spaghetti blogonese

records of 2011: 1. Kode9 & The Spaceape - Black Sun

2011-12-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

1. KODE9 & THE SPACEAPE- BLACK SUN
This album fuses spoken-word poetry with dub music. The spoken-word voice of The Spaceape carries reggae, ragga and so much utter conviction, that one can't help but pout their lips in approval.

This is the ultimate collaborative album. Steve Goodman is the man behind the project, - he's Kode9 - and the illustrious Hyperdub record label that includes Burial. And he's Scottish. This music however reminds me of London so much that it's no wonder he relocated there. There's no bagpipes on this one.

This takes the crown this year, because from top to bottom this album remains edgy, energising and thematic. Radiation is the theme here. So put on your suncream, top up your tan and happy new year!

records of 2011 - 2. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

2011-12-29T06:28:00.000-08:00

2. BON IVER - BON IVER

The craft that went into this thing is amazing. Justin Vernon expanded on his solo, stuck-on-a-log-cabin of his debut "For Emma, Forever Ago" by using a full band and collaborating with so many musicians, it was a delight to behold.

We get saxophones, we get made up words, sentences that don't make sense, that make sense, fake places, real places, everything. It's a textural album. Not just a folk album. Folk is a dirty word.

His voice is perhaps the most beautiful in modern music. If the hairs on the back of your neck don't stand up when you listen to this, then go and grab some sandpaper and scrub down your neck. Actually don't; you might bleed.

I feel that this could be one of the best albums released ever. The jury is still out for me on "Beth / Rest," the 80's closer that absolutely jars with everything else on offer here. But time will tell. Props to the boy for taking risks though.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KrmxavLIRM

records of 2011- 3. Delicate Steve - Wondervisions

2011-12-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

3. DELICATE STEVE - WONDERVISIONS

Never before has anything sounded so fun! Goofball! This New Jersey collective believe in instrumentals and all out arpeggios that apply so much bend on the guitar-work, it's pretty staggering.

Noone really knows about this album, I'm really surprised it hasn't got more exposure. Maybe it doesn't have that much emotional depth, but still it has bags of personality. I discovered this at the top of the year and I'm still just as gleeful when I listen to it.

A real sense of occasion, an out-and-out jam, an exercise in technicolour, a treat. A vision, like the name suggests. That's it - just go and get it. Don't forget to blow those bubbles now!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWNIajNpsAA

records of 2011 - 4. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

2011-12-29T05:42:00.001-08:00

4. BILL CALLAHAN - APOCALYSPE

Beautiful baritone voice
Images that are bleak, apocalyptic
Long, explorative tracks that often question the integrity of America
Luscious guitar work, especially in the track "America"

Carefully delivers his lyrics in a singing style that's almost spoken word, tender.
A singer-songwriter with a huge history, his previous project Smog dates back to 1990
Long sentences here, better make some a bit shorter
Longing for that feeling; see "Riding For The Feeling," it will all be ok
A fascinating gig I went to in 2009 in a church is one of my favourite ever shows
Human, unlike say, Daft Punk
A sparse album. Just 7 songs. His spare style really holds up ever so well.
Never heard anything so timeless.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMQ0CeXYd54

records of 2011. 5. Cut Copy. Zonoscope

2011-12-29T05:14:00.000-08:00

5. CUT COPY - ZONOSCOPE
This is the biggest grower of 2011. The first time I heard it, I was a little underwhelmed at first. One of those trendy music websites called this a sprawling landscape compared to the champagne immediacy of 2008's "In Ghost Colours" - thank god Australians spell that word with a "u" - and they got it bang on correct.

Sure, opener "Need you Now" is pretty instantaneous but many of the tracks take a while to show their hooks; this album is pretty refrained. Here, we're not square on with the waterfall; we're looking at it from some distance. Again, yeah there are some explosive moments of beauty but as The Onion AV Club journalist said, here "Cut Copy often lets the arrangements ride." Bang on.

And so finally, it grew on me and now it just sounds huge like a skyscraper. It's retro-future. Ouch. Apologies. It's champagne-popping. What a howler of a description. Luckily, this album ain't a howler, definitely not, as it gets me howling in the shower.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=tb1o42RdVzA

records of 2011 - 6. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

2011-12-29T04:43:00.000-08:00

6. RADIOHEAD - THE KING OF LIMBS
As ever, this was a real occasion. It just seemed to fall from the sky at the last minute, released to great surprise. Refreshing and inspiring.

As for the music, of course it's a return to the electronics of yesteryear and it feels better every time I listen to it. It's so compact at just 8 tracks and that's nice. You can't beat a tight album.

I believe that a movie should be made in honor of this one, as it feels so much like a soundtrack, it's just nuts. I also think it could be perhaps the best sequenced Radiohead album ever. Also it's the biggest grower.

Like I said back in April (sometimes I don't like to write in the conventional style by the way)

"There are stuttering beats but it's nice. I like it. The voice of Thom Yorke didn't quite grab right hold of me at first earshot listen."

Takes time. Give it time. A certainty to stand the test of time.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3oRhwOcQ3w

top records of 2011: 7. Clams Casino - Instrumentals

2011-12-29T04:21:00.000-08:00

7. CLAMS CASINO - INSTRUMENTALS
Absolutely makes me wanna smelter. This instrumental hip-hop album is where it's at. It's innovative, doesn't only draw from hip-hop, is diverse, makes me nod my head like no other album this year, demonstrates great potential, kicks an otherwise stagnant genre right up the you-know-what, delights at every corner and is a real late-charger for me this year, zooming up my list right towards the end.

The hazy aesthetic on most of this recalls Burial and the lazer-beam production of "Brainwash By London" recalls the production of Switch. Bjork is sampled on "Illest Alive" and there's plenty more surprises on this killer banger stunner of an LP from this New Jersey producer. Unquestionably, where it's at.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7uVpv2ltS8

top records of 2011 - 8. Zomby - Dedication

2011-12-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

8. ZOMBY - DEDICATION

This guy. Who is this guy? He's released a bag of stuff in such a short space of time. He's British and is mostly concerned with releases that jump all over the shop and this one is a nice introduction, even though it's not his first album, I don't care; it's brilliant and I'll be checking out all his other shit for sure.

It's hardly the dubstep of Burial, but man this is less of the soul and more of the limbs. Moving your limbs, darting around, head spinning crazy, bonkers nutjob shit all over the shop. Burial gets his head down and walks across the city, this lets its hair down and gets all ditzy.

The album is the sound of electronic spaghetti. Does that mean it should be the album of the year here? Well, we're maturing around these parts. Get ready for a Coldplay # 1. Ahem.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE5BXbfZe5w

top records of 2011 - 9. Bullion - You Drive Me To Plastic

2011-12-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

9. BULLION - YOU DRIVE ME TO PLASTIC
I used to frequent a club-night back in my prime - I hope I have a second prime - a few years ago at university called Beats In Abundance and they used to spin funk, electronic, samba - a bit of everything. My friend Luke Baines was and still is a champion for mixing together so many colours and styles.

They once had cake at a christmas party and often had helium baloons in the small club. At the Christmas party in London a couple of years ago, they had exercise bikes inside to help power the speaker or something. Back in Norwich, their regular home, this was the only night I would ever happily pay for, as in Po Na Na, I often got someone to open the Fire Escape door and secretly enter through that. Once I got caught though, as the alarm was soundng pretty loudly. Maybe everyone thought it was part of the music though.

This EP shows bags of promise for a young British producer and DJ. The samples are magic. Maybe he makes a lot of them himself. About that, I'm not so sure. It is so diverse, so unique and so enthralling - that the journey will hopefully be even longer and more fleshed out so far. Recalling The Avalanches and The Books, hit this up for a whirlwind of a 20 minute party.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXqWhefsK08

top records of 2011 - 10. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

2011-12-28T06:47:00.001-08:00

10. KURT VILE - SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO
Breaking into the top 10 then is this one. 10 and 11 on this list are certainly linked in as Kurt Vile used to be in The War on Drugs. What we're talking about is 2011 was the year that americana and guitar effects worked swimmingly well together to produce a sound that offers both the sonic need for echo and the emotional need for reflection.

Take "runner ups" for example:

"My best friend's long gone / but I got runner-ups, yeah!" shows the inevitability of drifting apart from close buddies and "Smoke Ring For My Halo" says it all really - confusion about ego in a sardonic manner. This boy has it all.

Well, Vile was only signed by Matador Records as a solo artist in 2009, but was born in 1980, so has the life experience to depart on us too. He shows he's been through a lot, but of course he still wants to find comfort: "I have everything I need / It's fine now" - sometimes it's the direct and simple things that are best because they know exactly what they want to say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnrB3UEoZDc

top records of 2011. 11.The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient

2011-12-27T04:05:00.000-08:00

11. THE WAR ON DRUGS SLAVE AMBIENT
This year offered a swirling sound of psycedelic swims of guitars effects combined with the deep vocals of folk across a few different projects and here, Kurt Vile's old band here gave us an album with some of the best tracks heard in ages.

It's a unique sound and one that combines the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Bob Dylan. The sound of when the harmonica comes out in all the feedback in "Baby Missiles" is just to die for, as is the layered, stunning opener "Best Night" that always stops me in my tracks.

From a group of musicians that's been around a while then, there'll still probably be a lot more to come, and I for one just can't wait. What a fantastic discovery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMToQg0vSds

top records of 2011 - 12. Tinariwen - Mazes

2011-12-21T01:47:00.000-08:00

12. TINARIWEN - TASSILI

These guys were placed at #17 on my albums of the decade a couple of years back for their seminal work Aman Iman: Water is Life. That work was full-bodied desert-blues singing songs of exile in Mali complete with electric guitars.

Well this is a stripped-down, 'let's all gather round the fire' kind of vibe and it's just as invigorating, with TV On The Radio even chipping in for a welcome vocal harmony for "Tenere Taqhim Tossam." It's liquid blues. It's transcends all styles. It's set for utter longevity.

Sometimes music is so fluid that it makes you want to drink it up in one gulp. This is how this goes.

"People say that this sounds like the blues. That's true, the blues began in Africa though. It's interesting how music can project itself onto a continent and then back again." --Spaghetti Blogonese , December 2009---

top records of 2011. 13. Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place

2011-12-20T16:33:00.000-08:00

13. JULIANNA BARWICK - THE MAGIC PLACE

This is chamber music. Not like the Wu Tang mind. I mean when we float around and meditate. Hardly new age, or Enya as people inevitably compare this to. It's not as glee, it's more sleepy, even more ethereal. I dread to think how many times that word has been used to describe this kind of music. In an image, it's the feeling when you wake up in the morning and realize it's the weekend and you don't have to go to work.

