Ear to the Ground Presents: Band of the Year (Readers Poll Results) – Top 10

At long last, it is time to reveal the Band of the Year voting results.  

I want to thank everyone who voted.  I hope you will visit often.  We had almost 2,000 votes. Which totally blew me away. 

We shall begin with positions 6-10 in alphabetical order:


Clepto (website) – In spite of my screwing up their name on the Poll, Saudi-born punk rockers Clepto rallied to reach the top 10.  If you are in to hard punk rock with a Middle Eastern tinge, please check out Clepto.


Elika (website) – New York based indie band Elika offers cool electronica with a slight shoegazey feel to it. I have no idea what I just typed.  Elika makes good music.  Check them out today!


Lost Romance (website) – New Jersey based alt-rockers Lost Romance play big music.  One of my favorite tracks “Top of the World” has a brilliant, expansive sound.  Their music deserves to fill arenas. Check them out. 


Those Mockingbirds (website) – another New Jersey based alt-rock band.  Not just another New Jersey based alt-rock band.  Those Mockingbirds possess strong songwriting and the musical chops to carry it off. Visit their website, pick up their new EP and prepare to become a fan.


WorldService Project (website) – I’ll admit, when WorldService Project first began following me on Twitter, I thought they were a non-profit providing volunteer opportunities to third world countries. Okay I have an active imagination.  Turns out they are a London-based Punk-Jazz band. I like jazz and I like punk, and I really like World Service Project.  Give them a listen.


Now to the Top 5….

 

Bands of the Week 2011 – Part II – Weeks 9-17

We continue our recap of the 2011 Bands of the Week.  Reminder: Please be sure to vote in the First Annual Reader’s Poll for Band of the Year.

Week 9:  The Mobbs – an honest to goodness – British band with a punk attitude.  They play it fast and nasty and it makes me want to walk around saying “bloody hell” all the time.  Well here check out this video:

Week 10: Mikey Wax – is a singer and songwriter – Long Island born.  He recently released a new album Constant Motion which hit #6 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart. Here’s a video for his song In Case I Go Again which has been viewed over a half a million times on You Tube:

Week 11: Elika – are an indie band from Brooklyn.  Their sound features astonishing vocals set atop a complex yet lovely combination of guitar, synth, bass and drum machine. Check out Elika’s video for their song Summer here:

Week 12: Clepto – is a punk band with a definite Middle Eastern influence.  The band formed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2000 and has since relocated to Canada. The play it hard and nasty and the music is not for the faint of heart. For the unfaint of heart it’s a jolly good time….  Check out this video:  NOTE:  I screwed up on the reader’s poll and mispelled the band’s name. I know the band’s name. It was a typo.  So if you like Clepto please vote for Cleto.

Week 13: Simon Fagan – is an Irish singer/songwriter.  He has a unique voice and a great sound.  Look for a new EP coming soon.  Meanwhile check out this video of one of our favorite songs, Something I Don’t Know

Week 14: The Walla Recovery – a cello-folk rock quartet from Texas.  They write moving and beautiful songs.  Here is a video of The Walla Recovery performing a cover of Coldplay’s Til Kingdom Come:

Week 15: Lost Romance – are a New Jersey based rock band.  They play expansive music which lives up to the vast history of New Jersey music.  Here’s a favorite of ours, Top of the World, performed live at The Saint in Asbury Park:

Week 16: Sealight – is a French/Australian band.  Their sound combines acoustic and electronic elements to make a beautiful soundscape.  They recently released their debut EP – Dead Letters which was reviewed here at Ear to the Ground.  Here is the title track from the EP:

Week 17: The Jinxes – are a melodic folk-pop band from Monterey, California. They have a rich creative spirit and a ear for sweet melodies.  Here is a video of a song, we love called Migration:

That’s it for now…. Stay tuned… Part III is coming soon. And be sure to vote.