BBC's Sound of 2011: Fifteen of music's most exciting rising stars?
Last year I reviewed the BBC Sounds of 2010 list and due to the critical acclaim bestowed upon my original piece and literally nobody asking me to do one this year for the 2011 list, I now bring you my thoughts on this year's nominations. To quote from the BBC Sounds of 2010 site: "The artists on the list were chosen by 161 UK-based tastemakers, who each named their favourite three new artists, with the top 15 artist making our longlist." Let's get this clear before you read the reviews. I love the fact that the BBC does this stuff and support it 100%. BBC introducing is a beautiful thing that is being cherished by the BBC and it is an important way for the corporation to reach young creative people who can get a lot out of the BBC if they were to find it. It is also (and more importantly for me) a brilliant way for new artists to get played on the radio, do sessions, play at festivals and other local effects too. I see new bands being offered gigs all over the county after they have appeared on BBC Introducing Lancashire. The promoters and managers of the future listen and stay in touch too. It fosters creativity and enterprise all over the county and for that reason I am proud to be a part of BBC Introducing. Anyway enough about me... ha ha. Here's my thoughts on this year's BBC Sounds of 2011. To enjoy this to it's fullest extent you should really check out the
videos too...
Anna Calvi - Jezebel Looks like one of those women off that Robert Palmer video, sings like an old bloke in a pub in the 1970's who thinks he is both Jim Morrison and Matt Monroe. Which is weird. Claire McGuire - Ain't nobody In the video she has that old problem of slow motion wind affecting her hair... someone's spending money though. Sadly if you were to strip the 1980's production out of this song and give her just an acoustic guitar then the song Ain't Nobody wouldn't even exist. She would be sat in a far flung field at Glastonbury doing face painting and smelling of hay. Below average. Daley - More than a woman I have discounted the glasses, hair and John Waters tache here and find a guy with a nice voice and a soulful tunesmith too. Esben and the witch - marching song The video leads you to believe you are watching a new documentary about Charles Manson and the family. However, if you just listen to the music, they are it would seem, just a lightweight Sisters of Mercy tribute act. The video disgusted me too, so that's nice. Jai Paul - BTSTU Listened off YouTube. Two things: he should get some better fitting underpants and stop hitting that synthesiser randomly. Only heard one song but unlikely to change my mind. James Blake - Limit to your love Great voice, interesting song too. This would be a very welcome sound at three in the morning after a heavy night along with fish finger sandwiches on stodgy white. Jamie Woon - Night Air An expensive video which looks like it was shot on the set of Twilight with some Life on Earth night time outtakes. I didn't hear a song. I heard a decent voice but there's plenty of them. Self indulgent. Didn't make it to the end of the song. Jessie J - Do it like a dude She is called Jessie J so from the start I am already pretty clear what we are going to get. Then I saw the song title and boy she didn't disappoint me. Let's not talk about the cliche filled video. Other than this one point. When is the "crotch grab" going to go out of fashion? As my dad would say she makes herself look "as rough as a bear's bum." Mona - Trouble on the way Kings of Leon without the energy or tunes. That T-shirt was a bad idea too. Nero - Innocence When I saw the name I thought of coffee and croissants. When I heard it, it made me think of WKD and people throwing up outside The Syndicate. It doesn't take you anywhere. There's no kerpow. Poppy pubstep. The Naked & Famous - Punching the Dream Nobody famous or naked in the vid which was disappointing. This song really does take the biscuit, dunk it in a brew then shove it in your face. Then it gets another biscuit, dunks it down the toilet and shoves that one up your nose. More pointless than Wagner. The Vaccines - Blow it up I am sure I heard a song of theirs I liked and nearly played it. This wasn't it. Strip away the nicely played and sounding guitars and the song sounds like an anthem for the terrorist wing of The Proclaimers. Warpaint - Undertow If you want a song called Undertow in your life might I suggest Suzanne Vega's? Sounds like The Bangles time travelled back to '68, necked some acid and stopped writing songs. Wretch 32 - Traktor Interesting actually... I like it. Definitely a vibe going on there. Best appreciated by not watching the video. Yuck - Georgia I think there is a song there. It has guitars I like too. Let's not get carried away but I was hoping my review could be a one word one. "Yuck." Now to be honest I like it. Nice vibe. Simple sound, simply recorded. Sean presents the BBC Introducing programme on BBC Radio Lancashire from 8pm each Thursday.
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