Song: Happy New Year
Artist: Jamie Hartman, England
Album: Not available, 2011
Notes: Kicking off Lost and Found's "Best of 2011" show, a straight ahead new pop-rock winner with a terrific anthemic chorus, just released in the UK only. Jamie normally records under his band name, Ben's Brother. Currently recording in Los Angeles with Fray producer, Warren Huart, he's written several songs for other artists including Joss Stone, Jason Mraz and Natalie Imbruglia.
Song: Set Fire To The Rain
Artist: Adele, England
Album: 21, 2011
Notes: First played in the US on L&F nearly a year ago, the most complete production of any song on the best-selling album of 2011. A might pop-soul belter.
Song: Silverfawn
Artist: Electric Owls, Ashville, SC
Album: Cullowhee Songs EP, 2011
Notes: Maybe the finest lost Americana recording of the year. Electric Owls is the project of singer-songwriter Andy Herod who's signed to the excellent Vagrant Records label. More at www.electricowls.com.
Song: Annie You Save Me
Artist: Graffiti6, England
Album: Colours, 2011
Notes: Another L&F first, the best track on the debut album from British electronica/pop/rock duo, Tommy D and Jamie Scott - who have previously worked behind the scenes with the likes of Alicia Keys, Jay Z and KT Tunstall.
Song: Single Girls
Artist: Laura Jansen, Holland
Album: Bells, 2011
Notes: A terrific plaintive ballad from Dutch-American newcomer based for some years now in Los Angeles. Top album also features her superb low-key treatment of Kings of Leon's 'Use Somebody'.
Song: Feels Like Love
Artist: Max & Simon, New York/Los Angeles
Album: Not available, 2011
Notes: Bubbly winner from an act which is neither a duo - nor are members named Max or Simon: they're a trio of Blake Healy, Kevin Bard and Mark Rosas who describe their mission to 'make the world a better place one sunny day at a time'.
Song: Let The Light In
Artist: Bob Schneider, Austin, TX
Album: A Perfect Day, 2011
Notes: The best song from his 2011 album, why wasn't this a hit record - such a strong melody and smart lyrics. Bob's now won more than 20 Austin Music Awards over the years.
Song: I’ll Miss You
Artist: Meiko, Roberta, GA
Album: Not available, 2011
Notes: Enchanting number from a sorely underrated singer-songwriter now based in Los Angeles. Hopefully this lovely cut will appear on her much-anticipated sophomore album.
Song: Give Me Something (acoustic)
Artist: Scars on 45, England
Album: Not available, 2011
Notes: Rare unplugged version of one of two hits the British group scored in the US over the past year. Terrific combo which is more popular in American than in their home country, led by former professional soccer player, Danny Bemrose.
Song: Two Shots
Artist: Elle King, Brooklyn, NY
Album: Not available, 2011
Notes: An absolute corker by a new name, she should become a huge star in 2012 - so much soul and grit in her performances. Recently snapped up by a major label and working on her maiden album - more at myspace.com/ellekingmusic.
Song: Seventeen
Artist: Mat Kearney, Eugene, Oregon
Album: Young Love, 2011
Notes: The sweet bonus track on Mat's otherwise mostly uptempo 2011 album. Why does he only have one "t" in his first name? - when he was born the hospital nurse left the second 't' off the paperwork and so he was named Mathew with a solitary 't' thereafter.
Song: Hold Me Now
Artist: Daniel Lee Kendall, Australia
Album: Talk The Night Away EP, 2011
Notes: Debut single by a promising new singer-songwriter from down under. A shy, softly spoken chap who records most of his indie-folk pop material at home in New South Wales.
Song: What I’ve Become
Artist: Edith Backlund, Sweden
Album: Kill The Clown (Act One), 2011
Notes: Terrific ballad about the view from the edge of personal obsession from fine Swedish songstress. Hurry to her website, www.edithbacklund.se for a free download of this fantastic recording.
Song: Love Shines
Artist: Ron Sexsmith, Canada
Album: Long Player, Late Bloomer, 2011
Notes: Top drawer tunesmith who's been knocking it out of the park over 11 albums since 1991 - much loved by fellow musicians including McCartney and Chris Martin - but hasn't had the success he deserves.
