Older albums revisited: Meltdown

I discovered Ash through Kerrang, back in the day when I still thought that magazine was worth following. They actually featured a useful article, which was a guide to the essential bands of an average present-day rock fan. Among all the AC/DCs, Metallicas, Placebos and Jimmy Eat Worlds, there was a band I hadn't heard of before but started to love them straight away. (As a matter of fact, that guide is still on Kerrang's webstite.)

As clichéd as it may sound, in the following years, Ash became one of the bands that helped to form my taste in music. I used to spin their records endlessly. From the sophomore album 1977, which approprietly kicks off with the sound of a TIE fighter passing by, to their last, much darker, Twilight of the Innocent. Because above all, the band has always stayed unbelievably consistent throughout the years. You won't run into many weaker songs in their discography. Instead, you are bound to find lots of brilliant ones.

Shining Light is the band's biggest selling single to date and was also covered by Annie Lennox. There can be no better invitation into their music...

Free All Angeles might the their most popular album so far, since it contains the phenomenal singles Shining Light and Burn Baby Burn and was their biggest critical success to date. It's most probably the best showcase of Ash's ability to write truly great lovesongs, as well as the tenderness and vulnerability in their music.

Although I treasure all their albums deeply, Meltdown have always remained my favourite. (Or perhaps on par with Free All Angeles, the more I think about it.) It presented a much darker and heavier side of Ash, with the sound infused with even a dash of metal at times. Thankfully however, that doesn't mean their melodic sensibilities got lost in the mix. If anything, the exact opposite thing happened. From the opening title track to the closer Vampire Love, the songs are all killer, no filler. And they're all so damn fun and catchy, with guitar riffs you just can't get out of your head.

Well, I guess I can't praise this band enough. Simply put, I think Ash are one of the most underappreciated and overlooked bands on the planet. They must be shaking hands with Feeder and Idlewild somewhere right now. It's a shame, really, that Ash refuse to release any more albums after Twilight of the Innocent, focusing only on stand-alone singles. Because if those are of any indication, fans would've had much to look forward to.

Thouhgts?

Albums of the year 2012, part I

Another year, another list. Still feels like yesterday when I was writing the last one, and even though I'm twelve months older now, nothing has really changed in my taste in music. For one thing, I haven't heard nearly as many albums as I would like to. I was stuck in the sixties for the bigger part of the year, spinning Beatles' and Byrds' records more often than it would be healthy. Nevertheless, here I am, presenting my end-of-the-year list, I hope you'll enjoy it and will agree with me about at least some of my choices.

For starters, let's begin with a few honorary mentions, albums, that didn't eventually make the cut for one reason or another. First of all, I couldn't but enjoy the usual mayhem of yet another Enter Shikari's album, the genuinely ambitous and ultimately accomplished A Flesh Flood of Colour, or the recommended Angels And Enemies, the sophomore record of the extraordinarily talented Liverpool quintet Sound of Guns. Another notable releases include Young Guns' second studio album, Bones, Yellowcard's Southern Air, perhaps their finest work to date, or the Mercury Prize winning, yet polarizing, An Awesome Wave from the debuting UK art-rockers Alt-J.

Furthermore, US indie rockers The Shins made their long-awaited comeback with the generally well-received Port of Morrow (which, in fact, ended up just one spot shy of my top 20) and Linkin Park reminded us of their existence with Living Things, a much better album, than everyone had anticipated. We also witnessed amazing new releases from rock's greatest legends, such as Bob Dylan (Tempest), Bruce Springsteen (Wrecking Ball), Soundgarden (King Animal) and, of course, Tenacious D (Rize of the Phoenix).

So finally, here comes the top 20:

#20 The 2nd Law

Muse
Let's kick off with what's possibly the most divisive and polarizing album of the year. The least I can say is that most of the negative response Muse did receive after the release was really undeserved. It surely isn't their greatest triumph, but in the end, when you give The 2nd Law enough time and let it sink in, it's well worth the while and almost as much fun as their older work.

#19 Shields
Grizzly Bear

Shields showed us Grizzly Bear's more raw and upbeat side than the largely experimental Veckatimest. However, if it hadn't been for its forth track, the dazzling Yet Again, I probably wouldn't pay much interest either. But this is actually an all-around great record. As it turned out, all I needed was just to spend a little more time with it.

#18 In the Belly of the Brazen Bull

The Cribs

When I finally yielded to all the rave reviews of The Cribs' latest output, I wasn't very impressed at first. But later on, I gave the album a second chance, and it eventually turned out to be quite a grower. It's my yearly dose of distorted guitars and lo-fi indie goodness. For fans of Pavement and early Weezer.

#17 Fragrant World

Yeasayer

While it may have not reached the heights set by their previous album, Odd Blood, it is a very enjoyable listen nonetheless.

