2010年 09月 19日 日曜日 07:18

Mainly just a list for me to remember what albums I bought this year, and according to Last FM that's quite a few more than I thought, but I plan to put a bit of commentary to some.

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Adam Green- Minor Love
Favourite Tracks: Breaking Locks, Buddy Bradley, Boss Inside

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Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
Definitely a front runner for best album of 2010.
Favourite Tracks: The Suburbs, Ready to Start, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

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Beach House- Devotion
This is Beach House's second album which I bought after Teen Dream. I think I slightly prefer Teen Dream but Devotion is certainly of a very similar quality. Kind of makes you wonder why Teen Dream got so much attention this year and I never really heard much about Devotion. If you enjoyed Teen Dream then you are bound to enjoy this album as it is basically more of the same (and vice versa).
Favourite Tracks: You Came To Me, Gila, Turtle Island

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Beach House- Teen Dream
I bought this album after hearing it was one of the best albums of this year. I'll probably make a list of my favourite albums of 2010 so I won't write too much about this but rest assured it is a very good album. Hence, why I later bought their second album, Devotion, above.
Favourite Tracks: Zebra, Norway, 10 Mile Stereo

Beastie Boys- Hello Nasty
Favourite Tracks: Remote Control, Body Movin', Intergalatic

Beck- Modern Guilt
I'm a massive Beck fan but held off on buying this album. Manage to find it for pretty cheap and decided to finally buy it. It's a solid album but not that exciting for Beck.
Favourite Tracks: Gamma Ray, Chemtrails, Volcano

Ben Kweller- Sha Sha
Favourite Tracks: Wasted and Ready, In Other Words, Walk On Me

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The Black Keys- Brothers
I heard Tighten Up on the Zane Lowe show on Radio 1 (I don't usually listen to it but, for reasons I don't remember, I was) and instantly fell in love. I listened to it on Youtube tons of times. Then I heard Next Girl when it came out and loved that too, so by this time I was fairly determined that I wanted to buy this album at some point. It is a pretty good album, perhaps gets a bit samey when listening to the album the whole way through but I enjoyed this one.
Favourite Tracks: Everlasting Light, Next Girl, Tighten Up

Bob Dylan- Blonde On Blonde
Every record collection should have some Dylan in it, right? Well mine didn't and now it does. I probably don't have to tell you how good this album is.
Favourite Tracks: Pledging My Time, Visions of Johana, Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

Brendan Benson- Lapalco
Favourite Tracks: Metarie, Folk Singer, Life in the D

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Buck 65- Talkin' Honky Blues
Buck 65 is a Canadian rapper who I'm a big fan of. I don't imagine he has a very big fanbase in the UK but I really like this guy and have been progressively picking up his albums. I first found out about this guy when I saw him in the video for Feist's song 'One Evening' from her album Let It Die. A slightly bizarre way to stumble upon a rap talent, but I then looked him up on YouTube and found the song 'Wicked and Weird' from this album. My favourite song on the album but I don't think it's truly reflective of the sound of the whole album.

As the name of the album implies Buck mixes his rapping with country and blues music. This provides Buck's music with a pretty unique sound. He's also a very talented rapper, who tends to focus on something of a storytelling style. I enjoyed the album but it's a little long and probably suffers from starting to sound a little too samey across its 18 tracks. However, there are some really good songs to be found on this album and Buck 65 is definitely a rapper worthy of recognition.
Favourite Tracks: Wicked and Weird, Roses and Bluejays, 463

Buck 65- Secret House Against the World
Favourite Tracks: Devil's Eyes, The Floor, Blood of a Young Wolf

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The Clash- The Clash
After picking out a compilation album called Teenage Kicks from my parents' CD collection and really enjoying the collection of punk songs, I decided to buy a few punk albums this year. I already own London Calling, which is undoubtedly one of the best albums ever made. So, I had always intended to buy more albums by The Clash and seen as though I had previously been listening to Ramones and Sex Pistols (see below) it seemed like a good time. The Clash's debut is much more punk than London Calling, where they experimented more heavily with other genres such as reggae, and this much more raw and powerful for it. I love this album and it has instantly become one of my absolute favourite albums. Amazing. (Note to self: buying Clash albums seems to be a good idea)
Favourite Tracks: Janie Jones, White Riot, London's Burning, Career Opportunities

