Next Four

So last time I wrote I was acknowledging my surprise agreement with some of the NME's list. We'll address that another time though, because of late, the following albums have garnered my attention.








The Black Keys - Rubber Factory
Heartily recommended by friends, "The Big Come Up" & "Thickfreakness" had already endeared me to The Black Keys, but "Rubber Factory" transformed me into a 'proper fan' so to speak. Their urgency was complemented by more considered tracks reflected in the two standouts, for me at least, the lazy blues of opener "When The lights Go Out", and the heartbreak lyrics and melody of "The Lengths".

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl
Another case of a band really finding themselves on album 3. The debut had hooked me straight away, though follow up "Take Them On, On Your Own" didn't really inspire me to play it beyond it's first week of release. "Howl", however, saw the band strip back, embracing the rawer side of the blues and country that had previously remained hidden behind their wall of sound, and introducing a gospel element from the outset - the a capella intro to "Shuffle Your Feet" setting the scene. While "Still Suspicion Holds You Tight" is occasionally skipped, it's only to reach "Fault Line" & "Promise", the latter beautifully capturing the mood of the record at it's peak.

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
I'm sure I won't be alone in including this. A word of mouth sensation, no doubt aided by it's log cabin creation, it's near on impossible not to be moved by this album. Like many I expect, it was a cursory listen to "Skinny Love" that hooked me. That was followed by "The Wolves" and that was followed by the urge to buy the album. Since then, it's been an addiction, each track having it's day, even now I find it hard to pick a favourite. The lyrics occasionally hidden in Justin Vernon's falsetto, taking on different meanings at different times, sometimes even proving irrelevant when the music moves you. Sad in one monent, defiant, even triumphant, at the next. Pure brilliance.

Grand Drive - True Love & High Adventure
As if to show my record collection does go beyond 'B', we come to this. I used to see Grand Drive posters in our local studio and while knowing little about them, took a chance on this record one day. The opening 3 tracks rival any opening trio I've encountered either before or since, so full of ambition, especially evident upon realisation that this was in effect a debut album (first offering "Road Music" was a compilation of early EPs). The swirling keys, panned mandolin, intricate guitar and most of all, the tight harmonies set the scene and remain almost constant throughout. At a time when I was just being introduced to Americana this album proved pivotal, sending me headlong into the genre, delving into aquaintances & influences.

Predictable? I'll Reconsider

Here it is then, NME's album's of the decade...

1. The Strokes – 'Is This It'
2. The Libertines – 'Up The Bracket'
3. Primal Scream – 'Xtrmntr'
4. Arctic Monkeys – 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – 'Fever To Tell'
6. PJ Harvey – 'Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea'
7. Arcade Fire – 'Funeral'
8. Interpol – 'Turn On The Bright Lights'
9. The Streets – 'Original Pirate Material'
10. Radiohead – 'In Rainbows'
11. At The Drive In – 'Relationship Of Command'
12. LCD Soundsystem – 'The Sound Of Silver'
13. The Shins – 'Wincing The Night Away'
14. Radiohead – 'Kid A'
15. Queens Of The Stone Age – 'Songs For The Deaf'
16. The Streets – 'A Grand Don't Come For Free'
17. Sufjan Stevens – 'Illinoise'
18. The White Stripes – 'Elephant'
19. The White Stripes – 'White Blood Cells'
20. Blur – 'Think Tank'
21. The Coral – 'The Coral'
22. Jay-Z – 'The Blueprint'
23. Klaxons – 'Myths Of The Near Future'
24. The Libertines – 'The Libertines'
25. The Rapture – 'Echoes'
26. Dizzee Rascal – 'Boy in Da Corner'
27. Amy Winehouse – 'Back To Black'
28. Johnny Cash – 'Man Comes Around'
29. Super Furry Animals – 'Rings Around The World'
30. Elbow – 'Asleep In The Back'
31. Bright Eyes – 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning'
32. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – 'Show Your Bones'
33. Arcade Fire – 'Neon Bible'
34. Grandaddy – 'The Sophtware Slump'
35. Babyshambles – 'Down In Albion'
36. Spirtualized – 'Let it Come Down'
37. The Knife – 'Silent Shout'
38. Bloc Party – 'Silent Alarm'
39. Crystal Castles – 'Crystal Castles'
40. Ryan Adams – 'Gold'
41. Wild Beasts – 'Two Dancers'
42. Vampire Weekend – 'Vampire Weekend'
43. Wilco – 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'
44. Outkast – 'Loveboxxx/The Love Below'
45. Avalanches – 'Since I Left You'
46. The Delgados – 'The Great Eastern'
47. Brendan Benson – 'Lapalco'
48. The Walkmen – 'Bows and Arrows'
49. Muse – 'Absolution'
50. MIA – 'Arular'

A fairly predictable list maybe, interspersed with some great surprise choices.

Both Primal Scream and PJ Harvey in the top 10 for starters. Glad to see Grandaddy in there too, and of course Wilco - both fully deserving of a place in anyone's top 50, I didn't expect to see them here. Ryan Adams likewise, though whether they've chosen the right album is debatable.

I'd say, of the 31 that I own from this, nearly half of those would be considered for my own list.

