Tag Archives: Alt-J

The 4th Annual Hummingbird Awards – 2013 Best New Bands

13 Dec
The 4th Annual Hummingbirds - Best New Band of 2013

The 4th Annual Hummingbirds – Best New Band of 2013

It’s been 12 months since we last spoke. Since the Hummingbird graced our presence and honored our 12 2012 BEST NEW BANDS. What are the Hummingbird Awards you ask? Well they are the DEFINITIVE AWARDS for the BEST NEW BAND OF THE YEAR. We’re on year four and we’re loving. Who are we? We are two passionate dudes who love their music, kids, wives and lives. We do this for fun, but we still buy vinyl, CDs and magazines. Why? Because we care about the music and the bands that create. Music is the subtext to life and when I think back on my life’s greatest moments I have visions of happiness, sadness and whatever, but it’a all accompanied with a soundtrack. We know you have it too or you wouldn’t be here to read our blog.

So who have launched? In 2010 it was Best Coast and Tennis, In 2011 it was Other Lives and I Heart Sharks, In 2012 it was Haim and Alt-J. We might be way toooo early on a band like in 2010 Phantogram or way too late on Lana Del Rey or just in time for Foals. All in all it doesn’t matter. If you’ve kept up with us then you’ve been blessed with great music.

Here we go for the 4th Annual Hummingbird Awards!

*******UPDATED 12.31.13*************
Hummingbird Awards 2013 RECAP – The Definitive Best New Artist List
#13 MS MR
#12 Swim Deep
#11 Holy Milk
#10 Mutual Benefit
#9 Diane Coffee
#8 Haerts
#7 Holograms
#6 Autre Ne Veult
#5 Hookworms
#4 Blood Orange
#3 Dustin Tebbutt
#2 London Grammar
#1 Bill Ryder-Jones

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RECAPS FROM YEARS PAST 2012, 2011 and 2010:
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The final 12!!!!! 
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
#7 Johnathon Boulet
#6 DIIV
#5 Hey Sholay
>#4 Alt-J (∆)
#3 Jessie Ware
#2 Grimes
#1 Toy

Editor Picks Best of 2012: RE’s 2012 Picks
Staff Picks Best of 2012: Arizona Turk’s Incredible List for 2012

Read the 2011 Hummingbirds
Did you know we predicted James Vincent McMorrow, Other Lives, La Sera and Widowspeak!

No Better Bands Then The One's Who Wear the Hummingbird
No Better Bands Then The One’s Who Wear the Hummingbird

Playlist:

Read the 2010 Hummingbirds 
Did you know we predicted Best Coast, Sleigh Bells, Perfume Genius, Lord Huron & Tennis!

No Better Bands Then The Ones That Wear The Hummingbird
No Better Bands Then The Ones That Wear The Hummingbird

Playlist:

Where will she land? Tell us your favorite 2012 New Band and we will add them to our list!

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Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #4: Alt-J (∆)

26 Dec
Alt-J deserves the Hummingbird Award

Alt-J deserves the Hummingbird Award

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #4: Alt-J (∆)
This might be a record for us, two bands back-to-back from Leeds. First Hey Sholay now Alt-J, although this civic rivalry may be problematic since most of the Hey Sholay lads are from Sheffield…either way, something is brewing in the water and it’s not ale, it’s a penchant for good quality music that leads the pack in some of the best new bands of 2012. We loved Alt-J back in September and we still love the Awesome Wave LP, hell they won a Mercury Prize…not why we loved them, but rarely does a winner of that prize suck. Read the original Uncorking here.
Alt-J is definitely still riding the hang-over of the 2011 layered electronic, dreamy sonic sounds of Animal Collective and Midlake, but at times we hear the timeless Fletwood Mac beauty shine through. Please listen to “Breezeblocks” and tell us you don’t love these guys.

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 Hey Sholay:
Alt-J Website
Facebook

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
#6 DIIV
#5 Hey Sholay
#4 Alt-J (∆)
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

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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
Facebook

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