Welcome to "Rising Stars",The Teen Spot's 15 picks of
15 bands who are headed to major league stardom. Be on the lookout for them,here they are. Be sure to listen to the sound clips,you have to have a
RealAudio Player though. Here they are :
Ten Foot Pole
DESCRIPTION : Pure 4-piece punk rock reminiscient of The Offspring,Green Day,and Bad Religion's early days. But this band is incredibly accomplished and have all the trials and tribulations of a band in full-fledged stardom. Several band member changes and 4 CDs already released,including the brand new CD "Insider" which was released in February. They're signed to Epitaph Records, have toured alongside punkers Less Than Jake,and have the same producer as Christian-driven punk rockers NOFX. Their current single off of their new album is "The Getaway".
TICKET TO STARDOM : Punk has power,as proven by bands like The Offspring and Blink 182. The Warped Tour was wildly successful and Ten Foot Pole has the potential to go even further then they already have.
FUN FACT : Ten Foot Pole supposebly answer all their fan mail and have dished out over 100,000 free stickers to rabid fans. Ten Foot Pole also used to be named Scared Straight.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Ten Foot Pole have 3 CDs currently avaliable from Epitaph Records,they also have an earlier CD from a small label and a swedish import CD...for the bigtime fans out there,I'm sure you can find it SOMEWHERE. For more info and tourdates,check out The Official Ten Foot Pole Website.
The Maxfield Rabbit
DESCRIPTION : Los Angeles-based 5-piece alt-rock band The Maxfield Rabbit has elicited comparisons to a twisted Lisa Loeb and 10,000 Maniacs. But deep-down,they have a sound all their own. Their current album is from the same producers that have propelled such acts to stardom as grunge-to-glam superstars Hole and aggressive bitch punkers L7. The Maxfield Rabbit's new album features their first single "No One To Blame".
TICKET TO STARDOM : A producer that is behind some amazing acts and already the band is receiving extensive airplay around LA...they've been featured in HITS Magazine and one of their songs can be heard in the mini-series "Fast Folk". They've also been featured in the November '98 edition of IndyHits Music Sampler and in the indie compilation disc,"As Far As You Can Go Without Leaving".
FUN FACT : 8 year old The Maxfield Rabbit experienced several member changes in the summer of 1998 but are back on their feet again and ready to explode on the music scene!
WHERE TO FIND EM : It will be exceptionally hard because the band is still very independent and LA-oriented. Their CD isn't avaliable widely as of yet but you MIGHT be able to get the November '98 Indy Hits Sampler if you check out the IndyHits Website and request one. Regardless of if they have the November '98 one still avaliable or not,the samplers are only $2.95--and that's just for shipping. So order a new one while you're at it.
Remy Zero
DESCRIPTION : Rural Alabama-based alterna-pop rockers Remy Zero have released two albums. Their 1st was 1996's self-titled album with a tornado gracing the cover that was called "haunting" and "dizzying". Their current,"Villa Elaine" was released late summer '98 and is named after the classic runned-down hotel in Hollywood where the band recorded much of the album. The hotel,which was previously home to Orson Wells (among others) has since gone downhill housing a variety of welfare-dependent residents,prostitutes,etc. But the album in no way signifies that the band is going downhill.
The band,who has been known for spontaneous creative home-recording sessions and imaginative songwriting is clearly on the way up.
TICKET TO STARDOM : They're becoming more and more well-known and their new album is doing exceptionally well...
FUN FACT : Remy Zero's first single off their new album titled "Prophecy" can be heard in the opening credits of the movie "She's All That".
WHERE TO FIND EM : They can be purchased in various record stores and even online. They're not too hard to find.
Fever
DESCRIPTION : Berlin-based Digital Hardcore Recordings' newest artist is Fever,a two-man band that mixes a strange but incredibly engrossing mix of rap and digital hardcore together. Hardcore breakbeats and basslines mixed with distorted rapping isn't really DHR's style but now it's trying something different--but it isn't exactly easy to swallow. As one reviewer put it,"Right as you begin to feel the groove of Fever,they rip it away from you". Not for the non-experimental.
