ITS THE NEW YEAR and all anyone is talking about is the new artists that will be 'doing big things' in 2014. Personally I see most of this as a load of rubbish because the majority have been signed to a record company since their 5th birthday (well, maybe not that young but close enough) So anyway I decided to do a series of posts about bands that I like, that have had singles out fairly recently. I'm not the coolest of the cool gang so its probably only new to me. But whatever.

Hudson Taylor, Second Best.
Irish folk-pop-sweet little songs duo. They are brothers Alfie and Harry and this song is one of those ones you can listen to on repeat. Its nothing ground breaking, but its a nice harmless little song. And their harmonies are beautifully smooth. This song is on their album Osea, which is definitely worth a listen. They're signed to Polydor which surprises me because its one of the biggest labels, not normally attracted to this sort of band.
As for the long run, I can't see them becoming the new Mumford and Sons, but they will have their devoted little group of fans and I will be one of them :)

Listen to them if you like:
                                Passenger
                             Bob Dylan
                                I feel like its a cliché to say Mumford and Sons, but I'm going to anyway

BRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS...

Hollaa! I feel like I should start with an apology for my lack of blogging over the festive period... But you know its a busy time and apparently sitting with my laptop doesn't count as socialising (it should do)

Anyway, today the nominations for the 2014 BRIT awards were announced. Now if you're as sad as me that means you were watching the programme whilst constantly updating various websites to see what they have to say too. But I'm guessing most people have far better things to do so I've decided to write the categories and nominations on here instead, that way its much simpler for all you strange people who actually have a life which goes further than your bedroom and the fridge :)

I don't think its a bad line up this year, I'm glad London Grammar get a mention and Arctic Monkeys couple of nominations bring a nice end to their come back year. I am particularly hoping they win MasterCard British album of the year, as back in 2007 and 2008 they won this with the AMAZING Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and Favourite Worst Nightmare.
The explosion of interest in Bastille shocked me, with four nominations this year. I personally have always loved them but their debut album Bad Blood didn't do great with the critics (scoring a disappointing 2/5 from Q magazine, with who I normally agree wholeheartedly with.) But here they are, ironically in the best album category. Makes me wonder who is deciding nominees and who is correct...

However, this is me and I can't go this long without a complaint about something, so here goes. The 1975. They are, without doubt one of the hottest bands in the UK at the minute (in the sense of popularity, and well, hotness. Meheheh... ;) )  This time last year, they were virtual unknowns. They hadn't had a single out, no album. Lets face it, Matt was known because of his mum and dad's divorce not his music. But now, they've got more hit singles than they can deal with, they're flying all over the world doing shows, and they're preparing for the sold out UK tour later this year. Honestly, if that's not breakthrough I don't know what is. Its true their success was only towards the end of the year, but it was so rapid they definitely deserve some recognition.
I'm glad James Blake got noticed though (Retrograde is ma jammmm) but maybe would be more fitting under Breakthrough or Critics Choice? Not sure what to think there yet.

*This list is a direct copy from the brit awards website, which you can visit here http://www.brits.co.uk/

• • Best Producer
    • Ethan Johns
    • Flood & Alan Moulder
    • Paul Epworth
  • British Breakthrough Act
    • Bastille
    • Disclosure
    • Laura Mvula
    • London Grammar
    • Tom Odell
  • British Female Solo Artist
    • Birdy
    • Ellie Goulding
    • Jessie J
    • Laura Marling
    • Laura Mvula
  • British Group
    • Arctic Monkeys
    • Bastille
    • Disclosure
    • One Direction
    • Rudimental
  • British Male Solo Artist
    • David Bowie
    • Jake Bugg
    • James Blake
    • John Newman
    • Tom Odell
  • British Single
    • Bastille
    • Calvin Harris
    • Disclosure
    • Ellie Goulding
    • John Newman
    • Naughty Boy
    • Olly Murs
    • One Direction
    • Passenger
    • Rudimental
 
