My lords, ladies and gentlemen - I'm pleased to announce the final three tracks in the all time best songs of 2011 ever...
3. Let England Shake - PJ HARVEY
"England's dancing days are done," opined Polly Harvey on this, the title track of her magnificent album Let England Shake. Here was a state of the nation address that was impossible to ignore. This is a song that is - simultaneously - dreamy, stinging and melancholy. A requiem for a long lost land. Listen to it here
2. Devil Takes Care Of His Own - BAND OF SKULLS
Remember when the Kings of Leon seemed exciting, edgy... dangerous even? (before they sold themselves down the river and chased the stadium dollar). Remember when Jack and Meg White first crash landed onto the music scene? (before we knew whether they were brother and sister, husband and wife, or both). Those were the days eh? When rock still... well... y'know... rocked. But nowadays the good ship HMS Rock is getting weighed down by bloated folky hogwash. Who will save us? Ahoy there Band of Skulls! Step aboard! Bring your crunchy riffage, your bruising bass and your thundering drums with you - we'll be needing those. Yep, the rock n' roll rescue starts here folks. If you loved 'Devil Takes Care Of His Own' in 2011, just wait until you hear the full album, Sweet Sour, in 2012. Listen to 'Devil Takes Care Of His Own' here
1. Still Life - THE HORRORS
Every so often, a band comes along and places the bar so incredibly high that it seems inconceivable that anyone else will ever reach that high again. Including even themselves. It appeared that The Horrors had done exactly that in 2009 with their eight-minute epic 'Sea Within A Sea'. But, just two years later, they scaled those lofty heights again with 'Still Life'. Every tiny detail of this song was majestic: that swaggering bassline, those shimmering keyboards, Farris Badwan's masterful voice... like 'Sea Within A Sea', it just gets better with each listen (a sure sign of a classic). Surely The Horrors can't repeat the trick on their next record. Can they? Listen to it here
And here's a rundown of the top 20 in full...
20. Future Starts Now - THE KILLS
After recent extra-curricular activities with other musicians, it was good to have Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince back together doing what they do best: creating the kind of rock 'n' roll that makes you sweat. New album Blood Pressures induced cold sweats in places - and hot, lusty sweats in others. 'Future Starts Now' was of the latter variety, featuring jagged guitars, aching harmonies and lines like "You can fuck like a broken sail". Listen to it here
19. Somebody That I Used To Know - GOTYE (feat. KIMBRA)
Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) was Mr Everywhere this year and this single was ubiquitous in Australia. On radio or on television, in shops or in bars, you couldn't escape the tip-tapping xylophone, the impassioned chorus or Kimbra's gentle dusting of fairy dust. This quirky, creepy little pop song transcended genres and generations, topped the charts for weeks and made Gotye a bona fide star. Listen to it here
18. A Whole Day Nearer - JACKSON MCLAREN & THE TRIPLE THREAT
In 2011, the New Folk movement was finally hijacked by hipsters and people with more facial hair than sense. Every middle class kid with a bike and a banjo was trotting out "hey nonny" nonsense and scoring a record deal. Most of the folk music on the airwaves currently should therefore be treated with extreme caution. Yet Jackson McLaren and his merry men somehow managed to produce this reflective, sentimental gem with a complete lack of woolly jumpers, trendy cafes or organic vegetables. It's a song that defies all the cynicism you can throw at it (believe me, I've tried). Listen to it here
17. Do What You Will - PAPERCUTS
February seems like a long time ago now, but it was an exceedingly good month for music. One of the highlights was the welcome return of San Fransiscan shoegazers Papercuts. 'Do What You Will' was a quiet, understated triumph. It floats into your consciousness on echoey guitars and impassioned vocals from singer Jason Quever, then drifts away again on the gentle refrain of "Home is where you run to". Truly gorgeous. Listen to it here (but try and ignore the terrible video clip)
16. The Glorious Land - PJ HARVEY
February also saw the release of the album of the year, Let England Shake by PJ Harvey. The entire album was so strong that it's hard to pick individual tracks above others, but 'The Glorious Land' typifies Harvey's new haunting sound as well as anything. The song is wet with tears of mourning for a lost England and it's impressive to see an artist still challenging herself two decades into her career. The album turned out to be prescient too, as the wounded nation descended into ugly riots by August. Listen to it here.
