Welcome to 2013, hope your 2012 was a good one.It’s been a defining year for us with both the blog and label taking shape over the course of the year. As we have spent much of 2012 rounding out each month with a wrap up, we have done the same for the whole year.
We started by writing out top 10 lists but everyone does that, personally I enjoy reading other people’s top 10 albums or top 20 tracks of 2012 but there are so many out there that were looking pretty similar to ours. So we opted for something a little different in documenting the year.
We have another big year ahead of us for Mirador Records and hope we can share it with you soon, feel free to get in touch.
Most Underrated Song –
The Bloody Beetroots feat. Dennis Lyxzen – Church of Noise
With the introduction of their live show, it was only natural for The Bloody Beetroots to explore new musical avenues in their productions. Church Of Noise is a brilliantly crafted track that perfectly nails the contrast of harsh screaming vocals over a driving, uplifting dance beat. The track is complete with guitars, airy synths and a spoken word sermon and sits for me as their best track yet and the only time that dance music and punk/hardcore have successfully crossed over. It’s easy to see how it has become so underrated with the brutal vocals requiring more than one listen before the rhythms start to reel you in, the fact that it contains so many breaks and guitars in the mix has probably also not sat well with the dance community.
Most Overrated Song –
The Lumineers – Ho Hey
Undoubtedly with the success of Mumford and Sons, commercial radio have jumped on board to the whole nu-folk movement with an increasing amount of folk tunes making substantial airplay. But of all the mediocre folk songs with a catchy melody I cannot see why everyone has been obsessed with Ho Hey. The instrumentation is predictable and un-engaging and the melody is unoriginal. The song sounds like it was recorded live at a gig so perhaps there is some element of it being so wrong that it works. Sure, I can see the appeal of this song, but on the scale that it is being appreciated I do not get at all. Maybe this is more of a rant against commercial radio but hey, it is what it is.
Artist Poised To Be A Household Name –
Haim
Haim’s track Forever, from the free three track EP of the same name, is one of the years best tracks. Not only that, the Cali three-piece have rounded out the year with another brilliant single in Don’t Save Me. Setting blogs, radio stations and earbuds alight earlier in the year, if these girls can put out a solid album in 2013 they will be laughing.
Artist Who Will Struggle to Match Their Dizzy Heights Of 2012 –
Parachute Youth
Can’t Get Better Than This was an amazing debut single which was brilliantly written and captured a certain vibe a lot of people were digging on. Their other tracks have been fairly lacklustre however and given the amount of airplay and praise Can’t Get Better Than This received, the band has their work cut out for them to put out another solid single. Hopefully the duo’s amazing live show will pull them through.
Artist Who Will Match or Exceed Their Dizzy Heights of 2012 –
Flume
What can I say that hasn’t already been said by someone at some point in 2012. If this dude doesn’t make it huge the world over in 2013 then fuck… what hope does music have?
Artist Who Will Probably Get Thrashed on Commercial Radio –
Strange Talk
I like the new Strange Talk better than the old one, the clean cut singalong friendly dancefloor anthems they have released from their forthcoming debut album have been two golden pieces of dance pop and will do wonders for bringing the band new fans. I just can’t help feel that it ticks all the boxes for commercial radio to fulfill their often neglected quota of new Australian music in 2013.
Proved They’ve Still Got It –
Bruce Springsteen
The Boss proved he’s still got it and released arguably his best studio album since at least The Ghost of Tom Joad in Wrecking Ball. Putting his best folk hat on, Springsteen channeled some fine blues/country/rock tunes that bring the emotion and energy to his songs and stories like only he can do. I’m sure there were many (myself included) who had given up on him being able to deliver this emotion and energy again.
Adelaide Artists Worth Paying Attention To –
1. Bad Dreems
Have long been at the top of this list but secured their spot the moment they released Tomorrow Mountain, the most recent of three brilliant singles released this year. They have had an utterly brilliant year supporting many a high profile artist and touring with Children Collide, Dune Rats and Step Panther. Keeping their own brand of Aussie rock catchy and rhythm based, Bad Dreems are just the way we like it. Keep a very close eye on these guys in 2013 as much more is expected.
2. Messrs
Regardless of the fact that singer Josh Moore was a favourable contestant on Big Brother this year, Messrs proved that they have the goods with the release of their debut EP (finally) and ensuing tour. They keep on kicking out one quality synth pop jam after another. The band has an edge that will likely see commercial radio steer clear of them for the time being, but their live show and their relaxed yet driving tunes are worthy of your attention.
https://soundcloud.com/messrs/desert
3. Jimmy and the Mirrors
Where would Adelaide be without Jimmy and the Mirrors? Their ability to write neo 70s songs that tell stories for the youth of today is a rare find. In fact a band that write songs that tell stories is a rare find in today’s day and age let alone a good one. 2012 was relatively quiet for these guys but in 2013 they are back doing what they do best, playing local pubs in small towns across Australia.
4. Kids With Teeth
A very new two piece that run a sound drawing comparisons to artists like DFA 1979, RATM and DZ Deathrays. Needless to say it has balls and attitude. We are yet to see them live but the tunes we’ve heard so far were enough to amp up our excitement levels enough to put them on this list.
5. Tigerilla
Adelaide needs more electronic artists that stand out from the crowd and Tigerilla certainly does that. We’ve loved this dude’s voice for years (Undermined/WDW anyone? no? what about Delamare?) it’s different enough to raise your eyebrows and his songs will get you hooked. It seems like he’s already been noticed receiving some high profile support slots right from the get go. His debut EP Fuzzy is a solid effort and worthy of your attention but you can’t help feel that the best is yet to come from this guy.
6. Red Light Sound
As far as melodic rock goes in Adelaide, the only name worth paying attention to is Red Light Sound. The band brought in 2012 playing with Dead Letter Circus in Queensland last NYE. Since then the band have made a bit of a name for themselves on the back of their brilliant single Earth Divides quickly becoming the go to band for supports of the heavier, melodic variety.
El Mirador 