Special thanks to this year’s Deli poll jurors (listed below), writers, readers, and all the artists and their fans who participated – you rock! We wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.
It seems like everything happened so quickly in 2010 for Sun Airway, as things tend to do these days for young artists/bands due to the power of the internet. It’s easy to remember when tracks like “Put the Days Away”, “Waiting on You”, and “Oh, Naoko” began to surface in the blogosphere, which quickly caught the attention of Dead Oceans. Though Sun Airway might feel like an overnight sensation to some, Jon Barthmus and Patrick Marsceill have been heavily involve with the local Philly music scene for years with their former band The A-sides. In fact, most of the tracks that are featured on Sun Airway’s excellent debut Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier were originally written for The A-sides, but after feeling like the band had run its course and having been inspired by artists like Brian Eno and Manitoba’s Up Into Flames as well as 60s and 70s pop, you find the duo melding these styles together creating beautiful tracks all ready to be unleashed on the world. We’re thinking that their tour in 2010 with Bear in Heaven and Twin Shadow (The Deli’s NYC Best of Emerging Artists Poll 2010 Winner) as well as an appearance at CMJ for Pitchfork’s Offline Fest are simply just start off points for Sun Airway. National and international airwaves get ready to be introduced to The Deli’s Philly Best of Emerging Artists Poll 2010 Winner! You can check out our interview with Sun Airway’s Jon Barthmus from last year for our Where Is My Mind? section here as well as our review of Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelierhere.
You should already know Reading Rainbow by now. They started last year on the right foot by winning The Deli’s Philly Best of Emerging Artists Poll 2009. After rockin’ the fuck out at SXSW, the band received the opportunity to release their sophmore full-length album on Hozac Records. Thus, the process to put together their release Prism Eyes began its journey. The duo recorded most of their album down in Virginia with pals Eternal Summers, and were chosen to participate in Weathervane’s Shaking Through, which allowed them more time in a professional studio to record three tracks for their Hozac release and helped to give Rob Garcia and Sarah Everton their first taste of Pitchfork love that quickly thrust them into the national spotlight. Prism Eyes was released and waves of positive reviews flooded the internet. You would think that would be enough to happen to one band in a year, but not for the dynamic couple of Reading Rainbow. The pair also threw down for Daytrotter, hit the road with Dum Dum Girls, released a split 7" with Brooklyn’s Coasting on French label Atelier Ciseaux (just weeks after Prism Eyes was released), and signed to monster booking agency Billions. Reading Rainbow is one of those outfits that should get all the attention it gets. They already have a slew of upcoming shows scheduled at SXSW as well as tours with The Dodos and Dum Dum Girls so 2011 better watch out! You can check out our interview with Reading Rainbow from last year for our Where Is My Mind? section here as well as our review of Prism Eyeshere.
Yes, Creepoid has been a band for barely over a year, and if it wasn’t for that fateful storm that snowed-in lead singer Sean Miller and drummer Pat Troxell and now bassist/vocalist Anna Troxell with a vintage recording machine, we might have never discovered this charismatic outfit filled with the spirit of Kurt Cobain and that 90’s Grunge angst all heroined out (as we have stated before). We also think others instantly recognized that there was something special about this band. After all, when your first show is opening for Best Coast and Reading Rainbow and your second show is opening for Kurt Vile & the Violators, someone out there believes that you deserve to be on those bills as well. Creepoid has received plenty of local love from the beginning and with the recent release of their kick-ass debut full-length Horse Heaven on Ian Records (The Deli’s Philly Record Label of the Year 2010), we’re thinking that it is only a matter of time when the rest of the world will realize it too. Expect another new EP from the local gang this summer. You can check out our interview with Creepoid from this year for our Where Is My Mind? section here as well as our review of Horse Heavenhere.
Sad Brad Smith has released a video created by the talented Bernie McGovern for his track "Old Days are Here Again". Sad Brad Smith will be performing a free show at The Whistler on on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14th) at 9pm.
