The Dawning Of A New Era...
So, it's the year 2008. It's a bank holiday today so there's no point checking to see if my anti-gravity boots have arrived, and food is most definitely not available in pill form as yet. Nor are we teleporting around the solar system or whizzing from place to place in giant glass tubes. In fact, it's kind of hard to see what we've all been wasting our time doing...oh, wait, hang on...it's the internet, isn't it? If ever there was a device designed to halt the progression of science in its tracks it's the web. It's just so bloody distracting!
With that in mind, here's a list of musical artistes who will probably have a very good 2008, seeing as they either have their first albums due to come out, or are otherwise poised to make a big splash. But, don't blame me if they don't, blame the mad scientist who has been wasting so much of his time on Facebook that he didn't get around to inventing proper robots and jet-packs and stuff...
Ashlee Simpson - 'Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)'
This won't win any of you rock sceptics round. Partly because Ashlee's crimes against pop-rock are numerous and some of them border on unforgiveable, and partly because she's not playing faux-rock music any more. She's gone ELECTRO...and SPANISHY...and...well it's going to divide a lot of people's opinions, but Team ChartBlog are behind this little beauty (which is available for download now) ALL THE WAY.
=====================================
Vampire Weekend
People are, hilariously, finding it hard to know what to make of this lot. Partly because the name makes them sound like goths on an outing to Whitby, and partly because their music has the swing of South African township jive, or jit, or whatever the proper name for the sort of music Paul Simon got excited about on his 'Graceland' album, over 20 years ago.
This means that certain people who like Vampire Weekend are having to admit that Paul Simon was right all along, and they HATE that!
'Mansard Roof' was out at the end of last year. Vampire Weekend's album is out on the 25th of February.
=====================================
Los Campesinos! - 'Death To Los Campesinos!'
Dull indie bands take note. THIS is how you pep up the age-old, tried-and-tested, band-performing-in-the-studio video. I know I keep banging on about this band, but stuff it, it's only because they're really really really good.
The single's out on February 18th, and their debut album 'Hold On Now, Youngster', will be out a week later.
=====================================
I Was A Cub Scout
This single, 'Our Smallest Adventures' was out a while ago, but it's included here because it bodes very well for the future. Although there's also a train of thought which says that if this didn't do it for ya the first time around (albeit in limited 7" form only), what hope is there?
=====================================
Laura Marling - 'Ghosts'
The best acoustic singer-songwriter stuff has to sound like the whisper of a close friend in your ear, as they quietly show you the fragments of their broken heart, but in the process of doing so, reveal a spine of pure steel and a wit as barbed as a hedgehog's pin-cushion. Laura Marling is in this lineage, and is going to have a very good year.
'Ghosts' is out on January 28th, and their debut album 'Alas I Cannot Swim', will be out a week later.
=====================================
Lupe Fiasco - 'Superstar'
Clever rappers who don't want to have to talk about violence all the time aren't massively thick on the ground. They're not massive thick anywhere, thinking about it. But anyway, Lupe is special, people know it, and hopefully 2008 will be the year the ones who DON'T know it come to their senses.
=====================================
These New Puritans - 'Elvis'
If the idea of a mix of Editors darkness, Young Knives speccy angularity and Franz melodic rush doesn't immediately enthrall you (and, to be fair, it wouldn't do it for me either, not as writing on the page) then at least give these indie newbies a go because they've got such a brilliant name. Their debut album 'Beat Pyramid' is a masterpiece of gibbering intensity, and yet still really, really good!
The single's out on January 21st, and their album will be out a week later.
=====================================
Lightspeed Champion - 'Tell Me What It's Worth'
Has Dev from Test Icicles been listening to too much Richard Hawley or what? Pretty song though.
'Tell Me What It's Worth' is out on January 14th.
=====================================
Adele
Saving for last the most obvious GONNABE from all these POSSIBLYMIGHTBES. Here's Adele's new single 'Chasing Pavements' which is out on January 21st. Her album also comes out a week later, and is very probably going to be the sound of a lot of people's early spring, so you might as well get used to it now.
(Is it just me that can hear a smidge of Maroon 5 in the chorus to this song? It IS? OK, forget I said it then...)
=====================================
COMING SOON: Some other people who might be worth keeping an eye on this year.
Comments
Don't even joke about the whole food in pill form thing please. The day that happens will be a sad day for mankind. Is it sad that my day would be far less enjoyable without food?
Anyways happy new year everybody at chart blog :) But, I'm not too keen on any of the artists above. Not sure what you all seem to see in Los Campesinos. However each to their own and all that.
x
wooo laura marling and vampire weekend!!
loved them both this year and i knew they were gonna be the 2008's Big Thing
i could listen to them all day long =D
Happy New Year ChartBlog! Thanks for a great 2007, I hope 2008 will be just as good.
I agree with livs on the whole 'food in pill form thing'. It would mean me going through Christmas without scoffing a whole tin of Quality Street, which would be a travesty!
p.s. I am in love with Ashlee Simpson, maybe if I put my willy on the internet she'll go out with me? Worked for Petey.
I've had the Ashlee Simpson song for about a month now (thanks to Perez Hilton =]) and it's so catchy ! Love it Love it.
I'm in love with the Ashlee song. It's so simple yet satisfying... Much like a food pill would be, mayhap...
If you download one Los Campesinos! song, let it be You! Me! Dancing! - it's awesome. Come to think of it, they're awesome. Download all their stuff!
My God I LOVE Ashlee Simpsons New Song
xxx
Really glad to see Laura Marling there, still don't think she's getting the appreciation she deserves! I CANNOT wait until the album :-)
[Me neither. 'My Manic And I' is kind of on constant play for me at the moment. I need some new songs! - Fraser]