the american creative.

Apple: An Infographic of Epic Proportion

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:13:16 -0500

There is no question that Apple, inc. is a monster of growth. Every day, we are made aware of Apple in one form or another, rather it be in the stock market, on TV and in movies, or for a lot of us, simply by turning on our own Apple product. But how relevant is Apple, and what does their reach and profit look like? Take a look:

View the original article here.

This, my friends, is called false advertising. Regardless,...

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:59:37 -0500

This, my friends, is called false advertising. Regardless, it’s a great blast from the past and a very funny advertising plot. Here is a wonderful ad from the late 80s/early 90s for a CD compilation entitled “PUNK”. Hearing that, you’d think the album would be filled with Rancid hits, The Sex Pistols, and Fugazi. Wrong. Take a look.

Review: John Mayer "Born and Raised"

Thu, 10 May 2012 14:25:12 -0500

A few weeks back, I was given the chance to hear a sneak preview of Born and Raised, the forthcoming album from John Mayer. Myself, along with a small & select group of fans, bloggers, and John Mayer fanatics got to sit in on one of the first public listening sessions, hearing the CD track-by-track. It is always hard to come up with a track-by-track review of a CD based on one listen, especially a John Mayer record which usually needs a handful of listens to begin to soak in. Below, I have run down (cliffnotes version) my first set of thoughts on the disc.

Tracklist

1. Queen of California

2. The Age of Worry

3. Shadow Days

4. Speak for Me

5. Something Like Olivia

6. Born and Raised

7. If I Ever Get Around To Living

8. Love is a Verb

9. Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967

10. Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey

11. A Face to Call Home

12. Born and Raised (Reprise)

_____________________________________________________________________

1. Queen of California

Very good opening track with a solid solo, very old school with a twist of southern americana. It could fit nicely in a catalog of America or Bread songs from the 70’s. Very free-spirit feel to it, and a tad countrified you could say. Very upbeat, just a great way to start the record.

2. The Age of Worry

Organs, big band style almost. I get a hint of irish drinking song as well during the listen. I don’t know if it’s the delivery or what, but it reminds me of stuff I heard in pubs on my travels throughout the UK. For Mayer, its a very different arrangement than anything he’s ever done. Production is top notch, and it’s very different than the early, stripped versions that appeared on live videos.

3. Shadow Days

The one song most people have heard coming into the CDs release. Twangy, bluegrass feel but still recognizable as a patented Mayer song. Honestly, it’s one of my least favorite songs on the disc, mainly because there are some true gems throughout the disc. However, Mayer rarely writes a poor song, which this isn’t, so I would chalk this up to more of a “radio” song than anything. It’s there to pull a listener in, but really nothing more for the die hard.

4. Speak for Me

This might be my favorite song on the record. It reminds me a lot of Room For Squares Mayer. Great vocal range, great vocal harmony, and it’s a flimsical song that I can only image was penned based on his past transgressions with Rolling Stone/Twitter/the media. Consider it an offering from Mayer opening up to his past, something which he has adressed on a few occasions, but never really lyrically covered.

5. Something Like Olivia

Very bluesy feel to the intro. Those who loved Continuum and the Trio work I think will find this song enticing. Word floating around about this song is that Mayer did everything in this songs recording live. That would make sense, listening to this version you hear the guitar solo starting out kinda low, then building. I guess what happened was during the live take, he had to run to his guitar, which was volumed low, and then midway, he kicked it to high. Rumor is he loved the take so much, he kept it as such. Very raw, very John. A true gem.

6. Born and Raised

Another one that ranks as one of my favorites and I think it would be one of Mayer’s favorites as well. We get a cameo from influences Crosby, Stills, and Nash and it is the ultimate all encompassing track on the disc. This CD has a lot of different elements, different sounds, but this song kind of brings them all together. That might be why it’s smack in the middle, to recap and then to set you up for what is to come. Beautiful track, old school folkish twang with a touch of country influence. Nicely composed.

7. If I Ever Get Around to Living

Gorgeous song. The best way I can describe it is that it is essentially is 3 songs in 1. Not because it’s a few ticks short of 6 minutes, but because of the breaks in the song. The beauty in it is it meshes great. Mayer has spoken about how this song is kind of the start of the “transformation” on the album, where everything just kind of gets twisted up and bent out of shape, in a good way, from this song on. When I first heard it all the way through, I felt like it belonged on Clarity, then the second part of the song kicked in and I didn’t think that at all. It’s really like nothing Mayer has ever done before, and that is exciting. Will be excited to dive into it more and give it the due spins it deserves to try to wrap my head around it fully.

8. Love Is a Verb

Twangy bluesy R&B love song. Thats the best description I can give you for this song. As the shortest song on the CD that is not a reprise, it’s clear that this message is literally what it says it is, love. Straight forward, heart felt song from Mayer.

9. Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967

When I first heard this song, I was absolutely stunned. First off, it’s totally out of Mayer’s element. A story-driven song that, I think, has a lot of hidden meaning. What that meaning is, i’m not sure that we’ll ever know unless Mayer tells us. I’ve been going around ever since I heard this telling people that this is Mayer’s “Eleanor Rigby”. Not because of structure or sound, but because of the lyrical approach of being a story song. I feel like this is going to be a milestone song for his career, and easily a fan favorite for years to come. We can only hope we understand the true meaning behind it someday.

10. Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey

What I thought would be my least favorite song on the disc. I had heard a live stripped version of this song from the Village Underground December 2010 set, and at that time, the song just didn’t really strike me. I will admit, the album version is better. Strong harmonica, very nice piano, and a song that obviously hits home for Mayer. It’s haunting, it’s open and honest. Famed producer Don Was, who produced Born and Raised, has admitted this is one of his favorite songs on the album.

11. A Face to Call Home

Another one of those songs that creeped up from the Village Underground December 2010 set. This was one of the few early listens that I really enjoyed, and the album version is an enjoyable listen as well. In theory, it is the end of the record, and it is the song all the ladies will love. It stays true to form to the appeal of the CD, but at the same time it reaches back to old school Mayer. Perfect way to end an album.

Overall, for Mayer fans, this will fit nicely in the collection. For everyone else, I think it will be received well, but maybe not loved as much as Continuum or some of Mayer’s other work is. While I held out hope we’d get A proper recorded and released version of “Covered In Rain” (of course not) or “You Already Are to Me”, I am pleased with the offering Mayer has given us. It’s a new avenue, new adventures with a more folk americana twang, the addition of piano and harmonica, and a nice mix of new elements with old.