You won't hear this record played over and over in your head as it feels like one body of work compared to catchy tunes. You won't hear it played in elevators either as it's too rich and layered for that. You could however, benefit from having it on repeat on your i-Tunes as its that kind of experience, one that you'll be happy to have time and time again, in close succession.

Magic.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7lLfYBGRaA

top records of 2011 - 14. Björk - Biophilia

2011-12-20T16:10:00.000-08:00

14. BJORK - BIOPHILIA

A genre unto her own, this lady continues to mesmerize further as most of this album was recorded on an i-Pad and each track has its own app available for it.

Not that any of this matters though, as the music stands up on its own as another great set of songs from the Queen of avant-garde.

The production is as sharp as Dracula's teeth, the beats as crisp as a packet of crisps and the voice as lush as a British shop that sells scented soap.

Listen and get lost again. Watch and follow. Delve in to the delight.

Follow the leader. Follow the leader.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vre4S5076wA&feature=related

top records of 2011 - 15. Moon Duo - Mazes

2011-12-20T02:08:00.000-08:00

15. MOON DUO - MAZES

This is something very special indeed. What?

Try squiggly spaced out guitar jams that will put you in a trance. There's a load of feedback and catchy, choppy riffs a-plenty and the duo of Sanae Yamada and Ripley Johnson of Wooden Shjips really collaborate well with such tight understanding. This is dense stuff, yet it's all about soaring into the sky and pouring out spacedust.

There's plenty of telecaster, a little eerie organ thrown in for good measure and some dauntless vocals on show here and it's all thrown into the fuel tank and ignited to explosive and impressive effect.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvYUUes4O1Q

top records of 2011 - 16. Future Islands - On The Water

2011-12-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

16. FUTURE ISLANDS - ON THE WATER

When one of your best friends states that he has a favourite band, it's time to sit-down and listen, or stand up and dance or just write something down or just download the new album by them or leave it a while like I did and finally realize just how right he was.

When you listen to this you'll either notice how low the vocals are or how mesmerizing the ocean wave are in the backdrop of the production or little new hooks and nuances with each listen or bits of tin-drum or tropical production or something.

When the future comes I imagine that this synth-rock band will become a lot more prominent in my listening patterns or maybe I'll have the chance to see them live in concert and be blown away or more importantly I'll just clasp onto it right now as this is always the best time.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vI_kx4J8Vc

top records of 2011 - 17. Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT

2011-12-19T10:53:00.001-08:00

17. AKRON/FAMILY - AKRON/FAMILY II: THE COSMIC BIRTH AND JOURNEY OF SHINJU TNT

This looks like sci-fi right? It's misleading.

This band are one of the most underrated acts on the planet. On this planet, they're based in NYC.

This band crafted one of my most favourite songs of all time I'll Be On The Water and the link below for the song Island captures the same beauty.

This album is very spaghetti. Bit like this blog; veering all over the place. But it's not like the cover suggests. Instead it's cohesive freak folk rock for a blog. Wanna snog? For all you non British people out there, that means fancy kissing with your tongue.

No? Well that's sealed then. Listen to this instead:

GOLD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aUJbwySgz8

top records of 2011 - 18. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica

2011-12-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

18. ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER - REPLICA

Built outta samples. That means nothing though. This is nothing like DJ Shadow or The Avalanches. Nor is it anything like Returnal which featured highly on this very blog last year. That album felt like you were on board Deep Space 9 or some shit.

This though is a totally different animal. Taking 80's commercials and splicing them together. I am scrolling down on Metacritic about this LP to get some collective adjectives. Mad and weird and eerie and beautiful seems to be the common consensus. It makes me wanna say off-kilter and "makes me wanna smelter."

The burst of absurdism is dedicated to Aubrey Ford. His wit and competence to produce such output like "Go shuck yourself!" sends shivers down the spine. Thanks man.

CREEPY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r3cBP1xgag

top records of 2011 - 19. Gazelle Twin - The Entire City

2011-12-19T09:18:00.000-08:00

19. GAZELLE TWIN - THE ENTIRE CITY

This album is pretty scary. It's even scarier than the following true ghost story:

In my local pub here in Kuala Lumpur lies the story of OLD BEER BEARD. One day in 1939, the landlord served OLD BEER BEARD his favourite drop of ale. I say favourite drop as it came served from a pipette into a shot glass. OLD BEER BEARD would rest the shot glass on his 7 meter long beard on the bar.

Next thing that happened: KNOCK KNOCK! --- "Who's there?" wailed OLD BEER BEARD and in came a damsel in distress wearing red stockings, red heels and a red balaclava. "War is breaking out! The war has started!" she cried. "Pipe down ya jam tart!" said OLD BEER BEARD." The landlord of the pub started ringing the bell, not for last orders but because the war was breaking out.

The damsel in distress showed some of her red stockings and OLD BEER BEARD had a heart attack. He rolled around on the floor supping his drink still asking the punters to leave him alone saying "Ain't no thing but a chicken wing! "Ain't no thing but a chicken wing!"

Nowadays, whenever a hot mama walks in the bar wearing a red balaclava, the bell rings ding-a-ling. Sorry to shit you up.

This debut album from Gazelle Twin really is great.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=LrxUxLxCvvI

top records of 2011 - 20. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

2011-12-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

20. - YOUTH LAGOON - THE YEAR OF HIBERNATION

Last year Perfume Genius released his glorious bedroom produced debut "Learning." This year we got this and it's in a similar vein. It's more electronic than Perfume Genius, but just as uplifting. It doesn't really employ choruses though. It has hooks and kickdrums and it's amazing how something so shiny and twinkly can be so transcendental.

It's like Trevor Powers - of California - has crafted the most beautiful yacht out of a load of lego and can set sail into the blueberry sea.

Another great thing here, is how it blurs gender boundaries. I could've sworn this was a woman singing but neigh, neigh it's not. I'm not a horsey. Neigh. I just feel like this album brings out the inner child in me. A great debut.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWfwLA5hZjo&feature=related

records of 2011 = 21. Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer

2011-12-19T08:16:00.000-08:00

21. ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER- LAST SUMMER

I KNOW A GIRL CALLED ELEANOR BUT SHE SPELLS IT LIKE ELEANORE.

I DON'T THINK ELEANORE KNOWS THIS ELEANOR

I THINK ELEANORE WILL LIKE THIS ELEANOR

BOTH OF THESE PEOPLE ARE QUIRKY

THIS IS GREAT SUMMER POP FULL OF MUSICAL TWISTS AND TURNS

ELEANORE AND ELEANOR ARE NAMES THAT ARE REALLY GOOD.

ELEANORE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tgSk83OJmk

top records of 2011 - 22 - Air Drops - EP

2011-12-15T08:58:00.000-08:00

22. AIR DROPS - EP

Not a lot of information about the identity of this one. Simply a bedroom performer. Not just any bedroom performer though. There are hundreds of those. Instead Air Drops soothes you in the same way that a bottle of eye drops soothes your allergy. This is icy electronic pop at its best.

Now, this blog is definitely not one to jump on the anti-chillwave bandwagon. Nor are we all about promoting this bracketed genre that will blow over as more of a fad than anything else. Instead there is enough on this little EP to stand up on its own. Enough to take the melodies of Royksopp, the playful production of Neon Indian and the range of Baths to create a promising start to a curious discovery.

Let's hope this work gets enough recognition all over the interweb to let the project kick on and bring more wintry delights to a stunning sketch that just needs the watercolours applying next time.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tgSk83OJmk

records of 2011. 23. Mark McGuire - Get Lost

2011-12-06T22:11:00.000-08:00

23. MARK MCGUIRE - GET LOST

When we say a man playing his guitar through effects pedals, you say "Oh" but we say "Whoa." Last year saw the release of his stunning debut Living With Yourself and he's already released another archived collection, the sprawling A Young Person's Guide to Mark McGuire.

So, what's this one like? Well, it's still perfect music to lay down on your bed and close your eyes to. You say "Oh right" and we say "Whoa. High Hive!" This body of work stands taller as one whole work and has less variation than his first effort. However, the beautiful scenery is still apparent at every left, right and straight ahead, like the squiggly 20 minute hypnosis of Firefly Constellations.

There's mounds of ambient and sonic material out there. Some of the blogs and music websites like witchtalkmedia will filter through it for you. For me, this artist is the very best of them and for someone so young and prolific, let's hope there'll be a lot more lying-down to come.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S6bt_xaWW4

top records of 2011 - 24. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

2011-12-06T21:20:00.000-08:00

24. FLEET FOXES - HELPLESSNESS BLUES

I was walking to the immigration office in the grey, humid city and it was stiflingly humid and I was in a hurry and I hadn't slept very well the night before. I was pumped on coffee and I had to go and upset my stomach by eating a big Mac because I was in a hurry. I felt sick and I barely had any money in my pocket. I had to comprehend the idea of waiting in line for two hours at immigration. It really was a kind of fuck my life moment.

Nothing seemed to matter though - not that anything matters anyway - as this record came through my tinny headphones. Even through the loud, sweaty, constructive city, the melodies of these boys reigned over me as I burst out into song, becoming the seventh fleet fox in a golden instant.

This brand of Americana is so in love with everything that it brushes aside all troubles. It follows on from their self-titles debut a years ago and expands everything into an all-out, full-on masterclass of baroque folk. The craft and fun and utter melody that is on show here makes this triumph over coffee any day.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HHgedNNQco

records of 2011. 25. Jonas Reinhardt - Music For The Tactile Dome

2011-12-03T03:42:00.000-08:00

25. JONAS REINHARDT - MUSIC FOR THE TACTILE DOME

There's this ace trend right now of otherworldly, space-age music and when it sounds as captive as this, we can consider ourselves lucky earthlings. There's no great need to generalize other than to introduce new listeners to the captivating, starry sound. It's not exactly a tight little music scene, as it's a vast universe out there.

I first started to pick up on it last year as the sounds of Emeralds and Oneohtrix Point Never received high critical acclaim and with Grouper earlier ths term releasing some killer sounds, it starts to get pretty addictive.

