*New to me, not necessarily to the world
Despite currently having 121 GB worth of music on my computer, I am always on the hunt for more. Something new, something I missed out on somehow, just anything appealing to my ear. While I come across plenty of music every year, there are always a few bands that really stand out over the others, bands that become favorites. This year I discovered a lot of really great artists, but the following four are easily my top finds.
Cory Eaves, drummer of Artifex Pereo, can take credit for me falling for this band, though he probably has no idea. I think it was an ‘ask’ about his favorite bands or maybe bands he’d like to tour with (I don’t know, it was a long time ago), but he listed letlive. along with a couple other bands I already knew I liked and it spiked my curiosity. I suppose it shouldn’t have surprised me that a talented musician like himself would have killer taste in music, but I don’t think I was prepared for how much I would love letlive. I can only imagine the kind of energy they must create performing live and I really hope I get to experience it one day. I would later fall in love with many more bands because of Cory’s music recommendations, but letlive. will probably always hold the top spot.
It was April, my birthday weekend, and I was going through a music buying binge on Amazon after receiving a MP3 gift card. I’d already spent more money than my gift card offered when Amazon suggested I’d like Circa Survive, as if I needed more music at all. I don’t think that Amazon’s ever really been completely right with their suggestions to me, but you can’t really blame them since my music taste is so all over the place. But I previewed Blue Sky Noise and fell so head-over-heels for Circa Survive I spent even more money and acquired every album they’d released immediately. Amazon loves my wallet. Needless to say, this is a band I don’t see myself ever growing tired of.
My newfound love for Circa Survive is the reasons behind my love of O’ Brother. When they announced their latest album’s release and tour, they offered a free download sampler of the bands they’d be touring with and on this sampler was O’ Brother. I couldn’t get enough of their sound and just had to hear more. Everything I’ve bought since has been so, so solid. It is absolutely a band worth checking out.
I guess because I post music so often, it’s not uncommon for unsigned bands to contact me asking to be checked out (I assume this is why, no one’s ever actually said it, but I do get a pretty significant amount of requests like this). Unfortunately, I don’t get a lot of winners, but Relief in Sleep was the biggest winner of them all this year. They’re like this lovely clashing of old Paramore or Flyleaf against a perfectly complicated musical arrangement. I’m not sure what their future holds, but I hope it’s making more music and being further recognized by the music industry.
What were the best bands you came across in 2012? I’d love to check them out!
**If you don't already know these bands, click their name or pictures to check out their sound!