12. Born and Raised (Reprise)

I’ve never been a huge fan of reprises. Majority of reprises are either decent or bad, nothing amazing. This reprise is a little lighthearted, and reminds me of Who Says. It’s a nice little nugget at the end, but it’s a song I don’t really consider apart of the CD, just more of an extra.

Facebook Timeline: The Sudden Decline of Artist Band Pages

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:27:00 -0500

We saw marked declines heading into Facebook’s official switch to Timeline. But it now looks like Timeline is eviscerating the Facebook artist app, or at best forcing it into some lowly plateau.

Here’s a look at artist app traffic for three of the largest DIY appmakers: BandPage (formerly Root Music), ReverbNation, and FanRx (formerly BandRx). The mandatory switch to Timeline, which disabled default landing pages on artist apps, happened March 30th.

BandPage (Formerly RootMusic)

DAU (Daily Average User) Totals:

Peak: 1,700,000
March 25th: 640,000
April 10th: 210,000

Drop = 87.6%

ReverbNations (Band Profile)

DAU (Daily Average User) Totals:

Peak: 724,000
March 25th: 389,000
April 10th: 220,000

Drop = 69.6%

FanRX (formerly BandRx)

DAU (Daily Average User) Totals:

Peak: 580,000
March 25th: 270,000
April 10th: 40,000

Drop = 93.1%

The original article can be viewed here.

Facebook & Instagram: What It All Really Means

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:22:00 -0500

Within minutes of the announcement today that Facebook had plans to acquire Instagram for $1B, the backlash started. Instagram would be ruined, Facebook paid too much, this was the end of it all.

But I think that it’s too soon to call it a day on the network and think that it could continue to work just as well as it always has been. In fact, the Facebook acquisition could ensure that it does so for even longer than it would have otherwise.

This isn’t a discussion about the price, or a justification of Facebook’s purchase, or how loving a service can make it more attractive to bigger companies. It’s just a look at why you may be bugging out too early on Instagram if you’ve decided to call it quits based on today’s news.

From the talk I’ve heard today, I don’t think that this is a popular position to take. I even posted up instructions for those disgruntled folks on how to delete their Instagram account and download all of their photos. I think it’s a good idea to keep an archive of your online photos anyway, but the quitting part was honestly ‘by popular demand’. Many of the TNW readers that have viewed our poll, over 1,200, have a negative outlook toward the Facebook acquisition of Instagram.

But I’m not convinced that this is a bad deal for Instagram lovers. I think that it could actually be the best thing that ever happened to the service.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company is flat-out interested in “building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family.”

This isn’t a new direction for the company either. This post on the 1000 Memories blog illustrates just how seriously Facebook takes sharing photos. It’s one of the primary ways that the 850M users of Facebook communicate with each other. There’s Facebook, there’s Flickr (which has no mobile presence to speak of), there’s the Library of Congress, and right there in between, there’s Instagram.

There’s really no other purchase Facebook could have made to further its goals to own the photo space. It’s a no-brainer. But what will Facebook do now that it has it? Zuckerberg also said that the company is “committed to building and growing Instagram independently.”

That’s a nice statement, but is it just PR speak? I don’t think so. Not for a company that is on the cusp of going public. Zuckerberg has a responsibility to be honest to potential investors and Instagram will likely show up in a revision of its S1 filing. Plans to fold the service into Facebook, besides being counterproductive, are extremely unlikely in the face of this forced transparency.

This is a fantastic deal for Instagram, as it has gained a huge amount of financial support, meaning that there’s no urgent need for it to figure out how to start making money. Facebook hasn’t even monetized its own mobile apps, much less a focused network like Instagram, which can act as a pure experience — a funnel by which to gather data, photos and new users.

Facebook doesn’t need Instagram to make money. Instagram will probably never get ads.

I think it’s a win for everyone. Now Instagram doesn’t have to shoehorn a monetization model it would hate —and you would hate — into its service in order to survive. The users get a better experience. Facebook gets more data. Users that are quitting Instagram because the service may be ‘ruined’ are barking up the wrong tree. Facebook sees the value in the network as it is, a photo creation machine with a lot of user love.

If you’re stuck on privacy issues, recoiling from the idea of Facebook having even more of your data, I understand. But you might as well stop using any huge free service on the Internet. Users who are quitting Instagram for this reason will have rude awakening when it comes to other services like Twitter soon enough. That network is leveraging user data already, as companies like Datasift andDataMinr are being given access to historic data even before the users who created it. That says a lot.

Google and Facebook have gotten a lot of flak for harvesting user data and putting it to use selling them to advertisers. But Twitter isn’t far behind, and any service you aren’t paying for on the ‘net is hot on its heels, including Path and any other services that you may consider to be isolated, personal data silos.

If you feel that you have to quit because of the Facebook involvement, hey, fair enough, but you should take a look at why you keep using other online services as well. That bird has flown, this is the way it is now. If you don’t want your data used by companies, you’re going to have to be a lot more picky when it comes to using social networks and services.

If you’re quitting because you think that Instagram will be ruined by involvement with Facebook, I think that the opposite is actually true. Facebook’s purchase just saved Instagram from a future of certain compromise and gave it another lease on its life as your favorite photo sharing network.

The original article can be viewed here.

Legendary prankster Google is out with some early April Fools’...

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:01:00 -0500

Legendary prankster Google is out with some early April Fools’ tomfoolery ahead of schedule, teasing nostalgic gamers with an 8-bit version of its near-ubiquitous Maps application.

“In our pursuit of new digital frontiers, we realized that we may have left behind a large number of users who couldn’t access Google Maps on their classic hardware,” Google said in a blog post on the phony product for NES.

Maps 8-bit for NES (and soon Game Boy!) is the dream cartridge for the sentimental gamer who still totes around her classic Nintendo Entertainment System. The application features low-res graphics, an 8-bit-themed soundtrack, and even monsters.

“With Google Maps 8-bit, you can do all the things you already do on regular Google Maps. Search for famous landmarks and sites around the world. Take an epic journey with 8-bit Street View. Get detailed directions to avoid dangerous paths, and battle your way through a world of powerful monsters and mystic treasures,” Google said.