15. In Colour - HUNTING GROUNDSJam-packed with juicy riffs and big, dumb shouty-bits, Hunting Grounds beat The Vines at their own game in 2011. No other song could match the cheap thrills on 'In Colour'. And few other songs were as catchy. Listen to it here
14. Go Outside - CULTSWide-eyed and fancy free, Cults burst onto the music scene this year with one of the weirdest, trippiest little pop tunes imaginable. 'Go Outside' is built around a slightly demented choir vocal and a cute little xylophone. The song is infused with naive delirium, like a children's music lesson after the entire class has drunk too much lurid-green cordial. Listen to it here
13. Candyfloss - JONNYWhat do you get if you cross Scottish power pop and Welsh psych-pop? In 2011, Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Euros Childs (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci) provided the answer by forming Jonny, with often bonkers - and occasionally sublime - results. 'Candyfloss' was unquestionably the highlight, gliding along on sugar-sweet harmonies and languid organ. It makes a convincing case for Jonny to become more than just a side-project in the future. Listen to it here
12. Moneygrabber - FITZ & THE TANTRUMSSongwriter MIchael Fitzpatrick certainly wears his influences on his sleeve (The Four Tops, The Supremes, The Temptations). And his band, Fitz & The Tantrums, are so funky that they probably would have fitted right into the 1960s heyday of Motown. 'Moneygrabber' was one of several songs on their debut record that swung in all the right places, carrying a witty lyric about a gold digger getting her cumupence. Listen to it here
11. Dirty Rain - RYAN ADAMSThe newly healed, newly married, newly happy Ryan Adams is a curious specimen. His new record, Ashes & Fire, received some rave reviews but - for my money - it often veered too close to the middle of the road. However, even when he's not at the top of his game, Adams is still capable of producing a gem that few others can match. Album opener, 'Dirty Rain' was just such a song. Muscially there's nothing complex about it - acoustic guitar, piano and organ. The lyrics are simple too, telling a story of redemption. So what makes this track stand out? The vocal performance. Effortlessly wonderful. Listen to it here
10. Riverside - AGNES OBELThis year, Agnes Obel seemed to emerge onto the international music scene out of nowhere. In fact, she'd been noodling away in her native Denmark for a couple of years, concocting a heady brew that became her debut album Philharmonics. Opener 'Riverside' was nothing short of bewitching, with delicate vocal circling around Obel's deft piano playing. It was the sound of a skilled musician who knows exactly when to elaborate and when to leave space. Listen to it here
9. Jump Your Bones - LIAM FINNHe may look like a lost member of the Beach Boys circa-1975, but Liam Finn sure didn't sound like it on sophomore album FOMO (fear of missing out). The best moments of the record saw the prodigiously-gifted multi-instrumentalist push himself out of his comfort zone and into new, experimental territory. Case in point: 'Jump Your Bones' - a relentless, cacophonic jumble of distorted drums and demonic vocals. Completely fucked-up and completely brilliant. Listen to it here
8. Oh Well, That's What You Get For Falling In Love With A Cowbody - LANIE LANERoot-tootin, rockabilly Lanie Lane was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her spiritual home is surely America's Deep South in the mid-20th Century, not Australia in the early 21st Century. But nobody around here is complaining. Not when she's serving up singles that are as damnably enjoyable as this. '...Falling In Love With A Cowboy' would, as its title suggests, be right at home on the soundtrack of a Spaghetti Western. Listen to it here
7. What I Thought Of You - HOLLY THROSBY
The media fanfare over Seeker Lover Keeper this year meant that many people missed Team, Holly Throsby's solo record, entirely. That was a pity because Team was actually a much more cohesive album than Seeker Lover Keeper (which featured Throsby, Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann). 'What I Thought Of You' was a typically quiet, understated affair featuring hushed vocals, acoustic guitar and accordion; with neat, tender wordplay in the lyrics. It opened the album and set the tone for what would be Throsby's finest collection of songs to date. Listen to it here
6. Awkward - SAN CISCO
It would be easy to dismiss San Cisco as cheap, throwaway piffle. Their music is light, breezy and often hilarious. Songs like 'Awkward' appear harmless enough at first. But then something weird happens on the second or third listen: the West Australian four-piece start lodging themselves between your ears and refuse to budge. By the fifth listen, your brain is entirely consumed by their neat little hooks and clever little one liners. And then you're a gonner. Listen to it here
5. The Look - METRONOMY
It's been a vintage year for pop music and this lush, fruity tune from Metronomy is probably the pick of the crop. 'The Look' builds gradually, layer upon layer, starting with a mischievous little keyboard line, then vocals "going round in circles" and then - just for some extra bounce - that clever little bassline. The whole thing fits together so naturally that it sounds like it took five minutes to write and another five minutes to record (it actually took three years). Listen to it here