So, where do Jonas Reinhardt fit into all of this? Well, as the title track beams in, it feels like you're in for the journey of your dreams, as glittering synthesizers twinkle all around. It's mind-bendingly gorgeous stuff and the music that follows picks up and drops off the pace as we cruise around space. This differs from the aforementioned compatriots, as it feels like a solitary, focused space mission as opposed to revelling in zero gravity

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWDuYefZvXM&feature=related

records of 2011. 26. Junior Boys - It's All True

2011-12-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

26. JUNIOR BOYS - IT'S ALL TRUE

They drop album number four and the pressure is off because the media has come to expect sophsticated sophisto-pop from this Canadian duo. If you're not familiar, the acts name is apt because they employ a wholesome and cultivated take on pop music. It makes me want to wear a really nice coat because the sound is still quite wintry.

The great thing about the Junior Boys is that each album holds up really well. Only one or two tracks of theirs have truly blown my mind - "FM" and "In The Morning" are two of my favourite pop songs of all time - but still all four LP's are really concentrated instead of being watered down with piss like most pop music.

And. And, it's hardly drivetime. It's suave and confident without being too cocksure. With each album the production sounds even more iridescent, maybe because of technology improving since their 2004 debut "Last Exit" but that's not for me to say. What I do say is let's have another 6 of these beauties and then we can say the Junior Boys will have released 10 great albums.

LOLZ! LMFAO!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CFAatTMGfU&ob=av2e

top records of 2011 - 27. Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

2011-11-30T22:46:00.000-08:00

27. BEASTIE BOYS - HOT SAUCE COMMITTEE PART TWO

"Too many many rappers out there / not enough MC's"

Nice to have them back as this is pure fire. Mix Master Mike has really cranked up the production and really paints a lot of colours on this banger. It's such a party album in true Beastie fashion.

I listened to this when tipsy on Gin & Tonic touching down in Taiwan on the flight back from London. It was nice to be back in my current city of choice - Taipei - while touching down on the runway, listening to "OK. Again, it's pure fire. Listen below.

Overall, the rhyming is cheesy and tight, just how we have liked it all these years. The turntablism is exemplary and when most rappers take themselves so seriously and act so vain, it's great to hear these guys return in such sparkling form, having a lot of fun in the process.

FIRE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArMGl-kCwng

top 50 records of 2011 - 28. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong

2011-11-29T02:57:00.000-08:00

28 - THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART - BELONG

Sugary sweet, but not sickly. This takes 90's indie pop and throws in extra sweeteners for good measure. If this was a dessert it could be:

Chocolate White Chocolate Cake	$39
Red Velvet Cake	$39
Chocolate Truffle	$41
Bailey's Irish Cream Cake	$41
Chocolate Caramel Cake	$41
Chocolate Raspberry Rhapsody Cake	$41
Chocolate Mint Dream Cake	$41
Chocolate Fudge Cake	$37
Java Del Sol Cake	$41
Bittersweet Hazelnut Cake	$41
Mexican Chocolate Cake	$41
Chocolate Velvet Torte	$32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rl7-1aFa4E

top 50 records of 2011 - 29. Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean

2011-11-28T18:37:00.000-08:00

29. IRON & WINE - KISS EACH OTHER CLEAN

It's nice to see an artist take a few risks every now and again. "Go on son. Roll a 6." Sam Beam felt that it was time to explore the sonic possibilities of his ever-expanding Iron & Wine sound and every album in from his hushed, four-track recorded debut "The Creek Drank The Cradle" had evolved more layers, but here it's as if the band has shed its skin and become a totally different beast.

Considering he previously was associated with folk and americana, it has to be said that here there's a stock radio-pop, a dash of funk and even a sprinkle of electric guitar as Beam rocks out in the sensational seven-minute closer "Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me" as he repeats things that "we become" over and over. These things include a hammer and nail, a disco ball and an ice-cream cone. Nice.

Whatever Iron & Wine has become, it's all because he's finally gone and taken the plunge and it's wholly worth diving in with him

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBJHqU5_6jU

top 50 records of 2011- 30. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

2011-11-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

30. TV ON THE RADIO -NINE TYPES OF LIGHT

New York City's TV on the radio are a sure-fire guarentee of producing quality output. This is their poppiest, loviest and loveliest effort so far.

The band sounds happy in love and have a cheerful mentality. It's a summer-centric listen and after their masterpiece "Dear Science" brought the funk and was super-bold, this fourth album is a lot more centered.

It's a pleasant break from a band that usually swerves around with styles. I feel they've certainly not mellowed out for good, but instead want to just produce an album of sweet nectar and this is it. Their milk and honey.

GO HERE: http://vimeo.com/21051326

top 50 records of 2011 - 31. Swarms - Old Rave's End

2011-11-25T07:58:00.000-08:00

31. SWARMS - OLD RAVE'S END

I'm getting terrible at this game. All I can do is listen to a new artist and think how it reminds me of another. In this case it's Burial.

And other times even explaining how it makes me feel can be frustrating. I say that music comforts me way too much.

Swarms are from Bristol. Fuck you don't need to know that. Location is irrelevant when electronica has such a beautiful pulse as this. Forget me. Let's let behindthehype.com do the talking:

" brings to mind memories pleasant or not of seasons past, times and places, or even specific things remembered that come with some odd sense of anonymity, as if being transported back to a precise moment, or even emotion, being experienced through some hazy manner of recollection."

"Don't forget me. Forget-me-not" Spaghetti Blogonese

HERE! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv01QFpWWqg

records of 2011. 32. Crystal Stilts - In Love With Oblivion

2011-11-24T21:18:00.000-08:00

32. CRYSTAL STILTS - IN LOVE WITH OBLIVION

This sounds a lot like Joy Division. Crystal Stilts are probably the best band of that type since the 80's really. Interpol crafted their whole take on the gloomy Ian Curtis thing but they were so angular it sounded like they were sharpening knives.

Instead, Crystal Stilts are murkier and rawer than Interpol. Down and dirty like Joy Division in their prime. Delve deeper into the mix then and the lyrics conjure up many nightmarish imagery over tons of reverb. It's all about dreams and there's some great magical unexplained shit on here.

Theneedledrop.com did a bang-on accurate review and name-drops more specific influences that the band uses. I can't hit the nail on the head like Anthony Fantano does, so I'll let the internet's busiest music nerd do the talking. Click the links below and thanks for reading!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPiuynEpq1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPiuynEpq1g

records of 2011. 33. The Streets - Computers & Blues

2011-11-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

33. THE STREETS - COMPUTERS & BLUES

Is this the last dance? Seems like it. When Mike Skinner arrived on the scene a decade ago it made me sick to my stomach. I hated Original Pirate Material. I just thought it was hooligan-pop, though I couldn't deny it's originality. "The sound of The Streets coming down your aerial." Bleurgh. Whatever dickhead.

Then along came A Grand Don't Come For Free and I perked up. It was a masterpiece of a story-line, a true concept album about losing £1000 down the back of the sofa. I went back and revisited his debut and it all make sense. It was ballsy, risky and out-and-out class.

And now on this, the sixth outing and I'm against popular opinion again. Most critics are indifferent or critical towards this one, but he's full of his usual cheeky banter, the production is pop-tastic and keeps up that whole modern, London twist heard on output like on the SBTRKT album. Skinner doesn't need mass endorsement, he sounds as confident as ever and now he can bow-out, head held high.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flQwfvbEM9A

top 50 records of 2011 - 34. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

2011-11-23T07:07:00.000-08:00

34. PJ HARVEY - LET ENGLAND SHAKE

When a career has spanned so many turns in direction and included so much quality song-writing, it's safe to assume that you can trust Polly Jane Harvey to produce the goods.

This assumption proves to be the case, though yet again it's in unexpected fashion. This LP has a first world war tint to it, felt through British eyes and this thread continues right through; there's no let-up!

Despite its thematic consistency, musically it feels like it's stitched up all over the place, and this disjointed feel is like a re-patched pair of jeans; different fabrics sewn together to create killer threads. We have absurd lyrics "I'm gonna take my problems to the United Nations!" and styles that shift from her rock & roll imprint to folk to blues to even dub. Love-a-dub-dub. Thematic, erratic, ecstatic - only Polly!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va0w5pxFkAM

top 50 records of 2011 - 35. Real Estate - Days

2011-11-22T13:50:00.000-08:00

35. REAL ESTATE - DAYS

This week my boss froze me out after I'd worked hard. He told me there were to be no more writing assignments for now as I'd missed the deadline. He's the one who'd fucked up the email with the Powerpoint Slides. His negligence = his bitterness. He's the kind of boss that if you ask him a quick question and he knows the answer, he'll just say "that's not my issue" and won't even refer you to the requisite person. I used to like his straight-talking style but now I think he's a prick and he's going in my novel.

So yesterday I woke up and had the nicest message ever from an old friend who wanted to escape the city and go by the water, take a boat and eat some nice Mediterranean food. The weather in Taipei was sunny and around 28 degrees in the middle of November. Incredible.

When I feel low in the city, it usually takes me a day or so to pick myself up and realize that personal freedom is way more important than any work pressures and shit. An album like this can float around your conscience and the breezy melodies akin to The Shins, The Byrds and of course The Beach Boys are what this band are all about. Nothing more, nothing less.

Even if the weather was ice-creaming it down with snow outside - which of course it's not here- I would still play this out loud to reconfirm that life isn't that frosty at all, it's actually a big blueberry ocean.

LIFE'S A BEACH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3goco5vtogI

top 50 records of 2011 - 36 - Wire Red Barked Tree

2011-11-20T13:13:00.000-08:00

36 - WIRE - RED BARKED TREE

This whole album radiates of conviction. Formed in 1976, Wire have more than just the post-punk sentiment that characterized their seminal debut "Pink Flag." This is their twelfth album and even three and a half decades later, the band still find new avenues to power down.

The verve of youth and the collective wisdom of longevity really sparkle together on this record. It invigorates and enlivens in equal measure. It requires a few spins to get its hooks on you, but you should be happy to go along with this as the bait tastes great.

So British. So spunky. So enlightening. So thrilling. So good. Still, so good. What a band.

YEA BOI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imXTZJvx61o&feature=related

top 50 records of 2011 - 37. Civil Civic - Rules

2011-11-18T18:15:00.000-08:00

37. CIVIL CIVIC - RULES

I will let the critics do the talking for this one, and then add my own little snippet at the bottom:

They put the "brawl" into cerebral
- The Guardian

Rocking out in the manner of Holy Fuck covering Hüsker Dü
- Uncut

A ball-busting distorted musical leviathan
- The Fly

The duo craft these exquisite melodies that are completely without peer
- The Pigeon Post

Civil Civic will get you by the balls. I haven't come across anything this year that brings the party like this
- Shattered Satellite

This mix is insane on so many levels, it makes me cream my pants – every time
- A-Life

like having 50,000 Volt live jump cables attached to your nipples whilst sat in a torrential downpour
- Don't Panic

"No lyrics. Just drum machines, pulverizing bass-lines, and a groundswell of synthesizers. Hedonism in a nutshell. Essential"
-Spaghetti Blogonese

GET SOME: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVmY7zCAgFA

top 50 records of 2011 - 38. John Foxx & The Maths - Interplay

2011-11-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

38 - JOHN FOXX & THE MATHS - INTERPLAY

This was made to make you feel good. It mixes post-punk, goth and electro-pop. It's the past dreaming of the future and it's pretty foxxy.

