3. First Aid Kit
Website:http://thisisfirstaidkit.com/ Are you fed up with your LMFAOs and your David Guettas constantly on repeat every radio station you listen to? Well here's the perfect remedy to generic-ness in the form of that age old tradition of family musicians. Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara are claiming pure folksy Americana for themselves and letting everyone know about it. Originally spotted when they covered Fleet Foxes' Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, First Aid Kit were born and if you know Fleet Foxes then you're not far off this duo's sound. Klara plays guitar, Johanna plays Keyboard and both, most importantly, sing beautifully. You've got two albums worth here - 2010's The Big Black & The Blue and this year's The Lion's Roar. It doesn't particularly matter which you start off with as both have recieved overwhelming critical response. On The Big Black & Blue we have Sailor Song - a sparse acoustic jaunt around the campfire, Ghost Town - a nightime keyboard fest with gospel leanings full of sentiment and A Window Opens which has some similarities to Laura Marling's earliest output eg. Night Terror off Alas, I Cannot Swim. Over on The Lion's Roar there be Emmylou - a country ode which puts most Americana artists to shame, To a Poet - a haunting ballad with melodies Abba would be proud of (and I don't say that just because they're both Swedish) and the title track, an epic that fits right in with other artists of now such as The Civil Wars. Already huge in Sweden, a country which has some extraordinary female talent, this duo could be just a big in the album market over here. http://youtu.be/PC57z-oDPLs