Sorry I’ve been away for ages – I’ve been very busy etc etc etc. Took a trip over to Strasbourg, France to see my dyood Ekin. I love her because she one of the only people I know that knows/loves music as much as I do. That’s her there on the left. Je t’aime.
The music in this post is as much for your benefit as it is for hers. I don’t think she’ll have heard The Weeknd but I’m sure she’ll find something to love in this album.
Anyway – this mixtape has not left my ears for a week now. Download it. Now. It’s ALL excellent.
But if that sounds like too much then just download track 2 – ‘What You Need’ – below. This song made me glad I love music again. It’s told from the perspective of a forlorn lover, lusting after a girl and telling her, in detail, how he’d be better than her current beau. But then you listen to the music… and it could literally be about a girl being tempted by drugs by the drugs themselves – there’s even the line “I’m the drug in your veins”. As if the drug coursing through her blood is serenading her into submission.
So as 2010 winds to a close (not before Xmas/my birthday!!) and 2011 comes into view it’s time for the old blogaroo to name the best albums of the year. Here goes.
13. Massive Attack – Heligoland
This one kinda came out of left field for me. Paid absolutely fuck all attention to it around the release date and it probably would’ve slid under the rug were it not for True Blood using one of the songs from it (‘Paradise Circus’) in a key scene. I had to find out who it was and when I did I got the album. I’ll admit it took a few spins before I really got into it, but when it clicked it was like magic. An absolute welcome return to form.
This one was a no-brainer that ticked all my boxes. Chiming guitars? Check. Wistful lyrics? Check. Hazy vocals low in the mix? Check. An absolute KILLER single? Fuck yah! Ideal while listening on the bus to/from work.
Another great headphones album. Also really seamless – it’s hard not to (and I’d advise you to) listen to the thing as a whole. Inventive, dubby, low-key, and at 35 mins long it’s gone long before it outstays its welcome. I’m really paying attention to what these guys release from now on.
With probably my favourite album cover of the year, ‘Before Today’ sounds like it was recorded in 1978 in a basement somewhere. Paying homage to – rather than poking fun at – music from decades past, this album is so hook-filled and stuffed to the brim with ideas that you can forget it’s 2010 while listening to it.
“Play me some kind of new sound,
Something true and sincere.” ‘None Of Dem’
Not only did Robyn come back after not releasing an album in 5 years, but it was like she had been hoarding pop gems and decided this was the year to blow her wad! Not only were these songs HUGE on the dancefloors, but they were also filled with meaning! Case in point is ‘Call Your Girlfriend’, a stormer about the ‘other woman’ giving break-up tips to the new boyfriend. Too clever by half.
Released back in February, I remember this album didn’t leave my ears for about 3 weeks. Completely overplayed this album to death. Catchy, precise, poppy and with hooks coming out of its arse this album is a fantastic debut from a band who (I hope) carry on making fantastic indie-pop/rock gems.
It seems to me that you can be an absolute arsehole with a twitter account but you’ll only get shit on, and told to get your act together if you’re a woman (Hi M.I.A.) yet be praised for much worse if you’re a man – “live breakdowns, the Horus chain, the free-MP3 stunt(ing), the press blitz, the breakups, the make-ups, the dick pics” (Hi Kanye). Discuss.
After initially avoiding /\/\ /\ Y /\ after the dismal review it received on P4k (yeah, I know I’m obsessed) I finally got round to listening to it. What a surprise. I actually think it’s my favourite album of hers. Sure she acts like a bawbag sometimes, but who cares when the music’s THIS good!?
Every time I think this band has hit its creative peak they come back and sucker-punch my kidneys. Sounding like they can write these laid back pop prizes in their sleep (literally sounding like this on ‘Helicopter’) they could have rested on their laurels and pumped out any old shite. Instead they continue to grow with each album/EP and I, personally, cannot wait to hear new material from these guys. And the cover’s not bad either.
Did not expect this either! Kinda avoided this album thinking it would be a retread of their last album (which I wasn’t too fond of). Like Massive Attack, this was another case of discovering an album through the medium of television. Played as the outro to an episode of Eastbound & Down (which btw had THE best soundtrack to a TV show I’ve heard for years), I had to find out who it was. Turns out it was ‘I’m Not The One’ from ‘Brothers’. This album is such a return to form and, in my opinion, the best album they’ve ever released. Any other year this could easily make the number 1 spot.
I trust James Murphy to know what’s best with music like I trust Christopher Nolan to know what’s best with movies. At no point am I worried that he might conjure up a steaming turd of a song, especially when he keeps releasing stone-cold classic albums. I respect the man as much as Bowie, and by the sound of the influence in some of his songs I’d imagine he’d take that as the highest honour.