The Clash- Super Black Market Clash
This is a collection of Clash B-Sides and rarities, which has some pretty nice tracks on it. Apparently they took Bankrobber off this album as it had already been put on another compilation, so instead we get a rather odd mix of it, bit of a shame because I really like the original. Not a bad album but as I had suspected more of an album for collectors of The Clash's material than more casual fans. I picked it up because it was going cheap and I like The Clash but I think I'd rather be listening another one of their major releases.
Favourite Tracks: 1977, Jail Guitar Doors, Radio Clash

Coldplay- A Rush of Blood to the Head
Favourite Tracks: In My Place, The Scientist, Clocks

David Gray- White Ladder
Favourite Tracks: Please Forgive Me, Babylon, This Year's Love

The Dodos- Visiter
I'd forgotten I'd bought this album this year, according to Last FM it was in January that I started scrobbling tracks from this album. I like this album, it doesn't play through perfectly as an album with a strong start and end but some fairly weak tracks filling out the middle portion of the album. However, the best songs on this album are very good, particularly Winter (which is now one of my most played tracks) and Fools.
Favourite Tracks: Fools, Winter, God?

Dogs Die in Hot Cars- Please Describe Yourself
I picked up this album mainly because of the band's bizzare name. Also, the song 'I Love You 'Cause I Have To' is really good. There are number of other good songs on this album and although some of this songs come off as quite goofy, the whole album is a lot of fun if nothing else.
Favourite Tracks: Godhopping, I Love You 'Cause I Have To, Somewhat Off the Way

Echo & The Bunnymen- Ocean Rain
Favourite Tracks: Nocturnal Me, The Killing Moon, Ocean Rain

The Flaming Lips- The Soft Bulletin
Favourite Tracks: Race for the Prize, A Spoonful Weighs A Ton, Waitin' For Superman

The Flaming Lips- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Favourite Tracks: Fight Test, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1, Do You Realise??

Foo Fighters- There Is Nothing Left to Lose
Favourite Tracks: Breakout, Learn to Fly, Generator

Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
This album came out last year, I did hear about and listened to a track or two but somehow I didn't get into it except for 'Two Weeks'. However, I came back to it and got hooked on Ready,Able. I decided to buy the whole album and I'm very happy I did, a great buy. Completely fell in love with this and couldn't stop listening to it. Just beautiful music, great vocals, sublime.
Favourite Tracks: Two Weeks, Ready,Able, While You Wait for the Others

The Hiss- Panic Movement
I bought this album as it was going very cheap second-hand and I really like the song 'Back on the Radio' which was featured on the soundtrack of one of the Tony Hawk's games. I didn't expect too much from this album but it's actually really good. Despite being from Georgia I believe, they have a really Brit Pop sound. A lot of their tracks remind me of Kasabian. I don't think Brit Pop ever really caught on that much in America, probably why this was The Hiss' only album. But actually a really good album, definitely worth picking up if you can find it at a good price.
Favourite Tracks: Clever Kicks, Back on the Radio, Not for Hire

The Hives- Tyrannosaurus Hives
I kind of got into listening to a lot of garage rock bands (see The Strokes, The White Stripes, Jet etc.) and punk rock (see The Clash, Sex Pistols, Ramones) this year. Although I didn't really realise it at the time, this is probably the closest thing to a crossover between the two genres. I only really noticed when I saw people put this album into lists of great recent punk albums. I'm not sure I would actually call this album a punk rock album but there is clear influence from punk music- the short run-time of most of the songs, the energetic vocals and guitars. After all, The Hives were apparently a punk band before they became well known. This is a good album, really enjoyable and full of energy. The song quality drops off a bit towards the end of the album but overall a good listen.
Favourite Tracks: Abra Cadaver, Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones, Walk Idiot Walk

Jet- Get Born
Favourite Tracks: Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Look What You've Done, Cold Hard Bitch

Julian Casablancas- Phrazes for the Young
Favourite Tracks: Out of the Blue, 11th Dimension, 4 Chords of the Apocalypse

Jurassic 5- Jurassic 5
Favourite Tracks: Concrete Schoolyard, Action Satisfaction, Improvise

