Friday, 14 December 2012

Artists of 2012



WOW! It’s been a while (10 months in fact) since I last blogged, my only real excuse for my absence was that I lost a bit of faith in the music industry through the constant drivel of the One Direction/ Justin Bieber generation. In reality, it was more over I’ve been busy at work, have a lovely new girlfriend, a heap of top mates and basically had myself a bloody spring and summer drinking, partying and gigging J

Enough about me, It’s cold and I’m tired so I’ll kick off my special end of year blog and say thank you to all 12,500 of you for checking out my blog over the last 2 years...

TOP 10

10. Jake Bugg
Did I miss the note that said Arctic Monkeys were suddenly a point of nostalgia? Are you original enough as an artist to have longevity? Does Noel Gallagher adopted patronage make you the new proud Mary? How real can you be when you only co-write?
Regardless of all these questions, back in summer having only heard a handful of his material, nevertheless I followed Jon McClure from Reverend and Makers recommendation in the festival program and saw Jake’s set at this year’s YNot! Festival (which I must add was a brilliant weekend and well deserving of the ‘best small festival of the year 2012 award’). In short, I was blown away and I caught the ‘Bugg’; very rarely does an artist’s material have such an immediate impact; packed with humour, pathos and heartbreak all delivered by a kid barely old enough to buy a pint, he’s not trendy which is always a bonus, greatness and ubiquity beckon.
It would be a tough choice to decide on his best track from his shiny debut single ‘Lightning Bolt’, the fantastically honest  ‘Taste it’ and ‘Seen It All’, however for me it has to be the brilliant ‘Two Fingers’ for the lad-ish sing-a-long chorus alone:

“I drink to remember, I smoke to forget, some things to be proud of, some stuff to regret.”

9. Tame Impala
What an epic year for Kevin Parker and his alter ego Tame Impala, massive praise this side of the water from his fellow Australasian, king of indie Zane Lowe and scooping NME’s album of year for the brilliantly trippy ‘Lonerism’. The album was put together soley by Kevin in various places around the world, influenced by Supertramp, Led Zepplin and load of red wine he is quoted as saying “You never really finish an album, but simply run out of time”. My standout track ‘Elephant’ sits incongruously on the album and serves a brief but nevertheless bluesy psychedelic wash of reverby synths, schizophrenic conversation loops and what f*cking phat beast of a riff....absolute genius.
8. Kendrick Lamar
My list of artists of the year would not be complete without a flavour of old skool, easily my hip-hop track of the year ‘Swimming Pools’ harks back to the tones and melody of Dead Prez’s ‘Hip Hop’. Lamarr’s flow is versatile contrasting with the tracks brilliant beat and his honest storytelling with an edge. His debut album, ‘Good kid, Maad city’ is definitely worth a listen. Even more worth a listen is this special mashup version created ESPECIALLY for this bearmusic 'best of 2012' by my mate Ste Davey aka Neoclassical Champion Rockers (@N_C_R), enjoy...

7. The Cribs
How a band can deliver a lead single from their fifth album with that same youth and vitality they started their career with is beyond me. This year’s offering ‘In the Belly of a Brazen Bull’ follows a hectic time for the Cribs lads but I was lucky enough to catch their homecoming gig earlier this year in Wakefield (aka ‘Wakey’) after a short trip across the Pennines in deepest, darkest Yorkshire on a cold, damp Tuesday night...they still managed to make it the highlight of my week. Back to their best and never failing to deliver, the Jarmin brothers, now minus Smiths legend Jonny Marr, left me deaf for the next two days at work from relentless awesomeness. Highlights from the album that was recorded in both NYC and at the legendry Abbey Road studies include the shiny ‘Chi-town’, ‘Glitter like Gold’, ‘Anna’ and the fantastically raucous, soaring sing-a-long anthem ‘Come On, Be a No-one’ with lyrics straight out of a ‘90s Seattle grunge poetry open mic: 

“...Sometimes I’d rather feel cheap, you can’t keep suckling me”.