4. Lotus Flower - RADIOHEAD
Although King of Limbs was a disappointing follow up to 2007's In Rainbows, Radiohead still delivered one of the best individual tracks of 2011: 'Lotus Flower' (not to mention the best video clip too - who knew Thom Yorke could dance?). The song is vividly mournful and claustrophobic - thanks to Yorke's remarkable vocal dexterity. But it's also imbued with a deep funk as well - thanks to the skittering rhythm. If anyone ever tells you that popular music is just entertainment - that popular music can't possibly be considered "art" - play them this song and make them watch the video. Listen to it here
3. Let England Shake - PJ HARVEY
"England's dancing days are done," opined Polly Harvey on this, the title track of her magnificent album Let England Shake. Here was a state of the nation address that was impossible to ignore. This is a song that is - simultaneously - dreamy, stinging and melancholy. A requiem for a long lost land. Listen to it here
2. Devil Takes Care Of His Own - BAND OF SKULLS
Remember when the Kings of Leon seemed exciting, edgy... dangerous even? (before they sold themselves down the river and chased the stadium dollar). Remember when Jack and Meg White first crash landed onto the music scene? (before we knew whether they were brother and sister, husband and wife, or both). Those were the days eh? When rock still... well... y'know... rocked. But nowadays the good ship HMS Rock is getting weighed down by bloated folky hogwash. Who will save us? Ahoy there Band of Skulls! Step aboard! Bring your crunchy riffage, your bruising bass and your thundering drums with you - we'll be needing those. Yep, the rock n' roll rescue starts here folks. If you loved 'Devil Takes Care Of His Own' in 2011, just wait until you hear the full album, Sweet Sour, in 2012. Listen to 'Devil Takes Care Of His Own' here
1. Still Life - THE HORRORS
Every so often, a band comes along and places the bar so incredibly high that it seems inconceivable that anyone else will ever reach that high again. Including even themselves. It appeared that The Horrors had done exactly that in 2009 with their eight-minute epic 'Sea Within A Sea'. But, just two years later, they scaled those lofty heights again with 'Still Life'. Every tiny detail of this song was majestic: that swaggering bassline, those shimmering keyboards, Farris Badwan's masterful voice... like 'Sea Within A Sea', it just gets better with each listen (a sure sign of a classic). Surely The Horrors can't repeat the trick on their next record. Can they? Listen to it here
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The best tracks of 2011: numbers 7 to 4
The countdown continues...
7. What I Thought Of You - HOLLY THROSBY
The media fanfare over Seeker Lover Keeper this year meant that many people missed Team, Holly Throsby's solo record, entirely. That was a pity because Team was actually a much more cohesive album than Seeker Lover Keeper (which featured Throsby, Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann). 'What I Thought Of You' was a typically quiet, understated affair featuring hushed vocals, acoustic guitar and accordion; with neat, tender wordplay in the lyrics. It opened the album and set the tone for what would be Throsby's finest collection of songs to date. Listen to it here
6. Awkward - SAN CISCO
It would be easy to dismiss San Cisco as cheap, throwaway piffle. Their music is light, breezy and often hilarious. Songs like 'Awkward' appear harmless enough at first. But then something weird happens on the second or third listen: the West Australian four-piece start lodging themselves between your ears and refuse to budge. By the fifth listen, your brain is entirely consumed by their neat little hooks and clever little one liners. And then you're a gonner. Listen to it here
5. The Look - METRONOMY
It's been a vintage year for pop music and this lush, fruity tune from Metronomy is probably the pick of the crop. 'The Look' builds gradually, layer upon layer, starting with a mischievous little keyboard line, then vocals "going round in circles" and then - just for some extra bounce - that clever little bassline. The whole thing fits together so naturally that it sounds like it took five minutes to write and another five minutes to record (it actually took three years). Listen to it here
4. Lotus Flower - RADIOHEAD
Although King of Limbs was a disappointing follow up to 2007's In Rainbows, Radiohead still delivered one of the best individual tracks of 2011: 'Lotus Flower' (not to mention the best video clip too - who knew Thom Yorke could dance?). The song is vividly mournful and claustrophobic - thanks to Yorke's remarkable vocal dexterity. But it's also imbued with a deep funk as well - thanks to the skittering rhythm. If anyone ever tells you that popular music is just entertainment - that popular music can't possibly be considered "art" - play them this song and make them watch the video. Listen to it here
...the final three tracks will be revealed in the coming days...
