Saturday 25 December 2010

50 Favourite Songs Of 2010: The full shebang


A few honourable mentions, firstly to some amazing songs that didn't quite make the list, either through my forgetfulness or getting bumped in a moment of passion. Teenage Fanclub's 'Baby Lee', Cee Lo Green's 'Fuck You' and Radio Dept.'s 'Heaven's On Fire' for instance. Some amazing bands didn't quite yield that ONE AMAZING TUNE but made some incomparable music, such as Caribou, Vampire Weekend, Salem and D/R/U/G/S, who blew my mind live. And these ...

Remix Of The Year

Those big glitzy pop edits just had it in for me this year. Genius Stuart Price turned Gaga’s ‘Paparazzi’ into ‘Material Girl’-era Madonna, Manhattan Clique pumped up the Vickers’ near-perfect ‘Once’ into space-station trance, while Starsmith hit full-on poppers o’clock with their edit of Robyn’s ‘Hang With Me’. But the top two slots both belonged to Clock Opera. Their gutting of the Everything’s ‘MY KZ UR BF’ was a sublime bass-and-bric-a-brac delight but even they couldn’t top their own reworking of Marina And The Diamond’s ‘I Am Not A Robot’. Its delayed-orgasm-rhythm-method-don’t-come-yet-build-up makes me yearn to take it again and again, right in the ear. Polishing a diamond indeed. It was flawless.

Cover Version Of The Year

I proper caved in to The Rayees doing ‘Dancing On My Own’ (Robyn overload!) until I heard Passion Pit’s recorded version of live favourite ‘Dreams’ by The Cranberries. Then right at the last minute Mum-friendly Karen-Carpenter-a-like Rumer slipped yet another a heartbreaker onto her Seasons Of My Soul LP. Yes, it’sGoodbye Girlby David Gates, and it takes the crown. That little vocal trill she does two and a quarter minutes in should do the trick if you’re still unsure.

Gig Of The Year was of course Suede at the Royal Albert Hall ...


This is it folks, what a year, and you get to keep it all forever and ever. Spotify playlist is right here, minus The Vaselines and (We Are) Performance, both on youtube. Happy New Year!


50. I Am Kloot – Northern Skies
49. Islet – We Shall Visit
48. Erykah Badu – 20 Feet Tall
47. The Vaselines – I Hate The Eighties
46. (We Are) Performance – The Living
45. Hole – Skinny Little Bitch
44. Vit Päls – Odysseus
43. Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg – California Gurls
42. Drive-By Truckers – Birthday Boy
41. The National – Anyone’s Ghost
40. Ke$ha – Your Love Is My Drug
39. Wild Nothing – O Lilac
38. MGMT – Song For Dan Treacy
37. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – Beverly Kills
36. The Black Keys – Everlasting Light
35. Four Tet – Angel Echoes
34. Shearwater – Landscape At Speed
33. The Heartbreaks – Liar, My Dear
32. Ed Harcourt – Lustre
31. Best Coast – Boyfriend
30. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim feat. Florence Welch – Here Lies Love
29. Sleigh Bells – Crown On The Ground
28. Belle and Sebastian – I Didn’t See It Coming
27. Gil Scott-Heron – Me And The Devil
26. The Fall – O.F.Y.C. Showcase
25. Villagers – Becoming A Jackal
24. The Hundred In The Hands – Pigeons
23. LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change
22. Zola Jesus – Lightsick
21. Big Boi – Shutterbugg
20. Diana Vickers – Once
19. Gold Panda – Same Dream China
18. Crystal Fighters – Champion Sound
17. The Magnetic Fields – You Must Be Out of Your Mind
16. iamamiwhoami – Y
15. Darwin Deez – Bed Space
14. Janelle Monae feat. Big Boi – Tightrope
13. Ratatat – Drugs
12. Kelis – 4th Of July (Fireworks)
11. CEO – Oh God, Oh Dear


10. The Besnard Lakes – Chicago Train
Two and a half minutes of the finest most gossamer Bon Iver falsettos breaks unexpectedly into chugging guitars and somehow the saddest announcement of the year: ‘This is the last train to Chicago …’ I wish I was on it. I wish I had written it. Timeless and wonderful.



9. Yeasayer – I Remember
Best of a profoundly good bunch from the mighty mighty Yeasayer. Giving into the very best of their Visage tendencies, like so many other bands did this year, only Yeasayer do it better than the rest. It’s pretty much all sad songs from here on in, as usual, but I think there is no voice finer in this top ten than Chris Keating’s.



