Good old auntie (the BBC for those not from the UK) have released their top ten list of bands and artists to watch in 2007. This is my take on their pickings:

10. The Rumble Strips [MySpace]
It is about time these guys get huge! I first saw their promo video for Motorcycle at the end of last year and fell in love with their sax and trumpets from then. They right simple and fun pop songs with a brass section which puts them a step above the rest.
[Download] The Rumble Strips – Motorcycle
[Stream] Head over to The Rumble Strips MySpace to stream the danceable Alarm Clock

9. Ghosts
They write really catchy soft indie that could put them in the same category as Voxtrot but a bit less twee and from the UK ;) I only first heard these guys about a month ago when someone sent me a link to their myspace. Their EP on iTunes is damn good for a debut and the album comes out on May 28th which I’m looking forward to. I don’t have any mp3s kicking about of them though which is a shame (but Headphone Sex has just put an mp3 up – yay!)
[Stream] Go to Ghosts MySpace to stream the very catchy Stay The Night

8. Just Jack [MySpace]
There is something about UK rap which has never really appealed much to me, but I wouldn’t class this as rap, but more a good DJ with urban stories and a few songs on a similar ground to Jamie T in some ways. Think laid back grooves, good beats and an album out at the end of January that is a big step up from his debut.
[Download] Just Jack – Writers Block
[Stream] Go to his MySpace to stream the new single Starz in their Eyes

7. Cold War Kids [MySpace]
Cold War Kids have been big news in the blogosphere for the last year, and their inclusion on this list hopefully means that they might get some airplay and recognition. They have been the best US indie import of the year in my opinion with their beautiful blues and country influences.
[Download] Cold War Kids – Hospital Beds
[Stream] Their MySpace has the more rocky Hang Me Up To Dry

6. Air Traffic
Air Traffic write some fantastically catchy and happy indie tunes. I first heard of them over at GWFA and have remained abig fan with evrything new I have heard coming out of their corner.
[Download] Air Traffic – Shooting Star
[Stream] Go to their MySpace to stream the piano based catchiness which is Never Even Told Me Her Name

5. Enter Shikari
I have to say I’m not a big fan of Enter Shikari with my opinion of their music being hard rock + trance = shit

5. Alex Sheppard
I’ve replaced Enter Shikari with a great up and coming singer/songwriter by the name of Alex Sheppard. Hailing from Norwich think strumming guitars, singable choruses and humourus lyrics.
[Download] Alex Sheppard – Run
[Stream] Go to Alex’s MySpace for the amusing STI Song

4. Sadie Ama
She might be a young up and coming R&B artist from the UK, but I don’t hear anything new with her at all, so if you think Beyonce/Mariah Carey will be big in 2007 then Ama is for you.

4. The Wombats [MySpace]
Instead I’ve added a band which put their album out at the end of 2006 to little to no fanfare. They deserved to be picked up by the radio and the public this year for being a mix between Bloc Party and Dirty Pretty Things – an interesting combination but one I think they pull off with ease.
[Download] The Wombats – Backfire @ The Disco
[Stream] Head to their MySpace for the foot-tapping Moving To New York

3. Klaxons [MySpace]
Yup these guys are rising to greatness. Dance, punk and elctro-pop being taken for their best bits and stuck in the melting pot, making these guys an exciting prospect for the coming year.
[Download] Klaxons – Totem
[Stream] Their MySpace has the party starter Magick

2. The Twang
These guys aren’t bad, but don’t offer anything new to my ears, and I hear Happy Mondays and U2 influences which isn’t a good sign.

2. The View [MySpace]
Much more interesting from my point of view is The View. Think of a mix between The Kooks and The Fratellis which have both been big bands of 2006 demonstrating the popularity of this stuff with the public (and me admittedly). They have got a lot of catchy, rocky tunes on the album so I imagine it doing very well indeed.
[Download] The View – Dance Into The Night
[Stream] Hit their MySpace for some great tracks including Wasted Little DJs and Same Jeans

1. Mika [MySpace]
Yup, I think the BBC have hit the nail on the head here. Writing songs so bloody catchy you can’t get them out of your head for days and an amusing extroverted personality to match means only good things for Mika. Think Scissor Sisters with more talent.
[Download] Mika – Relax
[Stream] His MySpace has the insanely catchy sing-a-long that is Grace Kelly

There are plenty of other great bands and artists coming your way in 2007, but these are the ones I think will actually make headway into the mainstream charts (I think Jamie T will too, but I’ve already blogged him enough recently). We shall see…

As per usual I have put them all in a zip file for ya:
Sound of 2007

-Tim