Passion Pit

Best NEW ACT in BOSTON

The current state of Boston music could be compared to Boston baseball: both the local scene and the Red Sox boast an enviable combination of dependable veterans and exciting young talent. I’m getting worked up just reading the list of the bands that topped this year’s new act category. The tuneful, brutal Pretty & Nice came out of nowhere (Vermont, actually) late last year and are already signed to the new Sub Pop imprint Hardly Art. Tulsa, led by clarion-voiced Baltimore transplant Carter Tanton, have gotten kudos everywhere from Rolling Stone oldie David Fricke to the snot-noses at Pitchfork. Tulsa cohort Drug Rug sent local crowds into a tizzy with their sunny but intense guy-girl retro rock from their first publicly played notes and then took the show on the road, winning fans in high places along the way. And winners Passion Pit, the sexy five-piece soulchild of songwriter Michael Angelakos, might just be the funkiest local group since the Jonzun Crew. PP only have a handful of shows under their belt, but as their BMP win suggests, people are psyched about this band. And for good reason: if you haven’t been experienced yet, turn up them computer speakers, point your browser to their MySpace page, click on “Better Things,” and your ass will follow.

— Will Spitz

LISTEN: Passion Pit, "Sleepy Head" (mp3)

Runners-up
1. Drug Rug
2. Tulsa
3. Pretty & Nice