It’s finally here: The Sasquatch Music Festival 2011 lineup. I might say this year around looks much better than certain other festivals, not to mention it’s ten times closer to Portland. From our illustrious streets we have Modest Mouse and The Thermals, to say the least — two of many on a list of certain musical titans. What do think, dear Portlanders: is it worth the drive to the Gorge and $285?
Let’s go ahead and work on their 15 minutes right now: The band name, the album name, the presentation, and the songs themselves all draw from Andy Warhol’s legendary The Factory studio and scene. Candi and the Strangers brought their updated dreamy-psych sound to ND studios this past Saturday to celebrate the release of 10th of Always, which they played straight through. Album officially out tomorrow;
After a seizure inducing 2 months of polling and voting and numberschurning and link pasting… HABEMUS POLL WINNER!
Congrats to twangy garage rocker Daniel Pujol, who preceded DIY indie pop experimenter Evan P. Donohue and orchestral collective Kopecky Family Band. Here’s a picture of Mr Pujol for the ladies… and here’s the full list of our Best of Nashville 2010 Emerging Artists Poll:
Hey, do you remember The Bravery? They made "An Honest Mistake" back in 2005. But the New York-based band isn’t erring with their choice of opener for their UK tour. Royal Chains are also NYC locals, so don’t fret that you’ll be missing them open for The Bravery across the pond…they’ll totally be back soon. And when they are? You should be there. As a girl who longs for the shining era of garage rock revival in the early 2000’s (yeah, all those "the" bands), Royal Chains make a return to the genre still feel fresh. Their new single "A Million Fires" captures the distorted guitar and gritty feel of 2003, but mixes it up with better production values and some smooth backing vocals. And some tinkly bells that still manage to rock… just because. Because why? Because who doesn’t love rocking bells, that’s why. The Royal Chains return to the states right after Valentine’s day, which if you ask me, is better than a Whitman’s sampler. – allison levin
Nicole Atkins returns to the New York (and world) music scene with her long-awaited second album "Mondo Amore." Opening track "Vultures" presents a lyrical landscape riddled with fear and loathing. "Cry Cry Cry" emerges with a shuffling drum pattern, gospel backing vocal chorus and clean muscle shoals guitar work. "Hotel Plaster" returns to familiar crooner-core territory, as violins add previously unexpected textures. The slow passionate vocal performance is enhanced by a male voice duet, mixed just under Nicole’s. "You Come To Me" is a straight ahead rocker, snare drum and reverberated guitar driven. Rising piano notes create an upward motion for Nicole’s impressive pipes. "My Baby Don’t Lie" recreates a classic down-home jug-band-on-the-back-porch feel that British blues rockers like Led Zepplin loved to emulate. The record then segues into more familiar sonic territory before returning to the original southern fried vibe. "This Is For Love" uses fiddling violins for maximum background effect, cleverly blending them into a country rock format, but it’s "You Were The Devil" that delivers Nicole’s most sensuous vocal performance on the album: inside a twangy western motif, the subject matter emphasizes the albums overall theme – love, loved – then lost. "War Is Hell" explores this emotional experience further. Nicole’s vocals underscore exactly what she does best – the torch song. "Heavy Boots" effectively uses cathedral organ and piano to dramatically highlight this tale of leaden footwear. "The warriors are waiting outside for you on the street. The hungry virgin eyes with scorpions in their smile. They are no match for me." "The Tower" re-imagines Led Zepplin’s "Dazed & Confused" minus the extended stoner jam (though live her band at points have gone even there) – there is a tasty guitar solo, though. This may also work as a break-up song. Nicole Atkins plays The Bowery Ballroom on February 9. – Dave Cromwell (photo by Lucia Holm)
Blame it on the… aliens? Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION has a close encounter in the music video for his single "Sail", released days ago. The video also sports the updated mix of the song that will appear on his album Megalithic Symphony, due to make contact on March 15th.