6. EE [Everything Everything]
Not to be confused with the new super mega, Kevin Bacon promoted mobile merger of T-Mobile and Orange; Everything Everywhere - I have been a huge fan of these guys for some time now since my mate NCR [@N_C_R] introduced me to their brilliance and they since (well still do now) follow me on twitter following some minor stalker age/ fan-boying of their debut album ‘Man Alive’.
This year the band continue to go from strength to strength managing to get their hands on some HUGE playtime in morning, drivetime and day time commercial and the newly revamped radio 1 team for their stand out single ‘Cough Cough’ championed by the likes of Gregg James, Fearne Cotton, Nick Grimshaw and the godfather of new(ish) music Sir Zane of Lowe himself. The Manchester quartet comeback single keeps hold of the guys loveable kinks and proves they remain the kings of staccato pop offered up on a platter of a genius stop/start opener segued into a melodic ‘widescreen’ chorus, keep up the top work.

“...and that eureka moment hits you like a cop car, and you wake up just head and shoulders in a glass jar”

5. Reverend and the Makers
Returning to form with a fantastic online ONLY release of ‘@Reverend_Makers’, promoted solely via twitter and other social media sites they broke the UK Top 10 albums chart on its week of release, with a little help from me downloading 5 copies. I got the opportunity to see the mighty Rev ride again this year, for the 1st time since back in 2005 and they NEVER disappoint. Drunk as a skunk me and the mrs’ raved our tits to his old stuff and new material alike at YNot! Festival. Standout tracks from the album tracks include indie disco floor filler ‘Bassline’, the massively dub-step influenced ‘Depth Charge’ and the debut reminiscence of ‘Warts N All’ and ‘the Wrestler’. As far as a favorite track goes it HAS to be Jon back to his swaggering, lyrically legendary, whitty, normal kind of c*ntish self with this 'Shine a Light':

“I dreamed of Euromillions, I dreamed I’d scooped the lot, I’ve two words for my boss, and the second one is ‘Off’....I’ve already spent it 10 times over in my head, I’ve swapped this Fiat Punto for a yacht down on the Med”

 4. Jack White
Old Jack knows his way around a single or 50, drifting from side project to side project (namely: the Raconteurs alongside Brendon Benson and the Dead Weather with Alison Mosshart) following the end of the White Stripes, briefly dipping his top in the world of a solo material a few years with Alicia Keyes’ to write and perform the song to Daniel Craig’s second outing to revamped, ‘cool’ again Bond in the ridiculously named ‘Quantum of Solice’.
He has now, jumped head first in the mercy depths of soloism with his debut album ‘Blunderbus’. A brilliant piece of old skool garage blues it IS Jack White back at his best, standout tracks include ‘Missing Pieces’ and his softer side on ‘Lovee Interruption’ and the fucky ‘I’m Shakin’ but my track of choice is the lead single ‘Sixteen Saltines’ for its sardonic, stabbing riffs and lyrics steeped with hatred from his divorce:

“She’s got a big mailbox that she puts out front...garbage in, garbage out, she’s gettin’ what she wants, If i’m getting’ busy then I couldn’t care less ‘bout whatcha do”

3. The Maccabbees
Having been around a fair while I used to always be put off from calling myself a Maccabbees ‘fan’ due to the band members being named the upper class names of Hugo, Felix, Rupert, Sam and a bizarre incident in there early days when I was in my early 20s at Reading Festival. In short, on my way to see their set I totally freaked out on my way there that I was “waaaaay to OLD for this stuff maaaaaaan”, due to a HUGE heard of 15 to 16 year olds meandering around hoping to sneak a perve at front man Orlando Weeks.
However, these days, the lucky git I am, have a beautiful girlfriend, 8 years my junior (I’m 28 now and thus NOT a spawn of Jimmy Saville) and a mate of hers encouraged me listen to their latest album. Everything about this album oozes a mature, rich sound, from the insanely contrasting colours of the albums cover (earthy termite nest threatened by a bright orange scrub fire amongst a tranquil savannah with a vast blue sky) to the title tracks blissfully serene intro. Its just generally a beautiful peice of music as an album but stand out tracks include the beautifully sublime ‘Feel to Follow’, ‘Glimmer’, ‘Went Away’ and my personal favourite, sing-a-long indie anthem (sung at tempo, sounding very much like a Ladysmith Black Mambazo track)...‘Pelican’:

