It’s easy to completely miss the mark when trying to judge who might be that elusive “next big thing.” Ask Black Kids. Or Tapes ‘n Tapes. The fact is, downloading has shortened the attention span of the average listener to a dull nub; the most sure things bounce off and fall away without leaving a mark.
This doesn’t even call into attention the bigger question: What IS the “next big thing?” Is it the band that outsells other indie bands? Is it the group that climbs the charts to hit number 4? Is it Nickelback? It’s not Nickelback, is it? Oh god, please don’t let it be Nickelback.
The point is, these “next big thing” lists are hard, a lot harder than the folks at Rolling Stone would have you believe, cranking out new lists every year, from which maybe one artist will even sell, and even then the ones that sell are the ones that venture the least from the path of the usual, of the norm. As an indie-focused site, we feel it’s important to talk about the bands or artists that might be doing something different, or doing something so well that they deserve a listen from more than a handful of people as they open for some lowly failure on the East Coast.
Therefore, we present a list of what’s good, why you could be hearing about it everywhere, and why it might not make it through a fickle public to your ears. You’re more than welcome (in fact, encouraged) to tell us your opinions; who are some bands you think could get there? What do you think of the artists we’ve chosen? Leave us some thoughts in the comments!
PLUS: Be sure to check out the playlist below to hear most of the artists we’re featuring here for yourself!
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Artists That May or May Not Be the Next Big Thing
By: The AudioSuede Staff
French Horn Rebellion
Who? Two brothers from my old neck-of-the-woods (Milwaukee, Represent!) make eclectic pop music that is rooted in ascpets of Hall and Oates’ yacht rock as well as New Order’s kraut-dance.
Why French Horn Rebellion might make it: French Horn Rebellion is weird, there is no denying that. Sometimes being weird suggests someone is progressive and on the precipe of culture, and sometimes being weird suggested someone is tragically socially unaware. In this case, I think French Horn Rebellion are defiantly the good kind of weird, and I think they have a good chance being really big in the next couple years. “Up All Night” should be blasting at every teenagers/twenty-somethings beach party this summer. There is simpy no reason why French Horb Rebellion shouldn’t be this years MGMT. They are fun, zany, and write explosive pop songs.
Why they might not: As much as I love some of French Horn Rebellion’s songs, they may be a little too “out there” for the masses. From the songs that have leaked, the band is remarkably uneven as well. For every banger, there is an over-cooked dud. This may just because I have demos and not the final tracks, but it is clear that the band is walking a fine line between genius and self-indulgence. Also, their name is so ridiculous that it may hold them back from gaining more recognition. Much like Magic Magic, French Horn Rebellion do not seem to be deeply invested in becoming big, so that are somewhat laizzez-faire about how they represent themselves.
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Magic Magic
“How exciting it is to come across an album about which you know nothing, by a band you’ve never heard of, trailing no distracting hype whatsoever, and discover that it is wonderful” – Dan Cairns speaking of Magic Magic’s debut album, The London Times, December 14, 2008
Who? Magic Magic is a group of young guys from Salem, Massachusetts who have successfully evaded indie hype despite making some wonderful straight-forward indie rock.
Why Magic Magic might make it: Magic Magic has a unique, bold, and accessible sound that any fan of alt/indie-pop/rock will probably enjoy. They aren’t shifting the paradigm of 21st century indie, but, in the words of LL Cool J: they are doin’ it and doin’ it well. I tried to turn people on to their fantastic single “Sleepy Lion,” but I think even music nerds have a hard time getting excited about this band. I think often times a band who sounds like other bands, but does not have a marketable shtick, has a very hard time getting noticed. To be honest, I never would have gotten into this band if I heard any of their songs besides “Sleepy Lion,” because they sound like a traditional indie rock band. Magic Magic writes songs that are as good as what MGMT had on their first album, so I think they deserve at least a blip on our collective radar.
Why Magic Magic might not: When I came across Magic Magic, where I don’t remember, I tried to found out as much as possible about the band. Almost nothing exists online about this band. In this day and age, it’s pretty strange to not find a strong online presence for a great indie band when there are literally thousands of independent bloggers and dozens of alt press outfits covering every band to ever play a show anywhere. The lack of press and buzz surrounding Magic Magic is somewhat absurd. It just goes to show you that even with an explosion of indie music criticism from bloggers and zines that a lot of great music is being ignored in favor of more fashionable and decidedly mediocre bands. Magic Magic probably won’t make it, because I think they fail to realize that being in band these days means you have to do PR, marketing, and branding in addition to playing music.
“With Our Powers Combined” Bonus: French Horn Rebellion and Magic Magic join forces!