TICKET TO STARDOM : When we spoke with Bomb20 last month during an interview for another publication,he stated "Hip-hop is sick and dying, witness its last feverish minutes..." With a quote like that,you can't help but at least WANT to have a listen.
FUN FACT : Fever's goal is to present a darker and more sinister edge to rap...rapcore,if you will...unlike Limp Bizkit and other bands of the like,this one mixes a mold of sounds unlike any other.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Fever's debut 8-track CD titled "Too Bad But True" is out now and can be found at finer music stores,but DHR doesn't distribute to all stores so it could be hard to find.
Sleater-Kinney
DESCRIPTION : Sleater-Kinney isn't just another bubblegum and twirling your hair around your finger chick band. They're a 3-piece hard-ass feminist punk band that's been around since 1994. Now with 3 CDs under their belt and a new one titled "The Hot Rock" being released in late February,Sleater-Kinney are still going strong. With an incredible cult fan following,Sleater-Kinney are contributing greatly to the "riot-grrrrrrrrl" movement with their blend of stretched vocals and punk-y rhythms. Their new single is "Get Up" off of their new album.
TICKET TO STARDOM : Already proving themselves in stage presence,with the press (including feature articles in SPIN and CMJ Music Monthly--calling them "the next big thing for 1999"),and with their music--Sleater-Kinney has proven they can triumph as women in a male-dominated world. Not to mention the group has stayed true to their indie label,Kill Rock Stars--refusing to sell out to bigger labels while still attempting to get noticed on a wider scale level.
FUN FACT : Their name,Sleater-Kinney is named after the street on which they used to rehearse in the early days.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Sleater-Kinney's fairly independent label is avaliable at finer music stores and their new CD "The Hot Rock" comes out in late February so be on the lookout for it too!
The Damnations TX
DESCRIPTION : Dallas,Texas based Damnations TX are a two girl,1 guy retro-folky pop-rock band ready to explode on the scene. Their debut CD,"Half Bad Moon" is set for a February release and features their first single,"Unholy Train". The Damnations TX in the past have toured alongside CAKE (who's hit song "Never There" is blowin' up all over the place). The Damnations,as they're called for short are signed to New York-based Sire Records,the same label as bands like The Primitive Radio Gods, Morcheeba, Rialto, Aphex Twin, Everything, Spacehog,and Canada's ultra-popular Tragically Hip.
TICKET TO STARDOM : A good label, a good sound--kind of reminiscient of a folky-country pop-rock Hanson meets roots rock.
FUN FACT : The Damnations are currently touring--check your local tour dates!
WHERE TO FIND EM : Their new CD should be avaliable at finer record stores,as well as online.
Cassius
DESCRIPTION : Two 31-year old dance-music makers have teamed together to form Cassius. These two men are responsible for igniting such electronic-oriented acts to stardom as Daft Punk (who's "Da Funk" and "Around The World" became international dancefloor anthems and featured in countless movies including "Can't Hardly Wait" and "The Saint",among others) and AIR (who's "Sexy Boy" propelled them to stardom and winner of multiple magazines' "Best Electronic Artist of the Year",including SPIN and Rolling Stone). Now,the two men who helped these two acts reach their fame today are out on their own and attempting to do just the same.
TICKET TO STARDOM : Rolling Stone called them "the funkiest little band on the planet" and MTV News said "Cassius makes sure your ass is shakin"...Based on their past achievements with helping other acts and from what I can see and hear,they're on their way up.
FUN FACT : Cassius have done remixes for such bands as Björk and Depeche Mode.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Their new CD,"1999" is avaliable at finer music stores--and it features their first single "Cassius 1999"--buy it today!
