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Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #7: Johnathon Boulet

19 Dec
Just listen and trust us. One of the best records of the year.

Just listen and trust us. One of the best records of the year.

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #7: Johnathon Boulet

Since we already posted the Playlist for the End of Times, which by note is on Friday, we couldn’t help ourselves and we had to award Johnathon Boulet with a Hummingbird. Nothing this year got us more pumped up for a fist fight then Johnathon Boulet. I wanted to watch Australian Rules Football drink a pint of Foster’s and beat some ass. There is no single rock record that should be listened to this year then their new LP We Keep The Beat Found the Sound See the Need Start the Heart. We dare you to hate it. Fine we hope you love them like we do. By the way, we know you music snobs will remind us that Johnathon Boulet had a record in 2009, and yes that record rules too, but seriously they deserve the nod and they are still considered BREAKING!!!! SO break them you fan boys!

Vitals:
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Label: Ode to my boys at Modular
Members:
Ravi Gupta
Tim Watkins
Harrison Wood
David Rogers
Jono Boulet
Sonic Soulmates™: Indie Folk is what they call themselves???? Less Mumford and more Kasabian. A little Kurt Vile’s lonely loveliness, Blur’s get up and riot attitude, and Kasabian’s anarchy anthems.
Trackables™ from her new LP We Keep The Beat Found the Sound See the Need Start the Heart
“This Song is Called Ragged”
“You’re an Animal”
“Piao Voca Slung”

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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:

Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
#7 Johnathon Boulet
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #8: CLASS ACTRESS

18 Dec
Class Actress is one of our favorite artists of 2012. #8 Hummingbird

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”

Follow Class Actress:

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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #9: NUDE BEACH

17 Dec
Nude Beach photos were fun to look for, but their music is just as good. Hummingbird #10

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”

Follow Nude Beach:

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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #10: THE WEEKND

14 Dec
The Weeknd is better than Frank Ocean so we gave him a Hummingbird

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”

Follow The Weeknd:
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official

Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #11: FEAR OF MEN

13 Dec

Hummingbird Award Winners Fear of Men

Hummingbird Award Winners Fear of Men

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.

Mosaic 7″

Follow Fear of Men:
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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

November ’12 Picks — The Perfect Playlist for the End of Times

14 Nov

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 HOUSE Bloom

Send us your picks….

The full playlist is here on Spotify:

UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (11.4.12) Christopher Owens

4 Nov

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”

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UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (10.22.12) GRMLN

23 Oct

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”

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UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (10.14.12) Toy

14 Oct

Amazing rockadelica from London will knock your socks off.

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”

New Album S/T

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Official

Octoberfresh II – Three New Records YOU MUST HEAR!

10 Oct

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.

NBD

Octoberfresh! Four records providing sweet Pumpkin Nectar

1 Oct

OctoberFresh Tunes from NBD!


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

More to come later this week!

NBD

UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (9.24.12) New War

24 Sep

New Band Alert! NEW WAR from Australia!

New Band Alert! NEW WAR from Australia!

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”

New Album S/T

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UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (9.14.12) Alt-J (∆)

14 Sep
Alt-J is worth the listen. The Leeds lads would rather you call them ∆

Alt-J is worth the listen. The Leeds lads would rather you call them ∆

UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (9.14.12) Alt-J

Leeds, no football club wants to be caught dead playing at Elland Road. You not only risk the punishing play on the field, but the fan abuse is unrivaled. It’s not surprising that a band like (∆), pronounced Alt-J was birthed under that protective shell. They like the culture of the football fans, is one of a kind. Although, they’re not punishing, just lushing…a new word I just made up. It’s hard to pin them to one sound. Maybe they lean a little to the right with Nurses, Animal Collective, or maybe a little more left and Radioheady, but it’s the upbeat almost danceable nature of the music that gets me and the NBDers jazzed. Yes these lads one the Mercury Prize, so it’s not a surprise that they are on our watch list. And by the way F*(K Pitchfork for that craptastic 4.5 review. I feel good when I lis tento tracks like “Something Good” or “Ms” maybe it’s the bells or the strummy guitars. A track ends and I get the same feeling I used to get before an exciting first date with that lady I fawned over. Alt-J is that band that will make your weekend better.

Vitals:
Founded: 2011
Hometown: Leeds, UK
Members: Gwil, Joe Newman [guitar/vocals], Gus Unger-Hamilton [keyboards] and Thom Green [drums] met at Leeds University in 2007
Sonic Soulmates™: Midlake, Nurses, Animal Collective
Trackables™:
“Breezeblocks” – Amazing single

An Awesome Wave

Follow:
Alt-J Website
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