After a month and a half long painstaking process, we finally have the overall results of The Deli's Best of NYC 2011 Poll for Emerging Artists.
Congrats to Caveman - who won the poll after being featured on the cover of the NYC Summer 2011 issue of The Deli. This fantastic band received a record number of votes from our jury of NYC scene makers (see list here), which sealed the deal since the early stages of the poll.
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Congrats also to Lucius, who will be featured on the cover of our Spring 2011 issue, since we never give the most coveted glossy page of The Deli to the same band more than once. Lucius - a female fronted alt-roots band we highlighted and booked several times in 2011 - earned the cover by winning the Readers' and Fans' Poll. But make no mistake: they fully deserve this prize, just go see them live tonight (01.25) at The Mercury lounge and you will understand why.
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Well done to dream-pop masters Widowspeak for their third place, sanctioned by lots of love from our jury and writers. Their stunning debut album on Captured Tracks Records was The Deli's Record of the Month in August 2011.
Artist
J
OS
W
F
TOTAL
1
Caveman
13
2
0.023
15.023
2
Lucius
4
2
3
9
3
Widowspeak
6
2
0.012
8.012
4
Friends
7
0.015
7.015
5
Monogold
4
1
1
0.128
6.128
6
Ski Lodge
6
0.003
6.003
7
Big Wilson River
3
2
0.234
5.234
8
Ava Luna
3
2
0.014
5.014
9
The Denzels
5
0.009
5.009
10
Apollo Run
3
1
0.203
4.203
11
Kung Fu Crimewave
3
1
0.101
4.101
12
Tall Tall Trees
3
1
0.077
4.077
13
Ambassadors
3
1
0.033
4.033
14
Fort Lean
4
0.013
4.013
15
Arms
3
1
0.007
4.007
Grassfight
1
3
0.007
4.007
17
Body Language
4
0.005
4.005
18
Stephie Coplan & the...
1.5
2.5
4
19
Starlight Girls
1.5
2
0.007
3.507
20
Hurrah! A Bolt of Light!
2
1
0.239
3.239
21
Black Taxi
2
1
0.052
3.052
22
A$AP Rocky
3
0.041
3.041
23
The Can't Tells
3
0.017
3.017
Yellow Ostrich
2
1
0.017
3.017
25
Spirit Family Reunion
3
0.011
3.011
26
The Men
3
0.009
3.009
27
Diane Cluck
2
1
0.008
3.008
Zambri
3
0.008
3.008
29
Devin
3
0.007
3.007
30
North Highlands
2
1
0.006
3.006
Skaters
3
0.006
3.006
32
Hidden Fees
3
0.003
3.003
Illuminator
3
0.003
3.003
34
Brothers
1
2
3
35
The Bottom Dollars
1.5
1
0.113
2.613
36
Field Mouse
1.5
1
0.027
2.527
37
MiniBoone
1.5
1
0.008
2.508
38
Futurist
1
1.5
2.5
39
Merrily & the Poison Orchard
1.25
1
2.25
40
Exemption
2
0.213
2.213
41
Mal Blum
1
1
0.196
2.196
42
Deathrow Tull
1
1
0.17
2.17
43
Snowmine
1
1
0.134
2.134
44
Clementine and the Galaxy
2
0.087
2.087
45
The Sneaky Mister
2
0.074
2.074
46
j.viewz
2
0.066
2.066
47
Reverend John DeLore
2
0.061
2.061
48
Robin Bacior
2
0.042
2.042
49
Firehorse
1
1
0.035
2.035
50
Brick & Mortar
2
0.03
2.03
51
Due Diligence
1
1
0.024
2.024
The Courtesy Tier
1
1
0.024
2.024
53
Bird Call
2
0.02
2.02
54
The Sway Machinery
2
0.011
2.011
55
Dive
2
0.008
2.008
56
The Beets
2
0.007
2.007
57
Slowdance
2
0.006
2.006
58
Dead Leaf Echo
1
1
0.005
2.005
Ice Choir
2
0.005
2.005
St. Lucia
2
0.005
2.005
61
Lady Lamb The Beekeeper
2
0.004
2.004
62
Lissy Trullie
1
1
0.004
2.004
63
Caged Animals
1
1
0.003
2.003
64
Coasting
2
0.002
2.002
Papertwin
2
0.002
2.002
Penguin Prison
2
0.002
2.002
Timeflies
2
0.002
2.002
Wise Blood
2
0.002
2.002
69
Superhuman Happiness
2
0
2
70
Tayisha Busay
1.5
0.052
1.552
71
Pass Kontrol
1.5
0.051
1.551
72
Thinning The Herd
1.5
0.048
1.548
Xenia Rubinos
1.5
0.048
1.548
74
Fall of the Albatross
1.5
0.011
1.511
Food Will Win the War
1.5
0.011
1.511
76
Chappo
1
0.289
1.289
77
Sinem Saniye
1
0.265
1.265
78
Motherfeather
1
0.153
1.153
79
My Pet Dragon
1
0.15
1.150
80
The Third Wheel Band
1
0.115
1.115
81
Cuddle Magic
1
0.085
1.085
82
Himalaya
1
0.077
1.077
83
The Stepkids
1
0.047
1.047
84
The Bandana Splits
1
0.041
1.041
85
Grace Weber
1
0.039
1.039
86
Indyns
1
0.038
1.038
Wazu
1
0.038
1.038
88
In One Wind
1
0.033
1.033
89
Oh Whitney
1
0.022
1.022
90
Ex Cops
1
0.019
1.019
91
Appomattox
1
0.017
1.017
92
