NEW SOUNDS SOUNDING OLD

Thanks to the runaway success of AMY WINEHOUSE and the lack of much in the way of 'new' sounds being created, there's a real wave of bands digging back in the vinyl bags and pulling out old Northern Soul classics, funk action, and even straight up '50's style rock and roll records and reinterpreting them with a taste of today. Until something besides electronic dance rock forms as a new direction, it's wonderful to hear anything new besides yet another Fall Out Boy/Panic At The Disco knock-off. I've been enjoying each new discovery of an old sound and noticed that they were piling up and demanded a little attention.

PALOMA FAITH

London's PALOMA FAITH has a BILLIE HOLIDAY voice and a BETTY PAGE look. Check out 'Broken Doll' which has this GROOVE ARMADA "At The River" feel to it. She has the Winehouse vibe but has a softness to her and a rich voice. Keep your KATE NASH and your LILY ALLEN's, I'm sure Paloma won't get drunk before every sloppy performance and have to cancel any tours.

THE HEAVY

One of the band's I'm maybe the most excited about to see in 2008 is England's THE HEAVY. It's like CURTIS MAYFIELD being channeled through some white kids from the UK. In yo face funk that makes you walk like Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Look for music on the upcoming Future Sounds 31 from them as their first record drops in early '08. Wait until you hear 'Coleen' or 'That Kind Of Man'. This band is BAADASSSS!!!

MEAGHAN SMITH

If MEAGHAN SMITH doesn't end up becoming a massive worldwide BEYONCE-type celebrity then I guess we should all just get used to manufacturing stars through American Idol and give up hope. Smith is from Nova Scotia and has a voice from heaven. Honestly, it's so lush in songs like "I Know" , produced by DJ KID KOALA, that if NORA JONES is out there somewhere, she'd better put down the bon-bons and hire some new writers and get crackin' before she's dethroned by this superstar in our midst with the throwback sound of the early '50's and those dominating female vocalists. I'm told she's being snapped up by a label, management, agents, and anyone with ears, so this one will be fun to watch rise.

ADELE

London's ADELE seems to be on many people's 'One's to watch' list for 2008. The only thing that may hurt is the fact that AMY WINEHOUSE got out of the bag first as many inside the industry were pushing for the next RONNETTES, with a Spector "Wall Of Sound". Her voice has that MACY GRAY scratchiness to it, but it seems to have some real depth to it for such a young gal. Check out 'Chasing Pavement' which is set to drop on January 21st. Then listen to 'Hometown Glory" and you'll be ready to find this at your favorite Starbucks counter and will be willing to drop the bills needed for her CD, and pick up those little breakfast English muffin sandwiches they have their now.

DUFFY

The one that seems to be getting the most UK attention right now is DUFFY. She's not hard on the eyes at all and has this DUSTY SPRINGFIELD spunk to her but has more of a '60's girl group feel to it. Her single 'Rockferry' is a runaway train over there, and I'm sure will catch fire here if we can wise up. 'Rockferry' has that feel of an instant classic. Anyone that says that talent is amongst us at this time in music must have their heads pretty far up the asses of bands like SEETHER and BOYS LIKE GIRLS or THE PLAIN WHITE T'S. With bands this bad owning modern rock it's no wonder some have had to dial back the sound to a time when a hit was a hit and our heroes had personality and style.

THE POSTELLES

New York City's THE POSTELLES are what you get when you mix FRANKI VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS with THE STROKES. Their self-titled EP that is about to drop on Retone Records, is six of the most enjoyable and head-bobbin' tunes I've heard in some time. I got caught doing 'the jerk' in public with my headphones on with "White Night' playing walking in my neighborhood. Get ready for them on Future Sounds 31, which is almost done. This band I cannot wait to see live. Watch this space for info around their live shows, because I'm hooked.