The bazmusical taste ushering in the new year

SO I recently picked up a copy of the Toronto Star and paid careful attention to the artists mentioned in the something-something section about hit-list music or some shit like that. I was labouring in the fervent hope of giving myself the thrill of discovering a new artist and really set my mood jetting that way it did when Leonard Cohen and Cat Stevens showed up on my radar about ten years ago.

WELL it's not been as special as those young days in Denmark but some artists I am really taking to are James Blunt, Nicole Atkins and Paolo Nutini. 

Listening to Maybe Tonight by N.A. I am reminded of Blondie and some of her other songs remind me of Joan Baez (the little I've heard of that artist). For some reason Neptune City reminds me of a Velvet Underground song with a singer with a better range than Nico and doesn't have a shitty/amazing accent. The song is a phil-spector style wall of sound production me thinks.

James Blunt, I don't know- doesn't sound anything like I've heard. Well 'Billy' sounds like Wonder by Natalie Merchant. His lyrics are good- he plays with the sounds of words as they are read (which makes for musical verse even before it is sung to music). Good stuff- pliant singing that flirts dangerously with the precipice above brit boy-band pop but thankfully doesn't fall in.

Paolo Nutini- last but not least,  sounds like Cat Stevens with a little more party boy and a little more testosterone (let's say 80% Cat with a 20% George Michael 'faith' sound) . 'New Shoes' is fucking amazing. I could listen to it on infinite repeat (well for a few hours maybe.)