8. Broken Bells – The High Road
Dopey keyboard intro, Gorillaz drumbeats and one of those melodies that feels like it’s been around since the year dot. How could a collaboration between James from The Shins and Brian ‘Danger Mouse’ Burton not be good. This is probably plenty of people’s album of the year but Track 1 is just it for me. ‘It’s too late to change your mind …’



7. John Grant – Outer Space
Part Jobriath, part Reo Speedwagon, if they could have written songs as good as this for Velvet Goldmine it would have been a movie to be reckoned with. A triumphant swirl of dramatic words and psychedelic space-synths rubs shoulders with other truly magnificent songs like ‘Sigourney Weaver’ and ‘JC Hates Faggots’. Ex-Czars singer Grant proves leaving the band is always the right thing to do.


6. Gorillaz – On Melancholy Hill
Talent borrows, genius steals. Damien Allbran sussed this much earlier and more comprehensively than most of his contemporaries, except perhaps Stuart from Belle & Sebastian. So, a small debt to The Beatles’ ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’ aside, I honestly consider this one of the finest songs Damon has ever penned. He has a knack for happysad that plays out beautifully here in a washed out landscape of dreams and plastic trees.


5. Xiu Xiu – Chocolate Makes You Happy
Jamie Stewart perfects Xiu Xiu’s avant-pop on latest and greatest album, Dear God, I Hate Myself. Not a dull moment to be had throughout, ‘Gray Death’ came a perilously close second. This paean to bingeing and purging is camp and tragic all at once.



4. Band Of Horses – Blue Beard
This, I wrestled with. ‘Factory’, ‘Compliments’, ‘Dilly’ and ‘For Annabelle’ were all high in the running. The album as a whole stands testament to the beauty of male harmony and timeless Americana. Made me dig out Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and the like. Sad things happen, don’t they, all the time. I spent far too long being sad at railway stations this year. ‘I met you at the railroad station, years ago, and something happened on the night I last drank with you, in the neon glow, now I don't see you anymore …’ So long.


3. Robyn – Dancing On My Own
I’ve changed my mind, I want ‘Hang With Me’. I’ve changed my mind again! And again! She had a right old year didn’t she? Gaga’s shy Scandiwegian alterna-cousin proves you can be twice as cool with only half the effort. The best pop ought to be about how things suck and this is just that, and a pop song for all time.



2. Beach House – Zebra
You know you’re gold, you don’t gotta worry none …’ Safe as houses at number 2 and hands-down my favourite ever Beach House song. It feels like only this morning I heard it for the first time, such is the majesty of Victoria Legrand’s black and white horse running up and down your spine while cymbals crash all about you like rain puddles full of petals. ‘Don’t I know you better than the rest…?’ Well don’t I?



1. Everything Everything – Weights

I know how it starts, and now I know, I know how it ends…’

Well we knew how it would end, didn’t we? Reviewing the album Man Alive back in August I wrote: ‘‘Weights’ is probably the greatest closing album track since ‘I Won’t Share You’ saw The Smiths go out in a veil of tears. Thank God this is just the beginning of it all …’ This year’s top spot has the accrued affection of several years in the making. Live show favourite, friendship glue for me and our Katie, and I even had it dedicated to me back in June, in truth there was no other way this list, or the album of 2010, could close. Happy New Year.



Tuesday 21 December 2010

My 50 Favourite Songs Of The Year: 20 – 11

The story so far

50. I Am Kloot – Northern Skies
49. Islet – We Shall Visit
48. Erykah Badu – 20 Feet Tall
47. The Vaselines – I Hate The Eighties
46. (We Are) Performance – The Living
45. Hole – Skinny Little Bitch
44. Vit Päls – Odysseus
43. Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg – California Gurls
42. Drive-By Truckers – Birthday Boy
41. The National – Anyone’s Ghost
40. Ke$ha – Your Love Is My Drug
39. Wild Nothing – O Lilac
38. MGMT – Song For Dan Treacy
37. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – Beverly Kills
36. The Black Keys – Everlasting Light
35. Four Tet – Angel Echoes
34. Shearwater – Landscape At Speed
33. The Heartbreaks – Liar, My Dear
32. Ed Harcourt – Lustre
31. Best Coast – Boyfriend
30. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim feat. Florence Welch – Here Lies Love
29. Sleigh Bells – Crown On The Ground
28. Belle and Sebastian – I Didn’t See It Coming
27. Gil Scott-Heron – Me And The Devil
26. The Fall – O.F.Y.C. Showcase
25. Villagers – Becoming A Jackal
24. The Hundred In The Hands – Pigeons
23. LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change
22. Zola Jesus – Lightsick
21. Big Boi – Shutterbugg


20. Diana Vickers – Once
Me: OMG have you heard this amazing pop song? It’s called ‘Once’ by Diana Vickers. I’m not kidding it’s amazing! Have you heard of her?
Everyone else in the UK: Er, yeah, she nearly won X Factor.
Me: Oh … *plays it again anyway*



19. Gold Panda – Same Dream China
Nothing really bad could ever happen to you while you’re listening to Gold Panda. I think this is the most beautiful track he’s ever done. A whole album of Japanese folk next please.


