Who caught our attention this past year with their breakthrough, boundary pushing and mold breaking ways? Feast your eyes and ears on the talent below.
1. Band of Skulls
Deserving no less than the number one spot, Band of Skulls have proven their worth in all aspects of their art, thus making an appearance on all three of cornershopstudios’ Top Ten lists. These Brits’ exhilarating, raw and reckless sound is what rock and roll is all about and they’ve captured that pure essence on their debut record Baby Darling Doll Face Honey as well as in their incendiary live performances.
2. Japandroids
This Vancouver noise-rock duo’s skills lie in creating a sound far more complete and consuming than expected of a two-piece. Like any wild animal, Japandroids are best observed in their natural habitat: catch them live for the full effect.
3. William Fitzsimmons
Illinois-based singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons’ intimate and personal lyrics are set to stripped down folk melodies and delivered with heartfelt emotion. Get to know this amazing artist through his latest album The Sparrow and the Crow.
4. Cage the Elephant
Don’t let Cage the Elephant’s raucous punk rock sound fool you, they’re not just about making noise; topics of frustration with society and hypocrisies of the world are explored fully in singles like In One Ear and Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.
5. Deer Tick
Rhode Island’s Deer Tick bring the dark revelations of a scorned man to life, with their country and blues infused southern rock: “True love, it’s hard to find it, Though I was once beside it, I’ve fallen far behind it”.
6. Mother Mother
Witty pop-rock tunes along with clever and humorous words make for a happy mix with Mother Mother’s boy-girl vocal harmonies. All aspects of their music are skillfully rendered on stage with confidence, intensity and liveliness.
7. Ladyhawke
Electro-pop princess Ladyhawke has had an amazing year raking in the awards in her homeland of New Zealand, as well as Australia. Check out her latest and fifth single, the synth-heavy dance tune, Magic.
8. The xx
Soft tones, soothing voices, simple melodies and sensual vocal harmonies are all combined to create UK bred The xx’s seductive sound. Lookout for the band’s 3D “physical interpretation” of their record xx, on exhibit in London from January 8th to 12th.
9. Foreign Born
L.A. based foursome Foreign Born’s Person to Person is the ultimate summer album with it’s dreamy pop rock sound splattered with hints of world music. Ironically the track that best captures this essence is titled Winter Games.
10. Drake
Canadian actor turned rapper Drake has had quite the year with the release of his first record, So Far Gone, and more TV appearances and collaborations than one can keep track of. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock all year, have a look at his video for Best I Ever Had.
