Don’t Act Like You’re Not Impressed: Artists to Look Out For in 2012
2012 is on its way. We at Mind Equals Blown have an idea of some bright young bands rearing to make their mark on the scene in 2012. Below is a list of bands that each staff member feels has what it takes to make it big in 2012, but only time will tell who the big winner is.
Jacob’s picks:
With two incredible EPs under their belt and having played over 160 shows in 2011, Farewell Fighter is exactly the sort of band that should be primed to do big things in 2012. Their debut, 2010′s The Winning Team (which you can download for free here) is great, but they built upon their sound with The Way We Learn to make my favorite work of music of 2011. Powerful, personal lyrics, tight instrumental work, and just the right energy combined with genuinely nice people puts Farewell Fighter in position to take the spot of “Favorite Band” from whoever might currently hold it for you. Look out.
Bringing a bit of nostalgia stemming from their 70s soul and funk influences, Bad Rabbits played Warped Tour this year. Yeah, the skate-punk tour that has been the summer home of a slew of hardcore, post-hardcore, and pop-punk bands over the past few years. Aside from being unique, they put on the best set of any I saw, drawing fans from all of the above genres to make them dance, laugh, and stop taking themselves so seriously. I’d like to compare them to Foxy Shazam in terms of how they might fit into the scene. They’re something unique with enough energy and musicianship to draw fans from anywhere. If you don’t believe me, check out their Stick Up Kids EP for free here. Look out for not one, but possibly two records and a ton of touring in 2012. It’s going to be fun.
Judging from the popularity of the three free mixtapes (available for download here) released by The Weeknd this year, you might have already heard of this atmospheric R&B act. Featuring the smooth vocals of mastermind Abel Tesfaye, this is music made for the night, but it’s also perfect for just the right kind of party. What’s impressive about these mixtapes is their high level of quality, leading some to put them above albums by established acts on their year-end lists and wonder, if these are mixtapes, how insane an album will be. In any case, the combination of his past work and his connections to Drake, Lady Gaga, and Florence & The Machine makes it a safe bet that whatever The Weeknd does in 2012 will have a huge impact on the music world.
Dylan’s picks:
With such a great year for pop-punk under our belts, Such Gold are the odd men out. Earning the old-school pop-punk fans’ and the new fans’ respect and love with incredible energy and quick pacing Such Gold quickly joined in on the thriving pop-punk scene. Even though they released a couple of splits with pals Koji and A Loss For Words in 2011 (along with a few other small releases in the past) we have yet to see the New York-based punk group release a proper full-length. 2012 will change that. With a brand new record deal with Razor & Tie Records and their first full-length on the way, I expect great pop-punk to be carried over into 2012.
Proper could not be a more fitting title for Into It. Over It.’s (more formally known as Evan Weiss) 2011 release. Being Weiss’ first “proper” full-length after releasing a series of EPs in his 12 Towns collection (12 songs about 12 different towns) along with the monstrous and bold 52 Weeks project (Weiss wrote a song a week for 52 weeks and released it all in one…you did not read wrong) Proper included a more full-band sound from the talented mind of Weiss. This full-length, Weiss’ ambitious behavior and his obvious affiliation with 2011′s pop-punk leaders scream potential success and I feel that is what we will see in 2012.
Breaking the generic pop-punk mold, SideOneDummy’s Title Fight’s debut full-length Shed witnessed the band’s eagerness to avoid being misbranded. Digging into their roots and delivering a strong 90s emo vibe Shed marked the beginning of Title Fight’s growth and was received well enough to land them a direct supporting spot on the Alternative Press Fall tour with the likes of the rapidly growing Four Year Strong. Personally I’ve been hearing Title Fight’s name pop up among people that I would never expect to enjoy the band and that, plus their impressive track record, is enough for me to keep an eye on them in 2012.
I know it is hard to believe, but 2011 really was Rise Records’ big year. Contributing to this success aside from the big signings was the signing of Daytrader after the release of their fantastic 2011 EP Last Days of Rome. When a pop-punk band shows signs of vast maturity in the vein of Bayside and current Saves The Day it is easy to see the potential that lies within them. There must be something in the water over in Long Island, for this band has what it takes to join the likes of The Movielife and Midtown.
