Two years ago, I ran a series of guest posts from people involved in Irish music featuring their top 5 Irish acts at that moment. This time around, I thought I’d shift the focus to international and ask a similar question – “Who are your top 5 new artists of 2011?”. Kicking off today and running into next week, musicians, bloggers, record shop owners, journalists, bookers and radio presenters will be answering that question.
By the end of next week, we’ll have a ton of music recommendations featuring the best new bands from around the world for all to discover, especially if you don’t read music blogs regularly.
First up: Will Abramson from the awesome live video site Yours Truly which has introduced a slew of great new artists to me like Caveman, Morning Benders, How To Dress Well and has captured many more. Here are his five essential new artists of 2011:
1. Danny Brown
Danny Brown is fucking crazy. And not “You crazy for this one!” crazy. More like don’t let anyone under 18 or anyone or on prescription medication hear him rap, crazy. Which is the way better kind.
2. Frank Ocean
In simple terms, Frank Ocean is single-handedly making R&B a relevant and vital artform again.
3. The Bins
The Bins’ debut EP, Every Minute of the Day harmoniously blends found sounds from over 150 dollar-bin LPs plucked from Spain, Chile, Mexico, Thailand and beyond. Seamlessly encompassing a world of genres, eras and cultures, The Bins put it all in a blender, and pours it out thick and delicious.
4. The Weeknd
The Weeknd dropped a classic this year; a drug-addled, sex-crazed, classic. The Weeknd make soul music for the soulless, the betrayed, and the unwanted. For real people.
5. Michael Kiwanuka
Filled to the brim with blinding hope, Michael Kiwanuka’s soulful vocals reminisce in the romance of decades past and remind us that the best of history can be reborn today.
