Our Year End Poll for Emerging Chicago Artists was – as usual – a painstaking (and somewhat excruciating) process, but we pulled it of with remarkable flair!
For the first time in our polls’ history we have two bands tied in first place! Kudos to Netherfriends and The Wild Family (both bands are pictured) for sharing the spot in the sun!
First, we let the local bands submit their music (for free), and got our Deli editors to pick the nominees. Then we polled a list of 15+ Chicago scene expert (our jury, list at the bottom) and asked them to nominate 3 more bands of their choice each. Then we polled our writers, then we polled our readers. We tried to keep things open for each single genre, from Indie Rock to Roots Music to Hip Hop.
If you are a geek interested in all the subtelties related to how this poll works, you can read its rules here (happy reading!). But if all you care about is the awesome new music Chicago produced in the year 2013, this list is all you need. Enjoy!
BEST OF 2013 POLL FOR EMERGING CHICAGO ARTISTS
****** FINAL RESULTS ******
NYC Hip Hop act Ratking – highlighted in the 2012 edition of our Best of NYC Poll for Emerging Artists – mold their smooth yet in-your-face rhymes together with skill. Their take on experimental hip-hop takes its own form, kind of kicking it old school like the piercing jabs of KRS-One mixed with Death Grips. One of their first marks on the scene was a team effort track with Eric Copeland of Black Dice back in November for Converse’s Rubber Tracks. In preparation for the release of their debut album, titled ‘So It Goes’ (which will include a collaboration with King Krule), the band just dropped a pretty tight new single. Listen to their new, infectious track titled “Canal” below. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)
Steel Phantoms have been on my radar ever since I heard the first chord of Curtain Call last year and was immediately transported to The Jam’s ‘That’s Entertainment.’ The duo Aaron Harris, previously of Montreal’s Islands and Jesse Newkirk IV pump out scrambling songs that go from broody to brash in seconds. On ‘Sunflowers’ vocals take a delicate gossamer turn (the word ‘haunts’ sounds haunting), and even the drums glisten, quivering and glittering into a beat driven crescendo. ‘Matt Le Blanc’ hints at their grungier side, whilst ‘Friend to Friend’ is more smooth garage, sometimes with a nod to The Smiths via Sonic Youth. ‘Overflow’ (streaming) its layers of love and enchantment over melodic and heightened chord sequences will be the gentle sway and soar tune on Tuesday 18th Feb when they headline a superb line up of Coastgaard, Vinyl Thief, and Sharkmuffin at Pianos. – Francesca Baker
Steel Phantom won the Open Submission contest tied to our Best of NYC2013 Poll for Emerging Artists, full results for that category are here.
Our Year End Poll for Emerging Kansas City Artists was – as usual – a painstaking (and somewhat excruciating) process, but we pulled it of with remarkable flair! Kudos to Akkiles for winning it!
First, we let the local bands submit their music (for free), and got our Deli editors to pick the nominees. Then we polled a list of 15+ KC scene expert (our jury, list at the bottom) and asked them to nominate 3 more bands of their choice each. Then we polled our writers, then we polled our readers. We tried to keep things open for each single genre, from Indie Rock to Roots Music to Hip Hop.
If you are a geek interested in all the subtelties related to how this poll works, you can read its rules here (happy reading!). But if all you care about is the awesome new music the KC area produced in the year 2013, this list is all you need. Enjoy!
BEST OF 2013 POLL FOR EMERGING KC ARTISTS
– FINAL RESULTS –
It’s always great to see our Artists of the Month moving on to bigger and better things… Slothrust – who won our biweekly poll in September 2012 and placed at #30 in last year’s Best of NYC Poll for Emerging Artists – is about to release a new album under BaDaBing Records on February 18. The Brooklyn based trio was an early subscriber to the NYC grunge revival that’s now in its peak, and Leah Wellbaum’s quality vocals, lyrics and songwriting put this band on the forefront of this scene. Check out the first single "Crockpot," streaming below, and if you want more check out their 2012 debut, self released album "Feels Your Pain" here.