John Foxx was born in 1947 (!) and is a singer, artist, graphic designer, photographer and teacher. He's from the county I was born in, in England (Lancashire) and I have only just discovered him thanks to the newsletter of my favourite record shop http://www.resident-music.com/ in Brighton.

Now I feel a bit uncouth praising an artist I know little about, but it's a nice opportunity to check out a huge back-catalogue of material.

As for this album, it's pop-vocoder heaven as Foxx plays with a lot of different styles. I don't wanna say it recalls Brian Eno, David Bowie or Gary Numan as he's their peer really, albeit an understated one. But I look forward to getting into his material soon and being transported into the past future.

GO HERE: http://www.resident-music.com/

top 50 records of 2011 - 39. Washed Out - Within and Without

2011-11-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

39. WASHED OUT - WITHIN AND WITHOUT

This album is like taking a nice cool shower on a hot day or a nice hot shower on a cold day. Despite the sexy time going on in the album cover, it's not the thing I think of when I listen to Washed Out.

Instead, I feel the shoegazey aesthetics and dreamy melodies with the voice echoed down in the mix. It makes me feel good, wandering the city, getting intimate with my own thoughts.

All in all, it's nothing massively dynamic or innovative, but it flows extremely well as a record with the synths, drum machines and hushed vocals.

I just had a shower actually, but I want to take a 40 minute one and turn this up. We just got a water bill though and it's expensive enough.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRXQAn1Tv1E

top 50 records of 2011 - 40. Sbtrkt - Sbtrkt

2011-11-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

40- SBTRKT - SBTRKT

I love this shit. It reminds me of Basement Jaxx. It's got soul. It's the third debut in a row on this list. Unintentional.

"playful, yet gritty" said Drowned In Sound. I'll dance to that.

So SBTRKT have remixed everyone from Radiohead to M.I.A. This album sounds a bit like a remix album actually in the sense that it:

"plunders all corners of the dancefloor" - Q Magazine

Yes. These are better descriptions than "Dubstep."

My friend Mattboy Rowe just wrote around 50 words on them for me:

"Hey mate. Nice to blabber with you again no doubt. Do you know No Doubt? That Gwen Stefani is a right catch. Oh my lordy! If there's any foreign readers reading this, they won't know these colloquialisms that I'm using. Well, as for the SBTRKT; is that like to subtract like:

here's a simple equation:

2-2 = ....that's easy!"

Thanks Matt!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6IFYMJ63V0

top 50 records of 2011 - 41. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam

2011-11-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

41. - GHOSTPOET - PEANUT BUTTER BLUES & MELANCHOLY JAM

Reminds me of Roots Manuva. The lazy drawl. The gruff and beefy delivery. The contemplation: "I'm just sitting here drinkin', playing pro-evo and thinkin."

This debut LP from Coventry, UK based MC Obaro Ejmiwe is structured so well. It really swells in the middle and ends with "Life's too short to sort out grudges." Ejimiwe raps about the struggle of late 20's life throughout this record and it's a 40 minute colossus. A splendid, self-deprecating journey.

The production is killer. The electronic aceness of "I Just Don't Know" is a sharp dart away from the wholly live feel of the album. Here he says "I can't be a retrospective rapper all the time" - the present tense of "I know what I'm doing / But I've gotta keep on moving / Don't ask me what my plan is / Cos I'm not quite sure how I planned it:" is plain and honest, but also vital and revitalizing.

Most hip-hop albums this year make me want to get my party on, but this is the reflection afterward. Parties are nice, but the quest for self-improvement takes up more hours in the day surely. Well it does when you hit 28 anyway!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEG3SL-GoUY

top 50 records of 2011 - 42. James Blake- James Blake

2011-11-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

42 - JAMES BLAKE - JAMES BLAKE

So much has been said. So much has been written. So many opinions.

Best to avoid hyping this young London producer so much and let his sound grow. He's already released a ton of EP's, and this, his debut was put under the microscope so much, that the heat fried it up.

That was back in January and thankfully now, it still sounds great. Nobody talks about it anymore, although it may pop up on a few end of year lists. I think great electronic music, of a great soul voice - a bit like Jamie Lidell the way he combines those two elements -and Blake's penchant for changing direction really freely. He executes this whole thing with ease.

He would do well to make it sound less easy. Crank up the bass next time. Peel off into weirder directions. Throw down some Aphex Twin style explorations. For now though, James Blake's debut LP comes off like it thinks it's a classic and it sounds like one. Still, I want him to get even weirder!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSvb_jGwQ7s

top 50 records of 2011 - 43. Fujiya & Miyagi - Ventriloquizzing

2011-11-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

43. FUIJYA & MIYAGI -VENTRILOQUIZZING

Critics slagged this one off for being pretty safe, predictable and cliched. Well, Fuijya and Miyagi certainly use cliche in their lyrics:

"I'll beat you black, I'll beat you blue"

"You don't know which side your bread is buttered on"

"You go up and go down like a yo-yo"

"It's no good crying over spilt milk"

However, they sing about Taiwanese leather boots and minestrone soup, so I don't see this as dull, but comfortable and inviting. It's kitsch. That might make you want to vomit now you read that, but really Fujiya & Miyagi have the skills as producers to create a great jam. Though the lyrics are cheesy and greasy; fat tastes good. Audio-calories.

The songs are not cluttered. They're tight. 4 albums in and they're sitting pretty. So I give it to you, though not everyone's in agreement: this high-fat blog Spaghetti Blogonese puts this record right on the menu.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7KYOdKTnKM

top 50 records of 2011 - 44. The Field - Looping State of Mind

2011-11-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

44. THE FIELD - LOOPING STATE OF MIND

Just to clear a few things up from my previous reviews of this artist:

1)I never thought I was dyslexic but I swear I read the artists name as "Alex" but it's actually "Axel".

2) He doesn't really look like Hitler. It was just one particular shot that was all over the magazines when he dropped his debut album in 2007.

3) That debut album "From Here We Go Sublime" felt so fresh when it came down my aerial. The minimal melodies and beats incorporated a new, windswept style. I compared it to how people must have felt when Daft Punk released "Homework" in 1997. Was I too young then?

4) I probably wasn't too young then. I was 13 turning 14. But, instead I was listening to Brit-pop. Our house was robbed and I claimed loads of Oasis, Blur and Supergrass CD's on the insurance policy.

5)"Looping State of Mind" finds Willner building on all the great sonics of his debut and 2009's follow-up "Yesterday and Today." This is still music constructed for walking around the city to, but this time instead of just looking down at the ground, you'll be imagining what's going on in all the office blocks around you, letting the drums and swathes of melody spray everywhere. Fuck, this is the first time you've been able to dance in the rain to The Field. A really valiant, further developed effort.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amKTW2RkaAc

top 50 records of 2011 - 45. Cashier No.9 - To The Death Of Fun

2011-11-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

45. CASHIER NO. 9 - TO THE DEATH OF FUN

It's raining horses and chickens here in Taipei right now. Pretty typical. The rain could never dampen the vibe here though. We're talking sunny indie pop with a jangly attitude.

David Holmes is on the production and he really brings the sound out in the band just like cooking with wine helps with Italian dishes like lasagne, penne rose or.. er...spaghetti blogonese.

There are a lot of bands that try that summer-beach kind of sound but a lot of them drown in the trend of the surf. Not this Belfast collective though. The songwriting is not just catchy; the instruments are nicely released into the mix and the album has commendable changes of pace and is sequenced down to a tee.

Perhaps the experience of band founder Danny Todd helps create a unique identity for Cashier. No 9 instead of mere Beach Boy mimicry like the young-guns do. Whatever: Taipei can rain horses and chickens all it wants. This album transports me into the sunshine!

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MguSkd-6U9k

top 50 records of 2011 - 46. Anika - Anika

2011-11-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

46. ANIKA - ANIKA

I threw "Sadness Licks The Sun" into one of my mixes a few months ago because it captivated me the way that Anika - a 23 year old singer from Surrey, England - combines an off-key voice with some dusty and dubby production. It has the execution of post-punk too as this record is rough around the edges.

It's very late 70's and early 80's. It's the sound of a British woman singing in a German accent (her Mum is German.) It's varied. It has a few significant changes in pace, which is unique for a dub record. It's 9 songs long, clocking in at just over 36 minutes. If it was a time of year it would be late summer turning into autumn. It's nostalgic and it sounds utterly timeless.

The aforementioned track "Sadness Licks The Sun" really creeps up on you as the bass throbs and the strobe flashes around as interjected memories of the past whip round your nutjob mind. I feel this'll creep up on me even more later and I'll feel it deserved to be even higher on the list, but such is life when you do silly blog posts.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBhcFZwOE9g

top 50 records of 2011 - 47. Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

2011-11-07T06:38:00.000-08:00

47. TORO Y MOI - UNDERNEATH THE PINE

Hype & ting! Many people yo been spilling these loose definitions all up in the place. Chillwave? Mebbee, but I ain't so sure. When "New Beat" oozes out of the speaker after the two minute "Intro Chi Chi;" then boy I'm ready to dance.

Chillwave is built on shoegaze. This is funkier than that. This record is all about the instrumentation and all in all it's pretty civilized. The first Toro Y Moi record, 2010's "Causers of This" was a lot deeper in the sample side of things and ping-ponged back and forth. "Underneath The Pine" is just like the name suggests, taking refuge in the shade with a nice glass of Riesling or Pimms & Lemonade if you're British. American? Watered-down Coors Lite no doubt.

I digress. This is comfortable. "comfortable and civilized?" - these may be negative adjectives to some. But sometimes that's what I want. A drop of low-key. A splash of downtempo and a "shade" of funk. ;)

GO HERE:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4J6bFDvvwY&ob=av3e

top 50 records of 2011 - 48. Zomes - Earth Grid

2011-11-04T08:46:00.001-07:00

48. ZOMES - EARTH GRID

I had a plan of what to write here and I was in the process of doing some basic research on http://www.last.fm when I saw this:

MWhipple wrote:

April 2011

don't really give a shit how this new one sounds...i'm just happy to have new zomes.

