yesterday i mentioned there are some artists i'm really excited about that will release their first proper record this year (hopefully), so i thought it would be nice to make a little post about them. i'm always out on the look for new music, and people always ask me how i stumble upon new bands, and i guess what's been more helpful for me is keeping track of bands that are out supporting some of my favorites on tour. anyways, that being said here are some bands that are yet to release a record and i'm dying to hear what they come up with 

two wounded birds

they released keep dreaming baby an amazing ep that made fall in love with them. their supporting slot with the drums was what first caught my eye, their unique sound is refreshing and i couldn't help but notice that there's some rockabilly influence in it, and well..i'm a sucker for all things rockabilly. the past few months have been rough on me, the weather is crap and i don't do well with cold climate, and maybe that's the reason i've been attracted to bands that remind me of the summer, and two wounded birds are just that, their fresh-surf rock-breezy feel transports me to a sunshine state and it's just what i need to get me through the cold. i can't wait to hear what they come up with, it'll be interesting considering that lo-fi surf rock bands have gained a lot of attention in the past months, i really hope they can come up with something refreshing that sets them apart from other hyped bands. song recommendation: take me to the beach 

pet moon

having heard just three songs, pet moon has really caught my attention with a sound so unique that's impossible not to hear the songs more than once. the songs definitely have a certain appeal that allows every listen to be a completely different experience, i keep coming up with a different feel every time, and that's a quality that i truly admire in artists, the ability to tie so many feelings and experiences with just one song, and that's the promise of the journey with pet moon, the endless possibility of emotions that take place while listening to a song that surprises every time. i hope that quality doesn't fade once the record is released. song recommendation: ganger

the vaccines

a lot of hype surrounding this band lately, which makes me nervous because i'm always hesitant when it comes to overly-hyped bands, but one things is for sure: the vaccines are worth the hype. their approach is simple yet spot on: flowy guitars alongside an upbeat meter accompanied by mild but still so saying lyrics. following the hype they certainly have a lot to prove, and i think they're up for the challenge, it'll be interesting to see if they can apply that formula to a whole record without it sounding repetitive and mimicked, i have faith they can pull it off. song recommendation: all in white

trophy wife
maybe i should move to oxford, i definitely should move to oxford. trophy wife's microlite release was one of the highlights of last year for me. i quite like bands that don't settle for being safe, and this band covered joanna newsom which sealed the deal for me because any band that can pull that off is great in my book. their sound is distinctive but familiar and that's the challenge they have to surpass because being labeled as math-rock is already setting up a stigma and the only way to get rid of it is proving the ability to come up with a unique sound that cannot be categorized or labeled. i still think they are up for the challenge. song recommendation: microlite (acoustic) 

lucy rose

it's impossible not to fall in love with lucy rose's voice. she has gained some recognition due to her collaboration with bombay bicycle club, and without any doubt the combination of lucy's and jack's voice is heavenly, but her voice alone is already breathtaking. it was about time another girl with fantastic voice and mind-blowing lyrics came along, lucy rose is up there with laura marling proving that girls don't have to dance, expose their bodies and sing songs about seduction in order to prove their talent and gain recognition, lucy is just like any other girl and that's why it is easy to relate to her, but the thing that sets her apart is quite evidently her vulnerability and the ability to turn that vulnerability into amazing songs. song recommendation: bikes 

egyptian hip hop

talk about hyped bands...but still some reptiles grew wings made it all the way to my favorite releases of 2010. there's a certain quality about this band that can't be denied, their sound is refreshing and quite honestly the whole band persona is refreshing as well. maybe that novelty was what made them noticeable, but they do have the songs to back it off, and it just takes one listen to realize it. they have songs that make you want to dance without feeling guilty about it, they are a smart feel-good band, and once the novelty wears off they'll still have that same vibe that sets them apart from other bands. song recommendation: moon crooner

there are other artists that come to my mind, but i figured this were the ones that have more to prove this year, hopefully i won't be let down.