Every year, Seattle exports some of the best music in the world and 2011 was no exception. As well, this city produces music that crosses over to every style of music imaginable. The following artists span the music genres of folk, rock, hip hop, electronic, and soul.
The Best Local Artists of 2011
1. Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean
Helplessness Blues, the long anticipated follow up to Fleet Foxes’ breakthrough self-titled debut, lived up to all expectations and cemented front man Robin Pecknold as one of the best singer/songwriters to come out of Seattle to date.
2. The Head and the Heart - Lost in my Mind
One of the many acts playing folk-rock in Seattle, The Head and the Heart truly broke out this year by way of major touring, record sales, and national television appearances. This band has a very bright future ahead of them; they consist of extremely talented musicians and continue to create some of the prettiest songs being recorded not just in our local music scene, but internationally.
3. Macklemore - My Oh My
Hip Hop continues to grow and thrive in the Pacific Northwest and Macklemore is at that top of that list. His tribute to the long time voice of the Mariners, the beloved Dave Neihaus, makes all of us nostalgic for the glory days of both the M’s and of our own experiences playing little league baseball.
Honorary mention:
4. Blue Sky Black Death -Our Hearts of Ruin
This duo created one of the most gorgeous albums of the year. “Noir” mixed an epic, emotional and cinematic soundscape that brought together rock, shoegaze, hip hop and electronica.
5. Pickwick - Hacienda Motel
Pickwick are one of the many artists bringing soul to the Pacific Northwest, but this band does their own thing, by bringing an amazing new voice and an uplifting live show. Pickwick are not only a strong local artist for 2011, but I’d go so far as to say they’ll be one of the biggest up and coming Seattle acts for 2012.
