In their new issue, in a section called “Who’s Next,” SPIN list their eight bands to watch o’er ’08. There are surefire bets like Jay Reatard, who recently signed to Matador, and our Santogold, fresh off her Fader cover model turn. Then, the teenage Miami metal group Black Tide look pretty cool in their teenage pics, but any thoughts on their thrashy sound? Not bad. Not great. Atlanta rapper B.o.B’s up to some cool things … like his “Grip Ur Body,” featuring Amy Winehouse gripping more than her crack pipe, and his Beatles-y “Lonely People” (Check it out, Sir Paul. You can listen here.) Then come choices we have a hard time believing will actually strike a huge chord (even literally) in ’08, unless you’re looking for a boring year.
Actually, UK post-punker rockers the Wombats are fun enough. “Moving To New York”‘s opening guitar reminds us of “Freak Scene,” and that’s …. nice. And they have a song called “Let’s Dance To Joy Division.” We’re guessing they also like Arctic Monkeys. You think? To be fair, this next choice is practical: Since Amy Winehouse is wasting away, there’s UK singer lady Duffy, who does her retro thing and, like Amy, has a voice that doesn’t sounds like it’s coming out of that mouth.
Let’s hope she stays off the hard stuff. Rounding out the list, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s are … so and so. (Also, an interesting choice for one to watch in 2008 when they were so sick of the Arcade Fire bullshit in 2006.) Then we have the Ivy League rock of Harvard grads Chester French, which is funny when you ricochet it off the Ivy League rock of Columbia grads Vampire Weekend. But Chester sound more like Weezer-lite than lite-Graceland. That, and they’re not very good. They had a song on Entourage, though, and Pharrell signed them to Star Trak/Interscope. So, yeah, they’ll show us. Take a listen at their MySpace. One of them majored in African-American Studies. That’s not a joke. So, for ease of reading and risibility:
- Jay Reatard
- Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s
- Santogold
- Black Tide
- The Wombats
- B.o.B.
- Duffy
- Chester French
Need more? Videos and stuff over at spin.com.
You Might Also Like
 Stereogum Monthly Mix: January 2012 |  Santigold – “Big Mouth” |  Santigold Debuts New Material @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg… |  Amadou & Mariam – “Dougou Badia” (Feat. Santigold) |
 |
 |
The Wombats? I’m already sick of them. I’ve heard that “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” song a few too many times. As for the rest, I couldn’t really care at all.
B.O.B.’s “Lonely People” was disappointing — it’s more interesting but not as good as Talib Kweli’s “Lonely People” (produced by Kanye, also samples “Eleanor Rigby”) and Talib’s track isn’t even all that good.
I’m sick of all this mediocre sampling of The Beatles. I mean, Wu Tang’s take on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was crap. Someone please tell me that I’m not alone in thinking The Grey Album sucked. CIt was cool in concept, of course, but terrible in execution.
The Wombats?! Tip for the educated American: look at the NME occasionally. Then ignore anything it recommends.
Black Tide?!?!? Really?!?
Not
a
fan
dropping the ball on rorrimkcalb.com!?
C’mon Stereogum!
Good to see Margot getting some respect, even if it is from Spin. Animal! is probably the album that I’m most looking forward to this year.
“our Santogold”? ew
jay reatard (he legally changed his name) has been around forEVER…um…the oblivions, anyone??? spin, please…
They got it right with Jay Reatard. Although I’m not sure I want “Spin Readers” to be watching him, its still nice for him to get some more exposure. Because he is AWEsome.
To booboo:
Jay Reatard was not in the Oblivians, but he has been around forever. The Reatards, The Lost Sounds, Final Solutions, Angry Angles, etc.
lol…i realized that post-post…
someone mention WALE
jay “reatard” lindsey stabbed my friend in the stomach in memphis in 1999. fuck him.
Hey, I love Chester French! Dont hate! He majored in Af-Am to get close to that Af-Ass! lolol!
add Pale Nimbus to this list
Fuck YES Jay Reatard is gunna go off in 2008, like he has every year for the past 5 or 6 years
That band Chester French is truly terrible. Not surprising that Spin would support something so bland.
What’s the difference between Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s and Bright Eyes?
Give up? Me too.
Sorry, James, disagree completely… and it has nothing to do with the fact that we recorded some bits for their upcoming record at my recording studio!
Big fans of Chester French here… super talented and cool cats.
Racist! YAHH!
god, those chester french guys are TERRIBLE. it’s like they try to write oldies but add a bunch of zapping noises to make it “current.” like that jimmy choos song, gimmeabreak
Somebody needs to mention YelaWolf!!!
http://www.myspace.com/yelawolf
Somebody needs to mention YelaWolf!!!
http://www.myspace.com/yelawolf
kjhqvwb pouach yedh gfrxswtd gwqepilv xliaoc hkgqt