So, that's me agreeing with about 30% of the NME's choices and I can't say I expected it to be that high! Especially when there's nearly 40% of that list I can't pass objective comment on...that said, were both the Yeah yeah Yeah's album's really that good? And Crystal Castles...really?

Still, with this in mind, perhaps it's time to reassess my thoughts on the NME's recent opinions and not be so dismissive in future.

This is me, somewhat backhandedly, eating humble pie.

I Had A Secret Meeting In The Basement Of My Brain

I recall I said I'd be posting every day with my 'best of' entries, and as is apparent, I've patently failed to live up to that commitment.

I'm sure my old school teachers wouldn't be surprised. Always a great talker, never a great writer, always full of excuses...

...this time round though, I forgive myself. And that's all that matters. I spent a great week off last week with my better half and our newborn son.

So in an attempt to play catch up, and upon reflection probably the best way forwards anyway, my posts will become more concise. More list-based with a coupla points, with more reasoned pieces in the new year as I justify my choices.

So, last week, it became apparent that these albums are worthy contenders...



Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue (Vol. 2)
Narrowly squeezing into the decade, there is always a danger of bias round these parts where Billy Bragg is concerned. However, with Volume 1 having acted as my introdution to Wilco, and having got to know them better by the time this came around, it was their contribution that really made this album for me.

Coldplay - Parachutes
Ambition has since taken Coldplay into other directions, filling stadiums and arenas worldwide, and while I still have a little time for them it tends to be that inquisitive first listen of a new album and that's my fill. Parachutes always has had refular spins though - from seeing them perform as a two piece in a tent in Pilton in 2000, through to headlining Glastonbury in 2002 as this album gave way to the second, I'm not sure I went a few weeks without listening to it.

The National - Alligator
Gripped by a strong performance on Jools Holland, I took a chance on this and it's informed some great stuff since, by The National and a number of their assosicates. 'Lit Up' is instant, while the whole album is filled with enchanting lyrics ('Secret Meeting' informs the title of this post) and captivating, sparring, guitars.

Ben Kweller - On My Way
I'd seen the name around, and my brother had fanzines and badges adorning our pinboard around 'Sha Sha' which I liked but for some reason largely ignored at the time. Something compelled me to buy 'On My Way' on it's release date though, and it's since driven a completists attitude to Ben Kweller. Ethan Johns production and the live feel to the record demand attention and it contains a bit of everything, from the Kinks-y garage rock of 'Ann Disaster' to the stripped back compelling title track.

Doves - The Last Broadcast

Rising, if I remember rightly, around the same time as Elbow, and hailing from just up the road, Doves have provided 4 of my favourite albums this last ten years, but it's still 'The Last Broadcast' that I return to more than the others.

Having cemented early promise with their debut, I recall waiting impatiently for the follow up. Lead single 'There Goes The Fear' was a top 3 hit for the band and propelled them into a nation's consciousness with 'Words' providing Match Of The Day backing, and 'Pounding' proving another strong single.

The live shows around this time were also something to behold, with the band embracing their earlier days as 'Sub Sub', I remember going crazy at The Forum when they launched into 'Space Face' and this amongst other was documented on the brilliant 'Where We're Calling From' DVD, packaged alongside a host of extras and hidden features.

The album itself is packed with it's own gems - 'Satellites' still being the standout for me, though I feel churlish picking favourites from such a great bunch. In an age of 'shufflers', myself included, this is an album I continue to listen to from start to finish, waiting excitedly for the next gem.

Lisztomania

The time has come where you start to see everyone's "end of year" lists, from the pages of NME, Mojo, Uncut, Rolling Stone et al, to the outer regions of t'internet such us here.

This year also co-inciding with the end of the decade, it's a good time for everyone to go list crazy.

Best songs, best albums, best artists, of the year, of the decade, etc.

All will differ, as they should. Many will draw praise & criticism, some in equal measure.

As is my nature, I'm gonna take a random approach to this list business, posting daily(ish) my thoughts on whatever occupies my mind as I ponder the year(s) gone by.

Tempting as it is, I can't just sit here and say "right, Heartbreaker was the best album of the decade" and list all those that sit behind it. These things take time & thought, so I'm hoping my random approach will lead to some comprehensive and well considered list come year end & the start of the next.

So, without further a-do, I'll start here...

Elbow - Asleep In The Back



The title track, originally left off the brilliant debut album, first appeared as a standalone single (well, a double-A with 'Coming Second' off the same album), and blew me away.

My first experience of Elbow was 'Any Day Now' late night on Xfm, which pricked my ears enough to recall it when 'Red' later surfaced. A further dalliance with the album 'Asleep In The Back' (which deservedly gets the 'deluxe' treatment in time for Xmas) confirmed my thoughts on this special band.

'Scattered Black & Whites' had demonstrated a similar sonic awareness, and to follow the album with this single was a masterstroke. It's lyrical sparseness & simplicity ("all the things I never talk about are spilling with the gin") complementing the delicate sounds that support it, it remains perfect to these ears.

Elbow have of course risen to greater heights since, and have provided more heartstopping moments over the last 7 / 8 years, but this track remains at the top for me.