Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Jake Bugg

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JAKE BUGG
What Doesn't Kill You
From: Shangri La
Released: November 19

After a shockingly good debut that called to mind old standards like Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie, Jake Bugg ups the ante on album number two, broadening his sonic palette and packing more sound into the songs (perhaps a byproduct of Rick Rubin's production). There's nothing on the album that sticks out quite like lead single What Doesn't Kill You, with a rapid fire vocal and rock swagger that's more early Arctic Monkeys than early Bob Dylan. Jake Bugg had already turned a lot of heads in the industry, and with his sophomore record he's establishing himself as one of our most intriguing songwriters. Not bad for a guy still in the twilight of his teens.

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