The accompanying how-to video, embedded below, is a must-watch and includes appropriate instructions for operation — think blowing on the cartridge to fix bugs.

The Maps gag is no Google TiSP, but it’s quite clever and likely just one of many new “products” launching this April.

The original article can be viewed here.

Branding is an intricate part of advertising. We’ve seen...

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:57:00 -0600

Branding is an intricate part of advertising. We’ve seen how the Apple logo has become a global icon over the years with its movement from hexa-color logo to the black logo to the current sleek and simplistic monochrome-like logo. Windows appears to be following in suit, going from the well-known tetra color squares to a more… well… simplistic logo. When someone in your general field does something that works, why not try to do it yourself? We are in a copy-cat industry, and it appears that Windows is going the route of “simple is best” with their new work of blue art.

Sports and Social Media

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:21:06 -0600

Mashable recently did an article on how sports fans use social media and their tendencies of “following” media outlets during events. It’s pretty insightful information, knowing that sports is a “breaking news”-type business, with updates coming constantly and analysis from professionals being at the snap of the fingertip, or better yet a push of an app. The firm GMR Marketing carried out this study, as well as this infographic, which shows that sports fans turned to social media 10x more for breaking sporting news than they did the radio, and 41% of people will turn to twitter and/or facebook before turning to a national news website (40%). Some pretty crazy discoveries and some insightful information for those who try to reach the male-dominated (though, more and more females are stepping into this demographic of late) sporting demographic.

The Death of QR Codes

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:02:00 -0600

Like most technology fans, I am always ready and willing to try any technology that promises to simplify my life. QR codes seemed to present an accessible and uniform way for people with smart devices to interact with advertising, marketing and media. Those little squares of code seemed to open a world of opportunity and potential. But after using them for a length of time, I shifted my perspective.

My initial honeymoon with QR codes was very short-lived. The initial rush that I had received from trying to frame the code on my device had lost its luster. I started to view QR codes as a barrier to additional information. And in many instances, the rewards (whatever I received as a result of scanning the code) did not measure up to the effort of the transaction itself.

Consider a recent study by comScore, which states that only 14 million American mobile device users have interacted with a QR code. In essence, less than 5% of the American public has scanned a QR code. So where’s the disconnect?

Inadequate technology, lack of education and a perceived dearth of value from QR codes are just three of the reasons mobile barcodes are not clicking with Americans. But it goes deeper than that.

Humans are visual animals. We have visceral reactions to images that a QR code can never evoke; what we see is directly linked to our moods, our purchasing habits and our behaviors. It makes sense, then, that a more visual alternative to QR codes would not only be preferable to consumers, but would most likely stimulate more positive responses to their presence.

The QR Alternative

Enter mobile visual search (MVS).

With MVS, you simply point at a product or logo and shoot a picture with your smartphone’s built-in camera. Within seconds, the MVS application will provide product or company information, or even the option to make a purchase right then and there on your mobile device.

MVS is a far more compelling and interactive tool to enable mobile marketing and commerce. In today’s increasingly mobile world, instant gratification is the norm, and taking the extra step of finding a QR code scanner on your mobile device no longer makes sense. With MVS, you are interacting with images that are familiar and desirable, not a square of code that elicits no reaction.

The opportunities are boundless with MVS. Unlike two-dimensional barcodes and QR codes, MVS will have wrap-around and three-dimensional recognition capabilities. Even traditional advertising will be revitalized with MVS. For example, picture an interactive print campaign that incorporates MVS as part of a competition or game. Marketers can offer instant gratification in the form of videos, mobile links, coupons or discounts as incentive for taking the best pictures of a particular product or logo.

The world has already started to migrate to MVS. For example, companies in Argentina and South Korea currently allow commuters waiting for subways or buses to view images of groceries or office supplies. Embedded within these images are recognitions triggers: Smartphone users place and pay for an order to be delivered or picked up within minutes.

Also, MVS can cash in on word-of-mouth marketing. Marketers will seamlessly link their campaigns to social networks so consumers can share photos and rewards, such as vouchers, coupons or music downloads, with their friends and followers.

QR Code Security Risks

In addition to being a more versatile medium, mobile visual search is also more secure than QR code technology. Cybercriminals are able to cloak smartphone QR code attacks due to the nature of the technology — QR codes’ entire purpose is to store data within the code. There is no way to know where that code is going to take you: a legitimate website, infected site, malicious app or a phishing site. MVS’s encryption modality will eliminate the opportunity for malicious code to download to your smartphone.

Recently, there have been documented cases of QR code misuse and abuse around the globe. For instance,infected QR codes can download an app that embeds a hidden SMS texting charge in your monthly cellphone bill. QR codes can also be used to gain full access to a smartphone — Internet access, camera, GPS, read/write local storage and contact data. All of the data from a smartphone can be downloaded and stolen, putting the user at risk for identity theft — without the user noticing.

Mobile visual search is a safer and more secure technology that can provide more information and content than a QR code, without as many security risks. By focusing on real-world objects and images rather than code, MVS lessens the risk of a virus or Trojan attack.

Safety, security and versatility — there are many reasons that MVS will supplant QR codes. However, there is one important, largely overlooked reason to favor MVS over QR codes: For the first time, we will be able connect with our actual surroundings in a truly interactive way. We will be able to provide a virtual marketplace that is familiar and accessible. Humanizing this interaction and making it more visual are the foundations of MVS’s imminent success.

This article appears on Mashable and was written by Jon Barocas, founder and CEO of bieMEDIA. To View the original article, click here.

Branding: The Art of "The Follow"

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:07:00 -0600

In todays digital age, analytics are a little easier to identify thanks to the improvement of online sites like google and Facebooks built in tracker. But, the question of follows and how to improve your pages to get follows and fans is different for every company. Not every company is in the business of selling a product or promoting items via giveaways. The following takes a look at some of the things that drive people to liking/friending/following a company on different forms of new media and what makes them WANT to follow.

Countries Flags Made With Food

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:24:31 -0600

This came across my google+ feed the other day, and it really impressed me. While it’s more of an artistic venture than anything else, it got me to thinking of how beautiful this concept could be for advertising. Possibly used as a travel advertisement for the designated countries, or for the food products themselves. Regardless, it’s a beautiful work of art by Mr. Tolxdorff.