#16 Generation Freakshow
Feeder

Good old Feeder, once again making the best use of their biggest assets. If you loved them once, you probably will again. (My review)

#15 The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy
Nada Surf

No surprises here. With their seventh studio album, Nada Surf unwaveringly continue to amaze me. I want a new one ASAP, please. (My review)

#14 Vital
Anberlin

Ten years into their career, Anberlin have released their heaviest album to date, and, according to many of their fans, also their best. Vital is definitely a step up from the problematic and slightly repetetive Dark Is the Way..., but personally, I'd still choose "Friendship" or Cities over it any time. Nevertheless, it's always good to see your favourite band going back to their roots and rocking hard.

#13 Strangeland
Keane
A return to form we all had been anxiously waiting for. Keane are back! (My review)

#12 There's No Leaving Now
The Tallest Man On Earth

With Bob Dylan having released 35th studio album after fifty years since his eponymous debut, it's truly remarkable how his legacy continues to inspire musicians all around the globe till this day. As is the case with Kristian Matsson, the Swedish export who performs under the stage name The Tallest Man On Earth. His third studio album has been one hell of a grower for me and with each subsequent listen I cherished it more and more, up to the point when I became pretty much addicted to it.

#11 Jake Bugg
Jake Bugg

Speaking about Dylan... He's one of several people Jake Bugg lists among his influences, along with The Beatles or Oasis. With that being said, it's actually not that surprising Bugg's music sounds like he fell right out of the middle of British invasion. My impressions of the album are still very fresh as I hadn't even heard of it until NME announced their end-of-the-year list about a week ago, but it's been on my playlist constantly ever since. And what an outstanding album it is. Jake Bugg's feat is all the more impressive when you consider he's only eighteen.

Well, that's about it for now. As always, expect the final part to be posted in a week or so. In the meantime, feel free to express your thoughts in the comments.

Tegan and Sara

The latest album from Tegan and Sara, 2009's Sainthood, was just great, plain and simple. So it goes without saying, that I'm pretty excited for their new, seventh full-length, which is due out on January 29, 2013. Here's a music video for the first single, Closer.



On one hand, it is very poppy, with synths and everything, but on the other hand, it still sounds unmistakably like them and the album itself is reportedly very good. Here's to hoping the rumours are right, I can't wait. Your thoughts?

Jake Bugg

After reading NME's top 50 albums of the year, I decided to listen to the bands I had not heard of before.  There was one artist who really stuck out and I have just fallen in love with, and that is Jake Bugg.  His self-titled album was ranked #9 on their list.  The genre is folk/country and to me that is partially right.  His sound reminds me of some oldies and I think that is the main appeal.  It's a sound that has been done, but he adds his own touch to it.  Listen for yourself and let me know what you think.

Here's his music video for, "Two Fingers."

However, I do love the tracks "Seen it All" and "Note to Self."

Doom And Gloom

For anyone who thought "The Stones" were done. This brand new music video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund and starring Noomi Rapace, proves they've still got more energy than most much younger bands. Respect. Meanwhile, their newest compilation album GRRR! debuted at #3 on the UK Albums Chart.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey soundtrack

In honour of the upcoming release of the most anticipated movie of the year, The Hobbit, which premiers in just four days in New Zealand and two weeks later worldwide, I present to you its soundtrack. Well, in case you missed it... Once again, it's being composed, orchestrated, conducted and produced by Howard Shore.

I have already booked my tickets to the midnight screening. The question is, have you? :)

Black Chandelier

In 2009, Only Revolutions not only catapulted Biffy Clyro even higher on the charts than their previous breakthrough album, Puzzle, but it also started my obsession with the band. Their next output, the double album Opposites, comes out on 28 January and my expectation are pretty high at this point. There's a brand new song...



Thoughts? I have no doubt Opposites will be a serious AOTY contender next year.

Lonerism

Few weeks ago, when I was writing about Emitt Rhodes and the uncanny resemblance of his and Paul McCartney's voices, I had no idea I would later discover another John Lennon too. Well, I did, in the person of Kevin Parker, the 26-year-old frontman of an Australian dream pop band, Tame Impala.

Tame Impala came into my attention after the release of their sophomore album, Lonerism, which has been receiving large amounts of praise all over the interwebs and will, without a doubt, be appearing on many upcoming AOTY lists, including mine.

The songs are mostly instrumental, making good use of all the production tools and sound effects a music studio has to offer, and yet, at the same time, they are very guitar-driven. The psychedelic melodies and Parker's ethereal voice only add up to the feeling of a very complex listening experience.



As the album progresses, you start to feel the increasing longing to put on Magical Mystery Tour, but it's also very difficult to let go of such a captivating and absorbing album, that is Lonerism.

Best tracks: Be Above It, Why Won't They Talk to Me?, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

Jules and Jim

It's been almost a year since Nada Surf released their latest album. Well, it's still great. There is a new music video for one of its best songs.

Presenting: Spacebrother

Spacebrother (Jared Piccone from Innerpartysystem), Shaun Lopez (†††) and STV (Stevie Aiello from Monty Are I) collaborated on a track called "The Antidote." You can check the music video below and download the song here. Its better than nothing, I guess, while Innerpartysystem are on their indefinite hiatus. Thoughts?