Tim’s picks:
The duo’s debut, No Name No Color, was one of my favorite albums of 2010. It just seemed like the band had great chemistry together, as the album featured many heavy-hitters and an overall energetic vibe. It also had a few great radio singles to keep more alternative fans happy. But the band’s grittier, more hardcore side is where their roots are. As long as the band keeps to their roots and just keeps doing what’s working well for them, I see no problem with the band’s sophomore release being one of the best albums of 2012.
Being such a big fan of Tooth & Nail Records, I was enthralled when Write This Down released their debut in 2010. With a sound that brings together the metal element of Underoath and the crunch of Thousand Foot Krutch, Write This Down has a sound that I felt very comfortable with. But the thing I enjoyed most about the band’s debut was the heavy amounts of passion that drove the music. Now the band has a chance to rise or fall with their sophomore release, which could decide their fate and also help the band find their niche as one of Tooth & Nail’s rising stars.
Usually free music is pretty lame, but indie worship band Abel, who’s on the priceless record-producing Come&Live! Records, is one of a kind when it comes to Christian music. Their last album, Lesser Men (which can be downloaded here), embraced a soft sound that reminded me of artists like Paper Route and even Thrice. The thing that made this album stick out the most though was the fact that there was very little filler to be found; Lesser Men was fairly open-ended and carried a very fixed message. With a new record hopefully due out sometime in 2012, it will definitely be something to keep an eye on, because Abel is one of the better bands of their genre out there right now.
After signing with Rise Records a short while ago, hardcore quartet Make Do And Mend said they were already producing a new album. Their last work, End Measured Mile, which came out in 2010, was one of the bigger surprises that year, considering that the band had a very polished sound with little hints of pop and catchiness in it. Even with how memorable the songs are, there was enough raw emotion in End Measured Mile to keep me coming back again and again. Let’s just hope that when the band leaves the studio in February that the band’s forthcoming release is anything but a sophomore slump.
Jason’s picks:
In a matter of months, Donald Glover‘s rapping pseudonym has racked up enough buzz to propel him to a ridiculously huge headlining tour in the coming months. How a man goes from selling out small clubs to headlining 3,000 capacity venues in less than a year has to say something, but a listen to his new album Camp proves the dude can do more than just act. Crossing his humor and wordplay over into his rap game, Gambino’s clever lyricism and energetic beats make him a shoo-in for someone to watch next year.
After seeing them open for Thursday on their farewell tour, I guess you could say something to the tune of third time’s a charm. While they’ve always been enjoyable with their mix of bombastic and noodly post-hardcore, word of a new full-length next year should be more than enough to spark or rekindle our love for Native. If you haven’t managed to stumble upon Wrestling Moves, the band’s 2009 LP, do yourself a favor and listen to it immediately. Look for this and a hectic touring schedule to continue to build buzz for this criminally underrated band.
Sebastian’s picks:
If you’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time on the internet then chances are you’ve already heard of Girls’ Generation, more likely than not, from the music video to their incredibly infectious single “Gee”. With more than 50 million views on that music video alone and tons of awards and recognition in their native South Korea, it’s safe to say that these girls are no strangers to fame. Yet their true moment of stardom here in the states has yet to come, but all signs point to it happening in 2012. Packed with infectious tracks, their latest record, The Boys, has received a marketing campaign in the U.S. with promotion on iTunes and a release show in Madison Square Garden. Their music presents the future of pop, one that is without bland tracks and imitation. With nine members in the group, the girls constantly bring in new ideas and voices, preventing themselves from getting stale. With our online access and the rising popularity of K-pop it’s only a matter of time until the language barrier between English and Korean is broken, and you can bet that Girls’ Generation will be more than partly responsible for it.