Scrabble & Quotes

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:15:00 -0600

Scrabble’s current campaign that is running takes well-known quotes, and adds a little, whats a good scrabble word…, zest, to them.

Jason Mraz: The Instagram Contest

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:19:00 -0600

Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz wants Instagram users to translate his new song, “I Won’t Give Up,” into one image. The contest asks fans to tag their photograph with #IWONTGIVEUP.

“I am grateful for everyone who has heard the love in ‘I Won’t Give Up,’ and I’m excited to see how the song translates into so many visual interpretations.” Mraz told Mashable on Tuesday.

Mraz, who is one the most-followed users on photo-sharing mobile app Instgram, won’t have to wait to see his challenge to fans come to life. Users have already submitted more than 3,000 pictures (see gallery above for examples), including one from pop star Selena Gomez and another from American Idol judge Randy Jackson:

Instagrammers have until Feb. 20 to join the contest. Mraz will then choose 25 winners, who will be invited to meet him at a private showcase in New York City. CanvasPop plans to print the top photos on large-format canvas, and Mraz will sign them at the gathering on March 8.

“This contest is all about reaching out to fans and developing a personal connection with Jason’s inspiring song (listen below),” says CanvasPop director of marketing Spencer Callaghan. “We feel the same way about our Instagram print service; it transforms the images from pixels on a screen to a treasured piece of art.”

Instagram is no stranger to having celebrities and the masses — 15 million users at last count — use its service. Just last month, U.S. President Barack Obama joined.

Apple dubbed Instagram its App of the Year in 2011, and company founder Kevin Systrom just appeared inBest Buy’s Super Bowl ad.

“CanvasPop takes iPhone photography to a whole new level, allowing candid snapshots to be transformed into physical pieces of art,” says Mike Mignano, director of digital product development at Atlantic Records, Mraz’s record label. “The medium is perfect for an artist like Jason, whose songs find beauty and inspiration in these everyday moments.”

Social Media: The Education Tool

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:07:00 -0600

It’s no surprise that the world of social media has played a major role in education over the last five to ten years. That might seem like a long time, but think about it… Facebook really didn’t start taking off and offering their services to EVERYONE (not just college students) until 2005, 7 years ago. Luckily, my alma mater was recently rated the no. 1 social media savvy school in the US, so I was lucky enough to see the boom as it happened & study it closely with the best. Mashable recently released this infographic of the pro’s and con’s that social media has in the field of education, not only for college and universities, but high schools and even middle schools as well.

The original article can be viewed here.

How Social Media Could Improve Public Safety

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:56:00 -0600

How Social Media Could Improve Public Safety:

When it comes to public safety, forward-thinking government agencies are beginning to look at social media as a support tool for improved situational awareness.

The very nature of social media’s open communication and crowdsourced information provides a powerful tool for public safety agencies. Take, for instance, the Twitter user who unknowingly tweeted in real-time about the Osama Bin Laden raid, or the Florida deputy who used Facebook to negotiate a standoff, or the kidnapper who found time to update his Facebook friends….

To continue reading, click on the highlighted title or click here.

Social Media: Reaching Your Demographic

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:48:13 -0600

Nailing a demographic for social media use is the million dollar question for all advertisers. “What sites are the 18-24 group using? How can we reach them best?” These are questions we often ask ourselves. AdAge took a stab at trying to help all social media guru’s understand the main demographics of the big two: twitter and facebook. It also takes a peak in the former powerhouse, myspace (or more commonly my|_____|). Let this help you when gauging your reach. Also, if you are at a loss, look into some other budding social networks and social apps, such as spotify, google+, and foursquare for your reach.

One more for the flashback category: An old cola ad for, what...

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:55:06 -0600

One more for the flashback category: An old cola ad for, what seems to be, feeding infants cola. Not sure when it was published, but with it being black & white, i’d guess around the 1940’s. Enjoy the nostalgia.

It seems I have a thing for old advertisements. Here is another...

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:34:00 -0600

It seems I have a thing for old advertisements. Here is another I found, dating back to 1992. Enjoy the nostalgia.

The Top 20 Albums of 2011

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:09:00 -0600

2011 top 20 albums spotify playlist.

20. Los Campesinos! “Hello Sadness”

Released: Nov. 15, 2011

Label: Arts & Crafts

Recommended If You Like: Wolf Parade, Johnny Foreigner, Tokyo Police Club

Standout Track(s): “By Your Hand”, “Hello Sadness”, “Light Leaves, Dark Sees, Pt. II”

This is a band that, entering 2011, I had never heard of. They have released material prior to this year, but not being a big “indie” style enthusiast, a lot of that genre kind of slips through the cracks with me. In fact, after hearing this CD, I went back and spun their critically acclaimed 2010 release, Romance Is Boring. While it’s not as appealing to me as Hello Sadness, it still has its moment. This is not a band breaking the mold of indie music, but it’s a band that can appeal, and with their 2011 release, they did just that for me. Well, enough to crack the top 20 at least.

Los Campesinos! “By Your Hand”

19. The Undeserving “Almost Alive”

Released: Sept. 6, 2011

Label: Warner Bros. Records

Recommended If You Like: Switchfoot, The Fray, Brightwood

Standout Track(s): “Fall”, “There For You”, “Cheer Up (We’re Almost Alive)”

It’s almost scary how this band can mix the sounds of switchfoot and the fray so well. I hear a lot of Jon Foreman influence in their lyrics, yet I also hear a very similar style of Isaac Slade and the fray. They also compare to switchfoot in the sense that they are a christian band, but they are a christian band whose music can be taken in more ways than just God-lyrics, if you will. Almost Alive is an anthem for a band who has worked so hard to reach the big time, and this is their offering now that they are there. Sadly, due to poor promotion, this CD went nearly unnoticed. I highly encourage anyone who likes the styling of switchfoot and the piano rock effort of bands like jacks mannequin, the fray, and parachute to check this band out for one of the better “missed” CDs of this year.