18. Crystal Fighters – Champion Sound
They are the band I most want to be in. Is it Afrobeat? Or is it just what indie sounds like nowadays? I cannot make head nor tail of this lot and that’s just dandy with me.


17. The Magnetic Fields – You Must Be Out of Your Mind
They have yet to lose it. Prolific, wry, melodic, damaged, sweet. Everything you’ve ever liked about The Magnetics is still there in abundance and all of it right here in one song.



16. iamamiwhoami – Y
Sweden ain’t over yet. This song is a cut-glass triumph of pace and production and frailty. Yes, Kate Bush obviously, but also Royksopp too, and just what do they think they are doing two minutes in with that synthesiser? Outrageous and gorgeous.


15. Darwin Deez – Bed Space
Adorable corkscrew-headed pixie releases album with one track that simply towers over the rest. The ever-so-slightly Paul Simon touch to his voice echoes like a little ghost over those Strokes-y guitars. Won me over in seconds.



14. Janelle Monae feat. Big Boi – Tightrope
Right up there with Kelis, Badu and Rihanna in the space of one record (albeit one we waited three years for), and not a dull moment on it. This is the most audacious of the lot. It’s the new ‘Single Ladies’ and every bit as good.



13. Ratatat – Drugs
Stupid one-song-per-band rule. Ratatat make a great leap forward with every album yet some of the finest tracks from LP4, this included, hark back to early gems like ‘Seventeen Years’. If you don’t utterly love this one try ‘Bare Feast’. The only band who could out Daft Punk Daft Punk.


12. Kelis – 4th Of July (Fireworks)
It could’ve been that ‘Acapella’ was just a flukey not-quite comeback single. Who knew there was something even better waiting for us? This is proper piano rave that straight-up tears you a new one every time.



11. CEO – Oh God, Oh Dear
Another Swedish gem, and just one person apparently, Eric Burgland. This song arrives like a sweeping Indian epic then proceeds like post-modern chamber pop. Probably the damned catchiest thing on this whole damn list.


Spotify playlist is right HERE.

Tune in Christmas Day for the top ten if you like!

Sunday 12 December 2010

My 50 Favourite Songs Of The Year: 30 – 21

50. I Am Kloot – Northern Skies

49. Islet – We Shall Visit

48. Erykah Badu – 20 Feet Tall

47. The Vaselines – I Hate The Eighties

46. (We Are) Performance – The Living

45. Hole – Skinny Little Bitch

44. Vit Päls – Odysseus

43. Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg – California Gurls

42. Drive-By Truckers – Birthday Boy

41. The National – Anyone’s Ghost

40. Ke$ha – Your Love Is My Drug

39. Wild Nothing – O Lilac

38. MGMT – Song For Dan Treacy

37. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – Beverly Kills

36. The Black Keys – Everlasting Light

35. Four Tet – Angel Echoes

34. Shearwater – Landscape At Speed

33. The Heartbreaks – Liar, My Dear

32. Ed Harcourt – Lustre

31. Best Coast – Boyfriend


30. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim feat. Florence Welch – Here Lies Love

A concept album about corrupt capitalist she-dragon Imelda Marcos sounds too camp to be true, but this is David Byrne, so what actually emerges is an ambitious and accomplished musical extravaganza with 22 tracks showcasing some of the most interesting singers around, and no Fatboy Slim grating big-beat-bollocks in evidence. The title track sets the bar appropriately high for the drama and epically catchy pieces that follow.


29. Sleigh Bells – Crown On The Ground

It was a close call choosing a Bells track, but in the live show this one comes across like a combine harvester to the face so it had the necessary edge. Not all hipster music is complete toilet, sometimes they’re onto a right winner.


28. Belle and Sebastian – I Didn’t See It Coming

Funny to think they’re the old guard now isn’t it? I even saw them at a seated gig last week with full orchestra. Magic. Write About Love is a charmer of an album, not quite The Life Pursuit but still one to keep close to your heart. This, the opener, starts out as simple as a glass of milk. Stuart takes a back seat to some sweet, sweet vocals by a lady whose name I don’t know and then, about three minutes in, there’s a spectacular Bowie-esque middle-eight after which Stuart returns with a backing vocal line that takes you to that whimsical, late-afternoon, heart-busting place where Belle and Sebastian are simply kings. ‘Make me dance, I want to surrender …


27. Gil Scott-Heron – Me And The Devil

Every episode of The Wire condensed into three minutes of slanted soul music. Quietly epic and lifted from one of the most beautifully produced records of the year.


