12 Area Standouts to Watch for in ’92

T he top 1991 freshmen of Southern California come from all over the musical map--from rap to country to Beatle-pop to grunge-rock. Here’s a look at the 12 new area acts who’ve made the biggest splash this year.

Vinnie James: Sure, he called his debut album “All American Boy,” but don’t let that fool you. This singer-songwriter and his Graham Parker-ish music are about as traditional as sushi at a baseball game. In songs that tackle such subjects as drugs, war and the plight of the American Indian, the Orange County denizen turns protest music on its head and gives it a kick in the pants.

School of Fish: These foot soldiers in the Beatle brigade had played the Los Angeles club circuit for only a few months before landing two big fish: a spot on the soundtrack of the film “Reversal of Fortune” and a major-label contract with Capitol, in that order. In “3 Strange Days,” radio found a swirling, psychedelic hit that would have done Sgt. Pepper proud.