7. What I Thought Of You - HOLLY THROSBY
The media fanfare over Seeker Lover Keeper this year meant that many people missed Team, Holly Throsby's solo record, entirely. That was a pity because Team was actually a much more cohesive album than Seeker Lover Keeper (which featured Throsby, Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann). 'What I Thought Of You' was a typically quiet, understated affair featuring hushed vocals, acoustic guitar and accordion; with neat, tender wordplay in the lyrics. It opened the album and set the tone for what would be Throsby's finest collection of songs to date. Listen to it here
6. Awkward - SAN CISCO
It would be easy to dismiss San Cisco as cheap, throwaway piffle. Their music is light, breezy and often hilarious. Songs like 'Awkward' appear harmless enough at first. But then something weird happens on the second or third listen: the West Australian four-piece start lodging themselves between your ears and refuse to budge. By the fifth listen, your brain is entirely consumed by their neat little hooks and clever little one liners. And then you're a gonner. Listen to it here
5. The Look - METRONOMY
It's been a vintage year for pop music and this lush, fruity tune from Metronomy is probably the pick of the crop. 'The Look' builds gradually, layer upon layer, starting with a mischievous little keyboard line, then vocals "going round in circles" and then - just for some extra bounce - that clever little bassline. The whole thing fits together so naturally that it sounds like it took five minutes to write and another five minutes to record (it actually took three years). Listen to it here
4. Lotus Flower - RADIOHEAD
Although King of Limbs was a disappointing follow up to 2007's In Rainbows, Radiohead still delivered one of the best individual tracks of 2011: 'Lotus Flower' (not to mention the best video clip too - who knew Thom Yorke could dance?). The song is vividly mournful and claustrophobic - thanks to Yorke's remarkable vocal dexterity. But it's also imbued with a deep funk as well - thanks to the skittering rhythm. If anyone ever tells you that popular music is just entertainment - that popular music can't possibly be considered "art" - play them this song and make them watch the video. Listen to it here
...the final three tracks will be revealed in the coming days...
Monday, December 26, 2011
Top 20 tracks of 2011 : tracks 10 - 8
Welcome back to the countdown of the choicest cuts of 2011...
10. Riverside - AGNES OBEL
This year, Agnes Obel seemed to emerge onto the international music scene out of nowhere. In fact, she'd been noodling away in her native Denmark for a couple of years, concocting a heady brew that became her debut album Philharmonics. Opener 'Riverside' was nothing short of bewitching, with delicate vocal circling around Obel's deft piano playing. It was the sound of a skilled musician who knows exactly when to elaborate and when to leave space. Listen to it here
9. Jump Your Bones - LIAM FINN
He may look like a lost member of the Beach Boys circa-1975, but Liam Finn sure didn't sound like it on sophomore album FOMO (fear of missing out). The best moments of the record saw the prodigiously-gifted multi-instrumentalist push himself out of his comfort zone and into new, experimental territory. Case in point: 'Jump Your Bones' - a relentless, cacophonic jumble of distorted drums and demonic vocals. Completely fucked-up and completely brilliant. Listen to it here
8. Oh Well, That's What You Get For Falling In Love With A Cowbody - LANIE LANE
Root-tootin, rockabilly Lanie Lane was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her spiritual home is surely America's Deep South in the mid-20th Century, not Australia in the early 21st Century. But nobody around here is complaining. Not when she's serving up singles that are as damnably enjoyable as this. '...Falling In Love With A Cowboy' would, as its title suggests, be right at home on the soundtrack of a Spaghetti Western. Listen to it here