If AWOLNATION’s debut album is any indicator, you should be marking your calendars for Megalithic Symphony. Back From Earth, was a tasty mix of Electric 6, Mark Ronson, and UNKLE flavored tracks. Now if I could only get one of those space helmets…
Congrats to Penrose, who won the fans’ section of our Best of Philly Emerging Aritsts Poll 2010. The bluesy classic rock trio was followed by glam-punk arena rockers Univox, and experimental keyboard army The Synth Sircus. We embedded the top 10 at the bottom of this blurb. Check out all the bands – this year we have some great variety!
A pool of 50+ artists were selected in December 2010 mostly by local scene makers (concert promoters, bloggers, DJs, etc., full list here) and part of them through an open submission process. We let the fans vote and these are the results as far as the top 15 positions. We will publish our final results soon including the jurors’ top 10 list and the full composite chart which will include jurors’, Deli writers’, and fans’ votes as well as the open submission phase. Thank you to all who participated this year!
The explosion of keys and guitars resulting from a standoff between Coldplay (circa X & Y) and Radiohead, with occasional backup from more marginalized indie rockers, would create The Pursuits‘ Exile, the follow-up to 2009’s Still Half Asleep. The mostly-Belmont-based alt-rockers have a coldness and craftiness in their melodies similar to the likes of Calvin, and went from a quintet to a sextet since the EP was made. Four are vocalists, and with the work of three guitarists and thick layers of synth and keys, the EP is intricate but not overdone and, despite wearing its heart on its sleeve lyrically, it doesn’t give it all away by staying just reserved enough.
"24-7" opens pensively with an American Football-like guitar melody bubbling dreamily over softly-treading percussion. Vocalist/lyricist Joseph Storey implores, "Is it worth it?" sounding like Kele Okereke (Bloc Party), before the song spirals off in Minus the Bear fashion, reverb echoing. "Cold Anchor" follows with a heavy heart reminiscent of OK Computer and some parts of Hail to the Thief, breaking through pensive, bleary ambience with a definitive melody. But it’s not all doom and gloom; "Morocco" heats things up with a buzzing, underlying guitar part that almost sounds like The White Stripes’ "Seven Nation Army," and amid crisp percussion, guitars bristle and cut jaggedly with jazz influence in "Heatwave," the first time the recording shys away from its smooth spaciness.
"Pearl Diving" plunges back into the deep with quietly warbling guitars and cymbal tapping. It’s clear The Pursuits know their influences, and consequently know their sound. They’re not about hooks – which can cause a sameness in the songs despite the guitarists’ craftsmanship – and they’re not about to lighten up, opting instead for poetic introspection as heavy as the reverb. – Jessica Pace
Blacksburg Virginia’s indie-pop genius Wild Nothing, the dream-rock creation of Jack Tatum, continues the lineage of ambient rock nugget’s tinged with 80’s emotional pop in his follow up EP Golden Haze from late 2010, after a successful debut, Gemini, floated into the ears of shoegaze lovers world-wide last spring.
"Golden Haze" kicks off the album as if it were just continuing where Gemini left off. Bright peaks of keys are layered over delicate loops of Cure-like guitar melodies while Tatum croons "Wild heart, surrender to me. What does it take to be like you?" Good god, if only John Cusack could’ve blasted this from his boombox outside the window….
"Your Rabbit Feet" channels Slowdive and dare I say early Sonic Youth in probably the poppiest depressing gem of a tune I’ve heard in years. Tatum chants, "What do you want to know? I’ll tell you anything," as guitars rise and feedback is a blurry weep of noise in the distant background echoing into keys that bring the unique pop sensibility back in a completely brilliant way.
Every track on this stellar EP melts into each other creating a soundtrack of hit after hit. Not just one or a few tracks stand-out; they all do.
Check out the fan made video for "Asleep" off the Golden Haze EP below. Wild Nothing will be performing live at the Rock & Roll Hotel on Feb. 12. –Dawn
Below is the official video and new track “Rad Racer” from Work Drugs (a.k.a. Thomas Crystal & Benjamin Louisiana). It’s a smooth, sexy dance number that we are sure will get some lucky person a little action one evening. Let’s hope it’s you. You can download “Rad Racer” for free here as well as their other tracks “Third Wave” and “Dog Daze”. Enjoy! – The Deli Staff
