Class Actress is one of our favorite artists of 2012. #8 Hummingbird
Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #8: CLASS ACTRESS
The original post was way back in January of 2012. We loved her 80′s simplicity similar to that of early OMD, Madonna or even Human League, and the electroclash is better than we’ve heard recently. Her sound sits in the Twin Sister, Chairlift, Grimes arena of modern music and we have yet to turn her off, it’s been 11 months. Back in 2011 we were obsessed with EMA for the same reason, catchy riffs, electronic odes to the 80′s and a sultry pleasant voice that brought the mood up a notch. Her record was technically a 2011 release, but it came out late, it hurt her positioning on our Top 12 Hummingbird List, but hell she is #8. Listen and love.
Vitals:
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY via Philadelphia, PA
Members: Elizabeth Harper
Sonic Soulmates™: Twin Sister, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Chairlift, OMD, Grimes, Madonna
Trackables™ from her new LP Rapproacher
“Weekend”
“Keep You”
“Need to Know”
Nude Beach photos were fun to look for, but their music is just as good. Hummingbird #9
Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #9: NUDE BEACH
There was a time in my life where it revolved around my jean jacket, my shaggy hair, my need to date any girl that looked like she was wearing ripped up jeans and a loose fitting shirt and quite possibly a mutual desired love for The Jam. It’s good to know that that phase has passed, but the sonic soulmates of that ERA keep cropping back up. Most of which absolutely suck, really they do. Only one or two will last longer than their actual predecessors, not to say that the early pop rock Gods were any good either. They had their time and it passed, but with our generation of Millenials who believe that nothing existed before 2000, here is something to remember. Every band has a Sonic Soulmate. Even your beloved Radiohead. Nude Beach is quite good and deserves to be on this year’s list. They skate the Costello riffs and The Jams rip and tear to produce a high quality record. We look forward to their follow-up LP and some tour dates.
Vitals:
Home: Brooklyn, NY
Members: MChuck Betz, Ryan Naideau, and Jimmy Shelton
Sonic Soulmates™: 1983 guitar pop bands see Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, The Jam, The Alarm
Trackables™: Notable tracks from his release II, but listen to the whole damn thing “Walkin’ Down My Street”
“Radio” – Tom Petty
“Some Kinda Love”
The Weeknd is better than Frank Ocean so we gave him a Hummingbird
Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #10: THE WEEKND
I hate secrets. Especially when they are about me. So why is The Weeknd such a secretive dude? Why won’t he tell us the truth or remove the shroud and celebrate his greatness. We want an interview! Here is what we do know, his music is absolutely amazing, he is Abel Tesfaye, he released three mix tapes in 2012, he signed to Universal Republic, he has important friends, he is a man, he sounds like Drake and R. Kelly, he is one of our favorite new artists for 2012, he just won a Hummingbird. So here is what we said last month…and enjoy our gift to you! He should be #1, but dude your Trilogy came out too late this year. He skyrocketed up our list around September and held onto to Spot 10. We even got several hundred votes from readers for him.
Vitals:
Home: Toronto, CA
Members: Abel Tesfaye
Sonic Soulmates™: R. Kelly, Drake
Trackables™: Notable tracks from his release Trilogy, but listen to the whole damn thing “This Morning”
“Wicked Games”
“House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls”
Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #11: FEAR OF MEN
Really, Fear of Men should be our anthem for 2012. 2012 was our Lillith Fair 2.0. More women leads, more female solo artists and no men, anywhere. Here’s what we said about them in our “Fresh Nectar” report back in November…they made our playlist for the End of Times
“Man will surely be the reason why the world ends. Something we created, some manufactured food, only God knows. What I do know is that Fear of Men are the BEST BAND OF 2012…Really and truly. Fear of Men are the London/Brighton quartet of Jess Weiss, Dan, Alex and Mike” EPs and some great tracks made up their year as we await a full length any day now. we’re now 2 for 2 with female leads. Did we mention that this was the
Vitals:
Home: Brighton, UK
Members: Jess Weiss, Dan, Alex and Mike (last names not available)
Sonic Soulmates™: Veronica Falls, St. Etienne, GRMLN
Trackables™: “Green Sea” single — one of our favorite songs of the year.
Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #12: ROSE ELINOR DOUGALL
I like what we said back in March, “I’m in love with Rose, have been since her 2010 LP. Not only is she quite hot but the new EP that hit my Inbox back in January has me stirring. The Distractions who accompany Ms. Dougall are shoegazey with such great guitar riffs i feel like I’m listening to My Vitriol or early Cure. Her lyrics and Hope Sandovalish voice are emotional and alluring. The two together sound like The Sundays discovering Teenage Fanclub.” I’m still in love with her and I hope that the world reads this post and gives her the credit she deserves.
Vitals: London, UK
Members:
Rose Elinor Dougall – Vocals, Keys
The Distractions:
Tom Dougall – Guitar
Ralegh Long – Guitar, Mandolin, keys
Georgia Lee – Bass, Vocals
Martin Dean – Drums
Sonic Soulmates™: The Distractions = ’90s Brit-alt pop My Vitriol, Teenage Fanclub or The Sundays, Rose = Hope Sandoval, Holly Miranda
Trackables™:
“I’ve Always Known” – Her only release for 2012 was an EP and this is more of a plea to get a full record in 2013.
Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010
Doomsday Delights…the final list of music for the end of times.
Mayan calendars, apocalyptic weather patterns, locusts, temple completion. Oh it’s all coming down to 12/21/12 So let’s enjoy it with new music. Here are our top 10 bands, albums and what nots to make our November list or the last 30 days of our existence a memorable one. The perfect playlist of new bands for the end of times. Too bad these bands won’t make it past our little blog…or will they:
#10 –> April Maze
Melbourne duo, touring since ’10. Perfect Sad music for when you think back on the missed opportunities, the love lost, investment’s gaffed, etc. April Maze will be your last cigarette type moment. The new album is Two
#9 –> Dwntwn
When you want to dance in the streets with no clothes on…I know I’m going hear this band on Gossip Girl at some gala event to celebrate Blair’s new clothing line. Dwntwn’s new EP The Red Room
#8 –> The Vaccines
They go in the “BECAUSE WE WERE RIGHT” category. No band we were more sure about, well maybe Mumford, but The Vaccines new record Come of Age spills over with Johnny Rotten vocals and a soundtrack moment for the one last revenge eff. You know the one that got away, the one that dumped you HARD. Your cure is here. Needle up “All In Vain” and give her a call.
#7 –> Jonathan Boulet
This is the soundtrack to overthrow the final vestiges of your leadership. The song you have pumping in the car when you finally tell authority to eat shit. Possibly my favorite record of 2012! “You’re An Animal” is the song that should be played! Another band from down under. New record is titled We keep the beat Found the sound See the need Start the heart
#6 –> Darren Hayman and the Long Parliament
If you want to impress her or him by addressing the dinner party with your deep dark knowledge of the Essex Witch Trials which took place during the English Civil War, then spend the time with Darren Hayman’s Violence. It’s a considered listen and it will definitely give you a leg up and the “End of Times Dinner Gala”. Who knows we might all be considered witches and this is a guide to avoid your own persecution.
#5 –> Clinic
Are we supposed to care about bands from 1997 when the world is about to end..Hell yes we are, especially when Free Reign is their best record since 2002. Liverpool’s Clinic is the music playing while you question your life choices, you say to yourself “Why didn’t I do XXXX” you can fill in the blank.
#4 –> The Weeknd
You’re now counting minutes, no not that stupid Justin Timberlake movie In Time, but the real minutes, who knows if you even have electricity left. This is the record that will be playing when the last ounce of oxygen is removed from the planet. Why, because it’s that good that you want to hear it again and again and again and….The Weeknd is Abel Tefsaye of Toronto who was/is about to redefine R&B. Drake and Kanye droool at the feet of The Weeknd. Trilogy is when you pray that this really isn’t the end because you need one more record from this cat.