The Knife- Silent Shout
I've been a fan of The Knife ever since I accidently found out that Jose Gonzalez 'Hearbeats' is a cover of The Knife's original song from Deep Cuts. The two versions couldn't sound more different but I really like the original version. I'd been listening to some of their music but not actually ventured to buy an album. I think I got this one for my birthday. It's really good, if kind of bizarre. But you definitely should expect that from The Knife.
Favourite Tracks: Silent Shout, Neverland, We Share Our Mother's Health

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Laura Marling- I Speak Because I Can
I love this lady. Such a talent for someone who is same age as me. Kind of makes me feel like I should have acheived something by now. Laura Marling at the age of 20 has released two fantastic albums. Marling sound has matured since her debut album but still retains everything that makes her such a great talent. If I do write a best albums of 2010 thing then expect this album to be featured highly. So impressive.
Favourite Tracks: Devil's Spoke, Rambling Man, Blackberry Stone

Medium 21- Killings from the Dial
Medium 21 was another rather random album I bought on the cheap, along with albums by The Hiss, Mull Historical Society, No Hope in New Jersey and others. All were risks, some successful, some not so successful. I'm glad to say that Medium 21 was one of the worthwhile risks as this is a good album. I still think The Hiss' Panic Movement is the pick of the bunch but this is a close second. The albums three opening tracks are really impressive, sadly the quality isn't quite maintained throughout and the album definitely drifts off towards the end but for a band nobody has ever heard of these guys aren't bad.
Favourite Tracks: The Plight of Losing Out, Junctions in Our Sleep, Daybreak Vs Pride

Mercury Rev- Deserter's Songs
Favourite Tracks: Holes, Opus 40, Goddes on a Hiway

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MGMT- Congratulations
MGMT's follow-up album to their very successful debut Oracular Spectacular. Fans looking for a new Kids, Time to Pretend or Electric Feel will be sorely disappointed with this album as there is absolutely nothing like that on here. Flash Delirium is probably as close we get to an obvious single from this album. This is of course entirely intentional (as displayed by the final song 'Congratulations'), however, it certainly doesn't go to In Utero levels of audience alienation. The album is still very enjoyable and holds together as an album much better than Oracular Spectacular. It's just probably not what you would have immediately expected from their follow-up. Congratulations is an enjoyable album, if a deliberate swerve by the band. However, I have to admit that I don't get some of it. Particularly, the songs Brian Eno and Lady Dada's Nightmare. Brian Eno is an nice track but what is it about? Is it supposed to be a sarcastic criticism of the legendary producer or call for him to work with them? I kind of think it's the former rather than the latter but I couldn't be sure. Then Lady Dada's Nightmare, an obvious reference to Lady Gaga, is an instrumental track which sounds kind of like what you expect an MGMT instrumental track would sound like and a baby's scream in the background. Is there a reason for the Lady Gaga reference? Is this song suppose to say anything about her music? Perhaps it was just a name they thought up due to the baby screaming in the background but it seems kind of odd to reference another artist in this way for no real purpose. So, I was definitely left with a few questions after listening to this album but altogether a solid and cohesive album.
Favourite Tracks: It's Working, Someone's Miisng, Flash Delirium

Millencolin- Life on a Plate
At some point this year I was trying to create a playlist of songs from the Tony Hawk's games. Millencolin's 'No Cigar' is one of my favourite songs from the soundtrack, and they also had 'Penguin & Polarbear' and 'Devil Me' featured on another Playstation game I played, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX. So I was sort of familiar with the band and liked their stuff. I really wanted to buy Pennybridge Pioneers but that was a little expensive, so I decided to go for this one. It's reasonably good but nothing to really shout about. Fun but gets a bit tired after a few listens.
Favourite Tracks: Bullion, Friends 'Til the End

Modest Mouse- Good News for People Who Love Bad News
This is the first album by Modest Mouse I have listened to. I really like it, like a lot. It seems fans of the band don't rate this album very highly (though I don't know if that is just because this is there best known album, due to the song Float On). However, if this is one of Modest Mouse's weaker albums then I really want to listen to their better albums.
Favourite Tracks: The World At Large, Float On, Bury Me With It

Mull Historical Society- Loss
A random album I decided to pick up. I have to say I didn't really like this one.
Favourite Tracks: Public Service Announcer

