Sunday 19 December 2010

Albums of the Year, part II

To see the first part, click here.

#8 Postcards from a Young Man
Manic Street Preachers


The last year saw the Manics dealing with past on an album that also may be considered a comeback. Behind Postcards is a completely different story. Prior to the release, the band had announced this would be their last shot at mass communication, which is why it's a pop album to the core, aimed at the widest audience. But that doesn't matter since it's nothing short of powerful rock anthems and guitar solos. I didn't use to be a huge Manics' fan but Postcards changed that in an instant.
Best tracks: (It's Not War) Just The End Of Love, A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun, Don't Be Evil

#7 Interpol
Interpol


Another album I had been impatiently waiting for and still, I was surprised after I gave it the very first spin. It wouldn't be hard to doom Interpol's latest effort. The songs are seemingly heading nowhere as if the band were lost in their own world. Paul Banks' voice may sound distant and bored. But things are not so simple this time around. The album is a grower. All the band's trademarks are still present here and it's their most consistent work to date. It certainly stands as an important milestone in their career, and not just because the bassist Carlos D left after completion.
Best tracks: Success, Barricade, Always Malaise (The Man I Am)

#6 Congratulations
MGMT


Oracular Spectacular had some great singles. On the contrary, MGMT's sophomore album lacks them altogether. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's worse. In this case, it means the exact opposite. I'm an album listener, I like to play them from beginning to the end and hardly ever skip any tracks. Congratulations is just the sort of record, that aims at listeners like myself. It's forty-four minutes long, coherent body of work that flows smoothly towards the end, which comes just when you realise you want to hear more.
Best tracks: Flash Delirium, Siberian Breaks, Congratulations

#5 The Betrayed
Lostprophets


My first highly anticipated album of the year. A long story, spanning over three years, preceded the release, which was delayed numerous times due to problems with labels and producers. That being said, Lostprophets without wavering lived up to my expectations. The Betrayed is a rare case of a record, where a band succeeds at combining elements of all its previous efforts while accomplishing to sound renewed and different. This time, it's angrier, heavier, darker and with their best song since Last Train Home (Where We Belong).
Best tracks: Where We Belong, For He's a Jolly Good Felon, Sunshine

#4 American Slang
The Gaslight Anthem


It certainly wasn't easy living up to everyone's expectations after The '59 Sound. Fortunately, The Gaslight Anthem proved their previous effort didn't happen by chance and were able to create arguably even a better album. Every time I listen to American Slang, I have to admire the flawless production and Brian Fallon's heartfelt lyrics and singing. When it comes to incorporating past influences and inspiration and blending punk with 1960's rock n' roll while sounding utterly present and relevant, The Gaslight Anthem have no equals.
Best tracks: Stay Lucky, Boxer, The Spirit of Jazz


#3 High Violet
The National


There really isn't much to say about High Violet, except that it's damn good. In the competition for the best indie album of the year, it came close second. It's a typical grower. Initially, the songs hardly ever caught my attention as they're rather slow and seem to never take off. But once I gradually began to immerse into the captivating tunes and Matt Berninger's voice, I realised there's a lot going on underneath. High Violet is a very personal record, as well as it's mature. Plus, it features my favourite cover art of the year.
Best tracks: Anyone's Ghost, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Conversation 16

#2 Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
My Chemical Romance


It had been four long years of waiting for the band to release a follow-up to the highly ambitious Black Parade. After a long touring, contribution to the Watchmen soundtrack, scrapping of a completed album and yet another radical change of image (and haircuts), Danger Days finally arrived.
Because of the long wait, I wasn't sure if I cared about the band anymore. But then the trailer campaign struck and My Chem released the first single, Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na), and I was again on board with them. Danger Days sounds like a band having more fun than ever. From the tight production to Gerard Way's affective singing, the album sounds both typical MCR and completely different from what we used to hear from these guys. It's one hell of a ride and easily the best rock n' roll album of the year.
Best tracks: Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na), Bulletproof Heart, Summertime

#1 The Suburbs
Arcade Fire


To be honest, I was mildly disappointed when I first heard The Suburbs back in the summer. At that time, it didn't seem to be a worthy follow-up to Funeral or Neon Bible. Fortunately, it grew on me like any other album, surpassing everything that's been released this year. Although, it's a concept album, where everything is heading towards the monumental peak on the closing track Sprawl II, each song works just as good on its own, mixing musical ambition with mainstream accessibility. The Suburbs may be the most epic effort of Arcade Fire's career, compelling, enthralling and gripping.
Best tracks: City With No Children, We Used to Wait, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Saturday 18 December 2010

"I kept dreaming of a world I thought I'd never see. And then, one day... I got in."


It certainly won't fit everyone but I honestly think that Tron: Legacy is a great movie. The most remarkable thing about it is the combination of dazzling visuals and perfectly fitting music. It's definitely hard to say which of those two elements is dominant here. Daft Punk blended orchestral and electronic music in order to create a unique movie score and delivered one of the most captivating listens in 2010.

