Early January for music critics is always a time to look ahead to the acts that will make it big in the proceeding 365 days. The blogosphere also makes time for this tradition although being a zeitgeist-defining lot, enthusiastic music bloggers were amongst the ones who first touted the likes of Little Boots, Florence and the Machine and Passion Pit. Here are some of the more interesting finds from the music blogs capped off with a selection of my own gems for the coming year.
Always an arbiter of alternative cool, Austin blog Gorilla Vs. Bear’s tips includes nods to US gothic noir-electronica of Salem and San Fran indie-pop duo with the Google-proof name of Girls. Fans of Joanna Newsom will find much satisfaction in UK “nu-folk” artist Alessi’s Ark as recommended by Beat Poetry while on the hip-hop front we would do well to hear more rap from Chicago’s Wale and more beats from Detroit producer Black Milk.
Personally, I’ve heard plenty in the last few months to convince me that 2009 will be a good year for off-kilter pop and top of the charts in that regard is Marina and the Diamonds who sounds like a modern day Kate Bush and so far, has the tunes to boot. New York always has a glut of bands worthy of your ears with acts like the experimental electronic pop of Telepathe, the dance-riot of Free Blood and MGMT buddies Amazing Baby looking to follow their fellow Brooklynites down the same psychedelic-pop path.
On the homefront, there is much to get excited about. 13 piece rabble-rousing rock orchestra Gran Casino have enough members to make an indelible mark, Lines Drawing Circles have a great single out this month and Limerick pranksters and funnymen Rubberbandits will continue to cause havoc with their brilliant executed comedy songs. At the apex of expectation is Villagers , the solo project of Conor O’ Brien, formerly of The Immediate. After spending the last eighteen months or so playing guitar with Cathy Davey, O’Brien will release an EP in February and judging by a handful of tracks which display a deeply soulful and expertly arranged folk-pop sound, O’ Brien is definitely one to watch. Check out the sublime live video of ‘Pieces’ below and get swooning.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:45 am
the rubberbandits had to take down their Up Da Ra song and offer an explanation to the imbeciles that took it seriously. sad times.