January, 2008

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Next Up: New Talent to Watch

Lily Allen
Much has been made of Lily Allen's rise from MySpace girl to Brit-pop princess. After much success in London, her debut album Alright, Still found its way to the U.S. in 2007. Equal parts pop, ska and reggae, it features hooky songs with biting lyrics. If you find yourself busy singing along with the choruses, you might miss some of the cattiness, but rest assured, it only adds to the fun. (Russ Borris)

Nicole Atkins
From the moment you hear Nicole sing the first note you know for certain that this girl is bursting with talent. She's not your typical Jersey girl and actually was fired from a regular gig at an Irish bar for not doing enough Springsteen covers. Lucky for us, Nicole doesn't feel the need to pander to the predictable. Her album, Neptune City, is like a roller coaster ride. She rockets you to great heights with her soaring voice and then drops you to your knees with her often dark and longing lyrics. This is an artist that you will immediately fall in love with. (Alisa Ali)

Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog is a quirky pop act out of Philadelphia. Their D.I.Y. approach features an affinity for pop hooks and eclectic songs. They may be new to some ears with their latest album We All Belong, but over the past six years they have released four albums, including two homemade releases. I saw these guys open for Son Volt in 2005 and I was very impressed! (Darren DeVivo)

Jose Gonzalez
Jose Gonzalez' style has garnered many comparisons to Nick Drake. While many in the U.S. are just getting to know him, Gonzalez is a star in his native Sweden. His songs are stark, but not somber, and feature his skillful acoustic guitar playing. You may have heard some of him on TV shows or commercials, but check out Veneer and his new album Down The Line to dig a little deeper into the music of Jose Gonzalez. (Russ Borris)

Will Hoge
Don't be distracted by the many comparisons to other artists... Will Hoge may sound a little like the Black Crowes or Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows, but he is his own man. He makes a solid record, and he rocks the house - the concert hall is his true home, and his live shows are not to be missed. Writers seem confused about whether Will is country or rock, but it's another red herring. And while he is not strictly "new," word is starting to spread about this Southern man and his red-hot band. (Claudia Marshall)

Jesca Hoop
Jesca has a fascinating, hard-to-describe voice. She also has an interesting background. Brought up in a musical Mormon family, she left home after her parents separated and travelled around the West. She settled in California and became the nanny for Tom Waits' and Kathleen Brennan's children! Tom took a liking to Jessica's songs and helped open the door to her signing a recording contract. Her debut album, released in 2007, is called Kismet. (Darren DeVivo)

Eilen Jewell
Raised in Idaho, but now based in Boston, Eilen still carries a hint of the wide open spaces in her music, whether it's in her restless lyrics or the melodies which have been compared to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch. It's her voice that may grab you first, though. She's got that intimate, slightly swinging Madeleine Peyroux or Norah Jones touch to invest a little of the blues in everything she sings. (John Platt)

Sharon Jones
Let it be known that Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings were honing their classic soul and R&B sound long before the "retro-soul" of artists like Joss Stone and Amy Winehouse. In fact, Amy Winehouse, borrowed the Dap-Kings for her 2007 album and tour. With the release of 100 Days 100 Nights Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings are now finally getting their due. Catch them in concert and be prepared to shake it. (Corny O'Connell)

Lavender Diamond
With a name like Lavender Diamond, one might think of something pretty, shiny and bright. This describes singer Becky Stark's vocals perfectly. This band from L.A. has a sound very much in the indie-pop mold, highlighted by Stark's honest, pure voice. Imagine Our Love is a solid debut and definitely makes Lavender Diamond a band to watch. (Russ Borris)

Ingrid Michaelson
I should have put Ingrid Michaelson on my list of artists to watch for 2007, but look for her star to continue to rise in 2008. In addition to airplay on WFUV, Ingrid's music has gotten exposure through Grey's Anatomy ("Keep Breathing") and a recent Old Navy TV commercial ("The Way I Am"). Her 2007 CD Girls and Boys features sweet, catchy songs and I know she has more to come. (Corny O'Connell)

Fionn Regan
Irish singer-songwriter Fionn Regan picked up a Mercury Prize nomination in 2007 for his debut The End of History. "Be Good or Be Gone" was the standout song from this album full of poetic asides, literary references and imaginative wordplay. Look for Regan to take another shot at crossing the pond in 2008. (Corny O'Connell)

Ryan Shaw
Ryan Shaw could be little more than a flash in the pan. He is not the first neo-soul artist to come down the pike (see Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings above), but one wonders... whatever happened to Ricky Fante? To make matters worse, the retro-soul sounds seems like the flavor of the month, thanks (?) to Amy Winehouse. The difference with Ryan Shaw is he wears his heart - and faith - on his sleeve, he connects with his audience with his sincerity and vocal prowess. The next record will be the big test, but if you see him live, you WILL believe! (Claudia Marshall)

Amy Speace
Amy's a native of the Northeast who sounds like she grew up in the South. She moved to New York after college to pursue an acting career and but, thank God, she got sidetracked by music and has become an alt-country fixture ever since, with a gorgeous voice, an engaging stage presence, and a killer backing band, The Tearjerks. Signed to Judy Collins' Wildflower Records, she'll record her next CD this year with the legendary North Carolina producer Mitch Easter. (John Platt)

The Bird And The Bee
Multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin (formerly of the bands Geggy Tah and the Action Figure Party) and vocalist Inara George (the daughter of Lowell George) are the Bird and the Bee. They draw upon jazz standards, 1960s tropicalia and bossa nova to create a stylish, sun-kissed, modern pop. They made their debut late last year with the EP Again And Again And Again And Again. Their self-titled debut was released earlier this year, followed by a second EP, Please Clap Your Hands. (Darren DeVivo)

The Silver Seas
'70s soft-rock never sounded better than on High Society the recent release from The Silver Seas. This Nashville-based quartet (formerly The Bees) is led by Daniel Tashian, but features harmony vocals by the entire band. They pay homage to that easy, laidback sound of bands like Bread and America. Look for them to make a bigger name for themselves in the coming year. (Corny O'Connell)

The Swell Season
The film Once, a surprise box-office hit of 2007, introduced the musical duo of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova to a very receptive audience. Hansard, the leader of the Irish band the Frames, and Irglova, a young Czech singer, had toured together and recorded a pair of songs for the movie. Unexpectedly, they were cast as the leads of the film and wound up recording the album The Swell Season, as well as the movie's soundtrack. After their warmly received 2007 concert tour, it should be interesting to see what their musical direction in the New Year will be. (Dennis Elsas)