10. Riverside - AGNES OBEL
This year, Agnes Obel seemed to emerge onto the international music scene out of nowhere. In fact, she'd been noodling away in her native Denmark for a couple of years, concocting a heady brew that became her debut album Philharmonics. Opener 'Riverside' was nothing short of bewitching, with delicate vocal circling around Obel's deft piano playing. It was the sound of a skilled musician who knows exactly when to elaborate and when to leave space. Listen to it here
9. Jump Your Bones - LIAM FINN
He may look like a lost member of the Beach Boys circa-1975, but Liam Finn sure didn't sound like it on sophomore album FOMO (fear of missing out). The best moments of the record saw the prodigiously-gifted multi-instrumentalist push himself out of his comfort zone and into new, experimental territory. Case in point: 'Jump Your Bones' - a relentless, cacophonic jumble of distorted drums and demonic vocals. Completely fucked-up and completely brilliant. Listen to it here
8. Oh Well, That's What You Get For Falling In Love With A Cowbody - LANIE LANE
Root-tootin, rockabilly Lanie Lane was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her spiritual home is surely America's Deep South in the mid-20th Century, not Australia in the early 21st Century. But nobody around here is complaining. Not when she's serving up singles that are as damnably enjoyable as this. '...Falling In Love With A Cowboy' would, as its title suggests, be right at home on the soundtrack of a Spaghetti Western. Listen to it here
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Top 20 tracks of 2011: tracks 15 - 11
Welcome back to the countdown of the finest tracks of 2011.
15. In Colour - HUNTING GROUNDS
Jam-packed with juicy riffs and big, dumb shouty-bits, Hunting Grounds beat The Vines at their own game in 2011. No other song could match the cheap thrills on 'In Colour'. And few other songs were as catchy. Listen to it here
14. Go Outside - CULTS
Wide-eyed and fancy free, Cults burst onto the music scene this year with one of the weirdest, trippiest little pop tunes imaginable. 'Go Outside' is built around a slightly demented choir vocal and a cute little xylophone. The song is infused with naive delirium, like a children's music lesson after the entire class has drunk too much lurid-green cordial. Listen to it here
13. Candyfloss - JONNY
What do you get if you cross Scottish power pop and Welsh psych-pop? In 2011, Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Euros Childs (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci) provided the answer by forming Jonny, with often bonkers - and occasionally sublime - results. 'Candyfloss' was unquestionably the highlight, gliding along on sugar-sweet harmonies and languid organ. It makes a convincing case for Jonny to become more than just a side-project in the future. Listen to it here
12. Moneygrabber - FITZ & THE TANTRUMS
Songwriter MIchael Fitzpatrick certainly wears his influences on his sleeve (The Four Tops, The Supremes, The Temptations). And his band, Fitz & The Tantrums, are so funky that they probably would have fitted right into the 1960s heyday of Motown. 'Moneygrabber' was one of several songs on their debut record that swung in all the right places, carrying a witty lyric about a gold digger getting her cumupence. Listen to it here
11. Dirty Rain - RYAN ADAMS
The newly healed, newly married, newly happy Ryan Adams is a curious specimen. His new record, Ashes & Fire, received some rave reviews but - for my money - it often veered too close to the middle of the road. However, even when he's not at the top of his game, Adams is still capable of producing a gem that few others can match. Album opener, 'Dirty Rain' was just such a song. Muscially there's nothing complex about it - acoustic guitar, piano and organ. The lyrics are simple too, telling a story of redemption. So what makes this track stand out? The vocal performance. Effortlessly wonderful. Listen to it here
...to be continued in the coming days...