Imperial Teen
DESCRIPTION : The side project of Faith No More's Roddy Bottum is nothing like Faith No More--there will be no chaos-inducing lyrics and alterna-sk8-metal. Instead,there's Imperial Teen--punk meets bubblegum rock from the San Francisco Bay Area. Imperial Teen's second album titled "What Is Not To Love" promises lots of sexually-provacative tongue-in-cheek teenage-angst anthems for the pre-millenium. Included is Imperial Teen's first single "Yoo Hoo" (as heard in the trailers for the Miramax teen flick,"Jawbreaker") and their second single "Lipstick" which aggressively picks fun at America's homophobia--coining the phrase "why you gotta be so proud/I'm the one with lipstick on".
TICKET TO STARDOM : A lighter-hearted Sonic Youth-ish type band that is getting noticed by the press (with articles in Rolling Stone, Raygun, SPIN, and CMJ Music Monthly) and by the public.
FUN FACT : Imperial Teen's debut titled "Seasick" showed their darker side,their new album shows their peppy-pop kewl side.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Finer music stores,of course...and their single "Yoo Hoo" is on the "Jawbreaker Soundtrack" along with artists like Ednaswap, Sleater-Kinney, and The Donnas.
Passion Seeds
DESCRIPTION : Florida-based indie band The Passion Seeds extensively tour venues throughout Florida,but also find time to play out of state too. The band's debut album "Release",which released in February of last year left the band forced to do some serious touring and promotion. The band,only several years old now are incredibly interested in big labels and think they have what it takes to be both marketable and successful. And we think so too. The band's current single is "New World".
TICKET TO STARDOM : Good sound and a garage band that actually sounds GOOD.
FUN FACT : The Passion Seeds played a show during this past August's extensive Florida forest fires to a smoke-covered crowd--at a steaming 96°!
WHERE TO FIND EM : It's hard considering they're underground,but check out The Official Passion Seeds Website that you can check out for more--you might wanna try emailing them for more info on how to purchase the CD.
Gus
DESCRIPTION : Tori Amos's producer Eric Rosse is no stranger to finding amazing talent. And he succeeded with new Seattle-based singer/songwriter Gus. Multi-talented Gus also plays many of the instruments on his new album,along with Pearl Jam's drummer guesting on a few tracks. Gus debuted when he sang the remake of the spooky Blue Oyster Cult classic "Don't Fear The Reaper" in the movie "SCREAM". Now,Gus is on his own--making music and making waves in the music industry with his experimental mix of "folk-metal",which in my humble opinion--sounds like neither. Signed to the Almo Sounds Label,Gus is surely on his way to fame.
TICKET TO STARDOM : Connections with Tori Amos' producer,Pearl Jam drummers,and incredible talent.
FUN FACT : Brad Smith of Blind Melon recently surprised Gus's fans when he appeared with him onstage at a recent gig.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Gus's 2nd CD,"Word of Mouth Parade" is released March 9th featuring his absolutely beautiful single "Floodlights". You can also catch his chillingly haunting rendition of "Don't Fear The Reaper" on The SCREAM Soundtrack and his first self-titled CD from 1996.
Placebo
DESCRIPTION : British-based band Placebo has been called "the filthiest band in the UK" and have received comparisons to such bands as Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins. But they're also one of the best. Lead singer,Brian Molko--a mascara-wearing bisexual goth boy who proudly announces having quite a track record in the sack (sorry...he currently has a girlfriend!),a Swedish bass player who sometimes dresses in prom gowns at concerts,and a drummer from Manchester. But the 3-piece band is incredibly talented beneath their "filthy facade". Their lyrics reek of sexually-charged angst,
drugs,and beautiful yet tragic landscapes. The band who debuted with 1996's self-titled debut album featuring the high-energy sexually-strong hit single "Nancy Boy" which topped the charts in the UK.
Their new album,"Without You I'm Nothing" features their single "Pure Morning" coining the phrase "a friend in need's a friend indeed/a friend with weed is better". Their second single off the album is "Every You,Every Me",which is also featured in March's "Cruel Intentions". The 3rd single is "Without You I'm Nothing".
TICKET TO STARDOM : Shock rockers in their own right,the unknown Marilyn Mansons of the UK--ready to rock the US!