The Undeserving “Cheer Up (We’re Almost Alive)”

18. Andy Zipf “Jealous Hands”

Released: July 5, 2011

Label: Hopeless Records

Recommended If You Like: Andrew Belle, Brooke Fraser, Matthew Mayfield

Standout Track(s): “Promise & Purpose”, “I Ain’t The Kind For Givin’ Up”, “Runaway, Little Sister”

This is a CD of hope. It’s typical for an artist to improve from album to album, but its rarely seen that an artist takes a new, exciting direction and succeeds so successfully. I worked with Zipf back in 2008 prior to the release of The Cowards Choir, and to see the growth from that small piece of work to Jealous Hands is unreal. This is a singer/songwriter who got help from a predominantly ”rock” based record label in the release of this disc, so for him to step out and offer this is amazing. Usually Zipf is a staple in the independent circuit, but with this release was the featured steam of the week on Liisten, and even given honors as a top 5 unsigned artist of the year, and this CD was given the No. 7 spot on Liisten’s top 10 CDs of 2011. Great things to come from this powerful singer/songwriter.

Andy Zipf “I Ain’t The Kind For Givin’ Up”

17. Courrier “A Violent Flame”

Released: Feb. 1, 2011

Label: Independent

Recommended If You Like: The Fray, Sleeping at Last, Paper Route

Standout Track(s): “Paper Ghost”, “Right as Rain”, “Between”

Welcome the first Texas band to the list. Austin’s very own Courrier make the list with their hauntingly beautiful CD that provides chilling vocals similar to Sleeping at Last, song styles similar to The Fray and Green River Ordinance, and an atmospheric touch of sound like that heard from Paper Route, The Rocketboys, and what use to be The New Frontiers. It amazes me the talent pool that Texas has year in and year out for rock music, and how untouched and unnoticed it seems to go. Last year we had Sleeperstar and The Canvas Waiting on the list, and this year, Courrier is the lone representative. Be sure to check this band out if you get a chance. 2011 led them on tours with Parachute and indie/VH1 darling Kate Voegele, so this band should be on the rise going forward.

Courrier “Between”

16. Matt Duke “One Day Die”

Released: March 29, 2011

Label: Rykodisc Inc.

Recommended If You Like: Joshua James, Landon Pigg, Justin Nozuka

Standout Track(s): “M.L.T.”, “Lay”, “Needle and Thread”

Ah, Matt Duke. The college singer/songwriter. This man is probably best known as part of “the trio” in most college circuits, and him, Jay Nash, and Tony Lucca often tour together and even recorded two CDs under the moniker TFDI. His most recent release, however, found its way into my hands and I had trouble putting it down for awhile. Just a beautiful piece of work, suitable for anyone looking for a John Mayer-esque artists, or someone who can fit the mold of a lyrically good singer/songwriter. “Lay”, in it’s simplicity and beauty, was easily one of my most listened to songs of the year.

Matt Duke “Lay”

15. Marcus Foster “Nameless Path”

Released: Sept. 26, 2011

Label: Polydor (UK)

Recommended If You Like: Ben Howard, Mumford & Sons, Matthew and the Atlas

Standout Track(s): “I Was Broken”, “I Don’t Mind”, “Old Birch Tree”

Folk music. It seems to be the new, “hip” style of late. Seemingly spearheaded by British folksters Mumford & Sons, we’ve seen bands with a folk tune popping up like wildfire of late. One of those is a British man named Marcus Foster. With influences like Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, The Doors, Jeff Buckley, Johnny Flynn, and Van Morrison, it’s clear to see that Foster works a lot with heartbreak and has crafted his work to reflect that. This is a CD that I, nowadays, pop in when it’s gloomy outside, when it’s starting to get cold and windy, and just let the sounds of the fall take over. Highly recommended for those who like the acoustic-folk style and aren’t afraid to be moved by sad and honest lyrics. Not to mention, Kristin Stewart (Bella Swan for you Twilight honkers) makes an appearance in the music video for “I Was Broken” because she is a huge fan of Foster and his work.

Marcus Foster “I Was Broken”

14. The Head and the Heart “Self-Titled”

Released: Jan. 11, 2011

Label: Sub Pop

Recommended If You Like: The Civil Wars, Augustana, Ryan Adams

Standout Track(s): “Lost In My Mind”, “Honey Come Home”, “Down In The Valley”

How Seattle does it, i’ll never know. It seems like they constantly churn out talent. Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam in the early to mid 90s. Death Cab, Band of Horses in the 2000’s, and now The Head and the Heart. With mild success on VH1’s top 20 countdown, THatH took 2011 by storm as the “newbies” on the block who have amazing potential to grow into a DCFC-type over time. Their indie/folk blend of music has notes of The Civil Wars (dual male/female vocals), and the indie feel of early 2000’s Ryan Adams, and at times sounds of Young The Giant and Augustana (imagine Dan Layus of Augustana singing a even dirtier (in a good way) folky/blues style. Then listen to “Down In The Valley” and try to tell me you don’t hear Dan in that voice.). That is a lot of influences bundled in one, but it’s hard to classify The Head and the Heart as just blues, as just indie, as just folk, or even as just an adult alternative band. There is a lot going on in this CD and if it wasn’t for its early 2011 release and it’s constant spinning for 11 months, it very well could have cracked the top 10.

The Head and the Heart “Lost In My Mind”

13. The Dangerous Summer “War Paint”

Released: July 19, 2011

Label: Fearless Records

Recommended If You Like: The Early November, The Starting Line, Saosin

Standout Track(s): “No One’s Gonna Need You More”, “I Should Leave Right Now”, “Everyone Left”

Way back in 2009, The Dangerous Summer were introduced to me with their release of Reach For The Sun. That CD ended up moving me lyrically, and ended up being No.1 of the year for me. Fast forward to 2011, it’s obvious that this was one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Upon first spin, I was disappointed. I think partly because I had built such a high anticipation for this one, and it wasn’t what I was hoping for. The lyrics didn’t hit me the same way. Granted, from 2009 to now my taste has evolved and i’ve definitely toned down and listen to a lot more singer/songwriter, folk style bands now, but i still enjoy the occasional rock album (which you will notice later when we enter the top 10). So, I put this CD down after disappointment to let it rest, and I eventually got back to it around September. Needless to say, I found the underlying beauty in it, I begin to come around finding tracks that really moved me, but still didn’t feel the connection that I did with RFTS. It’s a complete listen, a good listen, and lyrically they are still one of if not the best in their genre. Regardless of all the band drama, cancelled tours, and rehab visits for the guitarist, I look forward to the next effort. Not to mention, this gets the nod for the dirtiest (again, in a good way) guitar riff of the year for the intro to the song below.

