Whatchumagenre

It was just last post that I proclaimed my new plan to post more often than not. That was short lived. Here we are, 12 days later, finally with my follow up post. I feel really bad for dropping the ball like this. After all, with each passing day I’m letting down all the people who search Google for “M.I.A. clothing line”. No joke. Oddly enough, that accounts for 55% of my recent visits. Don’t try lying to yourself either. That’s how you got here and you know it!

Indeed, it has been a little quiet around the Whatchumagenre camp, but it hasn’t been due to a lack of half-assed (x2) effort. For example, I’ve recently contacted One Little Plane in hopes of getting my first interview underway. So I can’t promise daily updates, but there will be more from me. Soon. Again, there’s just too much good music to talk about. For Pete’s sake, it’s nearly the end of the second quarter in 2008 and I’ve already got a top albums list penciled in for year’s end. In regards to my ill-kept promise, I offer this as a reparation:

1. Lykke Li – Youth Novels. Call me a hater, but I recall claiming that Lykke Li was overhyped and didn’t deserve the attention she was receiving. I may be proud, but I’m willing to admit that I am wrong. Big time. I don’t know what was coming over me when I said that others have been better than her because I can’t think of a single artist who fits the criteria. It’s just like they say, hindsight’s 20/20. I can’t go back and change what I said. Now, after calling into question the validity of her hype, I’m beginning to realize that there’s rarely smoke without fire in this industry.

It may seem like a blatantly obvious statement, but the reason for the inflamed hype is because she’s really good–a point that I’ve failed to see. A talent like this rarely comes around. This gal will be huge (if she isn’t already). She’s the second coming of Robyn, but younger, hotter and better. I’m trying so hard not to fall in love with her. And with her debut album primed for a U.S. release (sometime), there’s no telling what kind of damage Lykke Li (I still don’t know how to pronounce her name properly) can do on the charts. Miss Li, forgive me for ever doubting you.

MP3: “Little Bit” – Lykke Li
MP3: “Everybody But Me” – Lykke Li

2. Goyte – Hearts A Mess. Another hard to pronounce name. Another surprise. But not in the Land of the Wallabies. Speak of his name in the States, and no one will know who the hell your talking about. Mention his name in Australia, and everyone and their mother knows who you are talking about. This guy is a self-made indie icon in his adopted homeland. His rise to fame in a mere two years was all accomplished with his own blood, sweat and tears, releasing his album, Like Drawing Blood, without any formal record label involvement whatsoever.

There’s no reason to remain blasé and modest. Gotye is shit hot. He’s like an electro, male version of Lykke Li. This guy can not, and will not, be stopped. Just get used to seeing him on the top of music charts alongside the aforementioned Swede. His red hot single, “Hearts A Mess” is proof enough. It’s the kind of “special, once-in-a-lifetime single” that rarely comes along in this increasingly dull and monotone indie scene. Nothing sounds like this song, or even its artist for that matter. Gotye has no equal.

MP3: “Hearts A Mess” – Goyte
MP3: “Thanks For Your Time” – Gotye

3. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours. Going off of the beaten path of single artists, we have Cut Copy. This Melbourne trio is all set to return for 2008 with their new album In Ghost Colours. They wasted no time in making this album stick. Opening riff “Feel the Love”, an acoustic led space rock tune, reels you in before tracks “Lights & Music” and “Midnight Runner” finish you off with the coup de grace. The record is sewn together with Whitford’s imprint all over every track. I heard this album for the first time last week, and I immediately fell in love with it.

Well, that’s that. I hope I’ve re-legitimized myself. Next time I make a promise, my beloved Google searchers/readers, I’ll be sure to follow through.