It's been quite a while since my first list, but I always suspected I couldn't just leave it at a mere ten music groups. There is a lot of good bands out there. So without further delay, let us get started.
10. Matt Mays
Matt Mays is a good ol' boy from Nova Scotia. Before his recent forays into solo recordings, he fronted the band El Torpedo, based out of Cole Harbour. Since disbanding El Torpedo, Mays has continued to write and record music, releasing his first post-El Torpedo album in 2012.
9. Wax Fang
For big fans of prog rock (like myself), Wax Fang is a welcome sound. Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Wax Fang can be at times reminiscent of old school prog bands like Pink Floyd (both Gilmour and Waters era) and Crimson King while still retaining their own distinct style, which is more than can be said for other contemporary prog bands.
8. Irish Stew of Sinduin
Irish Stew of Sinduin, usually shortened to just Irish Stew, is what happens when you get a bunch of musically talented Serbians together and form a Celtic band. As far as I am concerned, there will always more room for more celtic style groups. But who would have thought that they would be coming from eastern Europe? Life is grand.
7. Torres
Mackenzie Scott is not even 25 years old and she has released what is one of my favorite albums to come out in recent years. Seeing as how she attended university in the mecca of American country, she had ample opportunity to hone her musical talent. Her singing, song-writing, and musician-ship are already impressive, so I imagine that as she releases more albums, she will only continue to get better.
6. My Morning Jacket
Another great band from Louisville, My Morning Jacket has delved into a mixture of country and psychedelia. Not a common repertoire, but it seems to work for them. They gotten a well-deserved boost in recognition over the past few years.
5. Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen is the third artist on this list hailing from the American south, specifically St. Louis, Missouri. The first time I heard her was on a radio station broadcasting from Saskatchewan. I thought her music was decent enough to check out further, and so here we are.
4. Boy & Bear
Hey, it's an Australian band! I love Boy & Bear. For reasons unknown I am always getting them mixed up with Blitzen Trapper, which is not fair to Boy & Bear. A collusion of members from different college bands, Boy & Bear kind of runs the gamut in terms of genre.
3. Old Crow Medicine Show
Just above I talked about a band that is pretty successfully at aping prog rock. What amazes me is that not only is prog rock seeing a revival, but so is swing and rockabilly and psychedelic rock, along with every other genre known to the history of man. Bluegrass revival band OCMS formed in 1998 and have been producing great music ever since.
2. First Aid Kit
Have you ever heard Townes van Zandt? He's good, you should listen to him. I have been listening to van Zandt for a few years now and it was really weird when I first heard First Aid Kit. It was like van Zandt's ghost was being channeled by a pair of Swedish sisters in their twenties. Call me crazy, but their syntax and song-writing are uncannily similar. Maybe its just me. Either way they are good.
1. Carbon Leaf
Hey, another Celtic influenced group that isn't from Ireland! Like OCMS, Carbon Leaf has been around longer than most of the other groups on this list but I included them since they are new to me, I like them, and those are all the reasons I need. What's 20 plus years anyways?
That's good enough for now. Maybe I will do another list someday. For now take care, and give these people your money :)
