Upcoming Brilliance: Sound of 2009

Forget about BBC's Sound of 2009 (although that'll make for a great read next week), this is where it's all happening. These are the acts you need to hear in 2009. Well, this is what I think anyway... (they're in alphabetical order, so no-one is above another)

Broken Records
Broken Records are a Scottish band that are miles better than Glasvegas, if only because they've a cello, violin, trombone and mandolin. Yet they remain a rock band. Oh and someone has called them the Scottish Arcade Fire. Not a bad comparison. Glorious. I cannot wait for their debut album, as new single 'Lies' and 'If The News Make You Sad, Don't Watch It' are both tremendous.
New single 'Lies':

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/brokenrecordsedinburgh

Fiction Family
Punch Brothers were the must-hear Nickel Creek offshoot of 2008 led by Chris Thile, but 2009 will be the year of Sean Watkins. His band, formerly known as The Real Sean Jon release their debut record at the end of this month (the 20th) on Dave Matthews' ATO Records. Check out their new single 'When She's Near':

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/fictionfamily

Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine are going to be massive in 2009. You mark my words. Of all the people I list here, no-one else will probably rise so rapidly. It's amazing that you haven't heard of her already. Oh wait you have? And what song? Of course, the excellent 'Kiss With A Fist'

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachinemusic

Mr Hudson
Kanye West's latest protege will be just like Estelle, A-Track and John Legend - massive. This man knows music. Kanye knows more about music than most PR men. And he'll tell you so. Similarily, he'll tell you how brilliance Mr Hudson is. And every time he says something like that about someone other than himself, you just have to stand up and listen.
'Picture of You':

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mrhudson

Mumford and Sons
The best new live act I saw in 2008 wasn't even the full band. It was just band leader Marcus by himself, supporting Laura Marling at Whelan's, and he was fantastic. Forget about Noah and the Whale, this is the future of British pop-folk.
'White Blank Page':
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
80s pop along the line of A Flock of Seagul..well, maybe not them. But the kind of music that used to be on the radio when it was good. They've a horrible name, but they make enchanting music. 'Everything with You':

MySpace: www.myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart

Passion Pit
This band are on every list. And it's no wonder why. They're fantastic. I've talked about them numerous times on this blog, and I'm not about to stop any time soon. Expect them to crop up on a lot of end-of-year lists too. 'Sleepyhead':

MySpace: www.myspace.com/passionpitjams

Jay Jay Pistolet
It's not fair that people born much later than me are succesful. What will be fair, however, is the success of Jay Jay Pistolet. He's been around since 2007 and really should've released an album last year, so hopefully he'll finally do it in 2009. 'We Are Free':

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jayjaypistolet

Also be on the lookout for VV Brown, White Lies, and John Mayer.

Yes, that John Mayer. If he does release an album in 2009 (and I hope to God it does), he'll be huge. The publicity has already been done. He's probably the best young guitarist I've ever seen. His work with John Mayer Trio is impeccable. Just watch this, if you don't believe me: