Our rock writers name the bands that'll have you tapping your feet well into the New Year.
Brian Boyd
ADELE
The first few months of the year will be dominated by a startling new soul singer called . The young south Londoner is at a remove from the likes of Kate Nash and Lily Allen in that she has the voice and the musical tastes of someone decades older. A very engaging and charismatic presence, she has already elicited "the new Amy Winehouse" comparisons. Her debut album, due out in mid-January, is a marvellous affair and sees Adele on a Dusty-meets-Aretha-down-Clapham-way type of vibe.
THE COURTEENERS
The term "a new indie band from Manchester" is hardly going to generate much excitement, but The Courteeners really have something to bring to the party - and they're currently one of the best new live acts around. There's not much subtlety to their sound - it's a bit bang/crash/ wallop - but they have the songs, the energy and the drive. Stephen Street (The Smiths, Kaiser Chiefs) has been summoned in to produce their debut album, due in the next few months.
ARKITEKT
Guitarist Noel Hogan and singer Richard Walters first met up in the The Mono Band. The guitarist used a revolving series of singers on The Mono Band's album, but has now permanently linked up with Walters to form Arkitekt. An EP released last year, Black Hair, was a dazzling introduction with the band sounding a bit like early Bowie backed by The Smiths' rhythm section. Suede's Bernard Butler is currently putting the finishing touches on their album.
DIRTY PROJECTORS
Brooklyn's Dave Longstreth trades under the name Dirty Projectors, and comes over like a bizarre mix of Brian Eno, African highlife, Todd Rundgren and No Wave. It's art-rock but without the usual excesses and it's coming to a festival near you soon.
But don't believe the hype about ... Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong.
This indie four-piece from London released their debut single, Lucio Starts Fire, in October to gushing praise from radio and press. This latest "buzz band" are located somewhere between Razorlight and The Libertines, but they just don't have the material to back up the inflated praise they're receiving. And do we really need a new Johnny Borrell?
Jim Carroll
THE TING TINGS
It had "hit" written all over it the first time it was released. That's Not My Name will get a big push in the next few weeks and thrust Manchester's The Ting Tings into the public consciousness. His name is , her name is and together, they're a thoroughly modern pop duo and can craft hits with lots of oomph. is just around the corner. The Ting Tings play Belfast's Mandela Hall on January 29th and Dublin's Ambassador on January 30th as part of the NME tour.
THE ANTLERS
Back in March, 21-year-old Manhattan resident Peter Silberman decided to give away his latest album, In The Attic of The Universe, for free. Within a couple of months, over 10,000 people had downloaded it. No one does big-city ennui by candlelight or lush atmospheric skyscrapers like the prolific Silberman, whose cascading Jeff Buckley-like vocal tones have seduced many this year. Go to his website right away, download the Cold War EP or a spooky cover of My Bloody Valentine's When You Sleep.
THESE NEW PURITANS
These New Puritans hail from Southend-on-Sea, and over a sprawling post-punk brawl of twitching guitars, throbbing basslines and experimental off-centre beats, frontman Jack Barnett delivers one manifesto after another, loaded with myths, enigmas and puzzles. Their forthcoming debut album, Beat Pyramid, is perfect for all those seeking a little rough and tough punky magic in their lives.
SANTOGOLD
Prepare for the charge of the songbird brigade in 2008 thanks to Adele, Duffy, Laura Marling and, in particular, 's Santi White, who has already been dubbed "Brooklyn's answer to MIA", but we think that sells her short. So far every tune bearing the Santogold name has been future-proofed pop music with enough odd bits to remind you of Grace Jones and Björk.
But don't believe the hype about ...
Whoever wins the thoroughly irritating and pointless You're A Star talent show. They should be avoided like Bertie Ahern on the way to the Mahon Tribunal. After all, winning this competition has done wonders for the long-term careers of Mickey Joe Harte, David O'Connor, Chris Doran, the McCauls and Lucia Evans.