“Magic Magic – Sleepy Lion (French Horn Rebellion Remix)” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDOglax9-KY
-Daniel Wipert
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Fol Chen
Who? A Californian six-piece on Sufjan Stevens’ label, Asthmatic Kitty, they make deconstructionist kitchen-sink pop music that is some of the most progressively-minded and simultaneously infectious jams you’ll ever hear (and won’t be able to get out of your head for days)
Why They Might Make It: Well, hopefully that initial description explains it enough, especially with Stevens on their side, but if not, there’s also the fact that their sophomore effort, Part II: The New December comes very quickly after 2009’s Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made, which made an initial splash in the blogosphere but soon dissipated. Hopefully the band’s prolific nature will help make sure that no one forgets them when Part II comes out in July. It’s full of the same kind of wacked-out synth frenzy that made the first one so delicious, but it sounds even bigger in scope and badder (MJ bad) in execution, so what’s there to lose? Plus, pop music in the summertime is always a better bet.
Why They Might Not: The sad part about making the most inventive pop music around is that most people don’t like their pop music to be inventive. Even the indie kids want their catchy choruses drenched in gooey fluid melodies, either from overly processed guitars or overly digital keys, and Fol Chen don’t play that game. Their fragmented postmodern style is just a bit over the top and loony for your average music fan’s eardrums, so they might just retain their small cult following with their new record, unless people start opening their minds and taking in the awesome that is Fol Chen.
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Zoo Animal
Who? A deceptively simple and thus monumentally haunting sadcore trio from Minneapolis, releasing their official debut self-titled full-length on the local indie Rest + Noise label this month
Why They Might Make It: They’ve gotten nothing but positive buzz from the local scene over the past year, including nods from AV Club Minneapolis, City Pages, and Vita.mn as one of the top new bands from the Twin Cities. Their sound, because it’s so basic, is immediately accessible: dirty but not too dirty guitar licks aplenty, subdued but firm percussion, and lead singer Holly Newsom’s undeniably powerful and gorgeous voice, which has been compared to Cat Power more times than she probably likes, but that’s definitely not a bad thing if they’re looking to break out into the national spotlight. To boot, their live show is magnetic, intimate, and makes your heart cage shake it’s so intense.
Why They Might Not: Two things. First, Holly’s awesome and a killer guitarist and vocalist (especially in concert), but their songs aren’t exactly, how you say, upbeat. They make sad, introspective music, and even though it’s vibrant and throbbing with life, it could easily be tossed aside, especially with their bare bones set up of guitar, drums, bass, and vocals. The other thing might actually be the dealbreaker, unfortunately – while you won’t be able to buy their album at your local Godplex, they’re Christian, and they’re quite open about it. I find this refreshingly honest and I’m glad they don’t care who knows what their semi-cryptic lyrics are about, but with people like Bill Maher still poisoning the minds of the supposed counterculture, anti-religion sentiment rides high in the indie-verse.
-Chris Polley
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Stephanie Nilles
Who? Stephanie Nilles, hailing from New Orleans, is possibly the most compelling jazz piano/lounge punk singer since Tom Waits started chain smoking and singing about sailors.
Why she might make it: With a voice that manically switches from sultry soul to wild yelping, not to mention mad piano skills and a wild performance energy, Nilles has the talent to shuffle past the mediocre label props grinding their teeth on Top 40 radio today. Her sound is refreshing and irreverent, and those willing to give her a chance will find that they can easily latch on to her style without being forced to leave their boxed-in tastes; no matter what you prefer to listen to, you can at least appreciate the sweetly unusual nature of her music. Plus, she’s already amassed some of the best press quotes about any musician ever. Rolling Stone literally said that she’s like “Ella Fitzgerald on speed beating the shit out of Regina Spektor.” Put that on a poster, you bet I’ll buy your record.
Why she might not: Not for lack of talent, but Nilles might have missed the bus on the jazz/soul revival. While her style is more intense, artists like Regina Spektor and Amy Winehouse and The Ditty Bops have already exploded and fallen off the radars of many listeners. Maybe this means there’s more space for someone of Nilles’ level of skill to muscle in on the genre (marketing herself as the female Tom Waits can only help her, in the long run), but, and hopefully this isn’t the case, she might have simply gotten screwed by time.
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Pattern Is Movement
Who? Probably the two largest men in indie rock (literally), the first thought I had upon seeing Philadelphia’s Pattern Is Movement was, “I wouldn’t want to run into these guys in the middle of the woods at night.” But their sound is startlingly unique; a wild mix of math-rock, punk, indie harmonizing, and opera that is at once baffling and captivating.
Why they might make it: If there’s one thing the indie scene prides itself on (and, you know, it prides itself on a lot of things, and will tell you so), it’s that they embrace innovation and experimentation more than the comparatively manufactured schedules of modern radio and major label releases. If that’s the case, Pattern Is Movement might very well take the whole game to task by the time their next album drops. Few bands, let alone two-piece outfits, are surrounded by the sense of artistic abandon that hovers over each Pattern Is Movement song. Singer Andrew Thiboldeaux has fantastic range and a good ear for the proper volume to ratchet the tension on each track; in his tone one can hear the likes of Justin Vernon and Ed Droste, but with a flair all his own. And Chris Ward is a drummer that, of all the drummers I’ve ever seen in my life, plays the most like I wish I could play. The man is a beast in appearance AND skill, and can keep up with even the most outrageous and complicated moments of the duo’s tricky song structures.
Why they might not: Read that description of their sound again. Math-rock and opera bands don’t strike gold often, if ever. The theatricality of the band’s music could easily be a turnoff for some even as it strikes a chord with loyal fans, giving the band an undeserved reputation as an acquired taste. Or, what might be worse to consider is this: Is the image-conscious indie scene willing to embrace these bearish men? It might seem shallow, but look at the indie bands that have made it to date, and count the number of overweight men and women. The fashions of indie rock are strictly geared towards the rail thin, and though indie fans like to pass themselves off as open-minded, they can be highly judgmental and quick to dismiss people who do not fit the traditional body image of the typical rock star. Might this band, no matter how excellent, fall prey to this problem?
-Christian Hagen
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Best Coast
Who? Former Pocohaunted member Bethany Cosentino who is grouped up with the whole lo-fi blissed out California sound along with Wavves, Vivian Girls, and The Dum Dum Girls. She just seems a bit more interesting.
Why She Might Make It: Her songs are following the patterns set out by those around her, thick guitars, hazy production, everything generally sounding like shit in that appealing way. But the melodies that she employs are what have stood her apart from the rest for me. While I’ve never caught myself humming the words to any song by Wavves, I often find myself tapping my fingers on the steering wheel and giving my best a capella version of Cosentino’s Beach Boy flavored tunes. Her songs are simple, many times just a few lines repeated for a couple of minutes, but boy are they infectious. If the mileage that I’ve gotten out of Best Coast’s first few 7” is any indication it could mean a rising lo-fi starlet.
Why She Might Not: While I do find her songs to be standouts in the genre, most people don’t and won’t care about this particular subgenre. Not to mention that many critics already have a darling in the field in the group Girls. It’s an inundated place in music right now, and if the current ADD of the music business goes untreated, there’s a good chance that no one will be talking about any of these bands in a year. The longevity of the genre seems like her greatest enemy right now, not to say that she’s a one trick pony.
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Cymbals Eat Guitars
Who? A group of extremely talented and creative 90’s indie rock revivalists from Staten Island who released their first album last year to some critical success.
Why They Might Make It: These guys fucking rock. Not only on album, but I was lucky enough to catch them at the Sasquatch festival recently and they put on a wonderful live show. Their songs are wonderfully intricate, often times going from softly spoken piano balladry to no wave noise explosions to horn driven stompers all within a few minutes. They aim to please in a maximalist way that bands like of Montreal have done so well recently. Their actual sound draws a lot from 90’s indie staples such as Modest Mouse (Isaac Brock’s guttural screams and oddball lyrics) and Built to Spill (these guys know how to tear up a guitar). Their first album seemed extremely mature in its form and themes, feeling both tight and sprawling at the same time while hitting upon the topics of suicide and industrialism without smashing you over the head about them.
Why They Might Not: They only have one album out, and fantastic as it is, it is a bit of a difficult task to see where they could go from there. When I saw them at Sasquatch they played a few new songs which were pleasant enough, but seemed to be flirting with the label of album filler. Of course you don’t always hear all the subtleties of a song’s parts at a festival, or even most of the lyrics so it could be a premature call. And even a sophomore slump doesn’t mean the end of the world for these guys if that’s what it comes down to.
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Micachu
Who? Mica Levi, a classically trained musician (as in she has composed for the London Philharmonic Orchestra classically trained) who makes wonky experimental pop music with Micachu & the Shapes.
Why She Might Make It: Her brand of pop music which finds its toe-tapping melodies and rhythms in the strangest of places adds a dirtiness to the indie pop scene that has been fading out of view in recent years. Not that she is only a reaction to a trend as she obviously knows what she is doing in each of the 2 minute golden nuggets that populate her debut album Jewellery. Her eclectic knowledge of classical music, being raised by a family of musicians, putting out mixtapes early in her career, and know this seems like a promising career path that could spiral off in many many different ways. Not to mention a recent tour opening up for Spoon and a sophomore album on the horizon and things look pretty bright for Micachu.
Why She Might Not: When the indie scene is moving towards heavily electronic focused glo-fi groups like Neon Indian and MGMT is pulling gigantic crowds, effectively giving a “bro” demographic a huge foothold, it gets tough to imagine a group like Micachu making it. Their murky production values and aversions to play anything you could put on at a party don’t exactly give Micachu the word of mouth ability you want.
-Cooper Foyt
(Note: Some artists did not have any songs available to pass along from Grooveshark. Others had only one or two tracks to choose from. We encourage everyone to go out and check out more of these and other young independent artists to support the music you love!)
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