#3 –> Fear of Men
Man will surely be the reason why the world ends. Something we created, some manufactured food, only God knows. What I do know is that Fear of Men are the BEST BAND OF 2012…Really and truly. Fear of Men are the London/Brighton quartet of Jess Weiss, Dan, Alex and Mike
#2 Crystal Castles
Did someone say endless amounts of drugs because it won’t matter when we’re all dead. Bring on the heroin, the crystal, hell bring on the krokodil tears, ever since I read about that shit in Vice, I really wanted to get my hands on some of that Russian brain melter from Novokuznetsk. So as you drift up to Neverland with Pan and his little people, play the perfect psychotropic soundtrack…Crystal Castles (III). Hell if you can find a boat head to the Nordics and enjoy the grime party.
#1 –> The Walkmen
Only because it’s what I want to listen to on my last day on Earth. It’s the band that perfectly explains my mental maturity. From the youthful rage of “The Rat” to the timeliness of You & Me to the soberness of the new record Heaven. It’s what I want to hear when I reach the pearly gates and need to explain myself to my maker. Just play “Heaven” on repeat until it’s over. The record provides aural courage.
Break Glass if needed:
NEW MUSIC FOR BEING CHASED BY ZOMBIES OR AN ANGRY MOB: GRAVEYARD
NEW MUSIC FOR THE MOMENT WHEN STANDING IN A CONVERTIBLE, HAIR BLOWING IN WIND: HEY SHOLAY((o))
NEW MUSIC FOR THE MOMENT YOU REALIZE YOUR LOVED ONES ARE ALL GONE…so sad: HOW TO DRESS WELL Total Loss
NEW MUSIC FOR THE LAST RUN ON THE MOONLIT BEACH WITH YOUR LOVE…so romantic: BEACH HOUSEBloom
I love Girls but I think we love Christopher Owens more…
UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (11.5.12) Christopher Owens
I don’t know how I feel about this. It would be like Jack White going solo after the first two White Stripes records. Christopher Owens leaves Girls after a second record that quite possibly was the best record of this decade. His solo record is good, which shows us that the band Girls had far more depth. The Tullesque flute coupled with the electric guitar sounds like early Fleetwood and later Midlake combined. I’m sold, but dude don’t burn us and give your Girls bandmates a chance and do another record in 2013. We really do, did and still do love Girls —> read for yourself WE WERE RIGHT!!!
Vitals: Founded: 2012 Hometown: SF, CA Members: Christopher Owens Sonic Soulmates™: Midlake, Girls, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull Trackables™: “Here We Go”
GRMLN is Yoodoo Park. Lo-fi great music. Listen to his EP now!
UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (10.22.12) GRMLN
Lo-fi, still living in his parent’s basement and he’s only a Sophomore at UC Santa Cruz. Isn’t that the school where you have clothing optional Wednesday’s? None-the-less it’s a great segue to the stripped down sounds of GRMLN. It’s lo-fi, single guitar, vocals, electronic backing. Think Dirty Beaches, but Yoodoo has melody. It’s clean, crisp and a little Jack Whitey.
Vitals: Founded: 2012, started making music in 2010 Hometown: orange county to santa cruz Members: YooDoo Park Sonic Soulmates™: Lo-fi clean guitar Jack White, Dirty Beaches Trackables™:
We first heard him with Ben E. Kings “Stand By Me” — Clever
Listen to his new EP Explore here. love “Love.Think.Die” & “Coral”
Amazing rockadelica from London will knock your socks off.
UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (10.14.12) Toy
Phew…we thought this year of rock was going to boil down to Tame Impala and that Nirveatles crap. What a sham…then, oh then we hear Toy and our hearts skipped a beat. Psychadelia from London, makes us think of our Primal Scream days, but I have to say they are better. They have melody and they rock the sh*t of the place. You can get lost in their music like that of early Verve, see “Already There” and then call us and tell how amazing that song is. We beg you to listen to “Dead and Gone” and tell us that you aren’t in love. Oh and they’re on Heavenly Records, a trusted label of quality. We dare you….Thank you.
Vitals: Founded: 2012 Hometown: London, UK
Members: Tom Dougall
Dominic O’Dair
Alejandra Diez
Maxim Barron
Charlie Salvidge Sonic Soulmates™: Primal Scream, Tame Impala, Verve Trackables™: “Dead and Gone”
Our hue is getting closer to home. Three more FANTASTIC records for October
We’re back with three more outstanding records for your October spice. A good garden variety. One part, singer songwriter for you lonely souls, one part 70′s rock anthem for those of you seeking a kink in your neck and a final drop of OUR FAVORITE RECORD OF THE YEAR! No joke…
Take this:
New Records: AC Newman – Shut Down The Streets He was our first artist ever featured here at NBD. He is dusty in our archives that he doesn’t even exist on our WP site. Here is the new record, it’s heartfelt? Don’t cry:
Tame Impala – Lonerism Don’t even think about questioning this bands place in our hearts. They are our final drop of hope for a rock revolution. Please listen and bang your head!
Bad Books – II: Do you want to know why the record is so good. I got sad at first, then I got excited, then I got sad again. Like a great bout of bi-polarism, this record takes you on the right kind of music emotional roller coaster. Listen to it in order and don’t be a song slut, listen to it in it’s entirety.
It’s time for OctoberFresh…That’s right, time for you/us to share with you our gems.
Take this:
New Records: Efterklang - tones it down and goes all Talk, Talk with their new record Piramida
Earlimart – The Grandaddy, Modesto crew re-appear. Lovely record System Preferences
Sea Wolf – We’ve loved them for sometime now and this record Old World Romance is stellar! The Fresh & Onlys- Well one of our fave local bands gave something nice a few months back. Listen to Long Slow Dance
UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (9.24.12) New War
How often can you say, “Wow those dudes sound they came from the 80′s” a lot right? More than feels acceptable, but hey that’s quite alright, the 80′s were indulgent and eclectic. Wearing a little eyeliner and some lipstick was ironic and buying expensive things became the norm. But how often do you hear someone say, “Dude that band sounds like U2 being impregnated by Frankie Goes to Hollywood”….never. What made Frankie absolutely acceptable, was their tribal sound. What made U2 great was not their desire to to change channels on a 500 ft. TV screen, but was their Irish rebellion DNA. That DNA mixed with Frankie’s flashiness, gives us New War. To make it easy, they sound a heck of a lot like Kasabian. That’s it. New record is S/T and it’s good.
Vitals: Founded: 2012 Hometown: Melbourne, AU Members: Chris Pugmire, Jesse Shepherd, Melissa Lock Sonic Soulmates™: U2, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Kasabian Trackables™: “Revealer”
The Arizona Turk is one the primary contributors to New.Band.Day. He’s been a fixture since 2010 and his picks are ahhhhmazing. They may seem confusingly unfamiliar, but that’s why we love him. His picks sound odd today, but if you look back over the past several years, you’ll notice that those bands are just now […]
She is our #1 Band Crush of 2012. Hands down a well deserved Hummingbird. After 3 years and four LPs she’s taken artist sensibility and created a wonderful record.
Don’t deprive yourself of Jessie because she may have crested to the mainstream. Just don’t be that guy…enjoy Jessie for the fact that she is one of the best new artists of 2012.
UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2013 (5.24.13) Marriages Oh hey how are you? Yes we’ve been tweeting and not blogging, sorry. We got sucked into the world of twitter passing along new music, so if you’re in the mood follow us @newbandday So you all know the Arizona Turk, right? I am convinced he’s […]
The Perfect Playlist for the End of Times. That’s right you Top 10 Doomsday Delights all compiled and ready to gooooooo!!! Now enjoy your final 39 days.