Song: Saturday Morning
Artist: Rachel Yamagata, Arlington, VA
Album: Chesapeake, 2011
Notes: Breezy, light, note perfect music ruminating on a loving relationship on a Saturday morning. A highlight from Lost and Found's Album of the Year - at least six simply outstanding cuts.
Song: Save My Heart
Artist: Jason Reeves, Los Angeles
Album: The Lovesick, 2011
Notes: Splendid pop-rock from one of the best singer-songwriters out there. In addition to this album, Reeves also released a brilliant EP last year as well, 'Caged Birds Set Free'.
Song: Hold Onto Hope Love
Artist: Amy Stroup, Boston
Album: The Other Side of Love Sessions, 2011
Notes: Stunning update of a song Amy originally released a couple of years ago. Check out the rather lovely video that accompanies that song now streaming on YouTube. Now based, of course, in Nashville.
Song: Let Me Go
Artist: Maverick Sabre, England
Album: Maverick Sabre, 2012
Notes: Explosive electro-pop soul, a fabulous aggregation of sonic ideas, mixing R&B, folk, electronica, vintage soul. Performance name of London-based musician, Michael Stafford, just 21 could be a major new talent. Debut album will be released in February.
Song: Baby Tomorrow
Artist: Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Nashville
Album: Chasing Someday, 2011
Notes: So good, lots of mellifluous banjos and guitars, huge melodies and harmonies, great execution, virtually unknown. His wife Ellie is in his backing band along with three 'neighbors'. More at www.drewholcomb.com.
Song: Was It Really All That Bad
Artist: Lex Land, Los Angeles
Album: Were My Sweetheart To Go, 2011
Notes: Too good for prime time: real, earthy, everyday lyrics, understated musical magic from underrated, quirky 20-year old songstress. More on her at www.lexland.net.
Song: Old Pine
Artist: Ben Howard, England
Album: Every Kingdom, 2011
Notes: The lead-off track from the most authentic, organic nu-folk album of the past 365 days. Top-notch new music from 23-year old British tunesmith who should be big in 2012. Second best CD of 2011.
Song: Lost and Found
Artist: Katie Herzig, Fort Collins, CO
Album: The Waking Sleep, 2011
Notes: Lost and Found's top lost gem of 2011 - and not just because of the title. radio should have just jumped all over this immensely appealing grower from the indie-folk songstress who made a stunning return in 2011. A home run.
Song: Nothing But The Whole Wide World
Artist: Glen Campbell, Delight, AK
Album: Ghost On The Canvas, 2011
Notes: Perhaps the strongest cut from his remarkable swansong album, incredible voice-perfect number written by Jakob Dylan. 75-year old music veteran also undertook SRO concert dates on both sides of the Atlantic as a fitting farewell following a recent diagnosis with Alzheimer's.
Song: Lippy Kids
Artist: Elbow, England
Album: Build a Rocket Boys!, 2011
Notes: Uncompromisingly original alt-rock sound, hallmarked not least by the distinctive lead vocal by Guy Harvey from British quintet which really deserves more success in the US. Album also features a 55-strong youth choir.
Song: Someone To Someone
Artist: Ross Copperman, Virginia
Album: Someone To Someone (digital single), 2011
Notes: Maybe the best straight ahead, no-nonsense pop-rock ballad of the year from still under-appreciated singer-songwriter/pianist who began playing piano at the age of three. Track now available as a download thanks to exposure on 'Lost and Found'.
Song: I Won’t Let You Go
Artist: James Morrison, England
Album: The Awakening, 2011
Notes: Why isn't this song bleeding out of every speaker in every supermarket and mall in the country - assured blue-eyed soul from top performer still searching for first major Stateside hit. Looks like Chris Martin, sings like Sam Cooke.
Song: Video Games
Artist: Lana Del Rey, New York
Album: Video Games (digital single), 2011
Notes: Highly inventive, fresh new sound with a balladic bent and cool spoken-word sample midway through the song. Maiden release from striking-looking newcomer, could be huge if radio gets behind her artistry.
Song: Vintage Red
Artist: Jay Jay Pistolet, England
Album: Not available, 2011
Notes: Delightfully wacky vintage styled song from artist who describes his unique sound as "tropical'. Jay re-emerged last year on the Mumford & Sons Communion label - and used to live with Mumford lads, Winston and Marcus in same London house.