I don't give a shit whether the chicken is cooked or not. If it's raw I will eat it.

This is the second LP from Asa Osborne of hardcore band Lungfish. I didn't know that until about 10 minutes ago. I didn't really analyse the music so much, which is both rare and rewarding for me. It's geometric like Boards of Canada but lacks their electronic melody and playfulness. Instead it thrums and repeats; it's like a robot that meditates. It has the hardcore guitar lines and now I know about Osborne, I can make the link. However, it's nothing like hardcore, or like any guitar music at all for that matter. Drone?

"Drone" gets bandied about a lot as a genre and I hate fucking mentioning it, but it feels like it's gotta be done. Also, the beats and "lo-fi" acoustics make it sound like it's playing inside my body and I like that a lot. Comfort. In. Sound.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbJBTlkWY2M

*looks like I fucked up the formatting when copying and pasting. looks quite good though. go and go fuck off!

top 50 records of 2011 - 49. Cornershop - Cornershop and the Double 'O' Groove Of

2011-11-03T03:59:00.000-07:00

49. CORNERSHOP - CORNERSHOP & THE DOUBLE-O GROOVE OF

Cornershop have been around for 20 years now and this is their sixth album. While thev've experimented with funk, rock and mostly pop in their career, this album refreshingly gets back to their Punjabi roots and is playful in nature. Can we call it Indian indie?

It's highly danceable and it chops and changes enough to keep the listener entertained for the course of the 40 minutes. When it comes to things like Bollywood films and music, I like the initial shtick of telling an epic story through just a few minutes, complete with jaw-dropping costumes, but it loses its vitality after about half an hour as it's just too cheesy.

Whatever. Here though, it all sounds vital, as there's no dancing, cricket or Darjeeling tea there to distract me.

GO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRKkBhk2yVM&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL40576C5F96E0DEDE

top 50 records of 2011 - 50. Wye Oak - Civilian

2011-11-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

50. WYE OAK - CIVILIAN

Many compare Wye Oak to my winners of last year, Beach House, in that they play dreamy indie-folk with bodacious hooks. Also they share the same city of Baltimore, Maryland in the good old United States of America. And there are only 2 members in each band.

But where Beach House use gloss and incorporate a full-bodied sound on last years supreme "Teen Dream;" Wye Oak exploit a rootsy, here-and-now texture. Take the opening song "Two Small Deaths" and the listener is stepping right into a room of conversation and clatter, maybe a diner or cafe. The transportation into this space is sealed for the duration of this record and it only took a few seconds. Great execution. Like magic.

I feel very substantial and sheltered when I listen to this. When it's pissing it down with rain outside or I've had a bit of a brandy night, I'll spin it in the morning. It really picks me up. The pacing is overall quite steady, but "Civilian" does contain some absolute treasures like the title track that powers through with absolute tumbledown, knowing exactly what it wants to say.

GO HERE: http://vimeo.com/20877864

Album Review: The Streets - Computers & Blues

2011-05-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

The Streets - Computers & Blues

You've got your own life to live and don't need recommendations from a whack whichever way fits full-of-shit wanker. At all.

I really enjoy the new Streets album because he doesn't make me cringe. He gets sloppy sometimes. He's not as exciting as a young Dizzee Rascal or whatever but I feel he knows like he knows to wants exactly go where to say somethings unlike say Tyler The Masturbator who always apologises for saying he's angry.

Why do I have to lump them together to compare, contrast and show their similarities, opposites, flaws and thorns? You ask me!

In terms of good rap albums I don't know much. Call me ignorant. I'm actually not. I just wading feel like I'm through trapsing at dogshit. Not only me.

And then it goes. You know what I mean. Mike Skinner says some utterances about going out for a drink but he has a lot of romanticism and kinetic drive to the production that it all adds up to good a hearing time yours. He does some A-Z rap though that I'm not a Wild Beast about. Digging their new shit!

8/10

Album Review: The Antlers - Burst Apart

2011-05-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

The Antlers - Burst Apart

I pressed play and thought oh my and it was a beautiful moment it's beautiful kind of music if you haven't searched for much music beautiful for you maybe problem problem that you have to search for beautiful beauty after the first two tracks and I feel that these Antlers are a little bit pussy when compared to their last grim subject matter in their last album "Hospice" when they sang about hospitals and I liked the theme of that decay of life.

These Antlers. They should follow a band like Deerhunter who shoot animals that we can make skin out of for a drum and use the antlers for drumsticks. They shoot right down to the core. They experiment a lot and this album sounds a bit pale and safe in comparison. Yep it's pretty in parts and really nice and not really shitty but I feel that if you want an emotional radio friendly album go and listen to Coldplay.

Q: What is Coldplay?

A: A snowball fight.

6/10

Album Review: The Strokes - Angles

2011-04-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

The Strokes - Angles

I don't know why the band The Strokes wanted to come out and say that they are not friends that sounds like a cry-baby game to me Nick Valensi that sounds like a cry-baby game to me.

I'm not such a big one on this kind of thing like I used to be in my hello-hey day. Hey mate! I think that rock & roll is great when it's in it's prime but I just don't know anymore.

Hello. That said, the sound of the music isn't exactly playing the cry-baby game anymore. I'm sold about this. There's some fire on this thing. "Taken for a Fool" and "Under Cover Of Darkness" and "Games" are a 3 songs like I like I like I!!!!!!

3 is not a magic number for me. It's not enough for place to be. Don't you see? The quality gets good but for some cry-baby's that have done better before to great that's what you don't get alright? Oh! I get it alright!

7/10

Album Review: TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light

2011-04-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light

You know what? I heard this one for the first time today and I was thinking that it reminded me of a great idea I still have!

I think this band have still got the great idea that I still have!

You know what? I feel that my heart is an organ.

You know what? Do you remember "Last Christmas I gave you my heart / but the very next day you gave it away / this way to save it from veneers / I'll give it to someone special!"

That song was about love. This album is a bit schmoozy too. It's not bad for it though. I'd go lap it up in an bear-hug you can't cunt have had of.

8/10

Album Review: Radiohead: The King of Limbs

2011-04-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Radiohead: The King of Limbs

Instead of saying "Radiohead have done the right thing" or "Radiohead have done the quite right thing" I'm gonna say that Radiohead have really done the right thing". I love this album I can't hate.

I think that "Bloom" opens well. After around 30 listens I think it's still blooming. There are classically timed of moments. There are stuttering beats but it's nice. I like it. The voice of Thom Yorke didn't quite grab right hold of me at first earshot listen.

Later I went to "Good Morning Mr. Magpie!" and felt that the staccato beat over and over with the main things meant a nice. Guitars and all. Not exactly choked up wouldn't you say?

And on it went really. Up goes "Little By Little." It sounds another country. Nice Good song expected. Spain and Morocco.

Come along "Feral. " Hello. Like sounds electronica and some more. Lot more actually. Actually, moreover it sounds a bit more like Flying Lotus someone said; I don't know; it stands up on the merits of "Feral."

"Lotus Flower" just gets more incredible with every listen.

"Codex" is a beautiful one that settles down after one that was to going some different later. She was was saying that it felt nice and "OK Computer" wasn't always the best album. "Hell!" she said!

"Giving Up The Ghost" is whack advice but I like this track.

"Reckoner" is great I think. The little warm guitar lick after the supposed "doom and gloom" or "scary motherfucker" album that everyone blogs about isn't.

9/10

Paper Pieces

2011-02-27T22:25:00.000-08:00

Paper Pieces

Paper pieces of snowflakes

Fall on the concrete curb

Not a highway

Clocking and organizing

Ticking and clicking

Organizing

Tight-roped and gullible

With fortunate flowers

Not in the rainforest

Records of 2010 - 01- Beach House - Teen Dream

2010-12-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 01- Beach House - Teen Dream

This is pristine. I love this. I love a lot of things. What's a stronger word for love? Here we hear from my good friend Rob Cassell:"

"treat your ears to a little aural sex". Thanks Rob. Well, this album has cleared up in a lot of the end of year polls, maybe just behind Kanye West - he's not on here, I don't like his voice - but enough hyperbole about my scruffy friend Rob. Kanye West may populate the lists and this list acknowledges him. I have to clear it up that I think he's not worthy. He tries. A little too hard for my liking.

So, this list. What does it mean? It's so hard to choose anything. Is 41st better than 7th? I'm confused. I just tried to compare them. Mount Kimbie and Four Tet are both brilliant. Anyway, back to base, Beach House delivered to the nth degree with "Teen Dream" - 2008's excellent "Devotion" was like looking for treasure in a cave and with "Teen Dream" we've found it - full-bodied and glorious music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIGvqxN--aY

Records of 2010 - 02 - The National - High Violet

2010-12-23T13:27:00.001-08:00

Records of 2010 - 02 - The National - High Violet

Owen Brown
is still listening to the rich and classy High Violet all the time
07 June at 01:21 · · Comment

Records of 2010 - 03 - Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

2010-12-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 03 - Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

Sufan Stevens? Yes. When he released "All Delighted People," it dropped out of heaven on August 20th and nobody knew. Most albums leak 2 months in advance nowadays and this "EP' was 59 minutes long. Is it worth kicking up beef about this? No. Let's praise "The Age of Adz." It's a great album because like I predicted, Sufjan turned away from the incredible delicacy of 2005's "Illinois" and went a lot darker and self-referential here. "Vesuvius" directly references the creator:

"Sufjan, follow the path

It leads to an article of imminent death

Sufjan, follow your heart

Follow the flame

Or fall on the floor"

Let's talk about the electronics. Sure, it's no Kid A. Everyone keeps talking about the comparison. This is more orchestral. More bombastic. It's not Kid A, but it's a meanly crafted electronic album. The 25 minute closer "Impossible Soul" is something else entirely and brings home one of the best records in an erm... age?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25OC3m5QdYY

Records of 2010 - 04 - Forest Swords - Dagger Path

2010-12-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 04 - Forest Swords - Dagger Path

In which cowboy music meets dub. In which subtlety meets coyness. In which dark nights meet bright mornings. In which intelligence meets soul. In which rustiness meets a search for oil. In which Leftfield meet Ennio Morricone. In which craft meets texture. In which roughness meets a smooth execution. In which a promising start means a great future. In which lo-fi should be played on your hi-fi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsjLIjYEYQ4

Records of 2010 - 5. Mark McGuire - Living With Yourself

2010-12-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 5. Mark McGuire - Living With Yourself

