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Windy City Watch

Which Chicago bands had the most success this year? HEAVE gives the list.

I was flying into Chicago the other night after a recent trip to New York City. I was watching my in flight television programming (thanks a lot JetBlue), and I could not tear myself away from the plethora of "best of 2007" shows that are on TV during December. It happens every year, being a huge pop culture nerd and a huge fan of list - I can't help but love these shows. As I counted down the past year highlights with VH1, I started to think about the highlights in my own hometown; specifically music. And since all the other writers are doing it, I must follow the pack and throw out my year end list.

So the Windy City Watch presents you "Five best Chicago bands that totally brought it this year."

5. The Fold: This Chicago based pop/punk band wouldn't have made my list a few weeks ago. Hell, I didn't know much about the band besides the fact we have a mutual friend and their music sounds a lot like all the other catchy pop/punk acts out there. But then The Fold were nominated for a Grammy. Granted it's for packaging (check theirs out, it's really cool), but I'm totally smitten with the fact that a band like The Fold were nominated for a Grammy and Fall Out Boy got nothing. For that fact alone, I salute you The Fold.

4. DJ A-Trak: Anything Kanye touches turns to gold. Chicago artists got to stick together, and such is the case with DJ A-Trak, who has been Kanye's DJ for years now; but also has helped along the careers of other Chicago acts such as Flosstradamus and Kid Sister. This year A-Trak blew up in a big way while starting his own record label and putting out one of the best remixes of the year for Kanye's "Stronger." Just try putting on that track and not moving. Totally impossible.

3. Lupe Fiasco: Good old Lupe really hit it big this past year since releasing his debut album last fall. He played all over the world (and a billion times in Chicago), had "Kick Push" blasting from televisions and radios across the nation and even got a few Grammy nods. Not to shabby for a skater kid from Chi-town.

2. Kid Sister: Another artist benefiting from the Midas touch of Kanye. Kid Sister has been all over the world proclaiming the importance of fake nails for all that will hear. With heavy beats and tight rhymes, Kid Sister has proven herself a force to be reckoned with in the coming year, and has just released a video (with Kanye in it of course) putting her in the position to really show the world what she has to offer in the next year.

1. Cool Kids: The Cool Kids started this year as a buzz band, and are ending it as the next big thing. The band went from playing all over Chicago to making an appearance at SXSW. Now they can be seen every five minutes on Rhapsody commercials and have played pivotal roles in backing Barack Obama. The band continues to rise, being touted as a band to watch by both Rolling Stone and SPIN magazine.

Posted by Lisa White on Dec 18, 2007 @ 12:00 am