Top 20 Artists To Look Forward To In 2009 (Part 2)
6 comments Posted by musicunderfire at 12/27/2008
Our conclusion to the artists you can't miss in 2009 continues. If you missed our first 10, head here. Once again, enjoy.
Mute Math
For the boys from New Orleans, the road ahead is well lit. Two years after their self-titled debut album hit stores and flocks of new fans clung to "Typical", Mute Math have once again been drawn to the spotlight with their song "Spotlight", which features on the the Twilight soundtrack.
Paul Meany on the keytar and wobbly Rhodes piano certainly sparked our interest when we saw them live in early '06, but the strong supporting cast of Darren King (drums) Greg Hill (guitar) and Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas (bass) places Mute Math on a must-mention and must-see act for '09.
Bell X1
Bell X1 blew the socks off of thousands when they released Flock in 2005 inside their homeland of Ireland. Then they released Flock in 2006 and 2007 in Europe and the U.S. to the renewed joy of many others.
Just last week we mentioned their upcoming album Blue Lights on the Runway which is slated for release on March 3. Four years of writing and perfecting this already enamoring sound should draw some more smiles from eager listeners.
Coldplay
Every year Coldplay has hurdles to clear so that the orchestrated music they create doesn't receive bad reviews. Since they broke onto the scene 10 years ago, the Londoners couldn't have stayed firmer at the top of the rock scene.
Although gaps in albums have occurred in the group's history, live shows across the world and that ever-burning desire to hear new material will keep the group on top of their game. Plus, Viva La Vida is hardly over despite the Prospekt's March EP which was supposedly cleaning up from the album.
Video: Coldplay - Jingle Bells (live at O2 in London)
Delorentos
To no ardent MUF reader's surprise, the Dublin bunch of the Delorentos are hot on the radar of the music industry's finest.
2008 provided some readjusting for the group as they fiddled with labels and the 'making-it-big' syndrome. They have expressed plans to release a full-length fixture in the first half of 2009 which could be even more interesting depending of which label decides to step in. We have the full scoop here.
Beirut
Every time the conglomerate Beirut comes together to record, the results turn heads.When Gulag Orkestar launched in 2006 it ascended above the clouds and coasted its sweet melody to an international audience whom welcomed it as it should have been welcomed. 2007 marked The Flying Club Cup and another classic. With a somewhat silent 2008 from Beirut, we look forward to the big third album that sets them to another level of recognition.
MP3: Beirut - A Sunday Smile (buy)
Broken Social Scene
The influence of Toronto-based indie icons Broken Social Scene mixes well with any indie rock fan's collection. Built around the idea that each album is a solo project has enabled their sound to
remain eclectic as well as manufacturable from year to year without losing any edge.
Most recently BSS released Brendan Cumming's Something For All Of Us..., which continues this individualistic approach the group has designed. Any time this group of talented artists release a new album, eager people will listen, including MUF.
MP3: Broken Social Scene - Hit the Wall (buy)
Video: Broke Social Scene - Churches Under the Stars
Pela
Hospital trips for Billy McCarthy, canceled tour dates and eventually memorable live shows highlighted 2008 for Pela. If it wasn't for such a dazzling Anytown Graffiti album from 2007, the group probably would have never traveled as much as they did despite the sporadic drawbacks.
For 2009 expect a lot less injuries, a complete tour and a new album. Anything less shouldn't suffice. MUF certainly hopes to finally see them live this time around.
Sea Wolf
Although no formal announcement has come from the group within the past few months, the touring success from Sea Wolf after their 2006 release of Leaves in the River speaks volumes about the folk hook the group has latched to the masses.
Video: Sea Wolf - You're a Wolf
Their show at the end of May really got us hyped about where they could be headed. In October the group stated they were finished touring for the year and that an album would once again be in motion starting in March. For a group with six members, including the uber-talented Alex Brown Church, the sky is the limit.
Thirteen Senses
Contact didn't jump out to the masses like Thirteen Senses expected. Many critics don't expect superb sophomore albums, so the so-called letdown wasn't really a letdown at all, just a bump in the road. What can be expected could be a reinvention of their roots that made The Invitation such a jaw-dropping debut.
With a new record in mind, lead man Will South headed to Cornwall to begin musing over lyrics and the direction of what will be their third release. Soon after his arrival, his bandmates joined in on the process at the North London studio.
MP3: Thirteen Senses - Into the Fire (buy)
Director / Editors
Filing Director and Editors together has become a routine thing for MUF. Both groups are important positions in video and print media. Both artists will both be important in 2009, too.
Director last landed on the UK rock charts in 2006 with their release of We Thrive On Big Cities, when they challenged The Killers for the top spot. For 2009 the Dublin rockers have prepared their follow-up, as we wrote about earlier this month.
On the same island in the pond, Editors last recorded An End Has A Start in mid-2007 and have their third album looming in front of them. We will keep you posted on any new info on the group as it passes our inbox.
