Promising new Brooklyn band Modern Rivals comes at us with diverse instrumentation and lively vocals to create their spirited indie rock. With rolling pianos, playful “oohs,” dreamy keys and dynamic, often angular percussions, Modern Rivals bridge pop and rock genres in inventive new ways. Check out their latest EP “Sea Legs,” which they released this past May, here.

(Photo by Todd Zimmer)

–-Zach Hodson

Zach Hodson is a monster. He once stole a grilled cheese sandwich from a 4-year-old girl at her birthday party. He will only juggle if you pay him. I hear he punched Slimer right in his fat, green face. He knows the secrets to free energy, but refuses to release them until "Saved by the Bell: Fortysomethings" begins production. He is also in Dolls on Fire and Drew Black & Dirty Electric, as well as contributing to various other Kansas City-based music, comedy, and art projects.

Anybody who writes songs is of course a songwriter, whether she plays in a folk or a metal band. In this category though we are referring to those artists who present themselves as solo performers (or accompanied by a band) and play music which finds inspiration in the tradition of folk giants like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, but also in the poppier vein of artists like Elton John and Suzanne Vega. And since most modern songwriters dwell between folk and pop, we added to this category also artists who belong to a genre we call "Rootsy Pop" – i.e. more uptempo acts who present themselves as a band rather than solo.

Total submissions in this category: 42

Artists Qualified to the Poll’s Next Stage (starting around 01.10)

1. Julian Fulton & the Zombie Gospel – 8
2. Lisa Jaeggi – 7.83
2. sami.the.great – 7.83

Honorable Mentions:

4. Chantilly – 7.5
4. Jessi Robertson – 7.5
4. Nicky Egan – 7.5
7. Frances Cone – 7.33
8. Jacob Jeffries Band – 7.00
8. Rachel Brown – 7.00
8. Bern & the Brights – 7.00

Jurors: Gracie Gutman (Deli SF), Brianne Turner (Deli Nashville), Paolo De Gregorio (Deli NYC)

The Deli’s Staff

Five piece folk-pop band The Horde and the Harem’s latest album “A Long Midwinter” lives up to the exact opposite of its name. A compilation of heartfelt melodies and whimsical harmonies, the album is cheerful and lighthearted enough to cure seasonal defective disorder. No upcoming shows to speak of this month, so your winter blues will have to be satisfied with streaming their music online, which might be even better because you don’t have to leave the warmth of your home. -Lucy Sherman

You can hear elements of nearly all of Portland’s music circles in Eidelons progressive ballads, and as a result they might be one of the best representations of the city’s music. Their indie rock riffs are played with the purity of a garage rock band atop blistering rhythms that aren’t without an experimental edge. Still they retain a certain pop sensibility within the crooning vocals of Dan Beyers and their occasional blending of a folk influence that seems to be ever present in stumptown. 

Catherine Feeny’s songs are entrancing. Between the ethereal quality of her voice and the dreamlike sensations evoked by intricacies of her compositions it’s easy to get lost in thought while listening. You can hear a passion behind her experimental pop songs that carries with it both nostalgia and innovation and for this reason there’s no doubt in my mind that 2013 will be a successful year for her.

In the past year, The Lower 48 have built a significant amount of momentum in Portland’s music scene and for good reason. Their music is rich with soothing vocal harmonies, tight instrumentation and a captivating presentation that has been winning over audiences at some of the city’s most prominent venues. Their folk pop gems are sure to build them a place among the most recognized acts in Portland over the course of the next year. 

 

 

Julian Fulton might be New Jersey’s answer to boyish lo-fi charm. Along with harmonies supported by his Zombie Gospel, the artist croons his way over bouncing piano lines (‘Junkie Song’), feedbacking guitar lines (‘Lie), and self-effacing lyrics (every track) that only makes his music sound even larger for its tortured honesty. New record ‘Heart & Arms’ includes all this and even a Zombie Survival Kit filled up with even more tracks… because zombies hate music. Julian Fulton topped our emerging NYC artists submissions in the Songwriter/Rootsy Pop category with an average rating of 8 out of 10. – Mike Levine

Unicorn Domination has enough rhythmic energy and electronic appeal to start a rave at a young republican’s convention. Their music is saturated with visceral synthesized leads, driving drum machines and contagious vocals that could inspire movement in virtually any room. See them animate a dance floor near you in 2013.

Lisa Jaeggi is that world-weary traveler who’s seen it all, and is ready to tell the story. Being adopted by a Kasmiri Sheep wrangler, and traveling to New York as a young auteur, she quickly began documenting her experiences as the peripatetic wanderer into a sound that reflects a variety of experiences. From "All Over Now"’s folksy jazz, to "The Difference Between"’s exotic tablas, Lisa breaks down boundaries everywhere she goes with her tireless spirit. Lisa placed 2nd in our Best of NYC for Emerging Artists Open Submissions together with sami.the.great (see below) with an average rating of 7.83 out of 10. – Mike Levine

sami.the.great should have added a "2.0" at the end of her new name, since her music sounds like a playful, semi-electronic evolution of the "pop singer songwriter" game. And we all know that versions 2 are always more intriguing than the first ones – kudos to learning and evolving! The lady doesn’t lack a fair share of sass and character either, which makes things even more intereting. She’ll be playing live at ZirZamin on February 5.