The Dangerous Summer “I Should Leave Right Now”

12. The Midway State “Paris or India”

Released: July 19, 2011

Label: EMI

Recommended If You Like: Ben Folds meets Keane, Until June, Safetysuit

Standout Track(s): “Atlantic”, “Lightning”, “Alive”

Please take note this CD and the one prior were released on the same day. Easily the best music day of the year. Blame Canada. Not for anything other than not exporting this band. Holes, their 2008 album, is one of my favorite CDs of the last 10 years. So, when I heard the band was finally recording again, I was stoked. While the Ben Folds feel as described isn’t as strong on this album, just give Holes one spin and you’ll quickly see that the singer sounds spot on to Ben Folds. Paris or India really strikes close with me because it allows me to recall my time in London. The video for “Atlantic” is also partly shot in the English-beach town of Brighton, a place where I visited on my travels. It was as if this CD was made for my memories. With more of an electronic touch than the previous album, The Midway State show that they are ready for the big time, and if they can break out of the Canadian scene, they have the appeal that could be heard on radio stations across the world. Very catchy and very good; a very warm and welcoming progression from the previous album.

The Midway State “Atlantic”

11. Deaf Havana “Fools & Worthless Liars”

Released: Nov. 6, 2011

Label: BMG

Recommended If You Like: The Dangerous Summer, You Me at Six, Futures

Standout Track(s): “I’m a Bore, Mostly”, “The World or Nothing”, “The Past Six Years”, “Fifty Four”

I had the pleasure of working with this band some in 2011, and aside from them being good guys with a true heart and passion for their work, they make pretty damn good music. They really remind me as a younger, less aggressive version of Fightstar, who if you know me personally, is one of my favorite bands out there right now (see: Charlie Simpson, below). Fools & Worthless Liars really came to me at a time in the year where I was getting bored with the typical singer/songwriter tune, and was looking for a new outlet to spark something. And if you know me, you also know I have a soft spot for anything British/Scottish/Etc. So, being drawn in to the sound plus the thick accent plus the personal lyrics, really hit home. Lyrics deal with death, with growing up, with wanting to leave a town, and even about not carrying enough and being scared to grow up. It’s a CD for those who are growing up. A great rock listen, and sadly a band that much of the US will probably never come in contact with.

Deaf Havana “The Past Six Years”

NOTE:

It should be noted here that there is an artist/band that does not appear in the top 10 that should be given due respect. Late in 2010 and throughout a good part of this year, my good friend Ryan and his project “Sleeping at Last” released a ground-breaking project entitled “yearbook”. Ryan set out to write, record, produce, and release 3 songs for every month, starting in October of 2010 and going through September 2011. Once all songs were written/released, Ryan re-released them in a duo-CD format as well. Due to that being 2 releases of 3 songs each, it was hard to classify it as a CD, but rather a collection of work. His work and effort was amazing, and what he was able to put out was remarkable. If I could, the project would be in the top 10, but since it doesn’t really fit the format, I figured making note of it and adding a few songs for you to hear would suffice. Sleeping at Last also was given the honor of writing and recording a song that appeared in the most recent installment of Twilight, and honor that I was graciously allowed to partake in by doing the PR for the Sleeping at Last camp. That song, “Turning Page” was used during the wedding scene and the sex scene (easier for all of us if I just come out and say it) and can be purchased on the soundtrack, and the video for the song can be viewed here.

Sleeping at Last “101010”

Sleeping at Last “Noble Aim”

10. Parachute “The Way It Was”

Released: May 17, 2011

Label: Island Records

Recommended If You Like: Matt Nathanson, Safetysuit, Matt Wertz

Standout Track(s): “Forever and Always”, “Philadelphia”, “White Dress”

Parachute sees my EOTY chart for the second time in as many releases. I remember towards the end of high school listening to a band called Sparky’s Flaw during the days of Napster and Limewire, when i’d spend hours seeking out bands similar to those I liked at the time. Little did I know that those behind the Limewire song “One Small Step”, who came up during a search of similar artists for goo goo dolls, would mold into what is now Parachute, and mold into one of my favorite 90’s-esq pop rock/adult alternative bands. Let’s face it. It’s what I grew up with. Matchbox Twenty, Train, Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, Counting Crows… it’s what i’ll always have a soft spot for. Which is why the RIYL list are all artists/bands i’m drawn too in some regard. It’s the way it is. The Way It Was is a little more “pop” centered than the bands previous release, Losing Sleep, but that’s OK. You accept it, find the gems, and tap the foot to the rest. Needless to say, once you hit the hauntingly epic “Philadelphia”, you just turn off the lights, close your eyes, and put it on repeat and let it sink in. The strength of that song alone carried this album up a few spots.

Parachute “Philadelphia”

9. Ed Sheeran “+”

Released: Sept. 9, 2011

Label: Warner Bros. Records (UK)

Recommended If You Like: Jason Mraz, Jamie Woon, Damien Rice meets Jack Johnson

Standout Track(s): “The A Team”, “Kiss Me”, “Lego House”, “Give Me Love”

Ed is someone that really came on my radar back in around the middle of last year with his youtube appeal and his EP, Loose Change. It’s weird how our generation has been the biggest mover in the mobile music development business. It’s not uncommon for us to see a star born before our eyes in the industry. We started with myspace and saw artists like Colbie Caillat and Sean Kingston go from nothing to something in a matter of months. We saw Purevolume and absolutepunk prior to that help usher in new(er) talent like Acceptance, Fall Out Boy, etc. We then saw the boom of youtube stars-turned-pop idols with the Biebs, Boyce Avenue, Rebecca Black (c’mon, you laugh, but “Friday” was a top 40 hit for some time, sadly), and Ed. Ed, fairly unknown to many Americans, boomed onto the scene in England with his youtube videos and his viral approach to fame. He then was discovered in a small pub performing by Jamie Foxx (weird, right?) and Foxx asked him to come to his house and record some demos. Before too long, labels took notice, and Ed never looked back, becoming one of the biggest breakout stars in the UK in 2011. I like to consider him the British version of Jason Mraz, but better and with more crossover. Ed can do it all. Prior to the release of +, Ed was saught out by British rappers to pump out a collaboration CD featuring him and some of the UK’s up-and-coming rappers. The end result, No. 5 Collaborations Project, was a mysterious and impressive display of Ed’s talents mixed with British rap. Odd? Yes. But somehow it works. (Don’t believe me, listen to this and listen to the lyrics close and try not to feel moved.) Ed then released his first full length just months ago to critical acclaim and booming sales, peaking at No.1 on the UK charts. If you like someone with strong lyrics, a british accent, and a guy who isn’t afraid to step outside of the box with his music, give Ed a listen and be pleasantly surprised.

