Here we are again. Before 2011 comes to a close, I'd like to present 10 of my favourite albums this year. As an added bonus, skip to the end for my favourite EP. Happy New Year everyone!
Here's one record that psyched me up before its release because of the pedigree of the band members. Bringing together Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss, Helium's Mary Timony and the Minders' Rebecca Cole, Wild Flag is the eponymous release from the prominent indie-punk rockers. "Romance" kicks things off with swagger and exuberance that embodies the entire record, but my personal favourite has to be "Electric Band", with its lazy, heady sound that harks back to a bygone era.
Elegant yet subtle, Within and Without's sensual and refined sound is an evolution from Ernest Greene's earlier material. "Eyes Be Closed" is the lead single and one of the album's stand-out tracks. Soft, gauzy synths are glazed over with a hazy feel, and the beats are crisp and clear. "Amor Fati", or Latin for "Love of Fate", sounds blissfully sweet (read the full review here).
At 37 minutes long, Radiohead's eighth studio album is their shortest record to date. When it comes to dishing out an exquisite record, Radiohead knows that brevity is the order of the day. Savour the tunes like fine wine: Soak up the smells. Take a sip here and a swig there, and you'll be duly rewarded in the end.
After being dropped from her record label, folk singer Marissa Nadler turned to Kickstarter, a fan-driven platform, to fund her fifth album. This fuelled arguably her best and most frank LP to date. Lead single "Baby, I Will Leave You In The Morning" is a pleading song about forgiveness, but my top pick is "Puppet Master", a quiet composition about lost love.
Nominated for this year's Mercury Prize, On A Mission is a solid record that combines elements of dubstep, dance and pop. The album bursts to life from the get go. Katy B's (Kathleen Brien) vocals are deliciously sensual. I was smitten with songs like "Witches Brew", "Go Away", "Broken Record" and the witty "Easy Please Me". Moreover, midway through the album closer "Hard To Get", Katy acknowledges those who have supported her on her musical journey. Kudos to a truly grounded star-in-the-making.
Florence Welch has been on a roll since the release of her brilliant debut Lungs and she just keeps getting better at her game. Her sophomore effort Ceremonials is a pompous and grandiose affair, captivating and spellbinding, lyrically and vocally stunning.
Culture of Fear, Thievery Corporation's sixth studio album, is one of the most underrated records of the year. Sure, the electronic DJ duo continue to take on their socio-political stances, but like they say: If it ain't broken, why fix it?
Metronomy blew me away with The English Riveria, the most laid-back and fun record I've heard all year. Shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, it's chock-a-block with shimmery tunes that wouldn't sound out of place on mainstream radio. Lead singer Joe Mount's falsetto is intriguing and charming, and he's backed by brilliant musicians like bassist Gbenga Adelekan and former Lightspeed Champion drummer Anna Prior. It's interesting to see where this band will go next.
Lykke Li has come a long way since her Youth Novel days. Wounded Rhymes, her second album, is a work of art. It's defiant, darkly hypnotic, yet deeply passionate, you just get sucked into the swirling vortex. There's a whole lot of emotions going on, but you have to give it to the lady (and producer Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John fame) for pulling it all together into one neat, minimalist package. Certainly one of the best Swedish exports yet.
The fourth studio album from Canadian chanteuse Leslie Feist tops my list. It's pretty much the most cohesive and perfect record I've heard this year. Recorded in Big Sur, California, Feist smartly eschews lavish production for a cool, melancholic soundtrack that somehow becomes warm, comfort food for the soul. Sublime.
Florrie (Florence Arnold) is one hell of a beautiful and talented woman. She's a singer-songwriter, drummer and model. And she's really in it for the music, given that she has adopted the grassroots strategy with her tunes, choosing instead to self-release her EPs instead of signing on to a record label. Experiments EP, her second after the excellent Introduction EP (you can download the latter for free off her website), is a thumping, synth-pop packed record that's fun, catchy and energetic.
Honourable Mentions:
Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know
Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest
Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
Austra - Feel It Break
Cults - Cults
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
No Merriweather Post Pavilion, Bitte Orca nor Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix here. Just 10 albums that were on constant rotation in 2009 (and check out the end for my favourite EP). Not necessarily critics' picks. Enjoy.
Transmitter Failure is by no means the perfect pop record, but it is certainly one of the better ones that I have heard in a while. Jenny Owen Youngs preserves much of her lyrical wit and emotional depth on her sophomore album, but she amps up and delivers more delectable and accessible tunes that touch people at an emotional level and gets them to boogie at the same time. Download: Jenny Owen Youngs - Led to the Sea [MP3]
Like Youngs, Alison Sudol also upped the tempo from her debut to create a chirpier and feistier follow-up. Upbeat harmonies and arrangements are audible here, but Bomb in a Birdcage still retains some of that poignancy and fragility that Sudol is known for.