The first of these two is Seawolf, one of MUF's favorite bands over the course of the past year. We had the opportunity to catch Sea Wolf (see our show review) and enjoy their featured song, "You're a Wolf". But this isn't Sea Wolf's first song in a commercial. Their first is actually "Ses Monuments" in a Radioshack commercial shown at the end of last year. But each song shown to a national audience is something any artist can appreciate, especially for lead vocalist Alex Church who is still enjoying the success of his 2007 album Leaves In The River. "You're a Wolf" has now been featured in a Honda Hybrid commercial.
Santogold has continued to stay on the map with her most recent showing on the Ford Flex commercial. Her song "Creator", which I first heard on WOXY months ago has that club, thumping, rhythmic template so catchy for a flashy car such as the Flex. Santogold has continued to win me over in the past year, especially when I tripped over a quote of her's I found:
"Everyone is just so shocked that I don't like R&B. Why does R&B keep coming into my interviews? It's pissing me off. I didn't grow up as a big fan of R&B and, like, what is the big shocker? It's stupid."
Don't be intimidated by seeing Sea Wolf or any other folk rock group live. Sure, the album might be something you listen to when you are winding down late at night but the live shows are their bread and butter.
Prior to the group taking the stage and while Jealous Girlfriends was still mid set, I perused the merch tables to see what was what. Half oblivious to Sea Wolf keyboardist Lisa Fendelander selling her group's stuff, I mentioned to her that I gave the group a 7.9 on my review of Leaves in the River. It wasn't the best thing to say and she responded with, "That's a C". I never thought of it like that. Let me rephrase myself- "If every group rated a 10, where would they go from there. I feel there is room for improvement. I came to the show because I am convinced Sea Wolf is a 10 live." If we at MusicUnderFire gave ratings to this live show, it would be much higher than that 7.9, but we don't.
Sea Wolf
The guys and gals from L.A.'s Sea Wolf hopped on stage a few clicks before midnight and didn't let the hundred-some fans at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia get restless for their 14-song set.
Composed of an uncommon ensemble, they boast six members capable of changing the tempo at any moment. While frontman Alex Brown Church maintains his cool behind the mic, Catherine Odell (cello), Lisa Fendelander (keyboards), Aaron Robinson (guitar/backup vocals), Ted Liscinski (bass) and Joey Fickin (drums) provide more than enough entertainment when called upon.
Sea Wolf opened up with "Song for the Dead", a song struck with a 'wah-wah' strobing vibe from the keyboard and laced with the catchy refrain "move like a tiger into the thicket, claws in the dirt, you'll sing like a cricket...". Next, in "The Cold, the Dark & the Silence" Church really took center stage as his vocals and body language on stage reverberated energy to the bobbing onlookers.
From here, Sea Wolf calmed shortly as they played the guitar-friendly "Middle Distance Runner" before upping the tempo with "I Made A Resolution" and my personal favorite "Winter Windows". This song is the essence of what makes the group such a grand live show due to the stoic ornamentation of the keyboard tuned to an accordion, a long-winding cello, rattling tambourines, the bass-grabbing drums and the sobering lyrics.
With "Neutral Ground" the group once more shifts their tempo to a slower pace. "The Rose Captain" highlights the middle of the show when the padded drum sticks, lulling lyrics and soothing cello all come together in unison. "The Garden That You Planted", "Song of the Magpie" off of the Augusten Burroughs audio book "A Wolf at the Table" and "Black Leaf Falls" all continue this down-tempo sound, although the group moves around and changes their overall sound.
"You're a Wolf" and "Black Dirt" do a 180 as they up this folk rock speed into a steady jog compliments of Aaron Robinson on guitar. A backseat player for many of Sea Wolf's songs due to his complimentary playing with Church, the chipping away he presents on the guitar really spice things up a few degrees.
After Sea Wolf exited the stage a minute or two before 1 a.m., the crowd roared for one more. What we got was two more. Church explained that "Leaves in the River" is a true story from Omaha, Nebraska". With that, he played an almost solo song that features the honest lyrics about a guy and a girl and an intoxicated walk after a Halloween party. This was followed by "The Promise", which is the bonus track from LITR, and fittingly enough keenly closed down the show.
This show was truly amazing. When the tempo on stage switched, Sea Wolf didn't lose any energy as everyone on stage continued to move and sway (even cello player Catherine Odell). Check out their remaining tour dates and keep posted as to when their new EP will be released.
5/30 Paradise Boston, Massachusetts
5/31 Le Cercle Quebec, Quebec
6/1 Le Divan Orange Montreal, Quebec
6/3 El Mocambo Toronto, Ontario
6/4 Fox Theater Detroit, Michigan
6/5 Schuba’s Tavern Chicago, Illinois
6/6 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, Minnesota
6/7 Parkway Theatre Winnipeg, Manitoba
6/9 The Republik Calgary, Alberta
6/10 Velvet Underground Edmonton, Alberta
6/12 Media Club Vancouver, British Columbia
6/13 Lucky Bar Victoria, British Columbia
6/14 High Dive Seattle, Washington
6/15 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
6/17 The Independent San Francisco, California
6/19 Echoplex Los Angeles, California
6/20 Casbah San Diego, California
Please pardon any errors I made in naming band members.