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The National- High Violet
Another front runner for best album of 2010.
Favourite Tracks: Terrible Love, Sorrow, Afraid of Everyone, Bloodbuzz Ohio

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Neon Neon- Stainless Style
I heard about Neon Neon when they were featured in the best albums of 2008 by allmusic.com. I went on YouTube and found the video for 'I Lust U' and really loved that track, however, I never really looked into buying the album. Whilst browsing in my local HMV I found this album selling for just £2 and so I snapped it up. The album is a rather bizarre concept album about the life of car maker John DeLorean. As weird as that may sound it actually comes together pretty well.
Favourite Tracks: I Told Her On Alderaan, I Lust U, Belfast

Nicole Atkins- Neptune City
I'm a sucker for a good female singer/songwriter, Imogen Heap, Regina Spektor, Sia, Laura Marling. I think I may have found another rather good one here in Nicole Atkins. Her debut album makes for some good listening.
Favourite Tracks: Together We're Both Alone, Neptune City, Brooklyn's on Fire!

No Hope in New Jersey- Steady Diet of Decline
No Hope in New Jersey is no name for a band from Manchester, England, that's for sure. Another band whose album I picked up on the cheap. This one was a bit of a bust. They have some good spots but mostly this is fairly generic rock music. I also don't understand the David Blaine reference in the chorus of 'Narcolepsy'.
Favourite Tracks: Invaders, Narcolepsy

Nurses- Apple's Acre
Favourite Tracks: Technicolor, Caterpillar Playground, Lita

Oasis- Definitely Maybe
Oasis' debut album, I really should have owned this album a lot earlier as it is such a good album. Nearly every song is a classic. As to the debate over whether this album or their follow-up album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? is the better album I think I prefer Morning Glory, if only because I'm not really a fan of Digsy's Dinner. My main problem is the repeated use of the word 'lasagne', which has to be one of the least musical words in existence. Also, from the lyrics you get the impression that 'lasagne' is a sexual innuendo, but if it is, what is it a sexual innuendo for? It has to stand with Kelis' milkshake and Arctic Monkey's propeller as one of the most bizarre sexual innuendo ever used in a song. Anyway, this song by no means ruins what is a great album but for me it's the albums one weak point, whereas Morning Glory doesn't have any weak points.
Favourite Tracks: Rock 'n' Roll Star, Live Forever, Supersonic, Cigarettes & Alcohol

Oasis- (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
I've said most things I want to above. This album is great from start to finish and on the basis that Definitely Maybe and this album are the best of Oasis' work, then this is my favourite Oasis album. So good, I don't know why I didn't own these albums sooner.
Favourite Tracks: Roll With It, Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, Some Might Say

Papercuts- You Can Have What You Want
Papercuts have appeared on my recommendations on Last FM a couple of times, so when I saw this album going incredibly cheap I thought it was worth a pop. Sadly, I didn't really enjoy this. I just find the music kind of dull, particularly the vocals. I tried, but I really couldn't get into this. The one track that does stand out from this album though is Future Primitive, which is definitely a cut above the rest of the tracks on this album.
Favourite Tracks: Future Primitive, You Can Have What You Want

Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Really enjoyable indie pop. I got hooked on Lisztomania and 1901 and decided to buy the album. It's a good one, although I'm not keen on the instrumental 'Love Like A Sunset' that takes up the middle of the album, nor do I understand why it's in two parts when it's just one song.
Favourite Tracks: Lisztomania, 1901, Lasso, Armistice

Pixies- Come On Pilgrim
This album came as part of a combined album with Surfer Rosa, tacked on at the end of the album. This is supposed to be a mini-album but at 8 tracks is pretty long. I think the second half of the album is really good, not as keen on the other four tracks but it's still good stuff.
Favourite Tracks: Nimrod's Son, I've Been Fired, Levitate Me

Pixies- Surfer Rosa
This is supposed to be a seminal album and I'd been intending to buy it for some time. I finally got around to it and I wasn't disappointed with it. Really good album and you can see how these guys inspired a lot of Nirvana's stuff. 'Gigantic' and 'Where Is My Mind?' are great songs.
Favourite Tracks: Gigantic, River Euphrates, Where Is My Mind?

