NME has posted a list of the 50 most exciting new bands of 2010, and while going through it I realized a lot of new LA bands made the list. There are 12 LA bands altogether, not too bad, but shame on me, I have only really listened to 2 of them:
#1 Best Coast: Iman has mentioned them a lot of times, and everybody seems to be talking about them; I hope I’ll have the chance to see the band at the FYF early September.
#10 Grouplove: I saw them at the Troubadour and had the immediate urge to write about them, so young, so much energy and a pure enthusiasm for music.
#12 Zola Jesus: Never heard them, but they seem to fill up big venues, according to their myspace calendar.
#29 MNDR: I suppose this one does not entirely count as a LA band because the myspace page of the electro-pop duo says NY/LA/SF, California, and Amanda Warner is from Brooklyn, so?
#23 Foster The People: Their hit ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ is a sunny and easy going song, like a slower MGMT’s ‘Kids.
#34 Trash Talk: These hardcore punk rockers are from Sacramento, not LA, but it is still California. Last year, they released a single ‘East Of Eden’ with Keith Morris on vocals.
#40 Kisses: A duo who plays extremely nonchalant disco, not really my type of music, but they are from LA.
#41 Avi Buffalo: Only #41? I had their song ‘What’s In It For?’ stuck in my head for days now, yeah it’s immediate sweet candy for your ears especially if you’re into The Shins.
#42 Glasser: Her ‘Apply’ song has ethereal vocals, and an atmospheric sound over exotic drum beats.
#44 War Paint: They also play at the FYF, I don’t know much about them but their song ‘Billie Holiday’ sounds like a Cat Power’s song with its gorgeous vocals and quiet sprawling music.
#46 Active Child: A high-pitched voice over haunting keyboard sounds.
# 47 Funeral Party: They are exactly from Whittier, but it is still close enough from LA, a post-punk band named after The Cure’s song?
In the same list, there are only 6 bands from NYC and Brooklyn:
#2 The Drums
#4 Sleigh Bells: NME said they are from California, but it’s a mistake, they are from Brooklyn NY, right?
#7 Darwin Deez
# 16 Cults
#22 Cerebral Ballzy
#26 Freelance Whales
So the number #1 is a LA band and LA beats NYC, so where is the center of the universe now? Of course, it is just the opinion of a British magazine.