Probably the biggest surprise of the year for me, this one. Was never that big on the whole Gorillaz sound/cartoon gimmick. That all changed when I played ‘Plastic Beach’ into the ground. Looks like I also picked the right Britpop band leader to idolise. If Damon Albarn can still write songs as good as these, all the while recruiting some of the biggest names in music to collaborate then he deserves a fecking knighthood or something. ‘White Flag’ pitches London rap besides a fucking Lebanese oriental arabic orchestra FFS! What’s more though, IT WORKS! It’s not perfect, but then again none of my favourite albums ever are.
To be honest, this could easily have been number 2 but I think it just pips ‘Plastic Beach’ through sheer pop-songwriting chops! I can’t name a single duffer on this album. Cribbing from all the greats – the Beach Boys, 60s girl groups, Phil Spector’s cavernous production – they make retro-sounding jangly haze gaze that slotted in nicely with the chillwave boom of 2009/10. Couple that with one of the best female voices I’ve heard for years, the fuzzy buzzy sound (thanks Hipster Runoff) and the topics of her songs (love, weed, being lazy and her cat) and it makes the album of 2010 for me. Instantly repeatable. It being my “summer” album probably didn’t hurt its chances either…
So that’s it. Do you agree with the list? Not the number 1 you hoped for? Tough titty it’s my blog hahaha. Let me know what your album of the year is and I’ll get back with a witty reply maybe/probably/definitely.
Anyway, this post took aaaaages to write and I’ll have another struggle doing the ‘Best Songs Of 2010′ countdown but that’ll probably be after Christmas sometime, maybe not, we’ll see.
I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and I wish you all the best for 2011! Don’t be a stranger.
Chullwave. That’s how Scottish people say Chillwave.
Runtime: 75 mins
Tracklist:-
1. The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s On Fire (3.34)
2. Lovelife – Jimmys (2.17)
3. Onra – High Hopes (Feat. Reggie B) (4.18)
4. Mystery Jets – Flash A Hungry Smile (3.47)
5. Breakbot – Baby I’m Yours (Siriusmo Remix) (3.40)
6. Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix) (4.09)
7. Operator Please – Back And Forth (3.09)
8. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Can’t Hear My Eyes (3.20)
9. Yuck – Suicide Policeman (3.22)
10. VEGA – No Reasons (4.16)
11. Tiger & Woods – Gin Nation (8.16)
12. Crystal Castles – Celestica (3.48)
13. Bart B More – Romane (Rubix Gypsy Remix) (6.15)
14. The Hood Internet – Sun Chewed Up (Slug & Murs Vs. Caribou) (4.29)
15. Charlotte Gainsbourg – Time Of The Assassins (XXXChange Remix) (6.08)
16. LCD Soundsystem – All I Want (6.44)
17. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Fright Night (Nevermore) (3.35)
Chullwave Complete Mixtape (RAR or ZIP) ←♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
You can preview and give these some ♥♥♥♥s on Hype Machine!
This song has totally grown on me – I’ve caught myself singing it on a few occasions now. That’s a good enough reason to post this song right? Delphic‘s new album ‘Acolyte’ is also pretty good – I need to listen to it more but so far it’s one of 2010s best. Also these are the two best remixes of this song out there.
While everyoneandtheirbigfatmother are busy trying to find new ways to talk about The Knife‘s new material, I’d like to talk about a great new album I’ve been listening to. It’s called ‘Astrocoast’ and it’s by a band called Surfer Blood. Reminds me of both the Shins (the voice) and the Whigs (the rest). Agree?
It’s gonna be weird writing 2010 in the top left hand corner of my lab book but I’ll get over it. 2009 was a great year for music and is partly why I started this blog. Here (as promised) are my top albums of 2009.
11. Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster
It took a while but Lady Gaga has a knack for a CHOON and she’s a very talented lady. Fair enough she cribs from the best pop songwriters (ABBA, Ace Of Base WTF haha) but I really can’t wait to see what she does next.
Look out Avalanches, Javelin are here to steal your throne while you’ve been away (for almost a fucking decade FML) making slick beats. Jamz & Jemz shows a lot of promise for these two crate-diggers.
I really like the sound of this record. There’s something very Haight-Ashbury about the whole thing. I just want to grow my hair long, then turn on, tune in and drop out.
2009 is the year Phoenix broke into the mainstream (fucking FINALLY!). I’ve been a fan ever since I agreed with Bill Murray’s character in Lost In Translation that the music (‘Too Young’) at the party he was at was great. Expert songwriters – I can’t praise Phoenix enough.
Criminally ignored (I think anyway), this album should have received a LOT more attention than it did. Junior Boys are quietly working away creating a niche for themselves producing fantastically solid dance music. A great earphones album.
This was my 2009 ‘summer’ album. Listening to it just reminds me of lying in the grass on a sunny evening, watching folk walk back from their work. I really like the direction Wilco are heading in.