Blonde Valhalla
1
0.015
1.015
93
Quilty
1
0.014
1.014
Twitchers
1
0.014
1.014
Young Boys
1
0.014
1.014
96
Nicholas Jaar
1
0.01
1.01
97
Babies
1
0.009
1.009
98
Fredericks Brown
1
0.008
1.008
Gross Relations
1
0.008
1.008
Idgy Dean
1
0.008
1.008
Psychobuildings
1
0.008
1.008
102
Yvette
1
0.007
1.007
103
OhNoMoon
1
0.005
1.005
104
Aaron Roche
1
0.004
1.004
105
Spanish Prisoners
1
0.003
1.003
106
Happy New Year
1
0.001
1.001
107
Motive
0.5
0.272
0.772
108
Bugs in the Dark
0.5
0.189
0.689
Legend: J = Jury - OS = Open Submissions - W = Deli Writers - F = Fans
A quick explanation of the point system: Jurors (see list here) could freely pick any emerging NYC artists, and assigned 3 points to their first choice, 2 to the second and 1 to the third. For example, Caveman scored 13 points by having 4 jurors choosing them as 1st band and one as third. Open Submissions - rated by Deli Editors from other cities - assigned 3 points to the overall winners (Grassfight), 2 points to the genre category winners, 1.5 points to the artists placing 2nd in the genre categories, and 1 to all the other ones. Under this column you'll also find bands that qualified through SonicBids. Since the number of bands competing in tha list is much smaller, we decided to assign them lower scores: 1.5 for the winner, 1.25 for 2nd place and 1 for all the other bands. Deli Writers were asked to cast 3 votes for any of the artists in the list of nominees compiled through Jurors picks and Open Submissions. Each vote was worth 1 point. Readers' and Fans' votes counted 0.001 points each, apart from the top 5 bands, rewarded respectively with 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5 and 1 points.
Doubts? Feel free to ask questions via email at info @ thedelimagazine dot com!
Here's summary of the progress of each one of our 11 regional Year End Polls for Emerging Artists. Due to high number of NYC submissions we organized that scene's results by genre.
BEST OF 2011 FOR EMERGING ARTISTS - LATEST NEWS: 01.27.2012 - Austin Submission Results Announced
01.23.2012 - LOS ANGELES READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.24.2012 - NYC FINAL RESULTS ARE IN!!! - HERE 01.23.2012 - PORTLAND READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE
01.23.2012 - SF BAY AREA READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.18.2012 - NASHVILLE READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.17.2012 - PHILLY READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.17.2012 - CHICAGO READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.17.2012 - Portland OR Submission Results Announced
01.16.2012 - NEW ENGLAND READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE
01.12.2012 - DC AREA READERS' AND FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - VOTE HERE
*** See below for results full list and schedule ***
A big thank you to our sponsors for supporting our poll and providing prizes to the winners!
The raw, punk authenticity of Brooklyn noise-rockers Hunters is something many aim for, but few pull off quite as memorably. The band’s sound is unrefined and visceral. You can almost hear the grit and dirt on their instruments as they bash out their grungy, feedback-drenched riffs and almightily-whacked drum loops, while the desperate yelps of lead vocalists Derek Watson and Isabel Almeida add extra frenetic energy. According to the band, the makeshift way each track was constructed was a beautiful accident, more a product of circumstance than design. - Read Dean Van Nguyen's interview with the band here.
Like a lot of folk singer-songwriters, Alec Gross paints a specific time and place for the experiences that his character (Ron Avery) makes his way through. Most of these aren't happy times, and this comes through loud and clear on songs like the haunting ‘Burning Grounds,' inspired by Alec’s trip to the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem and a poem he saw there by Anatoly Kuznetsov.