PJ Harvey- To Bring You My Love
I bought this album initially for my sister when I realised the album I'd bought her for her birthday was going to arrive late. However, I decided to listen to the album before giving it to her as a present and didn't really like it all that much and decided that my sister probably wouldn't like it either. I haven't really listened to this album much and maybe I should give it another chance.
Favourite Tracks: To Bring You My Love, Down by the Water

Radiohead- The Bends
Some more Radiohead for my collection. Very good album.
Favourite Tracks: Planet Telex, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees

Ramones- Rocket to Russia
As I said above, I started listening to quite a bit of punk rock this year. If you're going to listen to punk rock it seems like a good idea to listen to the original punk rock band, and that is the Ramones. Rocket to Russia is an excellent album of quick short simplistic rock songs, the essence of punk rock.
Favourite Tracks: Cretin Hop, Rockaway Beach, Sheena is a Punk Rocker, I Wanna Be Well

R.E.M.- Automatic For The People
Favourite Tracks: Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Everybody Hurts, Man On The Moon

Sex Pistols- Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols one and only real album. A great punk album, not as clever or political as The Clash but raw, visceral and emotional charged enough to make up for it.
Favourite Tracks: God Save the Queen, Anarchy in the UK, Pretty Vacant

Shy Child- Liquid Love
I bought this album because it was incredibly cheap for an album that came out in 2010. The reason why it was so cheap? Probably because it's pretty rubbish. However, the first two tracks Liquid Love and Disconnected are worth a listen.
Favourite Tracks: Liquid Love, Disconnected

The Stone Roses- The Stone Roses
Another classic album that I'd been meaning to pick up. I don't think any band has ever been so effortlessly cool. I have to admit it took some time for some of the other tracks, such as Bye Bye Badman and (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister, to grow on me and there was a point when I was wondering if this was truly a great album. However, over a few more listens it all started to come together and I can agree with the many who hold this up as a great album.
Favourite Tracks: I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs the Drum, Waterfall, I Am the Resurrection

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The Strokes- Is This It
I bought this album after seeing it near the top of list of the best albums of the decade. I'd been a passing fan of The Strokes with songs like Reptilia and Last Nite but never realised they had made such a seminal album. I picked this up at the start of the year and sure enough it is amazing. I believe this is now my second most played album according to Last.fm. Such a great album, every single track is just great.
Favourite Tracks: Barely Legal, Someday, Last Nite, Hard to Explain

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The Strokes- Room On Fire
I bought this album mainly because I bought Is This It. That album is amazing but their other albums received less favourable reviews. I decided to get Room On Fire and it's no Is This It but it's rare that albums are that good. Room On Fire is an enjoyable album and has some really good tracks on it. People expecting another Is This It are bound to be disappointed but fans of The Strokes sound will enjoy this as a solid sophomore effort.
Favourite Tracks: What Ever Happened?, Reptilia, 12:51

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Tapes 'n Tapes- The Loon
Perhaps not one you've heard of. I can't quite remember how I ran across these guys but I remember hearing Insistor and falling in love with that song. The album is decent, nothing quite as catchy or exciting as Insistor but a fairly good album.
Favourite Tracks: Insistor, Cowbell

Vision- Watching the World Burn
Both Close Minded and Don't Sound the Alarm were featured on the soundtrack of the Playstation 1 game Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX. It may not be a game that many of you are familiar with but my brother is a big BMX fan and bought the game and I played it quite a lot too. I haven't played the game or listened to the songs in quite a long time but I always remember the line 'Give me what I want or there's gonna be a riot!' in Close Minded- and it pops in my head every now and again. So I love both songs and managed to find this album being sold second-hand pretty cheap. I just had to buy it.
Favourite Tracks: Close Minded, Don't Sound the Alarm

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The Walkmen- Bows + Arrows
I first listened to The Walkmen when I saw The Rat in a list for the best songs of the last decade. Certainly I would not dispute its place on that list, The Rat is just a fantasticly cathartic song in which singer Hamilton Leithauser just lets it all loose. Moments like this on the album are all the more effective due to the fact that The Walkmen usually play at a much slower and more subdued pace.
Favourite Tracks: The Rat, Little House of Savages, Hang on,Siobhan, Thinking of a Dream I Had

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The White Stripes- Elephant
Favourite Tracks: Seven Nation Army, Ball and Biscuit, The Hardest Button to Button