What a great year for Mark McGuire. The Emeralds guitarist released the space-age album of the year in "Does It Look Like I'm Here" allowing listeners to meditate to the moon and back. On this debut, solo release however, McGuire steps back, strips down his down and gives an acoustic, glistening album about memories of family and friends. The sounds he creates are grainy and mesmeric, hushed and intimate. The childhood dialogues he plays over make for some of the most nostalgic shit I've heard in an age. I feel I'll look back in a few years, savoring 2010, the first time I heard it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-GUSF-Y6As

Records of 2010 - 06 - Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here

2010-12-23T12:33:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 06 - Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here

Gil Scott Herren has made perhaps the best comeback of all time in this unbelievably touching LP. Normally age softens up a man, but this poet, soul singer, legend still has more edge than a sharp side of paper. There's no papercuts here though, just on-the-beam spoken word over sharp DJ Shadow esque production. After 16 years out of the game, this return brings rap, dub, gospel and poetry to shady, shimmering and self-deprecating effect. Essential.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiuorrXsngM

Records of 2010 - 7. Four Tet - There is Love in You

2010-12-23T12:18:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 7. Four Tet - There is Love in You

Busy around the city? Buzzing around the city? Fidgeting on your way to work? No more my friend! "There is Love in You" is busy and minimal - but not cold! The beats have staccato elasticity to them. They crunch up. They scrunch up. So, when you're hunched up on the London Underground, do some secret dancing while you're listening to your device. It's not all upbeat however, "This Unfolds" and "She Just Likes to Fight" are total masterclasses at soothing your sleepy head after a hard day's work surfing Napster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpe4id7cLnU

Records of 2010 - 8. Matthew Dear - Black City

2010-12-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 8. Matthew Dear - Black City

This album is a dark and twisted dance in the urban sprawl of a twisted mind in a jam of a funk. Matthew Dear has exceptionaly built on 2008's sprightly '"Asa Breed" to infuse disco, glitch and high vocal experimentation to create a sultry and foreboding fourth album. It's lyrical and vocal seduction. Take this for example- "You Put a Smell on Me:"

"Take a ride in my big black car

We can go real loud

We can go real far

We have a radio in my big black car

We can go all night, if you wanna go far

You decide if you want to come

Take a ride with me in my big black gun

We've got four wheels that can take us there

If you wanna come down

Don't answer me"

Could anything me more inviting right now? I don't think so. Noir. Sombre. Surpenant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnU_16mXMNw

Records of 2010 - 9. The Roots - How I Got Over

2010-12-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 9. The Roots - How I Got Over

The Roots are old-heads but I love to keep listening. "How I Got Over" is of course about jumping hurdles. I was never great at that. Once at school though, on sports day, I was winning the hurdles race. I must have been around 13. Just at the last one, I bottled it and clipped the last hurdle, losing my footing and finishing 2nd. I do this when I play pool too - race ahead and then fuck up on the 8-ball. Anyway The Roots still haven't overcome everything, hence a little irony in the albums title, but ?uestlove's soulful production as right on and the rhymes as best as they've ever done. Get on board. That's it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI4D1QOLGuM

Records of 2010 - 10. Everything Everything - Man Alive

2010-12-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 10. Everything Everything - Man Alive

The most underrated record this year. Pitchfork claimed: "Man Alive is jacked up with bizarre key changes, superfluous time-signature switches, electro noodling, and half-rap lyrics delivered in run-on melodies" giving it a 3.8 /10 in the process".

They felt it was a bit overcooked, a bit too full, overly rich. I disagree. I think it turns many corners, delivers a lot bizarre wit: "Who's gonna sit on your face when I'm gone?" asks the band on "Suffragette Suffragette." In terms of style, they are recollective of early Blur chippernes, mixed with the sparkling oddness of Wild Beasts. The production is stellar, the voice is stellar, this album is stellar. However, my writing is full of Spanish Rioja.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6udfNIzRUX0

Records of 2010 - 11 - Holy Fuck - Latin

2010-12-21T11:39:00.001-08:00

Records of 2010 - 11 - Holy Fuck - Latin

Holy Fuck turn up the shit on this album. This improvisational dance rock band are "creating the equivalent of modern electronic music without actually using the techniques, looping, splicing, programming - and the like—of that music" according to Pitchfork. Where their first two albums were spazzy and "improvisational" (maybe only live,) they seem to be on a journey here, instead of a "let's riot" or a "let's get fucked up" philosophy.It's still a total blast though. With a lack of good rock albums this year, this is the album with the brimming energy that your pre-gaming needs. Just that "Latin" knows its limits, and forges a tight path this time around, which ain't no bad thing at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Y7TAtoAFk

Records of 2010 - 12. Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea

2010-12-21T11:21:00.001-08:00

Records of 2010 - 12. Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea

What a record. I struggle to know what to say at 3.23 am. Elise is drying her hair and going to bed. Anyway:

"For Eno, the thrill of music at this stage in his pioneering career seems to be what it can stir in the mind’s eye, the imaginative place beyond any particular construct of notes. In that sense, Eno has little need for traditional composition and has instead built “Small Craft” from edited improvisations with his collaborators. None of the songs really have lead parts — several electronic elements thrum, often twisting around each other." --Margaret Wappler, L.A Times, November 2010---

Brian Eno has had an incredible year, curating the Brighton Festival and releasing a mesmeric album. Well done the egghead!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrB-iNHIP5k

Records of 2010 - 13. Dean and Britta - 13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests

2010-12-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 13. Dean and Britta - 13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests

Courtesy of Billboard.com

"Between 1964 and 1966, Andy Warhol created nearly 500 "screen tests" -- s
hort, silent, filmed portraits of the famous and unknown personalities who made their way through the Factory. In 2008, the Andy Warhol Museum and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust commissioned the dreamy folk-rock duo of Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips (former members of indie-pop band Luna) to provide music for 13 of these silent clips and perform the songs as part of a live, multimedia presentation of the shorts"

What we have here is an album that sounds like a dream mixtape. Dean has taken the shoegaze from former band Galaxie 500 for the stellar "Teenage Lightning and Lonely Highyways," Casio electronica for "Ann Buchanan Theme" and old-blues for "Herringbone Tweed." The vocals of Britta on "I'll Keep it With Mine" are sugar-sweet and she contributes more across many tracks. Overall, the styles flutter around to give you an act that sound like 13 different bands in one stunning little package.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In1c5O3bNeg&NR=1

Records of 2010 - 14. Wools - In Fornelo

2010-12-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 14. Wools - In Fornelo

Straight out of Coimbra, Portugal, this music is nowhere to be seen on the interweb. Who is it? Some young student I think. Bedroom genius for sure. You can download it from the far reaches of Magiska like I did. I took a chance and gave it a shot. It's incredible. There's no information to describe it other than your ears picking up what they're hearing. Luscious and beautiful electronica. I think that the main hipster-logs will pick up on this in time, but hey, hype is tripe. Hush yourself and listen to this icy, Portugese music. Two words that have surely never fit into the same sentence.

http://vimeo.com/17353550

Records of 2010 - 15. Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner

2010-12-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 15. Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner

Wearing his influences on his sleeve, Derwin Panda fuses the gaze of Fennesz, the rhythm of The Field and the playfulness of Four Tet. To be honest, this album is all over the place, but it's like an average day in the life. You never know where it's gonna go next. It has nice percussion, strong attention to detail, woozy melodies, and often a very hyper attitude. However, it doesn't feel crammed and congested, just full of great and unpredictable ideas. I tip Gold Panda for future great electronic albums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnMcvacNhk0&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=ML4oVf-d_DwKCCvQaOBnqr4lvtmHtWgR5U

Records of 2010 - 16. Dungen- Skit I Allt

2010-12-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 16. Dungen- Skit I Allt

This band keeps moving forwards. Every time. Psychedelia was the modus operandi in 2004 on"Ta Det Lugnt" and a folky influence was omnipresent on my favourite Dungen album "Stadsvandringar." 2007 and 2008 brought "Tio Bitar" and "4" respectively and the band have chilled out during these last few years. "Skit I Allt" translates as "Fuck it all" as in "Fuck it all, let's live now." So yea, forget your hang-ups and give this a whirl. It's not going to rock your socks off. If that's what you want, check out No Age's "Everything In Between" a little further down the list. This album mixes flutes with guitars with progress with autumn. Another blinder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qJNAQG-lrE

Records of 2010 - 17. Walls- Walls

2010-12-21T07:56:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 17. Walls- Walls

Walls of sound? Yes.

All walls? No.

Hooks? Yes.

Good? More then good.

Rock? No.

Electronic? Yes.

Feel good? Yes. This does. And I do. Just had a shower thanks.

Is this album a solo project? No?

The guy from Banjo or Freakout and a producer? Yes.

Isn't his name Hello, Hello? No.

What is it then? You were close, it's French sounding. It's Allez Allez.

Does they work well together? Yes, I feel that they've fashioned a great sound. Distortion and harmonies that will wash over you like a wave drowning a prick. No more questions please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3pcq_LtOTE

Records of 2010 - 18- Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

2010-12-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 18- Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

Is it hip-hop? A friend and I debated it. He thought he won. I thought I won. I won:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uCyv05SG1g

Records of 2010 - 19. Baths - Cerulean

2010-12-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 19. Baths - Cerulean

I gave this is a spin this morning and what I thought about was the sheer potential that Will Wiesenfeld has got in his magic fingers, magic ears and magic imagination. "Cerulean" is very glitchy, very polished and very bedroom. The name of the artist is also apt as the aqua splashes around a lot on this LP. It's watery dream-hop and it's top dog.