The Perfect Playlist for the End of Times. That’s right you Top 10 Doomsday Delights all compiled and ready to gooooooo!!! Now enjoy your final 39 days.
Three new nectarly fresh records to listen to…in their entirety. Don’t be a song slut, please listen to what they recorded. Do you just eat filling in the Oreo? I didn’t think so.
RT @EYJr: Best wishes to the Rockies organization. Thankyou for my time with you. Truly a blessing to be with the city of Denver. Thankyou … 5 days ago
STAFF PICKS – Our own Arizona Turk finally put pen to paper and sent us his 2011 GEM list stuffed with reverb, sonic soundwaves and spacey dreams. My mind is a whirl with all this great stuff. Read his list, like the bands on Facebook and listen to his playlist on Spotify. There are some real GEMS in here….Top 10 Bands, Tracks and Albums of 2011.
No other band put a dent in our 2011 universe, then Other Lives. They are big now, but even back in May of 2011, the band was still small. Now they’re touring with Radiohead and they are so deserving of our #1 Hummingbird Award for 2011. Get the album, tell your friends you’ve been listening since early 2011, and make them your new favorite band of 2011 and for all-time.
We don’t care that everyone knows who they are…they deserve to be voted onto the list of Hummingbird Award Winners. Listen and enjoy what everyone in The UK loves. They are better than any rock band since…The Strokes.
I love you, I hate you, I love you again, don’t leave me…please. That’s how we feel about our 4th Best New Band of 2011. EMA is Amazing and we want you to love her as well.
Age ain’t nuthin but a number. That’s right this 64 year-old soulman brings electrifying emotion to our ears. His Daptone Record is quality and well deserving of the Hummingbird.
Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #1 The Tallest Man on Earth
He is the reason why I love music, why I love to share music, why we endure the crap…he is the gem that was excavated one Winter morning back in February, and now he is THE MOST IMPORTANT NEW ARTIST OF 2010. Thank you Kristian for making and creating.
Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #2 The Pomegranates
Fuzzy Cincinnati, Ohio surf rockers bring a fantastic new album to 2010. I think these guys have just enough quirk to break-thru. They’ve been grinders on the road and with 3 LPs and a few EPs, they deserve the accolades. Love them and so will you! Hear two new tracks now a grab the Daytrotter session NOW! They DESERVE THE HUMMINGBIRD!!!
Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #3 The Radio Dept.
They were voted #1 in our mid-year Best of 2010 list. They are perfection in motion, they’re Pet Shop Boys sounds are a new way to make the [Second] Wave worth it’s rise. The Radio Dept. has an amazing album and will make our final three Best Albums of 2010, posted later this week. We love The Radio Dept. and we know you will!
Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #4 Chapel Club
Chapel Club is Morrissey trapped in a Interpol video. They destroy the stereotypes of the Second [New] Wave, and make it fun to listen to again. They mix The Smiths, Interpol, My Vitriol, Glenn Danzig and Joy Division all into one. The single “The Shore” is brilliant and we are thankful that the Arizona Turk pulled an all-nighter to find this gem. Merry Christmas
Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #5 Jim Jones Revue
Seriously the Best Band of 2010 and they’re only #5…WOW, this is much harder than I thought it would be. They’re Little Richard, The Misfits and Jerry Lee Lewis all wrapped up in an angry little package. I love em soo much, I hope this endorsement gets you to listen. Listen to 2 new tracks.
This is the final post of 2010. The Top 10 Albums from Me the Editor. Damn it’s been a great year musically. If you said this year in music sucked, then you weren’t listening or reading. If you have a friend and you’re a friend then pass along NewBandDay.com to them. It’ll be their New Years Resolution, or yours if you’re looking to be a better friend. The albums are here. So go download them…NOW! See you next year.
