Martes 11 Nov 2008, 12:47
Yeah shoot me for the cheesy journal title. I thought it completely necessary . This will probably be a long one, so brace yourselves.
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
10) Past Lives - Strange Symmetry EP
I love The Blood Brothers and their split came at a bad time as i never got to see them live. Jaguar Love's early demos were okay, if a little irritating, but the album just did nothing for me. But this early release from the other band born from the split shows an awful lot of promise for the future. More chilled out that The Blood Brothers you can see the progression they have made, considering it is 3/5 of the band plus the original guitarist. One to watch.
9) of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
No it is not better than Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, but it is most definitely worth your time, most of the album stems from two tracks on last years masterpiece, Faberge Falls For Shuggie and Labyrinthian Pomp, with overtly sexual lyrics and plenty of falsetto. I managed to get my entire house singing For Our Elegant Caste within one listen of the track, and Gallery Piece is absolutely awesome. You have to be in the right mood to listen to the entire thing though as it is so fragmented its sometimes draining, but in short bursts the album is great.
8) ¡Forward, Russia! - Life Processes
¡Forward, Russia!'s debut album is one of the best albums of 2005, but this follow up is just as good if not better in some respects, the band move so much further than anyone expected on this album with the anger in Tom's voice during We Are Grey Matter and the epic Spanish Triangles at the end of the album. It is a shame that they have gone on indefinite hiatus, and only toured the album once, and then the farewell show. But at least they leave us with this stonker of an album.
7) Los Campesinos! - We are Beautiful, We are Doomed
Los Campesinos! second release (Its not an album apparently, gotta love the pretension of this band) is, despite it coming out not even a year after the first, fantastic. The music remains cheerful but the lyrical content switched from You! Me! Dancing! to throwing up in shoe boxes and realising the world doesn't love you on Miserabilia. Drunkenly phoning your ex girlfriend on It's Never That Easy Though, Is It? (Song For The Other Kurt) and reminding everyone that THERE IS NO FUCKING FUTURE! on We Are Beautiful, We are Doomed. The album in some ways is better than the first, however it has got a few throwaway tracks unlike the debut.
6) TV on the Radio - Dear Science
I do own Return to Cookie Mountain, but i never got into it. I find it a chore to listen to. I was reluctant to pick up Dear Science, thinking that it would fly over my head in much the same way. It did just the opposite, grabbing me from first listen and not letting go. The way he spits out the vocals at the start of Dancing Choose and the pure venom you hear at the end of DLZ, the album is wall to wall tunage. However, the best thing about the album is that no two songs sound the same. Also, DLZ is one of the best songs i have ever heard.
5) Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
I'm sure you have all heard about how it was recorded in a log cabin, in winter, all alone, as it gets mentioned every single time someone talks about the album. For good reason though, as it sounds like an album made in those circumstances. From the very first listen, you know you have a masterpiece in your possession. A beautiful album. Thanks to Mat for introducing me to Mr. Vernon.
4) Foals - Antidotes
When the album was announced without Hummer and Mathletics i was worried that they had gone mad. However it did have the other songs from last years incredible Foals LIVE EP and plenty of other songs that more than compensate the missing tunes. I automatically nod my head to The French Open and instinctively dance like a wanker to Two Steps, Twice, even in the toilet of a pub when it was Terry's ringtone.
3) Johnny Foreigner - Waited Up 'til it was Light
Was competing with Los Campesinos! for a spot on my stereo for most of the year. First heard of the brummie trio when they supported ¡Forward, Russia! in April, and they were better than the headliners. The last time that happened was the first time i ever even heard of Foals, supporting the Young Knives, who absolutely ruined the Young Knives. But anyway, just a fun singalong album that makes my want to jump around every time i listen to it. Also girl/boy vocals again, probably the easiest way to make me like a band.
2) No Age - Nouns
On the first listen of the album, I thought it was okay. On the second i thought the same. In fact I almost gave up on it. I couldn't see what all the fuss was about at all. Then on one listen something just clicked. Not sure what it was, but it all started to make sense. Since then i just cannot get enough of this monster of an album. Opening with the droning Miner the album gives you great song after great song until it ends a mere 30 minutes later. Then you go back to the start and listen to it again. My house mates got sick of me wondering around the house repeating the refrain from Sleeper Hold, mainly because i don't know the words and just keep shouting 'with passion its true'. My love for the album only increased after seeing them live as they are stupidly good live too.