Song: Kicking Stone
Artist: Kate York, Nashville
Album: Fly Away, 2011
Notes: Such a pure unaffected vocal style like a mountain stream. Tender, superb, one of the best lost diamond ballads from the past 12 months. Yet another sterling non-country performer who makes her home in Nashville.
Song: Modern Love
Artist: Matt Nathanson, San Francisco
Album: Modern Love, 2011
Notes: Top tunesmith with his take on modern love, the title cut from his really strong seventh album. Album features a nice guest turn from country act, Sugarland.
Song: You Won’t Let Me
Artist: Rachel Yamagata, Arlington, VA
Album: Chesapeake, 2011
Notes: The finest ballad from 'Lost and Found's Album of the Year and the only artist with two cuts in our top 40 lost gems of 2011.
Song: Carry My Body Down
Artist: Nick 13, Berkeley, CA
Album: Nick 13, 2011
Notes: Lovely rolling Americana number, easy-flowing nugget from Kearney Nick Jones, aka Nick 13 - who's also the frontman of psychobilly combo, Tiger Army.
Song: I’ll Carry You
Artist: Left, Canada
Album: Cellophane EP, 2011
Notes: Melodic pop-rock, an absolute corker from north of the border by a quintet of brothers and cousins who all grew up in Langley, BC. New album due in February: more at www.theleft.ca.
Song: The A Team
Artist: Ed Sheeran, England
Album: Plus, 2011
Notes: The best selection from a stunning debut album by new 20-year old English folk singer-songwriter who made his US radio debut on 'Lost and Found'. Exceptional tale about the sad plight of a young street girl addicted to hard drugs - a superb paean to the wasteland of street drug culture.
Song: The Living Proof
Artist: Mary J. Blige, Bronx, NY
Album: The Help Original Soundtrack, 2011
Notes: Exquisite R&B/pop ballad that's a cut above the song theme to the surprise hit summer movie. Great execution by Blige and a stunning orchestral arrangement by the best film composer around today, Thomas Newman. If it doesn't win the Oscar for Best Film Song a great injustice will be done.
Song: Even The Rain
Artist: Gabe Dixon feat. Alison Krauss, Nashville
Album: One Spark, 2011
Notes: One of the most overlooked piano-playing tunesmith of the past ten years, writing and recording songs as good as Billy Joel at his best. Delightful upright piano-leading ditty, featuring bluegrass queen, Krauss.
Song: Us Against The World
Artist: Coldplay, England
Album: Xylo Myloto, 2011
Notes: Chris Martin and his chums on top cliched form with yet another bedsitter winner from their recent album. Band spent New Year's Eve performing at the Volvo Ocean Race Destination Village in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Song: I Surrender
Artist: Clare Maguire, England
Album: Light After Dark, 2011
Notes: A+ pop/soul outing by Clare, produced and co-written by Fraser T. Smith - the clever chap behind some of the tracks on the '21' album by Adele. Shades of Annie Lennox, how did this slip through the cracks?
Song: Come Back Down
Artist: J. Viewz, Brooklyn, NY
Album: Rivers and Homes, 2011
Notes: Delicious rolling electronic/acoustic meld from Jonathan Dagan aka J. Viewz. Originally buried on his 'Work In Progress' a project whereby he released each new song on the internet as soon as it was ready, then rounded them all up for a proper album. More at www.jviewz.com.
Song: The Master of Our Discussion
Artist: Boom Bip feat. Nina Nastasia, Los Angeles
Album: The Master of Our Discussion (digital single) 2011
Notes: Mystical, subtle outing from former radio DJ, Bryan Hilton (aka Boom Bip) who normally records instrumental music, graced with lovely vocal from Nina. Hilton runs his own label, www.lexrecords.com.
Song: Babyface
Artist: Elected, San Diego
Album: Bury Me In My Rings, 2011
Notes: The Elected is band name of Rilo Kiley guitarist, Blake Sennett. Debut album is a complete winner, and completely flew under the radar, more than six excellent tracks.
Song: New Year’s Eve
Artist: Tom Waits, Pomona, CA
Album: Bad As Me, 2011
Notes: A fitting end to L&F's Best of 2011 from the most original artist of them all, the great Mr. Tom. Auld Lang Syne indeed.