15. In Colour - HUNTING GROUNDS
Jam-packed with juicy riffs and big, dumb shouty-bits, Hunting Grounds beat The Vines at their own game in 2011. No other song could match the cheap thrills on 'In Colour'. And few other songs were as catchy. Listen to it here
14. Go Outside - CULTS
Wide-eyed and fancy free, Cults burst onto the music scene this year with one of the weirdest, trippiest little pop tunes imaginable. 'Go Outside' is built around a slightly demented choir vocal and a cute little xylophone. The song is infused with naive delirium, like a children's music lesson after the entire class has drunk too much lurid-green cordial. Listen to it here
13. Candyfloss - JONNY
What do you get if you cross Scottish power pop and Welsh psych-pop? In 2011, Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Euros Childs (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci) provided the answer by forming Jonny, with often bonkers - and occasionally sublime - results. 'Candyfloss' was unquestionably the highlight, gliding along on sugar-sweet harmonies and languid organ. It makes a convincing case for Jonny to become more than just a side-project in the future. Listen to it here
12. Moneygrabber - FITZ & THE TANTRUMS
Songwriter MIchael Fitzpatrick certainly wears his influences on his sleeve (The Four Tops, The Supremes, The Temptations). And his band, Fitz & The Tantrums, are so funky that they probably would have fitted right into the 1960s heyday of Motown. 'Moneygrabber' was one of several songs on their debut record that swung in all the right places, carrying a witty lyric about a gold digger getting her cumupence. Listen to it here
11. Dirty Rain - RYAN ADAMS
The newly healed, newly married, newly happy Ryan Adams is a curious specimen. His new record, Ashes & Fire, received some rave reviews but - for my money - it often veered too close to the middle of the road. However, even when he's not at the top of his game, Adams is still capable of producing a gem that few others can match. Album opener, 'Dirty Rain' was just such a song. Muscially there's nothing complex about it - acoustic guitar, piano and organ. The lyrics are simple too, telling a story of redemption. So what makes this track stand out? The vocal performance. Effortlessly wonderful. Listen to it here
...to be continued in the coming days...
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Top 20 tracks of 2011
Hello again.
Long time no blog huh?
Let's do a deal though, you and I. If you skip the accusatory glares, I'll skip the lame excuses and then we get straight down to business.
Deal? Good, right then. Okay.
Today begins my countdown of the all time top tracks of 2011 ever...
20. Future Starts Now - THE KILLS
After recent extra-curricular activities with other musicians, it was good to have Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince back together doing what they do best: creating the kind of rock 'n' roll that makes you sweat. New album Blood Pressures induced cold sweats in places - and hot, lusty sweats in others. 'Future Starts Now' was of the latter variety, featuring jagged guitars, aching harmonies and lines like "You can fuck like a broken sail". Listen to it here
19. Somebody That I Used To Know - GOTYE (feat. KIMBRA)
Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) was Mr Everywhere this year and this single was ubiquitous in Australia. On radio or on television, in shops or in bars, you couldn't escape the tip-tapping xylophone, the impassioned chorus or Kimbra's gentle dusting of fairy dust. This quirky, creepy little pop song transcended genres and generations, topped the charts for weeks and made Gotye a bona fide star. Listen to it here
18. A Whole Day Nearer - JACKSON MCLAREN & THE TRIPLE THREAT
In 2011, the New Folk movement was finally hijacked by hipsters and people with more facial hair than sense. Every middle class kid with a bike and a banjo was trotting out "hey nonny" nonsense and scoring a record deal. Most of the folk music on the airwaves currently should therefore be treated with extreme caution. Yet Jackson McLaren and his merry men somehow managed to produce this reflective, sentimental gem with a complete lack of woolly jumpers, trendy cafes or organic vegetables. It's a song that defies all the cynicism you can throw at it (believe me, I've tried). Listen to it here
17. Do What You Will - PAPERCUTS
February seems like a long time ago now, but it was an exceedingly good month for music. One of the highlights was the welcome return of San Fransiscan shoegazers Papercuts. 'Do What You Will' was a quiet, understated triumph. It floats into your consciousness on echoey guitars and impassioned vocals from singer Jason Quever, then drifts away again on the gentle refrain of "Home is where you run to". Truly gorgeous. Listen to it here (but try and ignore the terrible video clip)
16. The Glorious Land - PJ HARVEY
February also saw the release of the album of the year, Let England Shake by PJ Harvey. The entire album was so strong that it's hard to pick individual tracks above others, but 'The Glorious Land' typifies Harvey's new haunting sound as well as anything. The song is wet with tears of mourning for a lost England and it's impressive to see an artist still challenging herself two decades into her career. The album turned out to be prescient too, as the wounded nation descended into ugly riots by August. Listen to it here.
...to be continued in the coming days...
Long time no blog huh?
Let's do a deal though, you and I. If you skip the accusatory glares, I'll skip the lame excuses and then we get straight down to business.
Deal? Good, right then. Okay.
Today begins my countdown of the all time top tracks of 2011 ever...
