So, the BBC have released their annual fifteen-strong longlist for their so called “Sound of 2012”. Right. Take note hipsters, because these are the names you’re apparently expected to drop if you want to look cool and groovy next to your square mates. In all honesty, and personal tastes aside, the list is becoming more and more irrelevant with each passing year. There’s so much music out there, and so many genres, that choosing a “sound of…” for one year sort of totally misses the point. But there it is. One thing I will say, however, is that it is definitely NOT Skrillex. God no.
To the names on the list then:
A$AP Rocky, Azealia Banks, Dot Rotten, Dry The River, Flux Pavilion, Frank Ocean, Friends, Jamie N Commons, Lianne La Havas, Michael Kiwanuka, Niki & The Dove, Ren Harvieu, Skrillex, Spector, Stooshe.
As notable as it is for being remarkably hip-hop heavy, there’s also some utterly ridiculous absences. My immediate surprise at Lana Del Rey‘s non-appearance was undercut when I found out she’s ineligible due to her UK top 20 hit, but that doesn’t change the fact that there’s plenty of talent, mostly in guitar music, that just didn’t get a look in. Sure, we’ve got Spector, but where are Tribes, where are Howler, where’s King Krule? Where the bloody fuck are Summer Camp? I say screw the BBC.
My vote goes to this instead:
