The songs are easy on the ear and funky bass and guitar playing ensures each track with a radio friendly atmosphere.  Just about in their teens its pretty exciting to hear such a confident unique sound from four young men with a lot of career years ahead of them.

Supergrass, Pendulum and Utah Saints have all been considered worthy enough to share a stage with Kinch (Ok maybe the other way round) showing the vast genres the band are capable of sticking their metaphorical fingers into.  A man named Chris fronts the band and supplies some terrific vocals that are not to dissimilar to The Kooks and this helps to create some wonderfully chirpy tracks.

Now I am not criticising, but there is not lots of material out yet from the four-piece but the tracks that are available do not dissapoint. As mentioned earlier “Old Fashioned Love” tops the list as the hit debut single but “Everybody’s talking about it” and “A Little Story”showcase consistent talent from the band. Catchy claps, melodic sax playing and punchy guitar chords accompanied by some tidy drum playing mean that the band has a recipe for success so look out for these guys in 2009.

The band are capable of producing a great album, although none of their tunes seem to be chart topping hits, their consistent high quality and variety of talent makes them a great addition to anyones music collection. Over the years there has been plenty of material from the band to listen to and whilst you can rock out to tracks like “Paralyzer” and “Talking to the Walls” there are more steady melodic, acoustic tracks like “I’ll keep your memory vague” and “One Thing” that, for me, highlights the bands sheer quality.

If you buy an album by Finger Eleven you may not be looking at the shelves by the entrance of your local CD shop but whilst you may have to look slightly harder for a disk, you can be assured that with that purchase you’re going to be satisfied. Catchy, fast paced tracks will explode from the start while simple and soft songs will bring all the melody and ear pleasure you need.

It’s Zemmy Momoh, a 22 year old from London who’s managed to already prove just what a strong voice she has. Below are some free MP3s, but to give a picture of her sound, take one English / Nigerian lady, add in a hint of Anastacia and Gabrielle and make it a bit better, and you’ve got her sound. At times haunting and other times danceable, her songs always tell a great tale, and one that you should check out.

Below are two free MP3s from Zemmy. She’s currently unsigned, but I’m sure it’s not going to stay that way for long…

MP3: Zemmy - Secretly
MP3: Zemmy - Everything’s Okay

Whilst old band mate Tom Morello is set to continue his solo career as The Nightwatchman, it was a bout time we heard some noise from Zack and he delivers one heck of a noise. One Day As A Lion have been widely anticipated with lots of excitment and from what I have heard, they don’t dissapoint.

The band sound like Rage against the machine without a guitar and thats probably because it is almost exactly that.  I think the presence of a permanant guitar is missed but the Drumming from Jon Theodore is sensational. It really is some of the best I have heard and for the band to work, it has to be. Whilst the tracks don’t vary too much and the same keyboard noise flows through out each one, there is one track that stands out. With over a million plays on their MySpace “Wild International” is mind melting. Impossible rthyms come from Theodore and Zack’s rapping is above top form.

I have read comments from people saying that they are dissapointed that it isn’t as good as Rage against the machine but I don’t think any band will ever be quite like them and I don’t think there will ever be another band like One Day As A Lion. So to sum up, Zack De La Rocha is back in a band and set for big success once again and this could be the making of Jon Theodore as a drumming legend.

White Lies effortlessly draw you into their world of dark and mysterious indie thanks to the addictive hooks tinting the choruses of their epic tunes. You may have heard the track ‘Death’, released in September last year. “Yes, this fear’s got a hold on me” frontman, Harry McVeigh gut wrenchingly wails. Such single defines the band’s music perfectly – beautifully twisted tunes consisting of gritty bass lines, techno synths and deep vocals. They are poetically gloomy, but not in a My Chemical Romance, emo way. Think more vintage Echo and the Bunneymen and Joy Divison – or Editors, The Killers and Interpol if you want more current comparisons. Pretty exciting, huh?