FUN FACT : Placebo is currently touring with Stabbing Westward and Flick.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Their 2 CDs can be found at finer music stores everywhere. Plus,they have literally TONS of b-sides and hard-2-find tracks all over the place--including tracks on the movies "Velvet Goldmine" and "Cruel Intentions".
The Atomic Babies
DESCRIPTION : Besides having one of the kewlest names in the music industry,The Atomic Babies are two DJ's who mix a blend of pure space-age electronica and have had a strong underground following since 1992. Whether you feel like dancing to it or setting it as the backdrop to some futuristic scene,The Atomic Babies are a good bet for it. Their new album "Breuklen Heightz" features tracks filled with electronic-beatz including their 1st single "Cetch Da Monkey". The Babies are currently touring and playing select techno clubs and raves.
TICKET TO STARDOM : Probably the next Chemical Brothers or Fatboy Slim,it's a safe bet. They're talented.
FUN FACT : Atomic Babies will also be featured in an upcoming major documentary profiling the pioneers of electronic music.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Their new CD "Breuklen Heightz" and tons of other compilations including "Digital Empire" and "Digital Empire 2".
Joydrop
DESCRIPTION : Joydrop is a popular Canadian independent band that started off singing at espresso bars and pubs. The heart of the group is talented singer,Tara Slone...an ex-opera singer who left opera to pursue alt-rock. Joydrop,a band who's hit "Beautiful" left many in the USA scrambling to find their CD or single had to wait several months until the band released their debut CD "Metasexual" (released February 9th) in the US. The band also mixes together amazing drum loops and sounds that make a normal alt-rock genre sound like something totally different--complete with Tara's strong vocals. The band is signed to Tommy Boy Records.
TICKET TO STARDOM : Lots of radio airplay and MUCHMUSIC and M2 video rotation for "Beautiful"...a late CD release date didn't help but the band is talented enough that with another successful single,they can REALLY hit it big.
FUN FACT : Joydrop has merited comparisons to such bands as Garbage.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Their debut CD "Metasexual" can be found at finer music stores everywhere.
Flick
DESCRIPTION : Missouri-based 4-piece (3 guy,1 girl) band Flick is currently touring alongside Stabbing Westward and the aforementioned Placebo. The band resembles light fuzzy pop-song alt-rock. Flick's trademark egg graces the inside of their debut CD on Columbia Records titled "The Perfect Kellulight" (released mid-summer '98). Guitarist and songwriter Oran Thornton commented that their small Missouri town isn't well known for producing rock stars--and that if you didn't play football,you really didn't fit in. The cover of the band's debut CD features a car wrapped around a railroad crossing sign--a disturbing but interesting portrait. And a portrait of one of Oran's childhood tradegies when as a young boy,his brother was killed in a car accident.
TICKET TO STARDOM : An amazing sound,Brit-poppy but alt-rock friendly.
FUN FACT : Flick has shared the stage with such acts as Tripping Daisy, The Cardigans, and Meredith Brooks.
WHERE TO FIND EM : Flick's debut CD "The Perfect Kellulight" can be found at finer music stores everywhere.
Spineshank
DESCRIPTION : Thrash-metal from Roadrunner Records that resembles Fear Factory in music and aggression and TOOL in vocals. A mix of techno-ish alt-thrash beats,complete with screams and hardcore vocals. The band's lead singer is red-cropped Jonny Santos,who's patented yelps and moans may be the ticket to stardom for him. The boys of Spineshank have shared the stage with labelmates Fear Factory and many others. Their debut CD is "Strictly Diesel" (released in late 1998) and features such tracks as the high-aggression,high-energy "Intake" to the showcase of mean guitar rifts on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".
TICKET TO STARDOM : Thrash is in. And Spineshank have a good shot at success.
FUN FACT : Spineshank is much-loved with the critics and already gained a place on Tower Record's Top 1000 CDs of All Time.
WHERE TO FIND EM : The debut CD "Strictly Diesel" is avaliable at finer music stores.
This feature was by Steven Harbaugh,Teen Spot Editor.