Clams Casino (a.k.a. Mike Volpe) isn’t the kind of name you’ll see on MTV, or being constantly uttered by mainstream music fans. Instead it’s the kind of name you’ll find in the liner notes of hip-hop’s biggest albums. The New Jersey producer has already made a name for himself by working with popular artists such as SouljaBoy and Lil B, however it’s his connections with the upstarts like A$AP Rocky and Main Attrakionz that will get him far. This producer’s work is far from being your run of the mill hip-hop beats, instead it’s dark and haunting, yet it lends itself to the swagger of those rapping over it so easily. Even if hip-hop isn’t your thing, his solo work also works by itself and makes for a damn good listen.
Justin Scott is honest, friendly, old-school, and all around hard-working. With eight mixtapes already under his belt, it’s clear that Big K.R.I.T. (King Remembered in Time) is no rookie in the rap game. After years of constant work it seems like his chance to shine has finally surfaced. Signing with Def Jam put him in a good situation, it also doesn’t hurt that he has collaborated with big names such as T.I., Wiz Khalifa, Ludacris, and Chris Brown. Set for release in early 2012, K.R.I.T.’s debut full-length, Live From the Underground, has the potential to be a successful record that bring back that funky southern flavor that artists such as Outkast were know for. The cards are all in place for him, it’s all a matter of how they play out, if talent is the prime factor however, Big K.R.I.T. has this one in the bag.
Previously known as Zoo Kid, 17 year old Archy Marshall has already gained quite the following both from fans and critics. His bizarre mix of folk and new wave electronics has helped him stand out from the pack of singer/songwriters. Marshall’s main asset however is his low heartbroken voice that can turn all of his tales into believable stories. Inking a deal with growing indie label True Panther Sounds earlier this year, King Krule released a self-titled EP that has left listeners yearning for more. With a full-length scheduled for sometime in 2012 and comparisons to Morrissey, Marshall is sure to be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming year.
When your first song becomes so extremely polarizing that Interscope records offers you a record deal based purely on that track, then chances are you’re on your way to stardom. Lana Del Rey isn’t some pop hack who has become famous for making intolerable music (I’m looking at you Kreayshwan), she has the backing of music critics as well as Damon Albarn and Bobby Womack, who have asked her to collaborate in the latter’s upcoming LP. Lana is simply one of those stars who appeared on the scene ready for fame, which is what has irked many listeners, who have branded her a “phony”. Her voice however, speaks for itself and with her debut album Born to Die already set for a January 30th release, there is no doubt that Lana has her eyes set of the world.
Kaitlin’s picks:
An indie folk band from Seattle, The Head and the Heart has been quickly capturing the hearts of fans across the nation. Hailing from the same town as Fleet Foxes (and both signed to Sub Pop!), this band brings similarly loveable folk music. Having released their incredible self-titled in 2010 and recently releasing a beautiful iTunes session, The Head and the Heart is only getting started. If you’re a fan of bands like Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine, be sure to keep an eye out for this heavenly folk ensemble on tour in 2012.
Originally a grunge punk band, the members of Larry and His Flask have transformed themselves into a punk-infused high-energy bluegrass phenomenon. Kicking off the transformation was their self-titled EP in 2010, but the true extent of their greatness became apparent with this year’s All That We Know. They started turning heads on a grand scale at 2011’s Vans Warped Tour, with Alternative Press naming them as one of the 10 Must See Under-The-Radar Warped Tour Acts. They’re putting out a new album in 2012 and are perpetually on tour, so check them out if you enjoy the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Old Crow Medicine Show, or Trampled By Turtles.
Husband-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley first came onto radars with the touching story behind 2011’s Cape Dory: they met in college then pulled all their money to sail the Eastern Seaboard for nearly a year and, upon arriving home, felt the urge to document their experiences of travel and love. How better to do this than musically? Cape Dory is an album that was never intended (they never planned on making music together until the inspiration of the trip) but is so beautifully retro-pop and nautical that it seems incredibly well thought-out. Tennis sounds like a combination of Best Coast and La Sera; surf-rock with noise-pop seemingly straight out of the 60s. Can’t wait for the new album in 2012 titled Young & Old.
Author: Dylan Powell View Staff Page for Dylan Powell
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