“So soon we, so soon we, so soon we too old to carry, And we knew we, and we knew we, and we knew we only had a little...”
2. Bloc Party

Probably my favourite band of my generation, this year finally made their come back with their forth studio album, the imaginatively titled ‘4’ (if Led Zep can, why can’t they?) following a long hiatus and namely Kele, Russ, Gord and Matt Tong’s solo/ side projects. I have been a massive fan since I randomly stumbled across a gig of theirs back my early uni days pre release of their debut album and the fame and critical acclaim it brought with it. Having seen them 5 times thereafter, at regular intervals throughout their career from the humble Liverpool Academy 2 thru to the main stage at Reading Festival I simply couldn’t turn down the chance to see them at what is accentually a rave venue @WHP (Warehouse Project) in Manchester this Autumn. I was absolutely blown away and can confirm they are probably the only band I’ve seen that just keep getting better and better.
Every track on the album is faultlessly tight, from the brilliant opener ‘So He begins to lie’, the rousing chorus of ‘3x3’, the lead single ‘Octopus’ and the meandering ‘Real Talk’ you can instantly the lads are back to their best ‘Silent Alarm’ form. Not being a HUGE fan of their 2nd and 3rd offerings as albums (a large handful of tracks aside) this album really is them back to form. My personal highlights from the album come in the form of the big 2nd single ‘Kettling’, the fantastic ‘V.A.L.I.S’, euphorically epic ‘Team A’ and the absolutely awesome ‘Colliseum’ has to be up there with my top 3 tracks of the year, with it dual melody, phat riff and lyrical genius:

“...nightmare walking on two legs, there's a word for people like us, can't shake the feeling, why even bother, we're moving backwards, history repeating, ain't got the time...”

1.Alt-J Δ

And the winner is...well the artists behind an album that has single headedly restored my faith in a lost generation of music, proving there are new bands out there that truly can a longevity on the music scene. Ok, it may well be early days as far as their career goes but scooping the Mercury prize is no easy feat. I first started banging on about them at the start of the year as one of my ‘ones to watch’ (ref: an earlier blog from January that I can’t be bothered looking for, it was pre NME though I may add, if you care to argue look for yourself...) and their career has since skyrocketed. After the mercury win, there’s been alot of debate as to wether ‘An Awesome Wave’ captures the “sound of modern Britain” as if:
1. That’s what Alt-J set out to do and
2. It’s something the Mercury’s have history of rewarded.
The truth is, it is a remarkable debut album, released back in May when much fewer people felt obliged to have contrarion opinions about it. Well if this sort of smart, sleak, sexy ‘baby-makin’ music isn’t the sound of modern Britian, I certainly wish it was.
Standout tracks from the album include the brilliant ‘Fitzpleasure’, ‘Matilda’, the epic ‘Something Good’ and the absolutely delightful, debut single, the awesomely hipster ‘Tessellate’. For me though, take away the fact they may look like a bunch of clean cut post grads with Joe Newman’s trembling vocals slinkily rubbing up against Gwil’s sparse guitar plucking, the opening 10 seconds of ‘Breezeblocks’ alone would have been enough to secure the tracks place in this year’s top 10; add a walloping of Gus’ and Thom’s thug-step beat, juddering helicopter funk and sinister lyrics lifted straight from an art-rock reimagining of Silence of the Lambs:

“Germonline, Disinfect the scene...I’ll eat you whole”.


Monday, 13 February 2012

Something for the Cold nights...