The Grid


The Game Has Changed


Tron: Legacy (End Titles)



 
Wikipedia
IMDb

Sunday 12 December 2010

Tired Pony

There is a band I discovered just today...

"Tired Pony is a new supergroup, led by Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody and featuring Peter Buck from R.E.M. and Richard Colburn of Belle and Sebastian. If the band's actual lineup didn't have enough starpower already, debut album The Place We Ran From also features contributions from folks like M. Ward, Editors frontman Tom Smith, and some lady named Zooey Deschanel." (Pitchfork)

Conan, the Musician
Whether you're on team Coco or not, I hope you'll enjoy these videos.





Saturday 11 December 2010

Albums of the year 2010, part I

Since every other major site is revealing their own lists of this year's best albums, I decided to do it as well. The year might not be over yet, but I don't expect anything groundbreaking to appear in the remaining few weeks. I hope you will agree with me at least on some of those choices. Also be sure, that I'd be extremely interested in opinions (or lists) from all of you. What albums rocked your world in 2010?

Here's the first part of my list. Expect the other one next week...

#16 Would It Kill You?
Hellogoodbye


This album was quite a surprise. It was just as good as people said. Filled with power pop gems, it races towards the end never loosing pace and for the most part, it's pure fun. Ideal record when you're feeling down.
Best tracks: Finding Something to Do, Betrayed by Bones, When We First Kissed

# 15 Wreckorder
Fran Healy


It would've been foolish to expect the new solo album from Travis' frontman to sound fundamentally different from Travis. It would be stupid to slam it because of that.
Best tracks: Sing Me to Sleep, Buttercups, Holiday

#14 Invented
Jimmy Eat World


What can I say? If there was a single most anticipated record of the year for me, it would be Invented. Jimmy Eat World can do no wrong so there had been no doubts they'd eventually end up on my AOTY list. Fans, including me, were pleased, even though this album doesn't essentially bring anything new to the table in terms of musical progression. But that doesn't matter, since it's a collection of beautiful tracks, some of which will surely become Jimmy Eat World classics.
Best tracks: It's Hard to Find, My Best Theory, Movielike

#13 White Crosses
Against Me!


New Wave came out of the blue back in 2007 and gained them considerable success, critical acclaim and a plenty of new fans (also aggravating many of the former ones, but who cares). It was a reasonable change of direction. Thus, unsurprisingly, they go even further on White Crosses bringing arena-ready rock and big choruses. More than enough to keep me stoked.
Best tracks: I Was a Teenage Anarchist, Spanish Moss, Bitter Divisions

#12 My Dinosaur Life
Motion City Soundtrack


Best pop punk record of the year. Because it's clever, it's honest and sometimes, it just gets fucking loud.
Best tracks: Her Words Destroyed My Planet (Need a Little Help), Disappear, The Weakends

#11 Odd Blood
Yeasayer


I would've probably missed this if it wasn't for Kristen Bell in the music video for Madder Red. If only all the pop albums sounded at least half as interesting as Yeasayer's sophomore effort.
Best tracks: The Children, Ambling Alp, Madder Red

#10 No Ghostless Place
Raised by Swans


On very rare occasions, there comes a record which is so intensely atmospheric, it's able to take you to places out of time, far from all your pressures, worries and cares. No Ghostless Place is pretty much the definition of such a record. The songs weightlessly float around setting the mood to sentimental and the last thing you'd want to do is to try to resist.
Best tracks: We Were Never Young, Hail of Arrows, Longer Shadows, Shorter Days

#9 Volume Two
She and Him


Let's be realistic. If it wasn't for the adorable half of the duo (and the so-called “Summer effect”), this album might've passed me by unnoticed. And that would be a huge mistake. Zooey Deschanel's voice and M. Ward's arrangements and sensitive production put together an irresistible combination that showers you with a contagious summer feeling.
Best tracks: Thieves, In the Sun, Ridin' in My Car

Monday 6 December 2010

Surfer Blood

Surfer Blood is an indie rock band, who released their debut album Astro Coast just this January. Pitchfork compared their sound to bands like Weezer, Pavement or Built to Spill. Swim is probably their best known song.



Floating Vibes

Saturday 4 December 2010

Standard Thompson - Fireworks

A music video by my friends Standard Thompson. It was recently featured on Fuse TV's Noise Blog as video of the day. Enjoy!



Standard Thompson's Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/standardthompson

Standard Thompson's website has some free downloads!
http://standardthompson.bandcamp.com/

Hum - Stars

Another great song introduced to me by the local indie station. From their 1995 album "You'd Prefer an Astronaut", here's the classic song Stars:



Their Myspace page is pretty much nonexistent, so if you wanna hear more, ask me.

Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag

Amazingly enough I first heard this song on the local indie rock station, even though it came out in 2000. From the "Loser" movie soundtrack, here's Teenage Dirtbag:



Visit their Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/wheatus

Neon Trees

Another great band I discovered thanks to my local indie station. Here's my favorite song by them:



Visit their Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/neontrees

Phoenix

I first heard this band on my local indie station. Here's my favorite song by them, called "1901":



check out their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/wearephoenix