1. The Magic Kids: Austin based band, goes back to the future, and
returns as a 50s pop band, as re-imagined by Joe Meek and Brian
Wilson. Absolutely ace. The whole Texan music scene is taking shape
again with the Magic Kids, the Strange Boys, Black Angels, it is time
to believe in Texas music again.
2. Boe Weaver: London based duo have come out of the ashes of a
failed major label deal, to be reinvented as the UK’s answer to
Dungen. This is tight shit. Fuzzed out guitars, bass lines, and a
weird surf ridden hip hop vibe. Debut DIY single ‘Ghouls’ and
‘Jellybeans’ have been getting heavy play around mine.
3. The Grants: Liverpool band, getting over 3,000 plays a day, and
music business doesn’t even know they exist; working class heroes
under the spell of Crazy Horse, Noel Gallagher and Echo and the
Bunnymen. Classic band.
4. Mazes: Northern acid punk band. I discovered them in early
December shortly after they passed their demo along. Wrote about them
in the Guardian Blog, since then, the band has been making the scene
in London opening up for Wavves, Deerhunter, and Times New Viking.
Expect a a few releases on Split Tapes and Sex is Disgusting.
5. Dam Funk: Old school electro boogie funk signed to Stones Throw,
and recent release ‘Burgundy City’ gives off a classic vibe. Also,
his remix of Animal Collective’s Summertime Clothes is the business.
Check out his rampant DJ sets on the internet to get down with how
good a DJ can get.
6. The See See: Jack White’s favourite band, he invited the unsigned
band as the opening act for the Raconteurs and why not? The See See
are a revelation, demonstrating you can still rock the jingle jangle
guitars and tight Beach Boys harmonies and remain fresh.
7. Kurt Vile: Coming straight outta of the CDR culture, Kurt Vile
(and yes, that’s his real name) has been refining his song craft in a
bewildering, layered, sonic revolution and has reinvented himself
again as a 21st century blues man feel of Dylan and Leadbelly,
obscured in feedback and noise.
8. Ariel Pink: LA songwriter, who has been tied to the lo-fi
revolution has escaped with recent tracks ‘I Can’t Hear My Eyes’ and
‘Flashback’ unleashing a pop monster he’s promised for years.
9. Dirty Sweet: Rock’n'roll isn’t dead. It has been gestating in
the spirit of California’s Dirty Sweet’s stadium rock’n'roll of ‘71
Stones burnt out swagger, power rock of MC5, and Black Crowes
handshakes. If you wonder how a San Diego ‘land of beaches’ band
could sound like sludge rock from the Motor City, wonder no more, it
is Dirty Sweet.
10. Deertick: Imagine a punk rock Bruce Springsteen and you’ve got
Deertick. Introduced to me by Viking Moses who has been regularly
promoting and covering Deertick for the past two years, John
McCauley’s new album ‘Born on Flag Day’ is great stuff.
11. Cherrystones: Cherrystones aka Gareth Goddard is the man with
the psychedelic plan. If you’ve not heard his underground hip hop mix
tapes, you are missing out. He is crate digger supreme, and his
latest beats are pure religion. Whether recording as Godsy (for NYC’s
Whatever We Want label (home of DJ Harvey, etc) or dropping beats as
Cherrystones he is always fresh.
12. The Present: Rusty Santos’ new release ‘The Way We Were’ is the
follow-up to the last year’s ‘World I See’, both are investigations
into the ambient and for me is the rock’n'roll’s answer to Wolfgang
Van Voight’s ‘Gas’.
13. Wand: James Jackson Toth has been around for a few years as
Wooden Wand, last year, he signed to a major label, released a record
under his own name, and the label pulled funding when they heard Born
Bad – Toth’s answer to Skip Spence’s Oar. Fantastic stuff.
14. Zomby: Dubstep? Nu rave? Who knows. Zomby’s last album ‘Where
Were U in ‘92′ is old school rave.
15. Grouper: I love her last album -Dragging a Dead Deer’ – why?
- it is pure electric baroque. Layered drones shot forth from God’s
womb hit you as her almost wordless refrains sneak up from her
subconscious, like a night owl lullaby. Grouper is the music world’s
best kept secret.
Filed under: alan mcgee | Tagged: alan mcgee, ariel pink, boe weaver, cherrystone, dam funk, deetrick, dirty sweet, grouper, kids, kurt vile, mazes, new bands, ones to watch, the grants, the magic kids, the present, the see see, wand, Who's Jack, young, zomby
magic kids are from Memphis, TN
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