Most tracks are quiet and moody impressions of an imagined idyllic existence, from the Irish ballad ‘Be Not Jealous of the Sea,’ to the tormented ‘Looking Glass Lies.’ It isn't until barnburner 'Strip the Lanterns' that we hear Gross really cut loose, but it’s well worth the wait through the record’s more even-tempered and traditional sections. - Read Mike Levine interview with Alec Gross here.
To be or not to b.FUNK? It’s a silly question, really. Tis more noble to spit fly rhymes about outrageous fortune than to effuse a sea of wackness, and by opposing the forces of weak lyricism and poor stage presence, to rise – to sleep no more. b.FUNK is a charismatic MC with a natural talent for engaging lyricism and enthralling energy. Even Shakespeare is rumored to have kept him on regular rotation in his ipod. He’ll be opening for the Legendary Phife Dawg at B.B.Kings on Feb 23rd. Bring your lute. - BrokeMC
Unsane's press kit offered a quote from an unlikely source: The New York Times. The Grey Lady described the band's sound as representative of the East Village, which may be accurate if you're talking late 80's New York. Unfortunately since then the East Village has lost most if not all its musical reputation to the LES and Williamsburg, hosting now just a couple of venues and a shrinking community of musicians. The fact that the band chose to record their latest album, "Wreck," out in March 20th, in Brooklyn, speaks volumes even louder than Unsane's aggressive vocals. Unsane have mastered their own brand of noise rock, powered by unstoppable bass and smashing percussion, meshed with grinding guitarwork and the raw vocals mentioned earlier. Unsane will be touring with punk rockers The Melvins, and land in New York on April 29 to play a show at Webster Hall. -allison levin
Dinosaur Feathers' 2009 debut album "Fantasy Memorial" became a little cult classic in the NYC scene - the band made our Best of NYC that year. Their next venture into the world or release, "Whistle Tips," won't be out for their patient fans' enjoyment until April 10th, but you can get a sneak peak of the track “Untrue,” streaming below. The four Brooklyn musicians created a fun, upbeat, slightly crooked danceable tune, with guitars true to their tropical roots, and light and enjoyable vocals. Fans can look forward to the group tour, whic will start at the very end of February through April 14th, when they'll come back home to play at Grasslands in Brooklyn. - Holly Moran
NJ's indie pop-rock group Socratic just released their 3rd full-length record titled "Socratic (The Album)." The release was produced by drummer Thomas Stratton at Soundwaves Studios in Union, NJ. The record has received praise from fans new and old as well as publications like Absolutepunk.net and The Interlude. This is the follow up to the Mark Hoppus produced "Spread The Rumors" LP. The band has also released a brand new video directed by Seiichi Daimo of Music1nfocus Productions of their first single "Curtain Call", streaming here. The new record can be purchased at "pay what you wish" rate here. - (as posted in The Deli's Open Blog - post your band's entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli's NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building and APS Mastering.
New Jersey melllow-indie-pop group The Ugly Club has recently announced they will be doing a tour down to SXSW this March. The band has confirmed a show at The National Underground in Nashville, TN on March 10th and Super Happy Fun Land in Houston, TX on March 13th, with more dates and SXSW plans TBA. The band has also released 2 live, in-studio music videos of new songs off their upcoming album (here's one). The performances were shot live at Soundwaves Studios in Union, NJ with videographer Seiichi Daimo of Music1nfocus Productions. The audio is cut from one live take. A bonus video and other releases can be found on the band's youtube channel. - (as posted in The Deli's Open Blog - post your band's entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli's NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building and APS Mastering.
We highlighted this new Brooklyn band Motive a few weeks ago in the Indie Rock submission results for our Best of NYC Poll. Filter just debuted their video of the single "Nobody Loves Me", streaming below. There's also a rather fitting spoof version of it dedicated to Mitt Romney, the man 75% of Republican voters and 100% of the rest of the human beings don't seem to love. Well, that's ALMOST nobody I guess...
Grassfight might be the gazillionth indie band referencing Joy Division in their sound, but their songs are so good that we are definitely not going to complain about that. Besides, there are a lot of other elements here that make things interesting: dark enough to be credible, noisy enough to be truly edgy and punchy enough to be entertaining, this is compelling psych-goth rock that expands on the freaky shoegazer vibe in a way Interpol never got around to. With a name based on a tragic battle during the Texas Revolution, this EP is bound to be confrontational. But don't let that scare you, singer Nathan Forster and band make the kind of lush, devastating music too catchy to keep you down. As an added bonus, lead singer Nathan can pull off some seriously high tension cadences a la' Nick Cave - something that pushes the songs' climax to thundering heights (see EP opener "Never you Mind," streaming below). The guitar work in the EP is also pretty impressive, ranging from stabs of pure noise to fuzzy walls of sound, to simple acoustic parts to psychedelic, blurred background textures. If you like some sonic horror in your music, keep an ear out for these guys. - PDG
