The Observer, March 21, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 21
Buzzworthy bands prepare to make a large splash in later stages of 2008
It's fun to be ahead of the curve and say you were a fan of a band before they became popular. There are feelings of uniqueness, of nonconformity, of individuality that are quite satisfying. That said, here are the top four bands to watch for in 2008. These heat seekers have been climbing the charts, but most of them are generally unknown by the mainstream media. If you check them out, you'll both contribute to their explosion, and seem like the cool kid who knew what was cool before anyone else. Get your trendy on, Case Western Reserve.
With the recent success of such bands as Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and Boys Like Girls, pop-punk seems to be the next big trend in music. While the above-named bands will no doubt further their success, there are a few notable bands that will also make a splash in the radio-friendly pop-punk scene this year.
We the Kings is a pop-punk/powerpop band showing major promise. The Florida quartet reached the top 10 on purevolume.com, and used the momentum to land a deal with S-Curve Records. Since then they have released their self-titled, full-length album which, fueled by the catchy singles "Skyway Avenue" and "Check Yes, Juliet," reached No. 3 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. The song "This is Our Town" was featured in commercials for the new season of One Tree Hill and on the teen-reality show Newport Beach. With all that steam and a spot on this year's Warped Tour, make no bones about it: We the Kings will be a Top 40 radio mainstay come the end of this year.
Also on the train of pop-punk acts bound for success is the Dallas-based band Forever the Sickest Kids. Gloomy name aside, this band is pure party. The single "Hey Brittany" on the band's MySpace led to a bidding war among major labels, eventually won by powerhouse label Motown/Universal. In 2007, the band released the extremely catchy EP Television Off, Party On, which got over 300,000 plays on last.fm in only a few months. The band also earned a spot on Alternative Press's 2008 tour, along with pop-punk favorites All Time Low and The Rocket Summer. With the release of their first full length album, Underdog Alma Mater, on April 29, Forever the Sickest Kids will inevitably become the next pop-punk sensation. Even Paris Hilton is a fan, and say what you will about Paris, but that girl can spot trends like nobody's business.
Although pop-punk will undoubtedly make a splash in the Top 40 in 2008, indie-rock is also set to skyrocket in popularity. Among the extremely talented indie-rockers aimed for success (at least within the indie scene, if not necessarily in the mainstream) is Manchester Orchestra. Since the release of this Atlanta band's first album Like A Virgin Losing A Child, Manchester Orchestra has been the cause of deafening buzz. Last year, Rolling Stone named the band one of their 10 artists to watch, and the band is allegedly in the midst of a major label bidding war. Manchester Orchestra won over the emo crowd following their tour with Brand New and will win over even more angst-ridden teens after their current tour with Say Anything. Performances on Late Night with Conan O' Brien and the Late Show with David Letterman secured Manchester Orchestra's reputation as one of the best live acts of the moment. This band is bound to take off, and you should do yourself a favor and be there when it does.
Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, is the inevitable popularity of former Columbia students, Vampire Weekend. It seems as though Vampire Weekend popped out of nowhere to be the buzz band of the year. If you haven't heard the name yet, it's probably because you're living under a rock. With their eclectic blend of afro-pop, classical, and ska, Vampire Weekend caught the interest of a number of online blogs, intensifying the buzz. The band was hailed by Spin magazine as the "Best New Band of 2008," and made the cover of the magazine before the band's self-titled debut album was even released. Between a performance on Saturday Night Live, and a feature as MTV's artist of the week (where the band's music is played virtually non-stop during commercials in the hope that you'll either love it or hate it, but either way know it), the band massively expanded their audience to include the typical mainstream fan. If there is one band sure to become the next big thing, it is Vampire Weekend.
Case students, do yourselves a favor and check out some of these incredibly talented bands. They'll all soon be coming to a radio near you.
