Oh My Rockness CMJ Show @ Cameo Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

10/18: Sub Pop CMJ Showcase @ Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY

10/19: Pitchfork Showcase @ Villain, Brooklyn, NY

10/19: Brooklyn Vegan Showcase @ Public Assembly, Brooklyn, NY

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4) Reptile Youth

It's tempting to plan your CMJ itinerary using only LOL-inducing band names in the festival's official guidebook. Doing so might put you at Mercury Lounge on Tuesday (Foxygen), Fontanas on Thursday (Eggnogg), Glasslands on Friday (Night Panther, not to be confused with Vagina Panther, which is playing Wednesday at Sullivan Hall), and Public Assembly on Saturday (Tunabunny). While my heart is urging me to follow the above schedule (and to purchase as many band t-shirts as possible), my head is pointing me toward Mercury Lounge on Wednesday (Gainesville, Florida's Hundred Waters, as recently recommended to Soundcheck by contributor Ryan Schreiber of Pitchfork) and Spike Hill on Saturday (the Danish dance-rock duo Reptile Youth). (Joel Meyer)

Where are they playing?

10/17: Alphabet Lounge, New York, NY

10/20: Spike Hill, Brooklyn, NY

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5) MS MR

Like Joel, I too was impressed by Ryan Schreiber's recommended band, Hundred Waters. But since you don't need three people telling you about them, I'll suggest MS MR. This New York-based duo (she sings, he plays) has an intriguing dark streak in what otherwise sounds like lush and accessible dream-pop. Check out their seizure-inducing video for "Hurricane," for an example of what they do. I also like the sense of mystery in the band's name: Do you say "miz mister?"; "Em es em are?"; Or maybe even "mesmer?" Regardless, MS MR will be playing the Bowery Ballroom on Thursday. (John Schaefer)

Where are they playing?

10/18: Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

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6) Prince Rama

For me, one of the great strengths of CMJ as a festival is the incredibly diverse array of artists. There's hip-hop, rock, indie, DJs, electronica, experimental, and everything in between. Then there's Prince Rama. The music of the Brooklyn-based sister-sister duo defies categorization, walking a winding line between drone-y synth experiments, tribal chant-alongs, and hindu folk composition. The live show displays all these characteristics, but combines them with equally unpredictable stagecraft. All of it is performed with complete commitment and lack of ego. That, in addition to their litany of shows at the festival -- one each on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday -- will make it especially easy to embrace the weird this week. (Alex Abnos)

Where are they playing?

10/17: Terrorbird Media CMJ Day Party @ Cake Shop, New York, NY

10/18: Carpark/Paw Tracks CMJ Showcase @ Cameo Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

10/19: Ad Hoc's Unofficial CMJ Showcase @ 285 Kent, Brooklyn, NY

10/20: Tumblr CMJ Showcase @ Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY