Big in 08'.

WARNING: these are not artists I necessarily enjoy however artists I expect to become big this year, perhaps not due to them being particularly good in my opinion. Artists who I can imagine getting on your nerves maybe? Or even artists who will make it for the right reasons? Either way here is a run down of potential artists to make it this year.

Number One: Adele. She had to be number one on this list, pretty much everybody is tipping her to go onto big things this year. BBC had her as number one on their list of “Big in 2008” and with current single doing the rounds on all the Radio stations / Music stations I can imagine Adele becoming the “new” Kate Nash (eww at the sound of that). ‘Chasing Pavements’ is the new single if you didn’t know (how could you not know) and is a not a song I particularly enjoy but do think Adele has a powerful voice.

Number Two: Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong. Once again, not a massive fan of this band or the lead singer (he was on Peep Show and BBC show Tudors). However, I can see them becoming a house hold name in 2008, as big as t’Chiefs? Maybe not. However, the first single ‘Lucio Starts Fires’ is one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard in a long time. Supporting such bands as Babyshambles and Kaiser Chiefs certainly won’t harm their mass appeal.

Number Three: Foals. This is the first band in the list to make it for the right reasons, a band that are doing it for the right reasons, so it appears to me. The album ‘Antidotes’ is out in March and although I don’t expect it to go number one, I can see it become one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year. I am glad they’ve not included previous hits ‘Hummer’ or ‘Mathletics’ – why you ask? No chance of a re-release for one thing, but also it will mean the inclusion of a different song that we’ve not got a studio version of.

Number Four. The Courteneers. Despite me not liking this band one little bit, you can tell already the masses are going to be on them like flies on shit. JL&TJJJ I agree are catchy there is something about them I just cannot hate, but The Courteneers are just utter toss. New single ‘What Took You So Long’ is being absolutely loved by MTV2 and the music channel NME TV (hahaha) amongst Radio 1 DJ’s. However the song in my opinion is terrible and just epitomises everything that is wrong about them.

Number Five. Black Kids / Vampire Weekend. Okay, so I know this is a bit unfair as the above is two artists. HOWEVER, I am piling them into ‘The One to Make It from across the Pond’ – though I am undecided on which one. I like both, but prefer Vampire Weekend, however I am not sure which one will make it “big” in this country. I guess time will tell!

I am stopping at five, just in case I predict more which don’t happen and I look silly! However, something I stumbled across just now on the internet.

1. Mika
2. The Twang
3. Klaxons
4. Sadie Ama
5. Enter Shikari
6. Air Traffic
7. Cold War Kids
8. Just Jack
9. Ghosts
10. The Rumble Strips

That is a list of who the BBC thought was going to make it big in 2007, quite laughable really. Okay, so Mika was loved by pretty much most Radio stations going and Klaxons did pick up the Mercury Music Award and are now taking over the world according to James Reynolds in this week’s NME. However, the Beeb were pretty wrong about the other 8, and who the fuck is Sadie Ama? Answers on a post card.

My Year In Lists.

I’ve decided to make a couple more lists before I reveal my top ten favourite albums of 2007 which obviously everybody reading this blog is dying to know.

Top Five Gigs 2007

This is a hard thing to firstly narrow down to five, but essentially remembering the best out of all the gig’s I have been to is the tough part.

5. CSS – Ibiza Rocks (July 07)

To say I wasn’t looking forward to this show is somewhat of a major understatement. There were three major factors: first off the boiling temperatures, secondly CSS not being my most favourite band and finally I felt like an OAP due to being burnt to a crisp a couple of days before. However, CSS put on a fantastic show and despite not being able to more very well they managed to make me dance, a little.

4. Kings of Leon – Birmingham Carling Academy (April 07)

When these dates were announced I was so excited, not making this tour was just not an option. From the moment I got my conformation e-mail through my excitement grew the closer this got. Kings of Leon did not disappoint, they were worth the 30 pounds spent on this ticket – throwing in old classics and new hits the foursome were on top form.

3. The Cribs – Northampton Soundhaus (March 07)

The Cribs return was highly anticipated by just about everyone who cared about good music. Having two ace albums already the question was could The Cribs conjure up a third album of equal ace-ness as the previous two? As already stated on this blog the third album is The Cribs on top form, and this gig was the best I’ve ever seen them. Chaotic as ever The Cribs included the classics and new songs which fitted in perfectly amongst old songs. The Jarman brothers have a sound that is just irresistible to the ears.

2. Foals / These New Puritans – Old Blue Last (October 07)

A free gig involving two great up and coming bands, there was so much right with this night I just couldn’t turn it down. Despite seeing Foals not on form at Scala the night before I was prepared to give them another chance. I am so thankful I did because they were a hundred times better than they were the previous night. Foals that night were well and truly on fire, and These New Puritans although a bad start impressed me more than I ever expected them too.

1. Les Savy Fav – Scala (October 07)

Six months ago if someone would have said this would be my best gig of 2007 I would have laughed in there face. As 6 months ago Les Savy Fav was just a name, a name of a band I never thought I would ever listen to. No idea why I never listened to them, but I didn’t. What. An. Idiot. Thankfully I was there that night in October and so was Tim Harrington and co, to say the night was a riot is probably an understatement. At one point there was 50 people on stage (including me) and someone crowd surfing above those 50 people. Tim Harrington controlled the stage like no other man I’d ever seen, and he did it in a way I don’t think anyone else on this planet could do so. Thank you Tim Harrington, and thank you Les Savy Fav.

Two Thousand And Seven [Part Three].

University today involved a lecture on Italian Neorealism and then an Italian film from 1949 called ‘Bicycle Thieves’ and now I have four days off. University life isn’t so hard after all, which should really mean I update my blog a lot due to all the free time, so that’s exactly what I am trying to do. The final 10 of top tracks 2007 is on the agenda today starting with 10 to 6.

10. M.I.A. – Paper Planes
Kala

Admittedly the discovery of my love for this song only came recently but it is that good it goes straight into the top 10 of tracks from 2007. M.I.A. is an artist that I never really “got” until the end of last year, but thankfully I did “get” her and really love this song.

9. Friendly Fires – Paris

Recently given 9 out of 10 by Drowned in Sound which is not easily done, this song really clicked me straight away. It actually reminds me of getting drunk at University last semester in my halls; therefore it reminds me of good times. Friendly Fires are an excellent band both on record and live and I truly expect 2008 to welcome Friendly Fires with open arms.

8. These New Puritans – Numbers/Colours
Beat Pyramid

This duo of songs came out of nowhere to me last October, thankfully they found my ears. The day I received them I heard about a free gig they were doing the very next day, to which I went along to and was furthered impressed by These New Puritans. ‘Numbers’ is my preference personally but take nothing away from the also ace ‘Colours’.

7. Foals – Hummer

This song had to be on this list, but I think Foals are keen to leave this song well and truly in 2007. Not included in the forthcoming album ‘Antidotes’ the band decided against including there first “smash hit”. I believe this to be a good move; we all have this song so there is no need to include it on the album. It also means we will receive a new song rather than this one which we all already know and love. Most importantly it means no re-release of this song, something I would not expect Yannis and co to be interested in, thank God.

6. Blood Red Shoes – I Wish I Was Someone Better
Box of Secrets

‘It’s Getting Boring by the Sea’ grabbed my attention of Blood Red Shoes; however ‘I Wish I Was Someone Better’ made me love Blood Red Shoes. Take nothing away from the first song, I think it is a cracking song but ‘I Wish’ is absolutely fantastic and sits well with the rest of the album which by the way is a stunning debut album.

Astronauts And All Foals..

Okay, this is a review of a gig I went to a few weeks ago (yes it's late, but I wanted to update my blog as it's been a little while).

Old Blue Last is certainly not my favourite venue, if you ever go there you will find out why. However These New Puritans and Foals are definitely two of my favourite bands at the moment which is why I found myself standing in a room with sweat dripping from the walls, ceiling and my head.

TNP came on first gloomy as ever, however there wasn’t much to be happy about for them with the crowd not even clapping after songs. Fuck them though, TNP make brilliant dark garage music and lead singer Jack provides a front man full of charisma. With songs such as forthcoming split single “Colours”/“Numbers” and previous single “Elvis” they are a band who can go places.

“I want your babies” someone shouts at Yannis as he and the rest of the band set up there own equipment, scared he continues setting up. Fresh from appearing on a 10 minute Skins “E4 Special” and of course touring up and down the country Foals prepare to sweat there proverbial tits off.

Opening with the usual duo of “XXXX” and “French Open” Foals have only just started, “Cassius” the third song provides us with the first drip of sweat from Yannis on to his microphone. It’s getting hot up in here! Despite the sticky conditions Foals continue to “rock out” on stage and tear into “Olympic Airways” followed by a crowd pleasing “Balloons”.

“Hummer” of course ends the set, not without the guitarist falling flat on his back after attempting to crowd surf.

Hummer - Foals