Music Mo'nday: 5 Favorite New Artists of 2011

In a year full of meh comebacks, Lady Gaga, Radiohead, Panda Bear and so on, 2011 gave the new kids a chance to shine. And shine they did. In the spirit of new beginnings I present you my favorite five new musical acts of the 2011. I can't wait to hear 2012.

Dirty Beaches
There is hidden door, behind the red velvet curtains of the Black Lodge, that leads to a path to a needle-strewn beach. It is there you will find Canadian Alex Zhang Hungtai warping Suicide, Elvis, Angelo Badalamenti, and Tarantino soundtracks into eerie, strangely sexy cinematic ditties. If you don't watch out this no wave Roy Orbison will steal your heart, girl and motorcycle.

Lana Del Rey
Indie boys are drooling over overnight web sensation Lana Del Rey. She's a "gangsta Nancy Sinatra," down to ride, get high, and watch you play video games all night, and that husky, sexy singing voice! Even a 'mo like me thinks that's a a pretty sweet deal. Let her sly neo-noir take you away with the dubstep-y new single "Born to Die."

James Blake
When your done waving those glow sticks, check the pretty cool sounds coming from the chill-out room. It is the warm, post-dubstep stylings of London's James Blake. Much like The XX Blake manipulates silence and synths into richly ambient R&B ear candy. There is no limit to my love.

Factory Floor
It's hard to pin down if they qualify as a new artist this year but this London trio have taken their music to a new level this year with their pulsing, "REALLOVE" and "Two Different Ways" singles. Their druggy mix of dance and krautrock will either give you dance fever or seizures but is well worth the risk.

Balam Acab
Gorgeously sad hip-hop is a rare thing. Luckily we have Alec Koone, producer extraordinaire, chopping and screwing up your dreams.

Runner ups:
Com Truise
Twin Sister
Nicolas Jaar
Pure X
Charlie XCX

Local Top Faggy Fives

DJ Kelly's Vinyl Fridays Playlist Picks

"Dead Man's Party" Oingo Boingo
"Americans-Soviets" CCCP
"Living After Midnight" Judas Priest
"Hit and Run" Loleatta Holloway
"Unbelievable" EMF

Glitoris Playlist Picks

"Genesis" Grimes
"Quiet Place To Live" Lindstrom
"My Valuable Hunting Knife" Planningtorock
"Love Fore Sale" Mickey Feat. Monarchy
"We Will Commit Wolf Murder" Of Montreal