Albums Of The Year - Number 9

LOCAL NATIVES - GORILLA MANOR

I had heard the name Local Natives ever since there was some buzz following them from this Aprils SXSW. There wasn't much material on the internet however, so apart from the 'Sun Hands EP', I had to wait till the album, 'Gorilla Manor' came out this autumn. It was definitely worth the wait. Most reviews of the album will at some point mention a comparison to Fleet Foxes. Whilst I do think they have similarities, and that no band can really touch Fleet Foxes at what they do at the moment, Local Natives have many strengths on their own.

The LA quintet have the open-throat harmonies and air of wide-eyed wonderment, but they also have a more up-tempo, celebratory element to their indie-folk. Songs such as 'Camera Talk' and 'Sun Hands' would enthral anyone, and I dare anybody to listen to just one song and not want to listen to the whole album. An unexpected joy.

10 ACTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2010

They'll be shitloads of these lists in the next few months so I thought I'd jump in with one:

Ellie Goulding - http://www.myspace.com/elliegoulding Not so much of a choice, as an automatic.

Local Natives - http://www.myspace.com/localnatives Debut album out already and it's great, you really should have it. They'll do well in the Fleet Foxes market.

Delphic - http://www.myspace.com/delphic Album out in January. Expect the Manchester electronic-indie three-piece to get quite popular.

Marina & the Diamonds - http://www.myspace.com/marinaandthediamonds Plain pop music that will be big.

Hurts - http://www.myspace.com/ithurts Not my thing, but tipped for a massive label push.

Drake - http://www.myspace.com/thisisdrake Rapper already huge in America.

Esben & the Witch - http://www.myspace.com/esbenandthewitch Scary stuff, a bit like Portishead.

Stornoway - http://www.myspace.com/stornoway Already been on Jools Holland. Folk & harmonies.

Tinie Tempah - http://www.myspace.com/tinielegend UK hip-hop.

Bicycle Thieves - http://www.myspace.com/bicyclethievesuk Dark indie.

SOME SMALLER ACTS TO LOOK OUT FOR;

Broken Spindles, Freelance Whales, Real Estate, Darwin Deez, Surfer Blood, Goldheart Assembly, Everyhting Everything, Dum Dum Girls, Music Go Music, Free Energy, Band Of Skulls, I Blame Coco, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Detatchments, Chew Lips, The Cheek, Dutch Uncles, Lost Knives, Two Door Cinema Club.