If there’s one album that will define the whole ‘chillwave’ scene that sprouted in 2009 it’s Neon Indian’s childhood-memory-inducing, sounds-like-it-was-recorded-on-a-tape-cassette masterstroke ‘Psychic Chasms’.
One of the most original-sounding albums I must say I’ve encountered for aaages. Every song sounds nothing like the last. And any band that cribs from Nico’s version of ‘These Days‘ and does it with so much reverence gets my whole-hearted approval.
Slinking into 2009 – and completely stealing the show – the xx released arguably the best album this year. With such a distinctive sound and fantastic songs if I was a songwriter in 2009 I think I’d have to rethink my profession – or at least the way I think about writing music. So pared down, so stripped of bells and whistles, British music is in safe hands.
It really couldn’t have been anything else. Grizzly Bear stole my ♥ in 2009. I knew instantly the first time I heard it that it was going to be my favourite album of the year. I was a massive fan of Yellow House when it dropped back in 2006, but the boys completely out-stripped anything I thought was possible of them. People may remember Animal Collective as 2009′s standout, but in my opinion no one will write songs as consistently brilliant as these.
I actually made this for a chill girl – but I like it so much I’ve decided to share it with you.
Runtime: 79 mins
Tracklist:-
1. One Tooth Henderson – Lucie Goes Up! (1:20)
2. Woolfy – Odyssey (4:17)
3. Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer (4:02)
4. Wilco – You Never Know (4:21)
5. Javelin – Trick Bikes (0:10)
6. Javelin – Susie Cues (1:54)
7. Javelin – Play A Slow Jam (0:19)
8. Bibio – Lovers’ Carvings (3:54)
9. Darondo – Didn’t I (3:29)
10. Kid Sister – Life On TV (3:13)
11. Tiga – What You Need (The Proxy Remix) (3:30)
12. The Bloody Beetroots – Warp 1.9 (Feat. Steve Aoki) (3:22)
13. The Whitest Boy Alive – Golden Cage (Fred Falke Remix) (8:28)
14. Neon Indian – Terminally Chill (3:29)
15. Frankmusik – Confusion Girl (Don Diablo Loves To Slow Dance Remix) (5:04)
16. CSS – Rat Is Dead (Rage) (3:18)
17. It Hugs Back – Unaware (3.24)
18. Telekinesis! – Foreign Room (3:29)
19. The Hood Internet – Two Weeks Of Hip Hop (Dead Prez Vs. Grizzly Bear) (3:34)
20. M83 – Run Into Flowers (Midnight Fuck Remix By Jackson) (7:31)
21. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Working My Way Back To You (3:04)
22. Little Joy – Don’t Watch Me Dancing (3:35)
23. Catty Catterson – Goodbye My Love (0:13)
Yeah, you guessed it. Scottish Friction regular Boys Noize.
..And I’m not gonna be there. Instead of smashing shit up I’ll just let The Proxy completely annihilate this Boys Noize track… in the best way possible of course. It’s not really payback at all, is it. It’s just making me even more jealous.
This Punks Jump Up remix is a cracker. I’d say this and the JUPITER remix of Chew Lips (another Scottish Friction favourite) are the best remixes I’ve heard for, ooh at least a week, which is like a year in blogtime. Plus they sound nice played one after the other
I’ve been to T in the Park twice now (2006/07) and each time was fantastic. Think it only rained a couple of times. Thats me on the left incase you’re wondering – looking like a twat in my Kamikaze bandana and Devo t-shirt hahaha. I don’t care. Look at our faces. We’re practically glowing. Good beer to man ratio. Great weekend.
So excited about the new Jay Reatard album. I think I worn out Blood Visions within a week of first hearing it. I even started a Jay Reatard myspace page with my favourite song of his at the time because I wanted to add it to my myspace profile but nobody had it! Hahahhaa. How sad is that. I’ve not been on my myspace for aaages. 6,222 plays though! RESULT! Anyway, I really like this new song of his.
Before I forget I got a great email from the Polaris Music Prize-nominatedElephant Stone. I gave their song ‘I Am Blind’ a listen and I think it’s great. T’otherwise I wouldn’t have posted it. If you like it, apparently the album’s streaming at the Indiecater website.
Bassline at the start sounds a bit like Jackie Wilson‘s ‘Higher & Higher’ eh? And that song reminds me of the end scene in ‘Death To Smoochy‘. You have to see that film. Hilarious.
The internet is a fast moving beast, so the streaming MP3s that are posted may not work after a while due to them being taken down. And since I can't be arsed uploading them all again it's tough shite. I'll always post a link to a downloadable MP3 though. As always, if you like what you hear - away and buy it eh!
p.s. if I've put up a song you'd rather not see here then let me know, you can email me here
