2014 BEST NEW ARTISTS:

Not much happened this year for new artists musically but we still got some sure shots for a bright future. Here are the brightest:



THE YEAR'S BEST NEW ARTIST IS:


Kate Tempest: the established young poet did the unexpected: tried her hand at a Brit hip/hop album and it worked. Maybe it’s her writing oeuvre (winning the 2013 Ted Hughes award) but Everybody Down was a tale of life grimly put utterly relevant.




Best of the rest (in no particular order)…



Gem Jones: Prince Revivalist? Sure sounds like it!



FKA Twigs: its taken me a while to warm to her but finally, I’m convinced.



Mr. Little Jeans: one of the formidable Norwegian pop babes, Monica Birkenes’ grooves are heavenly and highly contagious.



White Lung: though they’ve been known in native Canada since 2010, it’s this year that the rest of us really have gotten to know the band’s giddy punk rock—and yes it does remind one of Hole.



Alvvays: the Toronto-based band has been winning over fans and critics alike with their heart-drenched pop ballads.



Temples: when Noel Gallaher goes stumping hard for you, you know something special is there and these Brits deliver the goods on their debut.



Cherry Glazerr: the L.A. garage bang has the stiff upper lip diva attitude in spades.



Perfect Pussy: propelled by a massive lead single, this band catches all deserved breaks.



Champs: these two brothers (Michae and David) record chorus-heavy songs and hopefully they’ll be around a long time.



Vince Staples: dude’s only 21 but got a smooth rap game.



Jungle: the British band presents an interesting 70s-based take on soul and superfly chic.



Sylvan Esso: great pop juxtaposition from two defectors of separate bands.



Viet Cong: two members of the band Women defected and, presto, this Canadian outfit now totally rocks.