Something Old...
To be honest the fact Gomez are touring again isn’t news worthy but the forthcoming gig in April (tickets available from www.seetickets.com – see you there) has an unusual twist as they are allowing fans to pick the entire set list, which has of course, made my day! The Southport indie 4 piece Ian Ball, Tom Gray, Ben Ottewell, Olly Peacock and Blackie are highly distinguished for having three singers and four songwriters, employing traditional and electronic instruments. Their sound is versatile and evades typical music genres falling into blues, indie, alternative, rock, folk, psychedelic and experimental.
Their debut album ‘Bring it On’ won the 1998 Mercury Prize (beating PulpMassive Attack and the Verve), giving them much media attention in the UK and throughout the world. The album later won awards from NME, Q and a Brit nomination. 1999’s follow-up album ‘Liquid Skin’ was another brilliant piece of music but just before their third (2002) album ‘In Our Gun’ their record company was forced to downsize (however still half of the album was recorded at Abbey Road) and on the following record ‘Split the Difference’ was disbanded by Virgin/EMI. The band’s sound never really reached the heights of their debut offerings but I will always love them for a discography that includes ‘Gte Myself Arrested', ‘How We Operate’ ‘Bring it On’, ‘See the World’, ‘Rhythm and Blues Alibi’ and the awesome ‘Whippin Piccadilly’...
Something New...
Last week I got my first chance to catch Band of Skulls live for the first time as they supporting the Black Keys. The blues/ alt rock 3 piece from Southampton did not disappoint despite the hype after the success of their debut album ‘Baby Darling Doll Face Honey’, released exclusively on iTunes and the lead single ‘I Know What I Am’ was chosen as iTunes free single of the week, the highest form of modern promotion. Although you may not be too familiar with their name you may recognize their music as it features heavily in many US movies, TV series and games - they have gone onto support the Dead Weather, BRMC and opened for Muse.
Last year the band released ‘The Devil Takes Care Of His Own’ - the first single to be taken from their new album. The second studio album ‘Sweet Sour’ that also includes the title track and ‘Bruises’ was produced by Ian Davenport (Supergrass/ Badly Drawn Boy) and is planned for UK and European release at the end of the month (Feb 21st).
Something Borrowed...
This weeks cover is inspired by the first UK Number 1 song that has moved me in a long while, well to be honest, more - not compelled me to smash the nearest radio. 'Somebody That I Used to Know' is a song by Belgian-Australian singer and songwriter Gotye from his third studio album 'Making Mirrors' and features Kiwi singer Kimbra. The song was written by Gotye himself, lyrically about the experiences he has had with relationships, quite contrasting on valentines eve. 
The song was released into critical acclaim by music critics and a surprising success in Australia, peaking at number one in the country for eight weeks, becoming the longest running Australian song since...er...Savage Garden (I thought the Australians were cool?).
Any way this brilliant cover is by Canadian indie band Walk off the Earth. Their version is notable for the fact that they appear to use a single guitar, played simultaneously by five people using different strings and surfaces, for all the instrumentation. As of today, it has over 52 million views on YouTube so the chances are if your reading my blog you will already have seen it. Nevertheless, enjoy...

Something Blue...
Happy Mondays fill this weeks’ ‘Something Blue’ slot after they announced, yet another comeback to pay off their dealers. Salford’s finest Shaun Ryder and Bez take to the stage once work but it really is luck of the draw what you will witness on the day dependant on whether their on uppers or downers...luckily I had a rare opportunity to see Shaun perform at a local festival Chester Rocks last year and he was on top form. On their day they are utterly brilliant and back catalogue speaks for itself but when they are bad they are aweful.
The 2nd and 3rd album 88’s ‘Bummed’ and 1990s ‘Pills n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ (produced by Paul Oakenfold) are reknown by many as definitive classic albums of the Madchester generation. Fusing house/ northern soul and aspects of funk it spawned the singles ‘Step On’ and the anthem ‘Kinky Afro’ both of which reached top 5 in the UK...
 

Friday, 3 February 2012

...Back, Sack and Jack (White)

Earlier this week, ex-White Stripes man, Jack White unveiled his new solo single 'Love Interruption' online. He also revealed in a statement that he is releasing the track as a seven-inch single next Tuesday (February 7th), ahead of the release of his debut solo album 'Blunderbuss' on April 23.
The unveiling of the material comes almost a year to the day (February 2, 2011) that the White Stripes announced their official split. A statement released by the duo – which also featured White's former wife Meg – claimed that artistic differences or health issues were not the reasons for the split.

