Środa 5 Lis 2008, 4:49
right, I'm gonna get this in before all the mag end of year lists, so I'm not just reciting what middle-aged hacks at Uncut think is hip this year. I tend to veer between British 'alternative' rock/'Merican 'alt-rock' and 'alt-country' for want of better pigeon-holing labels, so here goes.
I read someone on here did a top 200. That's just plain ridiculous. So here's My Top 10
1For Emma, Forever Ago-Bon Iver
Shock of the year. where did this come from? Who cares? The dude spent a winter in a log cabin and produced the most achingly beautiful record of the year. An instant classic!
2.The Seldom Seen Kid-Elbow
These likeable guys release a carreer best which scoops the Mercury Music Prize this year. Couldn't have happened to a nicer set of blokes, and more importantly, a fucking corking album. Guess they can't play the 'underdog' card anymore.
3.Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes
More hirsute bearded men here (to go with Bon Iver) with pastoral inclinations. Great mixture of Brit and American folk rock with killer harmonies. Love it.
4.Forth-The Verve
How many people were nervous when it was announced that they would release new music after more than a decade? All was fine when we heard 'Love Is Noise'. McCabe and the awesome rhythm section on hand to make sure this didn't sound like another Richard Ashcroft solo album.
5.Cardinology-Ryan Adams and The Cardinals
This hasn't been off the turntable (if we still used turntables) for the last few weeks. Have no clue if it got good/bad reviews, it's just awesome, much better than his previous efforts with Neal Casal's men. 'Fix It' is just sublime.
6.Songs in A&E-Spiritualized
JSpaceman comes back from a near-death experience, with his Acoustic mainline gigs in mind, to release his most cohesive set of songs since, well, a long time. That's not to say the last couple of albums haven't had their moments, on the contrary. This one just seems to hang better together.
7.Dig Out Your Soul-Oasis
Somewhat predictably, this makes the list. people say 'they're back'. i don't know where they went, but if it makes people happy to dismiss their whole output post-What's The Story……, then so be it. They are indeed back, and Liam's skill as a songwriter is a joy to behold. 'Uh-oh, Lennon pastiche' say the critics. 'Fuck off' say I. I actually think it's the critics who need to 'get some new material', but there you go.
8Glasvegas-Glasvegas
Yeah, I fell for the hype, but this time it was justified. A great, great sound, a Spectoresque wall of sound with almost impenetrable Glaswegian vocals, lawd knows what the Americans will think of this. Not quite the album of the year, then, as NME predicted, but pretty damn close.
9. St. Jude-The Courteeners
Not really enjoyed the success that their rent-a-gob leader Liam Fray predicted, but it's been one of my most played albums this year, and I never seem to tire of its Smiths-meets-The Libertines tunes. Saw them twice this year. There was blood.
10.
Oracular Spectacular-MGMT
Tough to name my last one, but this shades it by an inch. Another one that was on constant rotation throughout the first half of the year. Pop music at its very best, not to mention, weirdest. There's no filler on this one, and it contains 3 of the year's most memorable songs, namely 'Kids', 'Time To Pretend' and 'Electric Feel'.
All in all, a tad predictable, but a great album's a great album, so fuck it.
So, no room for Kings of Leon , then? Seems not, but honourable mentions go to them, plus:
Primal Scream, Portishead, Vampire Weekend, Goldfrapp, The Hold Steady, The Last shadow puppets, Okkervil River, Crystal Castles, Ladyhawke, Santogold, Beck, The Felice Brothers and The Walkmen and any others I may have forgotten. I'm sure there are many.
Soz!