Ed Sheeran “The A Team”

8. MUTEMATH “Odd Soul”

Released: Sept. 27, 2011

Label: Warner/Teleprompt

Recommended If You Like: Future of Forestry, Paper Route, Jeremy Larson

Standout Track(s): “All or Nothing”, “Allies”, “Blood Pressure”, “In No Time”

Ah, MUTEMATH. I had my reservations about htis release prior to it coming out. I absolutely loved Self-Titled, and felt a little out of sync with Armistice at times. Add all that together with Greg Hill, original guitarist and Springfield, MO native, leaving the band, I was filled with doubt. Then I heard “Odd Soul” and I heard “Blood Pressure” and at first, I couldn’t understand the “new” route and similarity to The Black Keys I was hearing. But with time, I actually grew to enjoy the blues-influenced sound that the Orleans natives were spitting out. (I use Orleans native tongue and cheek, seeing as how their new guitarist and theamericancreative. friend Gummerman and drummer Darren King are both Springfield, MO residents, it’s really only Paul and Roy who are from cajun country.) I then got to experience the band live with their new arsenal of songs in a crowd of roughly 100 in one of the smallest, grungiest, venues the midwest has the offer, and I really got to experience the songs live how they should be heard. This is a band that i’ve admired and loved since their existence, and Odd Soul is one of those albums that reenforced that feeling for me. Not my favorite MUTEMATH album of all time, but not one that I am afraid to listen to and enjoy for what it is. It should be noted, also, that with this release, it only proves my notion that MUTEMATH has one of if not the best drummers making music today and one of if not the best bassist making music today. You can quote me on that ‘til the day I die.

MUTEMATH “In No Time”

7. Mads Langer “Behold”

Released: May 9, 2011

Label: Sony

Recommended If You Like: David Gray, Gavin DeGraw, James Blount

Standout Track(s): “The River Has Run Wild”, “Riding Elevators”, “Last Flower”

Raise your hand if you love Danish singer/songwriters? OK, truth be told, my hand is even in my lap for that one. Can’t say i’ve got ahold of much out of Swedish music scene in the last 20 years other than Ace of Base (don’t judge), The Cardigans (Romeo + Juliet, anyone?), Blindside, the previously-posted-in-another-article We Are The Storm, and Mads. So it’s not everyday I come across something Danish I enjoy, to say the least. But in 2009 I somehow got ahold of Mads self-titled effort and I found it to be a nice listen. Nothing too exciting, just another myspace talent whose record got clogged in my inbox full of music. I then received Behold shortly after it’s international release and thought for the sake of it i’d give it a spin. A few of the tracks were ones i’d heard off his s/t album, but by the time I plugged headphones in and got through the first two songs, I was blown away. Absolutely blown away. As the months went on, I found myself always able to go back to this CD and find something new and beautiful about it. I then started seeking out videos of his live shows, and was even more amazed by how pure and talented he is. It’s hard enough to sound good on CD without overproduction, but to sound better live is a gift, and Mads has it. As seen by his live version of a song here.

Mads Langer “The River Has Run Wild”

6. Augustana “Self-Titled”

Released: April 26, 2011

Label: Sony

Recommended If You Like: Carolina Liar, Jacks Mannequin, Lifehouse

Standout Track(s): “Hurricane”, “Steal Your Heart”, “Counting Stars”

What a rocky year this has been for Augustana. They release their third full-length CD, tour with The Maine, and decide to call it quits there for a month or two. It was later revealed by Dan, the lead singer, that he will continue to make music under the Augustana moniker, but all the key members of the band had parted. In between all the confusion, Self-Titled was released and proved yet again that Augustana is/was the best at their craft. Beautiful work of art will more of a blues feel than Can’t Love Can’t Hurt and more “retro” of a sound than All The Stars and Boulevards. There was no “Boston” or “Fire” on this CD, just a set of well crafted songs with raw emotion and the signature vocals of Dan that have set Augustana apart as one of the elite talents making music today.

Augustana “Counting Stars”

5. Amos Lee “Mission Bell”

Released: Jan 21, 2011

Label: Bluenote

Recommended If You Like: Ray LaMontagne, Tyrone Wells, The Civil Wars

Standout Track(s): “Violin”, “Flower”, “Stay With Me”

Amos is one of those musicians who has been around for some time, one of those musicians I just tried to get into because everyone raved about his talents, but none of his work really struck me. That is, until I heard Mission Bell. The soulful singer/songwriter nailed it with this release, crafting a portfolio of work that draws on the blues, draws on acoustic ballads, draws on soul, and draws on the success of other mainstream singer/songwriters. There is everything you could want in this album, and in my opinion, has arguably the strongest first half of a CD of any released this year. Even more impressive is the fact that it was released right out of the gate in 2011 and still managed to find its way into the top 5, albeit in the last slot, and sealed Amos’ fate in my mind for CDs to come.

Amos Lee “Windows Are Rolled Down”

4. Cuba Cuba “Where Else is Safe But The Road?”

Released: June 27, 2011

Label: Walnut Tree Records

Recommended If You Like: The Vaccines, Minus The Bear, Bloc Party, The Killers

Standout Track(s): “We Rode”, “Away Part I”, “Golden Grounds”

THE.BIGGEST.SURPRISE.OF.2011. Easily. And i’ll tell you why. Because their first EP, Tales From The Cabin, is not even one I got past the first two songs. This CD is the milestone of growth for this Welsh band. Their sound evolved, their vocals evolved, and they lyrically brought something strong. Think The Killers styled blended with the energy of Bloc Party over the arrangements and guitars (to a degree) of Minus The Bear. I absolutely became obsessed with this CD for a good 4 month period, and when I revisited it for this list, I became obsessed again with it. The signs of a wonderful CD and a CD with a sudden and sticking impact. They use catchy hooks, they use very interesting arrangements and very catchy openers to draw you, almost forcing you to listen to what is next. Best example is “We Rode”. A song about riding into the town and a gunfight, etc. Well, somehow they make a hook right as the lyrics begin that sounds like a horse prancing into town. It’s very impressive, and honestly something I didn’t pick up on until months later. But I laughed because my mind had just been blown and I had been punked. I can’t rave about this CD enough. If you like any of the bands listed above, do yourself a heavenly favor and find this CD, spin it, and let it seep in.