In the 12 months since the end of the band, White has kept himself busy with collaborations and production work at his Third Man Records label, working with Insane Clown Posse, Tom Jones, US comic Stephen Colbert and rapper Black Milk.
White also played US live dates with The Raconteurs, his band with Brendan Benson and The Greenhornes' Patrick and Jack. Whilst his other band, the Dead Weather– which also features The Kills' Alison Mosshart – released their second album 'Sea Of Cowards' in 2010. 
Produced by White at his own Third Man Studio in Nashville, the single comes backed with non-album B-side 'Machine Gun Silhouette' – it's available for pre-order from thirdmanrecords. Speaking about the album, Jack commented that it was "An album I couldn't have released until now, I've put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name.”

Simply beautiful, enjoy...
 
 

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Something for the links...

Something Old...
This week’s classic anthem ‘Something Old’ is inspired by this week plugging of a new band in ‘Something Blue’. Not much need to be said really about NYC’s finest New Wave/ Avant Garde pioneers the legendry Talking Heads. Formed in 1975 when David Byrne, Frantz, Harrison and Tina Wymouth met at Design College they went onto explode into the immortality of the art rock hall of fame, often described as "one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the '80s, while managing to earn several pop hits."
After releasing their debut album ‘Talking heads: 77’ in 1978 following a support slot with the Ramones. It was with their second album, ‘More Songs About Buildings and Food’ that the band began its long-term collaboration with super producer Brian Eno; who had previously worked with David Bowie, Roxy Music and Iggy Pop. Eno's unusual style meshed well with the group's artistic sensibilities, and they began to explore an increasingly diverse range of musical directions, from post punk to New Wave and Psychedelic funk, especially prevalent on 1979’s ‘Fear of Music’.
Despite a huge catalogue of massive hits including ‘Same as it ever was’ and ‘Burning down the house’ it’s the lesser known cult anthem ‘Psycho Killer’ from their debut album that makes this week cut....
Something New...
Pulled Apart by Horses aren’t a BRAND NEW band and having formed in 2007, their debut self titled album was released last year to much critical success and brought many a fan on board but was not overly commercially successful. The Leeds based alt-rock 4 piece lead by front man Tom Hudson did however have the honor of being personally invited to support Muse and Biffy Clyro on tour.
2012 is sure to be their year after a lot of hype surrounding the brilliant follow up album ‘Tough Love’ that landed on Monday (January 23rd), playing a special BBC introducing gig tonight and are also this week’s UK iTunes featured artist. If you like lead single ‘V.E.N.O.M’ you will love the album...
Something Borrowed..
I have a huge list of new covers to blog but after driving into town for an Open mic last night I happened upon the Monkey’s latest offering from Radio 1’s live lounge. The Arctic Monkeys are no strangers to a good pop cover, most famously so with ‘Love Machine’. Nevertheless, their mashed up version took by huge surprise, I had grown tired of Alex Turner’s vocals but they have fused the modern pop/dub vocal of Katie B’s ‘On a Mission’ with the legendry (inventor of the power chord himself) Link Wray and the riff from ‘Rumble’...
Something Blue...
London based Theme Park are another highly touted four-piece and have pretensions to Talking Heads' funk-rock mantle – but fail to burn down that house. Lead vocalist/ guitarist brothers Miles and Marcus Haughton and their two school mates had a fairly successful 2011 which included a tour with Bombay Bicycle Club. This followed topping UK independent alt-rock radio charts for three consecutive weeks with their track ‘Milk’, making them the Adele of the digital broadcast scene. ‘Milk’ is their most ‘heads-like number, to an almost parodic degree but it's a bit light and polite - not that David Byrne et al were rock monsters but you see what I mean. I’d throw Vampire Weekend into the mix if you were looking for a similar sound but although tunefully brilliant they lack the edge that VW have.
Strangely though, I can’t help but love Theme Park and find myself listening to their unique sound regularly, in the middle of the day, best described as “a transient tone that regularly alters texture” if I had my pretentious head on. The last official single  ‘A Mountain We Love’ isn't half bad but it’s this song that drew my attention when I caught my first glimpse of the bands on a late night Channel 4 TV show; this is 'Wax', enjoy...
 