Tony Clayton-Lea
CAPTAIN MOONLIGHT
He's from Kilkenny, he's a hurling fanatic, he's 35, his name is Kevin Spratt and he comes across like a bastard offspring of Scary Eire, Damien Dempsey, Public Enemy and anyone else that isn't afraid to mix metaphors with verbal mischief, mayhem and that most quaint of things - the truth. Captain Moonlight ended the year by releasing his second album, Agroculture Pt 2, as serious a gift to hip-hop as you're ever likely to hear. His creative work ethic? Too many people are more concerned about being heard than actually thinking about what they're saying. There's a lesson there somewhere.
THE URGES
Bit of a gamble this one (are they The Horrors or are they 13th Floor Elevators? The latter is good news, the former bad), but here at The Ticket, we like an occasional outside bet, and if there's any Irish band out there fitting that description then it's Dublin's The Urges. Authentic retro sounds blend frantic and crude R&B with some seriously propulsive rock (check out their debut album, Psych Ward). Twin-breasted jackets, grandad scarves and drainpipes; they dress to impress, with music that does the job, too.
THE CHERRIES
Fronted by Kells' woman Gemma McGowan and musically engineered by Drogheda musician Joanne Kieran (with assistance from Rosanna Schwarzacher on cello and Gareth 'Boots' Kinsella on drums), The Cherries fuse a kind of cabaret-brothel sound (hints of Brecht/Weill) with a challenging musical dynamism last heard on long-lost albums by Laura Nyro. They're not to everyone's taste, which means there has to be something good going on, and have just released their debut album, Vertigo Girl.
JAYMAY
At the age of 26, Long Islander Jaymay (Jamie Kristine Seerman) is a former worker at the coalface of publishing (just so she could be close to books, a passion rivalled only by her teenage obsession with Bob Dylan). She's been singing for just four years but her debut album, Autumn Fallin', features songs so well shaped they belie their fledgling status.
But don't believe the hype about ... Boyzone. Tripe then, tripe now. No wonder Mika refused them one of his songs for release as their comeback single.
Kevin Courtney
THE BLACK LIPS
They came from the south, armed with skateboards, 1960s garage punk and girlie-pop albums, and a sound so swampy it could suck you under and transform you into a flesh-eating beer monster. Atlanta quartet The Black Lips have already built up quite a reputation - not all of it good. Early shows saw the band members - Ian St Pe, Jared Swilly, Cole Alexander and Joe Bradley - indulging in some nasty onstage antics, inspired by such confrontational artists as GG Allin and The Germs. The shock tactics, they admit, were a way to cover up their lack of playing skill. Four albums in, playing is no longer a problem.
THE WOMBATS
This lardy Liverpool trio might have a stupid name, and their early gigs may have featured silly hats and costumes, but the guys are making a serious impression with such wry, clever punk tunes as Lost In the Post, Backfire at the Disco and Let's Dance to Joy Division. All three studied at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, which might explain their sharp ear for a tune.
FOALS
They're a five-piece from Oxford with a serious muso streak, but there the similarities with Radiohead end. Foals trade in a clipped dance-punk style of music, influenced by minimalist artist Steve Reich and the genre known as . Their debut album, Antidotes, will be out in March.
THE COURTEENERS
The latest scallywags to get the music industry - and the fans - in a lather, The Courteeners are four childhood friends from Manchester's Middleton area, and they've got that last-gang-in-town mentality down pat. The band made a huge impression when they toured with The Coral last year, but with the early hype comes the early .
But don't believe the hype about ... Duffy. With the Amy Winehouse gravy train going off the rails, record companies are searching for a female artist who can supply the requisite mix of brass and soul. Rough Trade are putting their money behind 22-year-old Welsh songstress Duffy. She's blonde, beautiful and her voice is reminiscent of Dusty Springfield, but there's a suspicion Duffy is being pushed into the arena to do battle with the seasoned girl gladiators long before she's good and ready.