While 2010 was full of blog-talk about chillwave and some it it was highly stylized and self-conscious, Baths came across as wonky and new, bouncy and tender. One to watch without a shadow of a doubt Rob.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oht03vPG-nE&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLAYMcY2vx8GQDghhcSv3VZwM8CXV8zUDT

Records of 2010 - 20 No Age - Everything In Between

2010-12-18T05:31:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 20 No Age - Everything In Between

I can't argue with this description from Filter Magazine:

"With the stunning Everything in Between, Randall and Spunt's emergent sonic juggernaut, No Age is continuing to build, brick by brick, a bulletproof reputation for thunderous virtuosity-all without leaning on worthless crutches like Auto-Tune, capitalized formula, compromise and other fakery that divides pretenders from those who set fire to the dustbin of musical history." --Scott Thill, Filter Magazine, August 2010--

An absolute tearaway of a rock album that breathes a lot of energy into proceedings, without breathing fire. This ain't do dragon. It's a brown bear. --Me, now--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWhCgA6r0Sk

Records of 2010 - 21. Vampire Weekend - Contra

2010-12-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 21. Vampire Weekend - Contra

I really can't edit pictures of vampires. I need to hire a designer that can trim the picture below that I wanted to cheekily use to describe the arrogant album you see on the right of your picture. Not to worry, "Contra" is confident, cocksure, brilliant and expansive. When I first heard it, it blew me away. "Contra" might not grow old gracefully, but I still admire the crafstmanship of Autotune. Maybe one day it'll come back and give me a bite in the neck, here's hoping:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVfTNCb_7js

Records of 2010 - 22. Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People

2010-12-16T11:17:00.001-08:00

Records of 2010 - 22. Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People

I ain't putting EP in brackets on the title like I'm supposed to. This is an album. It's just under an hour long. Wanted to get that bit out of the way. Let's move on. This is great. It's really nice. It came out of nowhere, sans hype on August 10th 2010. Nobody expected it. It just dropped. That's refreshing. There may be 2 versions of the title track but I don't mind, they're different flavours. As for the rest, I feel that it he's as progressive as ever and pretty folky. He's very pretty, unlike a lot of folk. "The Age of Adz," which came out a couple of months later, is electronic in texture and is a great departure from "All Delighted People," but at least here we have a lot of instruments, a lot of songs exceeding the 5 and 10 (!) minute mark and a nice box of tricks. What a shit description from me. I retire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcKZkYxB1Hk

Records of 2010 - 23. Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago

2010-12-16T10:38:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 23. Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago

Going back to nature. Going back to the heart. Going back to how to realized you fell in love with guitars and vocals in the first place. Going on holiday. Going to tell you about this:

Shearwater are an offshoot of Okkervil River, a stunning folk band from Austin, Texas. Where Okkervil River pour their heart out, I'd argue that Sheawater have a full-bodied sound in their instrumentation. This is rich and luscious stuff my friend. Sure, they strip it down at times, like in the opener "Meridian," but the voice of Jonathan Meiburg is so ruby-red that it shines through like a nice Cabernet Sauvignon. What am I writing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpVHECZppdU

Records of 2010 - 24. Perfume Genius - Learning

2010-12-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 24. Perfume Genius - Learning

and sometimes someone just comes along that is a breath of fresh air and a refreshing story of a 26 year old who got sick of New York City and moved back in with his Mum in Seattle and he made his music and this is it and it's a story of someone who takes solace in comfort that he'll be aight and that troubled times are not behind and that he's, well, "learning" about stuff and songs about love and about suffer and about mending and all the usual shit done in a really unique style and a lot of piano and a great voice and someone that's really just started starting and one to watch absolutely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mqbl2oaKa8

Records of 2010 - 25. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

2010-12-16T09:13:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 25. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

Deerhunter are one of the best bands in the world. Live and on record. With their fourth album, they've gone for the concept of memory and created their most lucid piece of work in every sense of the word and I'll leave it at that. Just read the dictionary definition and listen to "Helicopter" on the link below, and instead of putting it into words, I'll put it into a word:

–adjective

easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible: alucid explanation.

characterized by clear perception or understanding; rationalor sane: a lucid moment in his madness.

shining or bright.

clear; pellucid; transparent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5RzpPrOd-4

Records of 2010 - 26. Jónsi - Go

2010-12-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 26. Jónsi - Go

This is a true heavyweight of an album. When it came out in Spring, it was like waking up to true techni-colour. Like all his music with Sigur Rós, "Go" is just adorable. You've pretty much got 2 virtuosos working together on this one. Nico Muhly copies and pastes the production like a student with quotes on a shit essay; the main difference being that this isn't shit. It's brilliant. The voice of the creator is better than ever, his range just utterly incredible, combining with Muhly's scuttling production on "Animal Arithmetic" with fizzy effect. However, it's "Boy Lilikoi" that provides that devastatingly beautiful moment that makes you think"You know what? This is the 26th best album to be released in 2010."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBgPmw3JCN4

Records of 2010 - 27. Girl Talk - All Day

2010-12-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 27. Girl Talk - All Day

The great thing here is that you can legally download this album for free. There are no fucking excuses. For you folk that dunno, this Australian DJ meshes hippity-hop with cheesy pop and guitar-licks of old. So you get something like Rihanna over Fugazi. Or Gaga over, er, I forget - the Teletubbies or whatever. I joke around. It's over Aphex Twin! More seriously, even if you hate most mainstream hip-hop and pop like me, this should still put a shit-eating grin on your face. He's done 3 of these now and even if it's a case of more of the same, I don't care because this party sounds like magic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugf6Dl5danQ

Records of 2010 - 28. Caribou - Swim

2010-12-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 28. Caribou - Swim

Caribou are one of the best live bands I have ever seen. They came out wearing cat masks and played an amazing set of swooshing, tow-headed electronic folk music. The sound of this artist has evolved so much since 2004 when he was premiering a lot of his dusty, yet not rusty cuts. Cuts. Cuts. Cuts. Dan Snaith is a cut-above-the-rest really, as he brings home some schizo-disco on this banger of an LP. As ever, he sounds like summer. As ever, he sounds he sounds like his life is fun. Er. As ever, he delivers. As ever, it's Caribou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vaOgn716l4

Records of 2010 - 29. The Books - The Way Out

2010-12-16T07:10:00.001-08:00

Records of 2010 - 29. The Books - The Way Out

The Books are nice. They're really good. The Books make sound collages out of obscure samples and weave together their own bizarre narratives. This, their fourth album takes self-help and hypnotherapy as the chief concepts as "you feel yourself going, deeper and deeper"as per the opener "Group Autogenics I." All this splicing together of sounds makes for something highly psychedelic, especially when said track starts talking about "orange coloured liquid." The Books have made four albums so far and many regard 2003's Japanese concept album "The Lemon of Pink" as their masterpiece. I, however feel that as they get older and wiser, their quality keeps growing, their sound getting less gimmicky and a lot richer. "The Way Out" contains some of their best work. I strongly think these guys can help you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNKKcoyQPis

Records of 2010 - 30. Emeralds - Does it Look Like I'm Here?

2010-12-12T02:32:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 30. Emeralds - Does it Look Like I'm Here?

A space. Outer Space. Space-age. Synths. Meditative. Floating in hyper-space. Minimalism. Digital realism...

...Call it what you want, these abstract soundswirls are an entire different world to get sucked into. I forget I'm actually listening to an album when I stick this on, I prefer to just let it flow. Normally when we think about music, we're all about deconstructing the parts, trying to fathom why we liked it in the first place.

...Well, it's difficult to do that with Emeralds. Like when M83 arrived on the scene in 2003 with Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, the mechanics here should do wonders for your mindset, transporting you to another place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHfFZYK81lA

Records of 2010 - 31. Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy (soundtrack)

2010-12-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 31. Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy (soundtrack)

This movie I dunno. This movie is hyped. This movie I wanna see. This movie I don't wanna be disappointed.

This soundtrack I do know. This soundtrack isn't really hyped. This soundtrack I can't see it I hear it instead. I'm not disappointed by this soundtrack.

It's pretty majestic. It's Daft Punk without too many beats. It builds suspense. It's classically influenced (shit I can't say Rachmannioff meets Klinsmann, I know nothing about this genre). It's ace. Yes boy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK2Ho0VSXT8

Records of 2010 - 32. The Walkmen - Lisbon

2010-12-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 32. The Walkmen - Lisbon

This is fucking ace. That's all I've got to say. Tim, I can't put it any better than this:

"The specific brand of desperation that the band conjures is miles away from, say, the throbbing, dread-laced depression of fellow dapper New Yorkers the National. The Walkmen are more theatrical and unwound than that-- they're the guys out in the middle of the street, screaming up at the sky, begging to know why everything always falls apart." --Tom Breihan, Pitchforkmedia, September 2010--

Okay, I'll say some words. The Walkmen sound comfortable here. There's something lovably rosy about Lisbon. Is it the mediterranean idea of living there? Is it his gruff voice? Nah mate. I just gone and promised you, it's the music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbZUpLbDgLo

Records of 2010 - 33. Konono No.1 - Assume Crash Position

2010-12-09T10:15:00.001-08:00

Records of 2010 - 33. Konono No.1 - Assume Crash Position

Pitchfork:

"It's been five years since Congotronics introduced Konono to a broader international audience. That record reached people who didn't know a thing about Congolese music, but loved the band's ping-buzz-crack timbre, admired their punkish "use whatever materials are at hand" attitude, and know a killer groove when they heard one..."

Right. Pitchfork. Right. You cunts. You think you're right. This band are not making punk. This band are all about the live element, which granted you said in your review is more 'worth-it' than dragging the band into the studio. Pitchfork you're right, they do sound like a one-trick-pony.But surely there's no need to drop the score from 7.9 for "Congotronics" to 5.7 for "Assume Crash Position," especially when you don't really justify it.

The shit thing is - how can I justify loving this album? I like the grooves. It makes me nod my head a lot and think of having the strobe lights on in my bedroom, not that I do this, but I'd like to move into a new apartment, with new people and absolutely insist that that's the only way I could get to sleep; with strobe lights and music from the Congo. The life of a nut-job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbm_HPlFBxA

Records of 2010 - 34. Pantha Du Price - Black Noise

2010-12-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 34. Pantha Du Price - Black Noise

Writing. Jogging. Creating. Thinking. Clicking. Eating. Sexing. Washing. Travelling. Designing. Contemplating. Moving. Spending. Drinking. Looking. Nodding. Shaking. Saving. Blending. Knocking. Walking. Typing. Listening. Gazing. Organizing. Asking. Wanting. Shaking. Pushing. Stroking. Loving. Wearing. Sightseeing. Commuting. Nudging. Complimenting. Dining. Dashing. Dancing. Living. All in one minimal techno package.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYp91WftFqQ

Records of 2010 - 35. The Russian Futurists - The Weight's on the Wheels

2010-12-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 35. The Russian Futurists - The Weight's on the Wheels

I love this band, they're really nice. I love the way that Matthew Adam Hart started out as a bedroom recording artist and now they've expanded to be a decent band in their own right. It's a sign of progress. Even better is the fact that this friendly, underground indie-pop band had 2 songs featured on NBA2K11, a basketball game that's huge on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, not that I play those things; I just reseached it from clickety-click-click on wikipedia. Anyway, "The Weight's on the Wheels" recollects early Of Montreal and the directness of the poppy melodies combined with the cryptic lyrics means they're pulling rabbits out of hats on every song here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQeIOe0PWGg

Records of 2010 - 35. Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut

2010-12-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 35. Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut

Some random online sex-pest that calls himself "Jimmy Fuller" recommended this album to me whilst being really sleazy, telling me he was touching himself whilst he was listening to it. I instantly deleted him of corpse and hesitantly listened. What I heard was a nice blast of garage rock that has dancefloor disco tendencies, in a scuttle of distortion, like on the goddamnit excellent "Hoola." You know what? I would speak to Jimmy again if we was just your run-of the-mill stalker, but the fact that we was such a lusty wanker, means that our 5 minute "friendship" of asking age? / sex? / location ? is over forever. Maybe he thought sex meant sex. Shit. Lost cause.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZg8qY9rh20

Records of 2010 - 36. High Places - High Places Vs. Mankind

2010-12-09T01:22:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 36. High Places - High Places Vs. Mankind

Here are the facts (wikipedia!):

"Since its inception, High Places has created a signature sound out of using bass-heavy, yet crisp beats, lilting vocal melodies, syncopated rhythmic lines performed on folk percussion instruments, guitar duets turned into treated samples, and percussive lines created from the manipulation of household objects. The duo has an “exquisite corpse” style of songwriting where they exchange ideas back and forth, challenging one another’s expectations. The songwriting is expansive and fluid, all the while managing to be concise. Overall, the compositions are settled and assured. High Places gravitates toward the organic over the electronic, and that natural aesthetic adds warmth and intimacy to the recordings."