Cuba Cuba “Away, Part I”

3. This Love “At War”

Released: Aug. 2, 2011

Label: Independent

Recommended If You Like: The Dangerous Summer, Saosin, Holiday Parade

Standout Track(s): “Motions”, “Fly Away”, “Free”

Born from the ashes of Dayton, OH’s famed indie-bread pop/punk rock band Callahan, This Love burst onto the scene with their first full length album in 2011. This band, consisting of 5 members (3 of which named Jake), mix sounds incredibly well in their debut. I had the pleasure of doing some work with Joe, the bands lead singer, over the last 2 years, and needless to say he has one of the most impressive and most recognizable voices in the business. This Love combined their powerpop style with epic guitar solos (think John Mayer live in concert going off on a 3 minute solo during each song and you have the kind of solos This Love produces, though obviously no one can match skills with Mayer.) forming something powerful with their raw emotional outpour. Don’t let “Motions” fool you: while it’s very Saosin-esque, it’s easily the heaviest/darkest song on the CD, but it delivers and it showcases Joe’s impressive vocal style all while showing the emotion that this band puts into its music all in one. I’d venture to say that this will be the next big thing in the genre of alternative pop rock. Mark it down.

This Love “Motions”

2. Charlie Simpson “Young Pilgram”

Released: Aug. 12, 2011

Label: Independent

Recommended If You Like: Benjamin Francis Leftwich, James Vincent McMorrow, Coldplay meets Folk Rock

Standout Track(s): “I Need a Friend Tonight”, “Suburbs”, “Please Let Me Go”

Confession: This CD is so good that the best track was an outtake and not even on the CD, rather on the iTunes deluxe version (Please Let Me Go). Now that that’s out of the way, it should also be noted that 2007, 2008, and 2009 Charlie’s original band, Fightstar, made my top 20. So, it’s obvious anything this guy is associated with I am a huge fan of. But even as a huge Fightstar fan, I had my reservations about an acoustic folk album from a British musician associated with rock and roll. And at first, I knit-picked at the songs I liked. But once I got past it and was able to appriciate the CD as a whole, I was floored. Charlie might be one the most underrated musicians in the game today. His versatility is unquestioned, and his heart and ability to capture lyrics is beyond belief. If you like singer/songwriter/folk music and you have yet to check out Charlie’s work, please do so. It’s great seeing this CD on so many industry people’s and band member’s top 20, even those outside of the U.S. Join the fuss and be blown away by this disc.

Charlie Simpson “Suburbs”

1. Frank Ocean “Nostalgia, Ultra”

Released: Feb. 18, 2011

Label: Independent/ Re-Release on Island Def Jam

Recommended If You Like: Kid Cudi, N.E.R.D., Kanye West

Standout Track(s): “Novacane”, “We All Try”, “Swim Good”, “American Wedding”

I bet you are freaking the **** out right now if you’ve made it this far. Usually every year a rap/hip-hop CD sneaks into the top 20. What can I say? I’m an equal opportunity listener. Usually P.O.S. will find his way on the list, or another hip-hop artists who flows about more than just women, drugs, and chains. Reflection Eternal even cracked the top 10 last year, and that was a surprise for me. I don’t listen to a ton of rap records, but from time to time i’ll hear one that strikes me and gets in the rotation. Roughly, i’d say, 7 or 8 CDs a year. But Frank Ocean absolutely shredded the scene and the year of 2011, taking it by storm and showing everyone that he is the next great rap mogul. At 24, Ocean released his free mixtape to the world entitled Nostalgia, Ultra. It was so good and so well received that months later Def Jam came calling, re-releasing the CD (minus the tracks that used samples from songs like Coldplay, The Eagles, and MGMT) and releasing the song “Novacane”, which became a top 20 song on the rap and R&B charts in the U.S. He also was a featured artist on the highly anticipated Jay-Z / Kanye West effort Watch The Throne, lending his vocals to two tracks, and is a member of shock rapper Tyler, The Creator’s Odd Future crew. It’s hard for me to fully classify Ocean’s music as rap, because it fits nicely between the rap and R&B genre, but it’s obvious that Ocean is a poet and songwriter at heart, too, even showcasing it on another mixtape, Dream Killa, with his acoustic ballad “Fools Goold”, in which Ocean plays and sings over an acoustic guitar. Something about this CD just took me by storm, it was something new, something fresh, and something that the world of rap and hip-hop has needed for some time. Lupe and Cudi are certainly breaths of fresh air, but Ocean is a talent unlike any other we’ve seen yet. If things go as planned, Ocean might just wind up with the top CD of 2012 as well. If you are not a fan of rap/hip-hop, or have reservations about the state of the genre or want to get your feet wet, I suggest you search out the free mixtape that topped my 2012 list and be amazed.

Frank Ocean “Novacane”

Please feel free to listen to my favorite tracks off of these twenty CDs in my spotify playlist, here. Don’t know what spotify is? It’s free, and you should get it!

Music List: The Last of 2011

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:16:56 -0600

5 releases i’m most looking forward to in ‘12:

John Mayer

Jake Ousley

Abandoned Pools

Eve6

The Fray

Bands I Fell In Love with again in 2011:

Matthew Good Band

Pete Yorn

Mainstay

July For Kings

Josh Auer

Name Taken

Alpha Rev

Billy Paul

Last Days of April

Acceptance

10 11 Songs I can’t Stop Listening To This Year:

Ian Axel “This Is The New Year” (Piano Rock)

Billy Paul “Me and Mrs. Jones” (Soul/Oldies)

Eastern Conference Champions “Hell or High Water” (Indie Rock)

The Boxer Rebellion “No Harm” (Brit Pop/Rock)

Holland “No Control” (Folk)

The Lonely Forest “Coyote” (Alternative/Indie Rock)

Birdy “1901” (British Female Singer/Songwriter)

Bon Iver “Beth/Rest” (Folk)

The Fire Theft “Heaven” (Alternative)

Brighten “I’ll Always Be Around” (Indie Rock)

To Kill a King “Bloody Shirt” (British Folk/Indie)