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" IN THE WORLD of music, a handful of tastemakers can make or break a musician&amp;#039;s career. The most artistically savvy of them all is Nic Harcourt, music director at legendary radio station KCRW in Los Angeles. His show, Morning Becomes Eclectic, is pound for pound the best three hours of radio in America, and when Harcourt spins a song on KCRW, other stations follow. He wields his power with a sharp ear: Over his fifteen-year career, he has given radio play to then-unknowns such as Norah Jones, Coldplay, Garbage, and Moby. Here, Harcourt picks five artists to listen for in the years to come. Stellastarr*: &amp;quot;If you combine the Gang of Four, the Pixies, the Velvet Underground, Smashing Pumpkins, and Talking Heads, you&amp;#039;ll get a savory taste of this post-punk/glam band. I love the raucous single &amp;#039;In the Walls.&amp;#039; &amp;quot; Suggested album: Stellastarr*, in stores now. Damien Rice: &amp;quot;He&amp;#039;s an Irishman with a knack for emotional folk rock. Some people compare him to Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake.&amp;quot; Suggested album: O, in stores now. Kinky: &amp;quot;These Mexicans are part of a new wave of Latin-alternative music. They mix rock, traditional Latin rhythms, and electronics into something wholly original. Their live shows are incendiary.&amp;quot; Suggested album: Atlas, in stores now. Jem: &amp;quot;As soon as I heard the demo from this Welsh songstress, I put her on our playlist. The beautiful &amp;#039;Finally Woken&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;Flying High&amp;#039; have graced our airwaves. She has an enchanting voice.&amp;quot; Suggested album: It All Starts Here, in stores now. Ima Robot: &amp;quot;Ima Robot&amp;#039;s music lies somewhere between today, yesterday, and next week. You&amp;#039;ll either hate this band or sell your belongings to follow it around the globe.&amp;quot; Suggested album: Ima Robot, in stores now. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a2675/esq1203-dec-harcourt/>