The Class of 2008

Kate Nash, the Whigs, Vampire Weekend and more

By Kurt B. Reighley
Special to MSN Music

Predicting the success or failure of emerging artists gets trickier all the time: Web sites generate a ceaseless stream of 21st-century one-hit wonders, labels sign baby bands that have barely performed live, and reality TV shows crank out a new crop of potential stars every season (with surprisingly modest returns thus far). So how did we pick which rising talents to bet on in '08? Simple  -- by looking at old-fashioned commodities, such as talent, experience, industry connections ... and, yes, a little bit of hype.

Lady Antebellum
This Music City trio boasts an impressive vocal blend, contrasting the rough-hewn tenor of Charles Kelley (younger sibling of pop artist Josh Kelley) with the seductive alto of Hillary Scott (whose mom, Linda Davis, is a Grammy award-winning artist), plus occasional support from multi-instrumentalist Dave Haywood. Their rambling "Love Don't Live Here" is already a sleeper hit on country radio, with a full-length release due this spring. Meanwhile, catch them on the road with Martina McBride.

Estelle
British R&B and soul acts have always been a tough sell in the States, but Estelle arrives with an impressive pedigree. She was the first artist John Legend recruited for his HomeSchool imprint, and her fresh debut, "Shine" (due in March), includes cameos by Cee-Lo, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West and will.i.am, as well as Legend. And her flexible, idiosyncratic pipes, reminiscent of the classic voices of Motown, contrasts nicely with the cutting-edge production.

Airbourne
WWE buffs are already hip to these Australian hard rockers; their taut, driving "Stand up for Rock 'N' Roll" is the Royal Rumble 2008 theme song. The quartet's U.S. debut "Runnin' Wild" (out Jan. 29) was produced by vets Bob Marlette (Black Sabbath, Quiet Riot) and engineered by Andy Wallace (Guns N' Roses, Nirvana), and their fist-pumping classic rock, with its echoes of vintage AC/DC, has already garnered gigs supporting the Rolling Stones and Mötley Crüe.

Yoav
Born in Israel, raised in South Africa, schooled by New York and currently based in London, this singer-songwriter coaxes myriad sounds from just his voice and an acoustic guitar: hazy vapor trails; clipped, modern club beats; Middle Eastern flourishes. Admirers of Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley should be impressed with his curious whispers and wails. Already introduced to U.S. audiences via a 2007 tour with Tori Amos, his album, "Charmed & Strange" arrived Jan. 29.

Kid Sister
Her brother is one half of hipster hip-hop faves Flosstrodamus (hence her moniker), and her beau is DJ A-Trak, but this blond, Windy City MC isn't riding on the boys' coattails. Her breakout single, "Pro Nails," was an underground club banger, aided by a hilarious video by Ruben Fleischer (M.I.A., Dizzee Rascal) and a cameo by Kanye West. Look for the follow-up full-length release, "Koko B. Gone" (named for the wrestler) in the first half of '08.

Vampire Weekend
African guitar grooves, reggaeton, indie rock, Western classical music ... all genres that might add up to a great mix CD. But blending all those sounds in one band? Four students from Columbia University did it, and within 18 months went from a campus practice space to selling out New York's Bowery Ballroom. Lauded by the New York Times and Rolling Stone and blogged to the heavens, Vampire Weekend live up to all the buzz on their effervescent, eponymous debut (Jan. 29).

Hayes Carll
This Houston troubadour made his 2005 sophomore set "Little Rock" the first self-released album to hit No. 1 on the Americana Music Chart, partially through relentless touring, but primarily via the raw appeal of his bittersweet, down-home ditties, reminiscent of Robert Earl Keen and Guy Clark.

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