My opinion:

Eerie, experimental and excellent dream-pop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyeQeEq2sp8

Records of 2010 - 37. Michael Jackson - Michael

2010-12-09T00:37:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 37. Michael Jackson - Michael

Many people are still reeling from the passing of the joint greatest pop star of all time (Madonna is amazing too) and a year and a half later we have some posthumous stuff.

This is better than most of the pop out there. The production is killer. The album is leaner than 2001's messy "Invincible"and if anything the structure of say the Tricky produced (!) "Keep Your Head Up" is reminiscent of R-Kelly.

It's the sound of an artist having good things to come, which sadly isn't the case. It's the sounds of optimism from a man who led a wounded life. It's the sound of warm, colourful, crackerjack pop from the one that started it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIxEISCUN3k

Records of 2010 - 38. How to Dress Well - Love Remains

2010-12-08T18:35:00.001-08:00

Records of 2010 - 38. How to Dress Well - Love Remains

"Everybody's talking at me.
I don't hear a word they're saying,
Only the echoes of my mind.
People stopping staring,
I can't see their faces,
Only the shadows of their eyes"

--Harry Nilsson, 1971--

Tom Krell lives a different life. Though he's hyped to shit in the real world by all the blogs and hot girls wearing pedal-pushers - he's too busy focusing on his icy-warm harmonies. People say "lo-fi," or mention the 90's R&B influence on his electronica, but I'm not gonna throw a genre description into the mix. I think it's best to get lost in his hazy, ghostly mix. If you like the idea of holidaying in Alaska and Hawaii in one visit, then check this, partner! Certainly one to watch, this is refreshing like a lime soda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxLY9l5Fmmc

Records of 2010 - 39. Wild Nothing- Gemini

2010-12-08T18:19:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 39. Wild Nothing- Gemini

Once I had a dream that I was in a state of bliss a sugary bliss that felt sweet but not sticky and a bit wintry like eating chocolate in bed and I missed you and your jokes and your fuck-ups and a lazy day to contemplate some chords feedback echo and lyrics just knowing that even if we didn't go and create simply thinking about creating was a nice activity in itself and the clouds were parting and the snow rose back up into the sky. The daydream I had was just now. Wild Nothing's "Gemini" gives me many of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmDQDqZE4Fo

Records of 2010 - 40. DJ Roc - The Crack Capone

2010-12-08T01:29:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 40. DJ Roc - The Crack Capone

Apparently this record has annoyed the shit out of some people. B. McGhee of Tiny Mix Tapes says:

"I have resorted to my usual devices: sitting in my living room and playing these tracks for my friends, watching their faces scrunch up with a strange mixture of bewilderment and disgust. Usually after a minute or so of cognitive dissonance, they are ready for me to switch the playlist back to Sufjan or Flying Lotus or whatever else I was listening to."

I think this is best played to yourself. It takes the violence of hip-hop and throws in the sensibilities of house music. It's highly de-constructive and is all the better for it. "The Crack Capone" has all the dirty, meaty production of an erm.. dirty, meaty, meat factory. Packaged ghetto house. Ghetto for the head, sans the annoying thuggery bullshit. Better than a bullet to the heart!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK1qfYIK76k&feature=related

Records of 2010 - 41. Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers

2010-12-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 41. Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers

I enjoy this album. It reminds me of Cassius more than it does of dubstep. What do you think Aubrey? Whatever you say I'll post below:

"This vibrant album is truly incredible. Production mastery and forward-thinking stylistic ideas birth truly innovative and nuanced music. Dance music production techniques bring out a compelling dynamism in what is essentially living room electronic music, though many tracks could be played for the dance floor. The influence of bands like The Avalanches and Booka Shade can be heard at times but really this music is its own beast. Elements of Dubstep and Minimal dance music can be heard often, though no specific artist really can be pinpointed as a primary source. Take a listen to this, it is probably one of the best albums you've never heard of."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUFJquHgzTw

Records of 2010 - 42. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

2010-12-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 42. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

Maybe his last album. Maybe not. James Murphy brings another party:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLPeQ9U_f-0

Records of 2010 - 43. John Grant - Queen of Denmark

2010-12-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

Records of 2010 - 43. John Grant - Queen of Denmark

This album is a shoot-back to the 70's. This struggled singer-songwriter has got Midlake on backing for an absolute corker that's full of suicidal thoughts, lovelorn struggles and brutal honesty. Grant thankfully tells us that his shit's not over yet, he's gonna give life another chance. These are some of the best lyrics ever:

"And I feel like I'm on Jupiter / The one that looks like rainbow sherbert"

"Someday's just chicken bones / you'd better fuck off now / you'd better leave me alone"

"I wish that I had the brain of a Tyrannosaurus Rex / so I didn't have to deal with all this crap"

"I'm sorry that they didn't hand it to me on a silver platter like they did to you..."

...And so it goes. Check it out. Highly recommended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-dPVyM2hYc

spaghetti blogonese

records of 2011: 1. Kode9 & The Spaceape - Black Sun

records of 2011 - 2. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

records of 2011- 3. Delicate Steve - Wondervisions

records of 2011 - 4. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

records of 2011. 5. Cut Copy. Zonoscope

records of 2011 - 6. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

top records of 2011: 7. Clams Casino - Instrumentals

top records of 2011 - 8. Zomby - Dedication

top records of 2011 - 9. Bullion - You Drive Me To Plastic

top records of 2011 - 10. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

top records of 2011. 11.The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient

top records of 2011 - 12. Tinariwen - Mazes

top records of 2011. 13. Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place

top records of 2011 - 14. Björk - Biophilia

top records of 2011 - 15. Moon Duo - Mazes

top records of 2011 - 16. Future Islands - On The Water

top records of 2011 - 17. Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT

top records of 2011 - 18. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica

top records of 2011 - 19. Gazelle Twin - The Entire City

top records of 2011 - 20. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

records of 2011 = 21. Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer

top records of 2011 - 22 - Air Drops - EP

records of 2011. 23. Mark McGuire - Get Lost

top records of 2011 - 24. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

records of 2011. 25. Jonas Reinhardt - Music For The Tactile Dome

records of 2011. 26. Junior Boys - It's All True

top records of 2011 - 27. Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

top 50 records of 2011 - 28. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong

top 50 records of 2011 - 29. Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean

top 50 records of 2011- 30. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

top 50 records of 2011 - 31. Swarms - Old Rave's End

records of 2011. 32. Crystal Stilts - In Love With Oblivion

records of 2011. 33. The Streets - Computers & Blues

top 50 records of 2011 - 34. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

top 50 records of 2011 - 35. Real Estate - Days

top 50 records of 2011 - 36 - Wire Red Barked Tree

top 50 records of 2011 - 37. Civil Civic - Rules

top 50 records of 2011 - 38. John Foxx & The Maths - Interplay

top 50 records of 2011 - 39. Washed Out - Within and Without

top 50 records of 2011 - 40. Sbtrkt - Sbtrkt

top 50 records of 2011 - 41. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam

top 50 records of 2011 - 42. James Blake- James Blake

top 50 records of 2011 - 43. Fujiya & Miyagi - Ventriloquizzing

top 50 records of 2011 - 44. The Field - Looping State of Mind

top 50 records of 2011 - 45. Cashier No.9 - To The Death Of Fun

top 50 records of 2011 - 46. Anika - Anika

top 50 records of 2011 - 47. Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

top 50 records of 2011 - 48. Zomes - Earth Grid

top 50 records of 2011 - 49. Cornershop - Cornershop and the Double 'O' Groove Of

top 50 records of 2011 - 50. Wye Oak - Civilian

Album Review: The Streets - Computers & Blues

Album Review: The Antlers - Burst Apart

Album Review: The Strokes - Angles

Album Review: TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light

Album Review: Radiohead: The King of Limbs

Paper Pieces

Records of 2010 - 01- Beach House - Teen Dream

Records of 2010 - 02 - The National - High Violet

Owen Brownis still listening to the rich and classy High Violet all the time

Records of 2010 - 03 - Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

Records of 2010 - 04 - Forest Swords - Dagger Path

Records of 2010 - 5. Mark McGuire - Living With Yourself

Records of 2010 - 06 - Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here

Records of 2010 - 7. Four Tet - There is Love in You

Records of 2010 - 8. Matthew Dear - Black City

Records of 2010 - 9. The Roots - How I Got Over

Records of 2010 - 10. Everything Everything - Man Alive

Records of 2010 - 11 - Holy Fuck - Latin

Records of 2010 - 12. Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea

Records of 2010 - 13. Dean and Britta - 13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests

Records of 2010 - 14. Wools - In Fornelo

Records of 2010 - 15. Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner

Records of 2010 - 16. Dungen- Skit I Allt

Records of 2010 - 17. Walls- Walls

Records of 2010 - 18- Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

Records of 2010 - 19. Baths - Cerulean

Records of 2010 - 20 No Age - Everything In Between

Records of 2010 - 21. Vampire Weekend - Contra

Records of 2010 - 22. Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People

Owen Brown
is still listening to the rich and classy High Violet all the time