1) Los Campesinos! - Hold on now Youngster
What an album. A pure joy to listen to from start to finish. Duelling boy girl vocals. Hideously annoying vocals. Incessantly cheerful all the way through. Just what i ask for from a band! The shared shout of ONE TWO THREE FOUR on Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats. The counting on My Year In Lists, as my love of ¡Forward, Russia! may tell you, i have a weakness for bands who randomly shout numbers out. The cheesy spoken word part in This Is How You Spell, "HAHAHA, We Destroyed the Hopes and Dreams of a Generation of Faux-Romantics". I feel like i should hate this band, but the more I hear, the more I love it.
Honourable Mentions: Good albums that almost made the top 10
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Why? - Alopecia
Times New Viking - Stay Awake EP
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Islands - Arm's Way
Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
TOP 10 SONGS:
Good songs from over the year
10) British Sea Power - No Lucifer
EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY
The only song from the new album I really like, with an awesome football chant section.
9) Islands - Creeper
Someone was hiding in the dark room of my home
Offensively catchy, makes me want to strut around.
8) Foals - Two Steps, Twice
That's one step two step three step
BIG TUNE.
7) Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Posses Your Heart
I wish you could see the potential
Whilst the new album was mostly pretty boring and inferior to their earlier work, this song is brilliant, the driving bassline leading you along for the first four minutes till the vocals kick in.
6) The Mae Shi - Pwnd
Get 'em outta those bodies, get 'em outta those bodies, get 'em outta those bodies
Irritating as fuck, i love it.
5) No Age - Sleeper Hold
With passion its true.
My favourite song of the album, the pounding opening, the bridge in the middle, great song.
4) TV on the Radio - DLZ
NEVER YOU MIND DEATH PROFESSOR
The ferocity of the end of the song blows my mind every time.
3) Johnny Foreigner - Salt, Peppa and Spinderella
Bring out the real fun. Turn on the real drums.
Best song on the album by far, the build up to the explosion of noise at the end is fantastic.
2) Los Campesinos! - My Year In Lists
Instead of lyrics out of context throw your fingers in the air counting one to five.
My most played song of the year, I actually cannot hear it enough times.
1) Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
A! A! A! A!
An experiment was carried out on me earlier in the year, over the course of a few weeks, this song was played, my reaction to it was noted. I smiled 100% of the time. Pure happiness condensed into 2 minutes.
BEST LIVE SHOW
Just a generic list, not in any order.
Radiohead Manchester
Absolutely immense in Manchester, dancing like a twat to Idioteque being the highlight of the night for sure.
Day at the Races Festival
Seeing two of the best bands this year, Johhny Foreigner and Los Campesinos! on the same day was awesome. Also witnessed the lovely Ólafur Arnalds and was blown away by The Mae Shi and again, danced like an absolute twat to Four Tet.
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster Leeds
A gig to remember. Being thrown onto the stage several times. Screaming into random people's faces. Jumping around like a moron. Absolutely incredible. The band gets better and better each time I see them, and the new guitarist is a MANIAC.
Shred Yr Face Tour - Times New Viking No Age Los Campesinos! Leeds and Manchester
So good the first time, i had to go see it again. Times New Viking were awesome in Leeds and alright in Manchester. But No Age were absolutely incredible. Twice. Los Campesinos! interacted better with the Leeds crowd, but were still ace in Manc. Also… THERE IS NO FUCKING FUTURE.
Brainwash Festival
¡Forward, Russia!'s last show for the foreseeable future. And it was damn good. They didn't pull out any b-sides, even though the entire front row was shouting FOUR! Inbetween every single song. Also saw the wonderful Sky Larkin who are lovely people. Heard plenty of new bands, mainly from the Leeds scene. Wintermute in particular stood out.
Dananananaykroyd Wakefield
This band are absolutely amazing live. Went on a whim as i quite like a few of their songs. I was blown away. Pure 100% fun. Non stop.
British Sea Power Leeds
Having seen them in January i wasn't really anticipating much, as the new album is pretty boring, and they seemed to have lost the knack for entertaining live shows. Trees and birds replaced with flags. But later on in the year, the birds and leaves are back! Most of the first album returned to the set list! Apologies to Insect Life! Fear of Drowning! OH MY GOD ITS URSINE ULTRA!!!!
Bon Iver Manchester
As much as i love the Bon Iver album, I was expecting to enjoy his live show, but not be gob smacked. I was gob smacked. He is brilliant live. You should go see him. Also… WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOST.
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And done, doubt many people will read to the end, but cheers if you did. A few albums I haven't heard yet, Portishead in particular, but the list is pretty much final, since I doubt anything really incredible will come out before the year ends.