A few music sites have published lists of artists to watch in 2011. I’ve had a listen to playlists on Spotify, We7 and MySpace so you don’t have to, and isolated the tracks I think are best (there was a lot of dross in there IMHO.) To my jaded ears some of the new stuff sounds like other recent stuff (Fleet Foxes. Florence and the Machine, Glasvegas), and some of it sounds like old stuff (TRex, The Smiths, Pixies, Teenage Fanclub.)
It’s also interesting to see how the same artists crop up over and over – a clear indication of major label hype machines working overtime. Take a look at this BBC Sounds of 2011 list – it might give the impression that taste-makers at R1 compiled it in a vacuum, but a good half of its ‘most promising artists’ for 2011 are also featured on the We7, Spotify and major label playlists (Clare Maguire, James Blake, Mona, The Vaccines, Warpaint and Yuck.)
Good to see Mogwai, Gruff Rhys and Kylesa back. But as far as the new talent is concerned, must check back in 2012 to see if any managed to crawl out of the primordial sludge of obscurity.
Lord Huron – The Problem With Your Daughter
The Naked And Famous – Young Blood
Esben and the Witch – Lucia, at the precipice
Cloud Control – Meditation Song #2 (Why, Oh Why)
Gruff Rhys – Shark Ridden Waters
North Atlantic Oscillation – 77 Hours