• • Critics' Choice Award
    • Chlöe Howl
    • Ella Eyre
    • Sam Smith
  • International Female Solo Artist
    • Janelle Monáe
    • Katy Perry
    • Lady Gaga
    • Lorde
    • Pink
  • International Group
    • Arcade Fire
    • Daft Punk
    • Haim
    • Kings Of Leon
    • Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
  • International Male Solo Artist
    • Bruno Mars
    • Drake
    • Eminem
    • John Grant
    • Justin Timberlake
  • MasterCard British Album of the Year
    • Arctic Monkeys
    • Bastille
    • David Bowie
    • Disclosure
    • Rudimental

MOST PLAYED ALBUMS ON MY IPOD

I thought it would be fun to do a top ten of the most played albums on my iPod...

Alt-J, An Awesome Wave

Arctic Monkeys, AM

Bob Dylan, The Very Best Of

Bastille, All This Bad Blood
(the extended cut of Bad Blood)

HAIM, Days Are Gone

Jake Bugg, Shangri La

London Grammar, If You Wait

The 1975, self titled The 1975

Rudimental, Home

Two Door Cinema Club, Beacon

LETS ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT MCBUSTED.

Okay, the moment is over. I'm really excited for the tour and everything but I don't think they need another blogpost dedicated to them...

What I really wanted to talk about is the amaaaaazing video to Girls by The 1975. If you haven't seen it yet a) WHY NOT?! and b) It will change your life. Its weird and clever and funny and bizarre, basically everything you need in a music video.
It hits back at all the abuse they got for the Sex video, which by the way is also very good. *WHO CARES IF ITS IN COLOUR, GO HOME*
 Anyway, the video starts with the band stood talking about how it just isn't right, not them or what they're about. Matty says 'we're not a pop band, it needs to be black and white for a start' Which is obviously the musical equivalent of sticking your fingers up at the critics who described them as a pop group and many other predictable, boring cliches. Then it jumps into a video full of colour, models, sun and dodgy close ups.

 Basically the least indie thing ever.

 Well thats what I thought at first, but then seen as this is sad little me and I have nothing better to do I sat and thought about it. And now I've decided that the whole video is possibly the most indie thing ever... They're making fun of themselves and purposely putting their reputation in the firing line. No pop star or mainstream musician would ever do that. If they're the only ones doing it, it must be indie? I don't know, I have my own warped ideas of the world, but how I see it this is one of the smartest, most amazingly ironic videos of recent years. And for that, I love you The 1975 :)

Even if you don't like their music, watch it for the models.

In other news, its only 33 days until Christmas.

This is going to be my first real post, so bear with...

 Okay, so one of the things I love most in the world is music. All kinds of music but mostly (so I've been told) music for 17 year old boys. Bearing in mind this means bands like Two Door Cinema Club, Alt J, Bastille and Arctic Monkeys, I don't see it as a bad thing :) I am into the indie rock type stuff that's around, but I would never describe myself as indie- I love a bit of One Direction as much as the next girl.

Anyway, I have had a very exciting month so far (yes, I know its only the 11th) I have been very busy organising my entertainment for next year... So first I got tickets for The 1975, which I was VERY happy about. I have been a fan since Chocolate, and their album is amazing. 

Then I made a last minute decision to go and see Rizzle Kicks. They aren't my usual type of music, but I love their energy and personality and Jordan is just too gorgeous to miss. After having a quick look on twitter, ticketmaster and their website I found they were playing at Sheffield O2 Academy in February next year. Even better, the tickets were on sale the next day. So at 9am sharp I was logged on and ready to order.

It was only after both tickets had been posted I realised that they were the same week, in fact only two days apart! I think that is going to be a pretty awesome week...

Other gigs I'm going to:
X Factor Tour- Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
One Direction- Manchester City Etihad Stadium
The Vamps- Okay, I know the ticket aren't out yet but I definitely going!

Rizzle Kicks

The 1975

Please follow my amazing friend @katie1dwisker on twitter!

Hi I'm Briony and this is my first post. I've never done blogging before and I'm not sure what I'll write about yet... School, music, friends, all the important stuff :) WARNING... This may just turn into a place for me to rant.