Albums of the Decade - 82. The National - High Violet

82. THE NATIONAL - HIGH VIOLET 

Controversial winners of the list from the last decade with Boxer, ahead of Kid A, though that's debatable now, The National brought this record out at the top of the decade. It also, like Boxer, came at a really critical part of my life, as I upped sticks and went to study an intensive teacher-training course in Budapest for a month, in May 2010.

Songs like "Terrible Love," "Sorrow" and "England" were massively flooding me with affectation, as I was walking the streets of the brand new Central European city with coffees, beers and palinkas. Studying and not studying. Falling in and out of love. Coming to terms with my mid-twenties and feeling lost and found.

As one decade ends and another is set to begin, this band remain a special entity. They have evolved into a spellbinding institution, one that explores, delves deeper and enthralls. A full-bodied evolution after Boxer; this band are the crème de la creme. Stirred, not shaken plz.

Albums of 2012 - 7. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

7. DIRTY PROJECTORS - SWING LO MAGELLAN

Albums that polarize opinion are cool in my book. I saw this band in Brighton in 2009 at the time of Bitte Orca and they blew my mind with the sheer bend on the guitar and the vocals of Amber and Haley. It's like when mermaids cry. Massively otherworldly.

David Longstreth is cool too. pPople will say it's his band but oh! you can hear! ideas! Others' ideas heres too. David, Amber and Haley, oh how I idolize you. What are you? You must be from NYC? Hey peeps! Classic songwrting with an avant-spin for a dickhead that wants something different.

albums of 2012 - 38. Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold

38. PARQUET COURTS - LIGHT UP GOLD

Stories in punk. Nice narratives that aren’t too dumb.  Quirky. Retro. From New York City. Though not the sound of NYC as it incorporates Texas members too.  Lean and economical. Fun.  Nice name. Good vocals. A nice band chemistry. A late discovery this year for me. Hard to say more; I will add a quote:

“Parquet Courts are a New York/Texas based band featuring A. Savage an amazing musician known for his contributions to Teenage Cool Kids, Wiccans, and Fergus & Geronimo. Parquet Court’s sound is hard to pin down. Parquet Court’s sound is a mish mash of sounds including psych punk made popular by bands such as Woods and Later-era Meneguar to more straight forward punk. Added to this beautiful mess is a post punk sound influenced by bands such as Sonic Youth, Guided By Voices, and Built To Spill. This style might not be for some, but people open to hearing something new and different really need to give Parquet Courts a listen. Great stuff! Enjoy!”

The Elementary Revolt ---August 2012---

BEST LISTENED TO: When you want some no-nonsense light punk with a storyline.