Hello chums and musicnauts, indeed it is that time of year once again for us, the musical snobs, the critics, preachers of musical excellence and indeed pinnacle of taste in the blogosphere.
You know, far too well, that this means we shall be partaking of a little ol' countdown of our favouritest favourite things of the year. I have a distinct feeling that mine and that other fellow's that Carter chap, y'know the one what runs this site and posts far more frequently than I and of whom you are all familiar with, shall be rather different in taste, reasoning and what have you.
So onward and upward with this countdown of mine and it will be a countdown, so that you lovely people who take the time to read this drivel that I spout from every orifice can merely scroll down and read and such until the winner, the numero uno or the top dog shall become apparent.
10. Flight of The Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky (Sub Pop)
Well I'll be damned, I've gone and opened up with a dodgy enough starter haven't I? You shan't trust me from this moment and I can understand that but hear me out dear musiphiles. Ignoring the genuine hilarity and big fat belly laughs, chuckles, snorts (or as Dickens so cleverly invented the chortle) and giggles that this album evokes from me it actually impresses me on another level in that it has been one of the more unique and original albums of the year and at the same time it has stayed relatively in tune with modern culture. Just look at the title track "I Told You I Was Freaky" or the wonderfully titled, "Too Many Dicks on the Dancefloor". Both maintain a huge sense of modernity through their arrangements and general vibe and sound. Admittedly there are weak tracks like "Angels" but even with them this is a truly a funny and funky album.
9. Tickley Feather - Hors D'Oeuvres (Paw-Tracks)
The lovely Miss Annie Sachs or Tickley Feather as she is here known on this album has refined her sound, honed it and made it more defined. Now perhaps I'm being slightly biased because I saw her live just there last tuesday and t'was a great wee show. Her sidemen, Akasha Blade and Serpents of WISDOM are both very talented and in fact if I knew the names of their albums and stuff I'd probably stick them on this list but at the moment I'm lazy and have too much reading to do for uni so y'know... I DIGRESS! back to my point, I may be somewhat biased as I sat and had a chat with Ms. Feather and she was charming and enthusiastic and perfectly lovely. In fact I recorded my conversation and may well stick it up on this here blog for all the good it'll do in the world. Anyhow! Tickley Feather and her mates = Cool and make good music. Mmkay? (as a side point I thought I'd point out that someone on Last FM dubbed her "A MILF with a 4 track" and I thought that was both hilarious and true)
8. Bob Dylan - Christmas In The Heart (Columbia)
Now if you didn't think i'd gone crazy after no.10 then well you probably do so now but once again hear me out! Admittedly I did initially just bung this in to catch you out and check if you were reading and not just scanning the lists like I always do...but point is I actually quite liked it. Owing to the fact I'm an odd little minority in that I enjoy christmas tunes and I enjoy the modern works of Bob Dylan, pop 'em together and by gum you got yerself an album that I'll enjoy! onward and upward! (if you don't consider this a satisfactory number 8 then think of number 8 as being Wavvves by Wavves. Kay then? Panties not in a bunch anymore? Good, now settle yourself right down.
7. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms (Lefse)
Well by the balls o' St Christopher himself if ye didn't think this would appear on my list then you're a dope, a mouth breather and a fool! If you cast your mind back to my first ever little article on this blog then you may remember that it were on this and that I bloody loved it. It was lazy and melodious and all around gorgeous. Like MGMT but better. I stand by my review and my opinion. 'Nuff said. [Review]
6. No Age - Losing Feeling (Sub Pop)
Now this doesn't entirely count owin' to the fact it's got all o' 4 tracks on it but I've kinda weaselled about all over the show in this list just to chuck in some crackin bands and tunes for YOU. Now No Age really delivered just a streamlined and equally excellent EP to follow up their altogether fabby No Gaze, Noise Pop, Indie Rock gem that was Nouns. I still say get this and think to yerself, "By gum are we lucky to have No Age about." [Review]
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5. Sunn O))) - Monoliths and Dimensions (Southern Lord)Well this was an epic; a behemoth. It was fragile yet indestructable, gutter snarling yet pretty little melodies with orchestral flutters here and there. Now I shan't lie in that it was far from an album i listened to a lot. But I respect the epic and clever nature of every note that came outta me speakers for this. And the brass for the final track is wonderful. [Review]
4. Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth (PIAS)Now technically this didn't come out this year BUT it was played in its entirety by some band somewhere that isn't the original band and i'm sure that band will make a CD of it and thus i'm sliding this in and hoping ye won't notice it. Truth is it's a great album, one of the best. It is in the genre of post punk with great funky rhythms flowing out of the bass guitar like on my favourite track "Wurlitzer Jukebox". On top o' which you have the gentle vocals of miss Alison Statton. I realise it's not real but it's a good album and deserves its place here.
3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)What? What? Don't look at me like that, I don't care if your hipster sensibilities say "NO THIS IS TOO POPULAR" or that you genuinely didn't like it. Either way, it's on this list and I'm not taking it off because I bought it and I think it's a brilliant album. It's one of the albums where everything fits and clicks together on all the tracks. Highlights for me include "Bluish", "Brother Sport" and "Summertime Clothes". You guys must hate me by now! I'm like the bad guy in that film...you know the one I mean.
2. Atlas Sounds - Logos (kranky)This is the follow up album to the Deerhunter frontman's first release, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel. It is a triumphant affair with album art there plainly to make me feel uncomfortable. I don't know why but it's one of those album covers that makes me feel uncomfortable. Stanley Road by Paul Weller did the same thing... but that aside this is an album that makes me really excited for the future. Whilst juggling Deerhunter duties Bradford Cox finds time to make a record as fully formed and genuinely original and beautifully sculpted as this, then clearly Deerhunter could be a lot busier. The icing on the cake are the guest stars of Noah Lennox and Laetitia Sadier. Seriously, you need this album in your life, music doesn't come much better.
1. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue (Warp)Thus leaving mr Bibio, the man who made the huge leap from standard folktronica to a bunch of crazier genres which I couldn't be arsed listing or making up. The jump itself was undoubtedly astonishing and surprised even those horrible dick noses over at Pitchfork. I was pleasantly surprised and I have sincere faith that there are more good things to come of this Bibio chap. If he even has one more album as good as this in him, things are lookin' rosey. [Review]
Thus ends my fun little jaunt down memory lane. I'm actually considering swapping 1 & 2 but as I already said to a bunch of other people that Bibio is my album of the year so I can't bring myself to do it. I'm gonna go listen to Atlas Sound and Bibio till my ears cry tears of joy and scream "THANK YOU!" I hope you lot do the same. Toodles!
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