20. Future Starts Now - THE KILLS
After recent extra-curricular activities with other musicians, it was good to have Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince back together doing what they do best: creating the kind of rock 'n' roll that makes you sweat. New album Blood Pressures induced cold sweats in places - and hot, lusty sweats in others. 'Future Starts Now' was of the latter variety, featuring jagged guitars, aching harmonies and lines like "You can fuck like a broken sail". Listen to it here
19. Somebody That I Used To Know - GOTYE (feat. KIMBRA)
Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) was Mr Everywhere this year and this single was ubiquitous in Australia. On radio or on television, in shops or in bars, you couldn't escape the tip-tapping xylophone, the impassioned chorus or Kimbra's gentle dusting of fairy dust. This quirky, creepy little pop song transcended genres and generations, topped the charts for weeks and made Gotye a bona fide star. Listen to it here
18. A Whole Day Nearer - JACKSON MCLAREN & THE TRIPLE THREAT
In 2011, the New Folk movement was finally hijacked by hipsters and people with more facial hair than sense. Every middle class kid with a bike and a banjo was trotting out "hey nonny" nonsense and scoring a record deal. Most of the folk music on the airwaves currently should therefore be treated with extreme caution. Yet Jackson McLaren and his merry men somehow managed to produce this reflective, sentimental gem with a complete lack of woolly jumpers, trendy cafes or organic vegetables. It's a song that defies all the cynicism you can throw at it (believe me, I've tried). Listen to it here
17. Do What You Will - PAPERCUTS
February seems like a long time ago now, but it was an exceedingly good month for music. One of the highlights was the welcome return of San Fransiscan shoegazers Papercuts. 'Do What You Will' was a quiet, understated triumph. It floats into your consciousness on echoey guitars and impassioned vocals from singer Jason Quever, then drifts away again on the gentle refrain of "Home is where you run to". Truly gorgeous. Listen to it here (but try and ignore the terrible video clip)
16. The Glorious Land - PJ HARVEY
February also saw the release of the album of the year, Let England Shake by PJ Harvey. The entire album was so strong that it's hard to pick individual tracks above others, but 'The Glorious Land' typifies Harvey's new haunting sound as well as anything. The song is wet with tears of mourning for a lost England and it's impressive to see an artist still challenging herself two decades into her career. The album turned out to be prescient too, as the wounded nation descended into ugly riots by August. Listen to it here.
...to be continued in the coming days...
Thursday, December 30, 2010
TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2010 number one track announced
Here it is folks. ShoutAboutMusic's finest track of 2010...
I make no apology for choosing three Arcade Fire songs in the top 20 tracks of 2010. After all, The Suburbs is one of the most outstanding albums of the past 10 years, let alone this year. ‘Suburban War’ takes the prize as the finest song from that record, and also the finest song released by anyone in 2010.
Musically, the track owes more than a little to The Byrds (in particular ‘Everybody’s Been Burned’ from 1967’s Younger Than Yesterday). It’s built around the jingle jangle of a Rickenbacker guitar, with harmonies floating in and out of focus at various points. But elsewhere, the song is unmistakably The Arcade Fire (see the gradual climb into a crescendo of skittering drums and impassioned vocals towards the end).
For lyrical inspiration, Win Butler returned to the town where he grew up (for the first time in several years). The ensuing flood of memories and recollections provided fertile ground for his songwriting. 'Suburban War' is a requiem for the lost time between childhood and adulthood. Butler recalls teen gangs and sub-cultures (“The music divides us into tribes, you grew your hair so I grew mine”) and killing time (“Let’s go for a drive, let’s see the town tonight, there’s nothing to do but I don’t mind when I’m with you”).
As he wanders his old stomping ground, Butler crosses paths with former classmates (“All my old friends they don’t know me now. All my old friends are staring through me now”) and reflects on how different their lives have become (”Now the cities we live in could be distant stars and I search for you in every passing car”).
I could go on but really, no amount of words can do justice to the ones written by Win Butler himself on ‘Suburban War’. Quite simply, it’s the best track of 2010.
Read the lyrics here.The best of the rest
Oh, and in case you missed it before, here is a quick rundown of the rest of the ShoutAboutMusic's Top 20 Tracks of 2010...
Thanks to everyone for their comments, posts, emails and messages in 2010. Happy New Year!
TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2010 COUNTDOWN tracks 4 - 2
Here we are folks, we've reached the absolute creme de la creme. The countdown of the finest songs of 2010 reaches number four...
4. THE ARCADE FIRE 'we used to wait'
The Arcade Fire concocted the best song intro of 2010 on 'We Used To Wait'. A simple, insistent piano line chimes in like an alarm clock, then fixes itself in your brain before leading you through the rest of this magical song. The lyrics are nostalgic; a reflection on a simpler time that was actually not that long ago ("It seems strange how we used to wait for letters to arrive. But it was stranger still how something so small could keep you alive"). 'We Used To Wait' works on so many levels: a social observation, an emotive lament and - perhaps most importantly - utterly captivating music. Listen to it here.
Read about the amazing video clip here.
3. LITTLE RED 'rock it'
When Little Red released 'Coca Cola' on their first record, you couldn't help but fear for their future. The Melbournian fivepiece had produced one of the finest pop songs of the decade. The rest of their career would surely be an exercise in futility; trying and failing to match that early success. Two years later, the sense of surprise was almost palpable when 'Rock It' breezed onto our airwaves. The cheeky little scamps had managed the impossible: eclipsing 'Coca Cola'. The fact that 'Rock It' sounded absolutely nothing like 'Coca Cola' was even more impressive; moving seamlessly from 1950s rock n' roll to 1980s pop funk. Listen to it here.
Read the 2010 ShoutAboutMusic live review of Little Red.
Read the ShoutAboutMusic review of Homebake 2008, featuring Little Red.
2. GORILLAZ 'stylo'
Damon Albarn could do no wrong in 2010. Reform Blur and take Glastonbury by storm? No problem. Release the third (and best) Gorillaz album? Easy. Unite a bunch of disparate musicians to record 'Stylo', one of the finest tracks by anyone, anywhere in the entire year? Piece of piss. Yep, 'Stylo' had everything: Bobby Womack's soulful vocal; Mos Def's hip hop smarts; Albarn's own haunting vocals; all wrapped up in the Gorillaz signature electronic glitz. And to top off Albarn's perfect year, Oasis split up too.
Listen to it here.
Tantalisingly close to announcing the top track of 2010 now. Tune in tomorrow to find out which artist has scooped the big one...
4. THE ARCADE FIRE 'we used to wait'
The Arcade Fire concocted the best song intro of 2010 on 'We Used To Wait'. A simple, insistent piano line chimes in like an alarm clock, then fixes itself in your brain before leading you through the rest of this magical song. The lyrics are nostalgic; a reflection on a simpler time that was actually not that long ago ("It seems strange how we used to wait for letters to arrive. But it was stranger still how something so small could keep you alive"). 'We Used To Wait' works on so many levels: a social observation, an emotive lament and - perhaps most importantly - utterly captivating music. Listen to it here.
Read about the amazing video clip here.
3. LITTLE RED 'rock it'
When Little Red released 'Coca Cola' on their first record, you couldn't help but fear for their future. The Melbournian fivepiece had produced one of the finest pop songs of the decade. The rest of their career would surely be an exercise in futility; trying and failing to match that early success. Two years later, the sense of surprise was almost palpable when 'Rock It' breezed onto our airwaves. The cheeky little scamps had managed the impossible: eclipsing 'Coca Cola'. The fact that 'Rock It' sounded absolutely nothing like 'Coca Cola' was even more impressive; moving seamlessly from 1950s rock n' roll to 1980s pop funk. Listen to it here.
Read the 2010 ShoutAboutMusic live review of Little Red.
Read the ShoutAboutMusic review of Homebake 2008, featuring Little Red.
2. GORILLAZ 'stylo'
Damon Albarn could do no wrong in 2010. Reform Blur and take Glastonbury by storm? No problem. Release the third (and best) Gorillaz album? Easy. Unite a bunch of disparate musicians to record 'Stylo', one of the finest tracks by anyone, anywhere in the entire year? Piece of piss. Yep, 'Stylo' had everything: Bobby Womack's soulful vocal; Mos Def's hip hop smarts; Albarn's own haunting vocals; all wrapped up in the Gorillaz signature electronic glitz. And to top off Albarn's perfect year, Oasis split up too.
Listen to it here.
Tantalisingly close to announcing the top track of 2010 now. Tune in tomorrow to find out which artist has scooped the big one...
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