 

Sunday, 15 January 2012

Something for the Metal...

This weeks metal special is inspired by the news that At.the.Drive.In and Refused last week announced their reunion for the awesome Coachella festival alongside the Black Keys and Radiohead amongst many others.
Something Old...
This weeks’ ‘Something Old’ focuses on the former, Texas’ finest post hardcore outfit At.the.Drive.In Formed in 93 they were famed for their extremely energetic stage shows which hearkened back to the 80s hardcore scene, they were recognized for their blend of surrealistic lyrics, unorthodox guitar melodies and unpredictable shifts in tempo and rhythm. The band broke up following breakthrough success, with Bixler-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez starting the awesome prog metal outfit Mars Volta and the other members, Ward, Hinojos and Tony Hajjar starting the more traditional Sparta. Hinojos would then leave to join the Mars Volta from 2005.
Recording for their brilliant breakthrough album ‘Relationship of Command’ was done over a seven week period and features the legendry Iggy Pop with minor parts on a couple of tracks. The album was released in late 2000 to critical acclaim and catapulted them into the mainstream musical spotlight...
"¡ ATTENTION ! To whom it may concern: THIS STATION IS...NOW...OPERATIONAL"
Something New...
I have been meaning to get a spot for these guys on #bearmusic for quite a while now; this week’s metal special provided such a springboard of opportunity. I first heard about the lads through my mate from uni @RockWhore85; as they are her fellas band.
Overspill are currently recording their debut studio album, sorting US gig dates and will soon announce a string of European summer festivals and I for one will be sure to check em out, if the lads can drink as much as Lou I know it’ll be a top night! After a storming performance in Camden last week they are set to play Liverpool’s Lomax on the 28th, Indigo in Manchester on Feb 3rd and Blackpool in March with many more gigs to be announced shortly. To keep up with latest happening make sure to follow them on twitter (@overspillmusic) and facebook (/overspillmusic).
Having made a huge impact in Liverpool, up and down the UK and even Germany where they have been going down a storm. With well written, highly infectious songs and the talent and presencion of the lads along with superb reviews and a lot of industry interest it’s no wonder fans are chomping at the bit for the next gig. The lads have enjoyed press and airplay from everything from university radio right thru to American radio, appearances on Channel 4, Sky and randomly MTV Asia. This band is definitely one to watch for 2012. They draw their influences from Audioslave, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stoneage thru to early Sabbath, as can be seen in this awesome track ‘My Peeling Skin’...
Something Borrowed...
For a metal special no other cover comes close to 'Hurt', originally written and performed by the genius of metal Trent Reznor; it was first released on Nine Ince Nails’ 94 album ‘The Downward Spiral’. In 2002 it was famously covered by the man in black himself, the legendry Johnny Cash as his swansong. To critical acclaim, it was Cash's final hit releases before his death. Its accompanying video, featuring images from his life was named the best video of the year by the Grammy Awards and best video of all time by NME last year
The meaning of the track is disputed; some listeners say the song acts like a suicide note with notes on depression, whilst others may find it to describe someone finding a reason to live. Officially, the song talks about differences between society and self harm. Never the less its truly a beautiful tragedy and musical up there with the greats....
 Something Blue...
Swedish hardcore punk Refused formed in 91 and released five EPs and three albums over a fiery, short lived career before splitting up in 98. Although firey, they burn bright and went out with a bang, RockSound and Kerrang! both place their definitive album ‘The Shape of Punk to Come’ in their top 10 Most Influential Albums Of All Time list. The band comprises of vocalist Lyzen, guitarist Bannstrom, bassist Steen and drummer Sandstrom and together their lyrics were often of a non-conformist and politically far-left nature
The bands brake up is sighted by many as a result of a depletion of creative energy and band members wanting different things. There was a clear conflict between the front man and the rest of the band, stating they were emotionally devastated and that their final tour was an awful experience before they eventually cancelled the tour and announced their split. Their last performance of their US tour was played in a friend's basement but was shut down by police, however, they are back, this is 'new noise' and remember...
"REFUSED ARE’NT F*CKING DEAD!”