The band’s album, appropriately darkly-titled “To Lose My Life…” is released on January 19th. You can pre-order the album now over at Amazon. While you’re here, why not check out the video to the band’s awesome debut single, ‘Death’:

Top Photo is taken from Danny North’s Flickr Stream under the Creative Commons License.

Born in Blackpool, Hesketh has quite a colourful music past. She’s been a Pop Idol contestant, a former member of dance band Dead Disco and has recently blagged Joe Goddard of Hot Chip as her new musical producer. In fact Joe - who’s personal hits include Over and Over and and Ready For The Floors – is so fond of Little Boots that he’s hailed Victoria as the future of British pop. Quite a claim – but it’s certainly a worthy one. Little Boots has expressed her love for current chart pop, such as Sugababes and Girls Aloud, but she believes her music is injected with more personality. And Victoria certainly is a glittery character.

A particularly exciting thing about Little Boots is her use of a range of mystical instruments when creating her sparkly sounds – including the Dubreq Stylophone, made popular by the genius that is Rolf Harris, and a Tenori-O, a super cool LED switch based invention allowing for the creation of “visible music”. Check out Little Boots acclaimed kooky performance using said instruments, on Jools Holland, below:

Little Boots is yet to release an album, although one is pretty much guaranteed out this year thanks to the critical acclaim she is currently lapping up – including a BBC Sound of 2009 nomination. In the meantime though, never fear, as you can purchase her digital, 3 track EP over at Amazon now for just £1.69.The EP includes the track you just saw Victoria performing, Meddle, and 2 other tunes – Stuck on Repeat and Love Kills. If you want to learn more about Little Boots in general, check out her MySpace here

Mike Shinoda is critised for not getting his personality across when he raps but when the lyrics are of this high quality and seem to fit the music so tightly, I for one don’t care. The voice of Mike is captivating and the epic music that accompanies him on every Fort Minor track gives a huge impact.

It is easy to just say that Fort Minor are Linkin Park without Chester but I feel it would be better to think that Fort Minor highlights what Linkin Park depends on for success which has to be Mike. His hard working attitude is often credited but the quality he brings with his musical composition and rapping is pretty awesome.

Tracks to look out for include “Kenji” which show cases Mike’s personality in great style while other tunes like “Cigarettes” display a darker sound and the variety that comes with a collection of Fort Minor Traks.  A host of other talented vocalists  like Common and Black Thought add there own dynamics on their respective songs and help to make Fort Minor one of my favourite hip-hop acts of all time.

The tracks from the sisters are full of enchanting stories and some quite weird lyrics for thier age. They sound like they are a couple of old weather-beaten moaners with lines like “Yeah, you cooked his dinners/You raised his children/And still he’s not satisfied” and “I don’t know what I have done/I’m turning myself to a demon” and then go “la la la la la”!

The music is not really comparable to other artists as it sounds fresh an new. The tracks that I would recommend are “You’re not coming home tonight” featuring the most commercial song the two girls have produced and “Jagadamba you might” shows off the girls inventive vocals but don’t ask me what the title means.

First Aid Kit are easily doing extremely well but if you think about the years ahead they have in their advantage then it is almost scary of what they could achieve although as the girls put it they “aim for the hearts, not the charts”.

Chipmunk

After a host of mixtapes, features on countless remixes as well as a few brilliant singles (including the latest ‘Beast’), this London MC is set to do big things in 2009 with the release of his debut album. His recent appearance on the remix of ‘Take Me Back’ (Tinchy Stryder ft. Taio Cruz), goes down a treat - shining on a track which also features the likes of Sway (who also had an immense verse) is hard enough but Chipmunk’s young age gives him an edge. He’s perhaps the first younger to generate so much hype with the number of quality mixtapes he’s dropped, giving him a UK-Papoose stye reputation. Fresh Out The Oven, Whatever The Weather (Vol. 1 & 2), League Of My Own and Guess Who? have all dropped while he’s still in his teens (currently eighteen). Add a MOBO for best newcomer earlier this year to the list of remarkable achievements from this North London youngster and then you’ll realise the reason for the hype ahead of ‘I Am Chipmunk’ - his debut album due out soon. Watch out in 2009, the grime throne may be in the distance but in terms of youngers Chipmunk is safely on top of the game.