Arbor Day (4/25) isn't something we normally celebrate, but it makes for a great playlist opportunity that we couldn't pass up. Since we missed out on Earth Day (4/22), we threw in an Earth theme as well. First place for the best tree song goes to Rush. You rock.
So grab some seeds, maybe a beer and some mulch and enjoy our list. Happy Arbor Day.
MP3: Rush - The Trees (buy)
Trees rock!
MP3: Sea Wolf - Leaves In The River (buy)
This was such an easy pick. Leaves In The River is pretty much a metaphor for Arbor Day.
MP3: Matt Pond PA - The Trees and the Wild (buy)
If Matt Pond sings about trees, so should you.
MP3: The A-Sides - We're the Trees (buy)
MP3: Silversun Pickups - Three Seed (buy)
Amazing song, amazing album, amazing band. And this song might have something to do with trees. We're not totally sure.
MP3: Embrace - Nature's Law (buy)
MP3: City & Colour - In The Water I Am Beautiful (buy)
MP3: The Album Leaf - Eastern Glow (buy)
MP3: MGMT - Kids (buy)
The randomness of MGMT sticks well. "A family of trees wanted, to be haunted"
MP3: Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees (acoustic) (buy)
Picture above from the "Paranoid Android" video if you didn't know.
MP3: Dredg - Planting Seeds (buy)
"I'm good at planting my own seeds..." Good to know.
MP3: The Academy Is... - Seed (buy)
MP3: Frog Eyes - Bushels (buy)
"Give the birch birch back it's swing" for crying out loud
MP3: The American Analog Set - The Green Green Grass (buy)
One of my favorite bands. They obviously love grass.
Rating: 7.9/10
When the Kingston Trio raced to the top of the charts in 1958 with the release of “Tom Dooley”, they set in stone a style molded around the folk banjo and mystic stories. Fifty years past that somewhat overlooked occasion, Sea Wolf has congealed a similar reverberation with Leaves in the River.
The absence of a banjo in Sea Wolf is obvious, but the hollowed out backdrop behind Alex Brown’s voice and the array of instruments sneak up on a casual listener. Aside from Brown’s vocals, the group consists of Lisa Fendelander (keyboard), Theodore Liscinski (bass), April Guthrie (cello), Scott McPherson (drums) and Aaron Robinson (guitar). With an expansive number of members, one might expect an album from a new group to clash more than not. Although Sea Wolf remains relatively fresh on the music scene, they avoid this confusion as each song on Leaves in the River features a new, yet familiar, resolution.
“Winter Windows” highlights Sea Wolf’s comfort with the vast sounds they wield as an accordion (via keyboard) and tambourine move energetically around Brown’s subdued lyrics of “it's the winter windows that ends become beginnings”. In “The Cold, the Dark and the Silence” Sea Wolf once again switches their sound from a typical guitar-laden track to a keyboard and cello centered song. The cello plays so thick that the whole atmosphere surrounding Brown’s harmonizing lyrics lay to rest in a shadowy corner. Throughout the album this unusual assortment of sounds is delivered so fluidly that it would appear the group is more than one group with one clear-cut goal of dynamic and dappled art.
Within the walls of their sound-laden fortress, the group melted many folksy stories into their first full-length album. “The Rose Captain” sang to a niche The Kingston Trio constantly perfected- the ode. Sea Wolf used a softly played drum and a hypnotically constant guitar to achieve the solemnity of such a song. The mention of a gypsy, which is a term mostly used in folk literature or poetry concerning nomadic minorities, appears multiple times in LITR, further deepening Sea Wolf’s immersion in storytelling through their songs.
While harnessing this old-time style, repetitious lyrics cement the emotion of each song. Sea Wolf’s most popular song on the album, “You’re a Wolf”, reiterates countless ballads line after line without losing any interest. Not only does this track appeal through its minimalist lyrics, but also a sense of motion pushes it forward. “Middle Distance Runner” exemplifies this shuffle onward as a guitar serenely plucks away while a “feet-hitting-the-gravel” sound blends into the background.
Leaves in the River rolls smoothly across any speakers as it hones to the whisper of storytelling. For any fan of folk music like The Kingston Trio or subdued indie group like Rogue Wave, Sea Wolf formidably delivers with this album. Apart from a few over-the-top rhymes in “Black Dirt”, the consistency of quality songs with efficient transitions overshadows any flaws. I find it hard to think that Sea Wolf could record the same album twice due to their always unique way to deliver lyrics and serenade a poem, so there should be no less expectation whenever they are ready to deliver again.
Leaves in the River (buy)
1. Leaves in the River (buy)
2. Winter Windows (buy)
3. Black Dirt (buy)
4. The Rose Captain (buy)
5. Middle Distance Runner (buy)
6. You're a Wolf (buy)
7. Song for the Dead (buy)
8. Black Leaf Falls (buy)
9. The Cold, the Dark & the Silence (buy)
10. Neutral Ground (buy)