Monday, 9 January 2012

Something for New Year...

#bearmusic albums of 2011

Happy New Year everyone, 2011 was a brilliant first year for my blog highlights of which include seeing the Flaming Lips and OKGO play next to giant telescope, feedback on my blog from my two favorite DJs Zane Lowe and Lauren Laverne, Jape's Richie Egan and also mercury prize nominees, the brilliant Everything Everything and the genius ghostpoet; the later three all now follow me on twitter. So with the coming of a new year gives me an opportunity that comes but once a year for me to run through my top 10 best albums of 2011.

The year was brimming with new alt music; much of it of it from new artists but the majority from already established ones. Some good as you will see fill up my top 10 rundown but much of it was drab, predictable and damn right terrible from the likes of Elbow, the Oasis brothers much anticipated dull solo offerings and Coldplay, who never fail to disappoint. Others took me by surprise and offerings from a couple of my favourite bands from Incubus' 7th album, ironically titled 'If not now, When?' and the Arctic Monkeys' dismal 4th album 'Suck it and See' both massively failed to impress me...

Anyway on wards and upwards, heres the good sh*t...

10. The Naked And Famous - 'Passive Me, Aggressive You'
Not necessarily a band name you would want your kids googling, having outgrown New Zealand, TMAF and their debut album were my personal and also the BBC's recomendation as ones to watch for 2011. Making the final cut in fellow Kiwi Zane Lowe's In New Music We Trust and having received critical acclaim by the 'alternative' British press such as NME my opinion was in good company. 
Having toured the UK and Europe this year, I missed the boat but will be certain to catch them this summer during the festival season. The album itself is utterly stunning, a classic case of ugly and beautiful, passive melodicism and aggressive innovation clash in a dazzling blaze of psych/sonic fireworks. Stand out tracks include 'Punching in a dream', 'All of This' and the beautiful 'Young Blood'...
9. Foo Fighters - 'Wasting Light'
7 is often a lucky number but in this case it is definitely true, the bands 7th album is a definite return to form from Grohl, Hawkins, Shiflet, Mendel and the returning Pat Smear. The 
Foo Fighters’ seven-year itch ended up lasting the full seven years. It followed that the make-up sex was always going to be phenomenal, not strictly 100% true as the first 3 albums being fantastic but since the master piece that is 'Colour and Shape' I've hated everything they have done and been left with a feeling of "not being able to look at them during". 
Grohl has made up with the spirit of Nirvana by getting Butch to produce and having Krist pop over too, but he also made peace with the white-hot, throbbing testoste-rock that had marked him out ever since his early days as Nirvana’s engine room. Recorded in Grohl’s garage it was back to basics for the lads, or more aptly middle aged men. Stand out tracks include the lead single 'Rope', 'Walk', 'Bridge Burning' and the hard hitting 'White Limo', the video for which features the legendary Lemmy in the driving seat...
8. Lykke Li - 'Wounded Ryhmes'
The first female entry in the rundown, Lykke is a godess in my eyes, a smoulder that could warm any mans heart. Her explosion of confidence and fearless experimentation form a mixing pot that is both sensual and substantially immense. Moving firmly away from her happier debut pop album this album is rich and comeplling, which bring dark and complex contradictions, but she is, thank god, still rough around the edges. The album serves as a romantic outlook past the age were such a thing is realistic, none more so than two tracks from t'other end of the spectrum on the album, the sexual  'Get Some' and the beautiful 'I Follow Rivers'...
7. Beastie Boys - 'Hot Sauce Committee Part II'
Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock may have been slogging as the kings of white boy hip hop since 1979 but they NEVER fail to impress me! This result of such an experienced career is probably the guys best album since 'Hello Nasty', it does everything you would hope it too. Something inside you overwhelms you to rekindle their epic back catalogue that is stacked with anthems from 'Fight for your right', 'Intergalactic' through to 'Sabotage'. From the latest 16 tracks its impossible so I will choose the first, lead single, and possible the music video of the year 'Make Some Noise'...
