Best of Portland — 2011 Overall Final Results

It’s been a wild ride to the finish line, but the dust has finally settled and we are excited to announce the overall final results of our "Best Emerging Act of 2011"!  We would like to thank all the bands who were in the running. Together, along with many other talented acts not listed, your efforts make up the vibrant music culture that is increasingly drawing the attention of the national spotlight. Keep fighting the good fight in 2012 and we look forward to hearing all the latest jams! Congratulations to this year’s top three acts!

1. Lost Lander

Lost Lander has a penchant for building stripped down acoustic arrangements into full-blown dramatic moments of epic pop. Sometimes fast and loud, sometimes slow and soft, it won’t surprise fans of Menomena to find out that former member Brent Knopf (Ramona Falls) produced their debut Drrt. Striking out on two brief tours already, with connections and a polished record that is already gaining national attention, it would seem quite accurate to find this project in our top three of Portland’s "Best Emerging Artist of 2011". 

2. Radiation City

Narrowly trailing Lost Lander by less than 1/20th of a point, it makes sense that these two bands are in very similar positions and have shared the stage a number of times. Upon offering the world The Hands That Take You (Tender Loving Empire), a retro-infused pop gem, 2011 found Radiation City in a debut breakout year that couldn’t be stopped. While the full account of accolades is too long to list here, special highlights include packed showcases at CMJ in the middle of a national tour, a Daytrotter session, a video premiere on IFC and a slew of adoring press from across the country including several nods on notable "Year End" lists including this one.

3. Aan

"Dynamic" is a word that can be thrown around a little too easily in the blog world, a lot like "love" and "hate" in the real world, but when it comes to the case of Aan it can be said without question that this a band with a truly dynamic sound that is also easy to love. At times reminiscent of the aforementioned Menomena, Aan blends some of the most pleasing guitar tones and technical percussion in recent memory with the fitting, but abrasive cry of frontman Bud Wilson’s vocals, for a combination that can explode and collapse at a moment’s notice. Still trying to find a permanent lineup while recording a new LP, 2012 finds Aan prepping for a tour to SXSW and back again, where it will also play 35 Denton and Treefort Music Fest alongside the varied likes the Jesus and the Mary Chain and of Montreal.

BAND J F OS TOTAL   1 Lost Lander 8 0.037 0 8.037 2 Radiation City 8 0.011 0 8.011 3 Aan 7 0.03 0 7.03 4 Unknown Mortal Orchestra 7 0.016 0 7.016 5 The Druthers 3 3 0 6 6 AgesandAges 5 0.006 0 5.006 7 Swahili 5 0.004 0 5.004 8 Youth 3 1 0 4 9 Yeah Great Fine 0 0.024 3 3.024 10 Adventures! With Might 3 0.017 0 3.017 11 Sallie Ford & The Sound… 3 0.013 0 3.013 12 Psychic Feline 3 0.008 0 3.008 13 Blouse 3 0.005 0 3.005 14 The Hugs 3 0.005   3.005 15 Purple n Green 3 0.003 0 3.003 16 Jobo Shakins 3 0 0 3 17 Tope 1 2 0 3 18 Sons of Huns 0 1.5 1 2.5 19 AU 2 0.033 0 2.033 20 Hausu 2 0.014 0 2.014 21 Hosannas 0 0.011 2 2.011 22 The Ascetic Junkies 2 0.007 0 2.007 23 Sarah Billings 2 0.002 0 2.002 24 Glassbones 1 0.5 0 1.5 25 Eidolons 0 0.092 1 1.092 26 Morning Teleportation 0 0.049 1 1.049 27 Natasha Kmeto 1 0.037 0 1.037 28 Wild Ones 1 0.035 0 1.035 29 Forest Park 1 0.033 0 1.033 30 Father Figure 1 0.021 0 1.021 31 The Greater Midwest 1 0.01 0 1.01 32 The Sexbots 0 0.004 1 1.004 33 Lincoln Crockett 1 0.003 0 1.003 34 BOOM! 1 0.002 0 1.002 35 Sex Life 1 0.001 0 1.001 36 Aitch 1 0 0 1 37 Sam Adams 0 0.039 0.5 0.539 Legend: J = Jury – OS = Open Submissions – – F = Fans + Readers

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