26. The Fall – O.F.Y.C. Showcase

THE FALL-UH! ARE BACK-UH! Yet more new backing blood ensured Your Future Our Clutter could hold its own with the best of their now vast backlist. I nearly chose ‘Mexico Wax Solvent’ for out-Falling themselves with amazing song titles.


25. Villagers – Becoming A Jackal

Another track that shot up the list like a ferret after hearing it brought to life in concert. The diminutive Conor O’Brien fights to keep that unruly and beautiful voice of his in check in the flesh, while here it’s perfectly set into the song like a little emerald in a ring. And if you wonder why you feel like crying a bit, there’s a tiny little melodic motif in there from ‘Bright Eyes’, that’s why.


24. The Hundred In The Hands – Pigeons

A little bit Cut Copy, a little bit Annie, and loads of fun cranked up on your iPod stomping through town with a hangover. The album is full of all kinds of surprises.


23. LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change

They’re the band you’d have to put in a time capsule so people in the future would just get us, know what I mean? Half the album was in my top 100 at one point, but this Yazoo meets Flock Of Seagulls vibe kept me coming back for more. Such a sad song too, and those are always my favourite.


22. Zola Jesus – Lightsick

Those deep atmospherics and tense female vocals made the Stridulum II album kind of like this year’s Fever Ray. No surprise they toured together. If you can stop repeating the mountain-moving ‘Run Me Out’ then ‘Lightsick’ is waiting for you at the end of the album, or possibly at the end of the world.


21. Big Boi – Shutterbugg

A DJ set fave of mine this year, neither Big Boi nor Andre 3000 have put much of a foot wrong since OutKast’s Aquemini back in, Jesus Christ, 1998, but BB upped the game considerably with Sir Luscious Left Foot … Son Of Chico Dusty, not least in terms of stoopid names.


Blimey, over halfway already ...

Spotify playlist is here.

See you next week!

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Objects of desire

‘Capitalism, gaudy and greedy, has been inherent in western aesthetics from ancient Egypt on. It is the mysticism and glamour of things, which take on a personality of their own.’

Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae


‘Can’t afford it, so I hate it all.’

Manic Street Preachers, 'Born To End'


You know what it’s like at the thin end of a late capitalist wedge, the ever-present anxiety about running out of money, constant insecurity about your future, it can all be so easily salved with the kind of retail therapy that helped get you in the fix in the first place. I rarely indulge any more, maybe once a year, I know too well that the guilt of overspending outlasts the buzz. But when I’m really on the skids, and especially now capitalism itself is in flux, these cravings really kick in. And it’s not just clothes, books, music, oh no; when I’m at my lowest fiscal ebb, I have to up the ante considerably: property, collectibles, art. It’s a sick kind of masochism, the type a socialist sort like me undergoes every time I lick the slick black boots of my capitalist overlords. Yum yum yum. But just look how shiny everything is. Shiny shiny shiny …


The Smiths, ‘Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before’, rare German 7” single, grey vinyl, 'Girlfriend In A Coma' on the B-side, £30



Dirty Martinis (Noilly Prat Vermouth, Bombay Sapphire gin, blue cheese stuffed olives), £35



Valium, £varies



Spike Lee DVD box set, £40



Dinner at Manna, Primrose Hill, £50



Firetrap Veloce brown leather boot, £100



Royal Exchange Theatre season ticket, £111



Adidas Y-3 Hi-Tops, £150



Horse Meat Disco New Year’s Eve Party in Berlin, £250



Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird, First Edition, 1960, £320



Paul Smith double-breasted pea coat, £375



Pixies, ‘Minotaur’ box set, 5 x LP + 5 x CD + 2 x DVD + Blu-ray + extra large hardback lyric and artwork book + posters + autograph sheet box set, £500



iMac, £999



One week at London Beach Health Spa, £1200



Pioneer DJM350 and CDJ350 CD decks, £1499



Cherry red Gibson ES-335, £1600



East Village apartment, 303 East 8th Street, New York, £500,000



Whistler’s ‘Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket’, 1875, £unknown



And some things you can’t put a price on …

Dissent



Creighton Barrett, drummer with Band Of Horses


Bears


Old pictures of sailors


Your mates