6. TV on the Radio - 'Nine Types of Light'
This album is truly an extraordinary work of art as the record and it propelled Dave Sitek’s mob one of the best bands in 
the world, rather than simply one of the most revered by people in the alt community. Slingshotting straight into it after his funk solo project the sense of Sitek actually having a laugh making music – rarely present in the previous 4 albums. 
For me, TVOTR have always been brilliant since I first clapped ears on them; from the debut offerings of 'Satellite' and 'Starring at the Sun' to the previous album, commercial breakthru 'Dear Science' - 'Dancing Choose', 'Golden Age' and 'Crying'.
The core of the band has been vocalist Tunde, guitarist Dave, bassist Kyp, drummer Jaleel and keyboardist Gerard Smith who sadly lost his fight with lung cancer in April last year. Stand out tracks on 9 types are pretty tough as it just works as a journey through music, each track having its own video, lead single 'Will Do' and the utterly genius 'Repetition' are two that jump out on first listen....
5. The Strokes - 'Angles'
The New Yorkers’ Casablancas, Hammond Jnr, Morreti and Valensi returned this year with their 4th album, not quite the masterpiece some had hoped for, but wait, it’s still one damn fine album!
Yes, it may not redefine a genre of generation like there debut 'Is this it?' a decade ago but some of the insanely innovative tight riffs were most definitely worth the 5 year wait since 'First impressions...'. Need I say more? Go buy it...stand out tracks include the brilliant lead singles 'Under Cover of Darkness' and 'Taken for a Fool', but for me it has to be the utterly refined, floating riffage of 'Machu Picchu'...
4. Radiohead - 'King of Limbs'
One the greatest bands in history have done it again, maybe I'm biased because Yorke is one of my all time heroes for me the album always sounds great whatever the mood.  A subtle, multi-layered affair that is suprisingly low key in places, the album is essentially a 37 minute jam, carved out by artists at the top of their trade. Stand out tracks include 'Bloom', 'Mr Magpie', 'Codex' and the truely awesome 'Lotus Flower', shake your limbs like Thom...
3. Ben Howard - 'Every Kingdom'
Ben Howard is the first male solo on my list and the reason why he makes it too third in my chart is because his album is truely one epic, beautiful, inspiring piece of music in a category filled with so much rubbish. Alongside fellow singer songwriter James Vincent McMorrow (who charted for the first time this wkend) a day doesnt go by when I don't sit back and relax to their soulful vocals. The debut album from the Devon born lad features 'Old Pine' as its debut single, followed by the wonderful 'Keep Your Head Up' and the truly beautiful 'Wolves', let it take you to another world...
2. Bell X1 - Bloodless Coup
Very narrowly pipped to the top spot by an honorable late flurrish from the kings of modern blues but Bell X1 were all set to be my chart pinnacle and have featured heavily in #bearmusic this year. The soundtrack to my summer by a four minute mile, I have my gorgeous other half @I_Blame_Kate for introducing me to Paul Noonan and Dave Geraghty 4 years ago. One of the highlights of my year was when she took me to see them for my first time in November and they do not disappoint, dare I say it even better live than on record! This albums has it all from the soft ballads of 'Anna Lena' and 'Nightwatchmen' through to the addition of 'Velcro' to add to their ever growing list of anthems that include 'Tongue', 'Alphabet Soup' and 'the Great Defector' amongst others. The stand out track on the album for though has to be the genius lyrics of 'Four minute Mile', which can be summed up as an modern fable for the uninspired and unambitious much like myself...   
1. The Black Keys - 'El Camino'
Words cannot describe how brilliant this album is, so good I wrote a special in its on honor the week it was released (which you can read here). I really don't need to say any more, Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney, praise be to the father of blues for your existence, every track is pure gold, another masterpiece, a more than worthy Number 1, see you in February lads...