Guess Who? is available to download for free courtesy of Alwayz Recording at this link.

Nick Thomas At John Smedley

Music much? Not really, so why’s it here? Maybe it’s because I’m hoping that I’ll get a free cardi in the post, or more likely because this young designer is sending shockwaves through the fashion scene after picking up first prize at Graduate Fashion Week bagging himself 20k and a job at John Smedley (the legendary cardigan creators) after a successful placement. He’s a top designer and gives an injection of youth in to his designs. His designs are currently being produced and you can expect big things in the future. Get your colour preferance ready and keep your ASOS Man page open in 2009.

Watchmen

The soundtrack of this movie with Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Nat King Cole is causing enough heat with artists lining up to record their covers for the release. The film itself is adapted from a genius limited comic series released - well let’s just say a while ago.  The rights for this movie have been floating about since 1986 and March ‘09 sees the long wait come to an end. One of the most eagerly anticipated movies of the year might be a jinx for some, but with David Hayter on screenpla and direction the likelihood of dissapointment is minimised.

No doubt hardcore comic fans will be split on opinion again, but after the success (and movie of 2008) that was Batman: The Dark Knight, the commercialisation of comic books in to movies is complete. Also, look out for Wolverine:  Origins, also out in ‘09.

Books..

After Paul Beatty’s ‘Slumberland,’ Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Armageddon In Retrospect’ and Chuck Palahniuk’s ‘Snuff’ it’s fair to say that there’s been a fair bit of literature to get through this year. Don’t ask me why books will be better in 2009, or which ones to look out for, cause I don’t know.

Downloads - The MP# Machine

No back to the music, and here I’ve complied some of my favourite MP3s over the year, be it covers in the live lounge (of which there are many) or mash-ups and remixes, they’re all here. (Note that this is off the top of my head, so I might have forgotten a LOAD.. happy downloading..)

Nick Harrisson vs. The Specials - Sometimes mash-up with Ghost Town

Diana Vickers - Patience

Elbow - Back To Black

The Wombats - Patience

Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix)

Goldfrapp - It’s Not Over Yet

Hot Chip - Wearing My Rolex

Kooks - Violet Hill

Ladyhawke - Womaniser

Mystery Jets - Bleeding Love

MGMT - Time To Pretend (BLOGULA Remix)

Late Of The Pier - Heartbeat (Hot Chip Remix)

Late Of The Pier - Heartbeat (Zongamin Remix)

That’s all for now, thanks for reading and happy downloading..

The catsuits have gone but Hawkins still manages to keep up his appearence in interesting choises of clothing like tiger striped trousers, neckachiefs, hair bands and a dash of mascara. Joined by a relatively unheard of bandmates Pete Rinaldi (Lead Guitar, Lea BVs), Samuel SJ Stokes (Bass,  BVs) and Darby Todd ( Drums) the group sound like a “more intense Darkness” according to Justin Himself.

The debut album is set for release in early 2009 and will showcase some great hits that are sure to creep into the charts. A couple of free downloads are available on their MySpace but are they worth getting? The answer is yes! “Trojan Guitar” features a big drum beat, dominant guitars and classic high pitched vocals from Justin. The other tune, “Heroes” is similar and shows that Hot Leg are capable of being consistently good.

The band sound like The Darkness but not quite as good. They’re in their early stages but Hot Leg don’t seem to have the same presence. However, The Darkness have high standards and Hot Leg are easily capable of getting there. I for one am excited about the album but I will be very interested to see how it gets recieved - my guess is loved by some and hated by others.