After bouncing around the world for inspiration, Echo Blooms’ founder Kyle Evans has finally made his way to Brooklyn, where he’s released three different records, for three different colors, and three different genres. Latest release ‘Blue’ has an orchestral folk feel, reminiscent of The Swell Season’s moving confessionals, and it’s all set to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, in a cosmic journey of self-discovery. The septet is supporting the release with two upcoming dates. Join the group at The Way Station Feb 7 at 9pm, and at Rockwood Music Hall Feb 16th at 4pm. Check out leading track ‘Cedar Beach’ below. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
Before you make plans for the evening, you might want to consider heading over to The Bitter End to see Anya Skidan back from her cross-country travels and ready to premiere some new tracks from her upcoming full-length release. While best known for carving a unique niche into psychedelic folk’s headspace, lately she’s been pummeling her soundscapes with noisy electronica and restless beats. It’s an unexpected change for a Brooklyn-by-Moscow artist always taking us somewhere we’ve never journeyed before. I’m excited to hear the new material when it drops next month – in the meantime, check out an old, out there track, streaming below. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
Our Year End Poll for Emerging Los Angeles Artists was – as usual – a painstaking (and somewhat excruciating) process, but we pulled it off with remarkable flair! Kudos to Moses Sumney for winning it! 2013 was an exciting and inspiring year for LA’s music scene. No one encompassed that more fully than Moses Sumney. We are glad to be able to give him the honor of winning the title.
Here’s how it all went down. First, we let the local bands submit their music (for free), and got our Deli editors to pick the nominees. Then we polled a list of 15+ Los Angeles scene experts (our jury, list at the bottom) and asked them to nominate 3 more bands of their choice each. Then we polled our writers, then we polled our readers. We tried to keep things open for each single genre, from Indie Rock to Roots Music to Hip Hop.
If you are a geek interested in all the subtelties related to how this poll works, you can read its rules here (happy reading!). But if all you care about is the awesome new music Los Angeles produced in the year 2013, this list is all you need. Enjoy!
BEST OF 2013 POLL FOR EMERGING LA ARTISTS
– FINAL RESULTS –
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: you can’t trust math. For brawling blues rock trio STRNGRS new single ’17 Letters,’ this is exactly what’s been making life so difficult for them lately. The track counts the ways that singer Carson Kelley’s been having trouble recently, from writing letters to digging graves. Shouted over shit kicking rhythms that should satisfy the pent-up needs of any White Stripes fan… or anyone else who doesn’t trust math either. Check out the track below and see them when they play with the Von Shakes as part of their free February residency all Wednesdays in February at Spike Hill, on Feb 26th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
Taking from the likes of Jawbox and Sunny Day Real Estate with a British twinge, the juiced-up post-grunge Brooklyn power-trio Libel brings to the table a sound that could be described like a summary of what happened in the 90s, with an added glam attitude. Singer Gavin Dunaway’s solid tenor, with its Bowiesque tinges, can croon and scream at will, and would be an asset for any band. Speaking about Bowie… as you may know, he’s a huge fan of The Pixies, so much so that he had them open for him and even used to play some of their songs live. Libel’s single and standout track “This Is Love” (streaming here) from their latest, well-produced LP "Music For Car Commercials," sounds exactly like the fruit of an imaginary collaboration between the Bostonian band and the Thin White Duke – we dig it! – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)
We alaways welcome good videos here at The Deli. We highlighted Brooklyn darkwave duo Color War a few weeks ago, after they announced debut album "It Could Only Be This Way," out in March. The two are actually both visual artists so it’s no surprise they came up with a stunning video for single "SOS" – check it out below.
Comprised of New York based duo known simply as Holly and Andy, New York-based dark electronic duo Weeknight are set to release their debut album ‘Post-Everything’ on Artificial Records (a division of Hand Drawn Dracula). Weeknight create the sort of languid, blurry pop that swirls slightly menacingly through your eardrums. The record will be released digitally on March 4, see them at Mercury Lounge on February 2nd.