Hands is a collection of dance-floor friendly electropop hits like the oft-heard "New in Town" and "Remedy". "Mathematics" is particularly memorable for its lyrics, since matters of the heart are broken down into mathematical formulas and equations. Some occasional misses but on the whole a delightful record for dancing to. Kudos to the talented Ms. Hesketh for writing and playing her own material.
With Humbug, Alex Turner and his friends threw the headiness of their previous records out the door. Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme helped them churn out a set of wryly dark rock anthems, which grows on you after repeated listens.
Cambridge, Massachusetts natives Passion Pit crafted this catchy indie dance-pop album. Manners sounds extremely coherent and solid when you listen to the entire album in one sitting.
Swedish group Miike Snow consists of Andrew Wyatt and producers Chris Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (aka Bloodshy & Avant, co-writers of Britney Spears' "Toxic"). With this type of pedigree, you would think their self-titled debut is loaded with commercial pop. However, nothing here is shrouded in excessive gloss. Injecting a dollop of Scandinavian twee-ness into the mix, this makes for a highly engaging indie-electro pop record indeed.
Fantasies was not one of those LPs that I loved right from the start because I was accustomed to their older material. However, after a couple of plays, I was sold. It is consistently good from start to end. Lead singer Emily Haines' debonair personality and vocals shine through in most of the tracks, especially singles "Help I'm Alive" and "Gimme Sympathy".
The London quartet's (now trio) self-titled eponymous album is probably one of the best debuts of 2009. xx is minimalist chic, chill music. The underrated instrumental opener "Intro" sucked me in when I first heard the album, and I knew I had to have more. Best to listen to when alone: this is contemplative stuff.
Florence Welch makes it all look so effortless. Lungs, the stunning debut from the London songstress and her band, features Welch's powerful voice and a medley of quirky yet intriguing songs.
Download: Florence and The Machine - You've Got The Love
Though the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have moved away from their original garage rock sound and embraced electro rock, It's Blitz! still lives up to its hype, buoyed by the collective talents of frontwoman Karen O, guitarist Nick Zinner and drummer Brian Chase. Synthesizers make this album extremely energetic and appealing. Not to mention the album cover is pretty kick-ass too.
Fans of Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago will love this follow-up EP. Justin Vernon is the same tortured soul here, deeply introspective, but the 4th and last track on the album, "Woods", surprises everyone with the presence of the vocoder.
Here is a list of 25 songs (arranged in alphabetical order) that I was infatuated with in 2009. The rule was that I could not pick songs from the same artist or album twice, and it was a really tough call at times. Nonetheless, making this list was a rewarding process.
Anyway it's Christmas Day today, so happy holidays to all of you! I will be back soon with my list of favourite albums.
1. A Fine Frenzy - "Elements"
"Elements" picks up where One Cell in the Sea left off. In my opinion, this introspective number is the clear standout on Alison Sudol's sophomore effort. A booming bass first sets the tone, and Sudol comes on and weaves her tale of melancholy and heartbreak. The song builds into a crescendo, slowly but surely, and around the 1:50 mark when you are awash with emotion, the floodgates finally give way.
Previously I couldn't comprehend the immense appeal of Animal Collective's "My Girls". And then the unthinkable happened. One fine day, I finally got the song, and it sounded pretty mesmerising indeed! That said, while I will probably never understand the allure of Merriweather Post Pavilion, or the rest of AC's material for that matter, "What Would I Want? Sky" stole my heart. Perhaps it is one of their more accessible songs -- less confounding, more comprehensible, just genuinely delicious indie-pop.
4. Arctic Monkeys - "Crying Lightning"
Alex Turner is as much of a wordsmith as he is a purveyor of relationships, and he displays his mettle on "Crying Lightning", one of the Humbug's most bold tracks with rocking guitars and a wickedly dark theme.
5. Bat for Lashes - "Daniel"
"Daniel" is, at once, both melodic and atmospheric. Coupled with Natasha Khan's lyrical prowess, the song literally engulfs you in its sheer beauty.
6. Bon Iver - "Blood Bank"
Never have I heard anyone sing about the blood bank in such a fascinating manner.
Tracyanne Campbell and her brethren have crafted an undeniably catchy pop number.
8. Dirty Projectors - "Stillness Is The Move"
While the rest of Bitte Orca was just meh for me, "Stillness Is The Move" was a real grower. Combining elements of R&B and African music, the song sounded oddly familiar yet refreshing and unique at the same time.
11. Florence and The Machine - "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)"
Florence Welch shows us why her album is aptly titled Lungs -- this lass has the chops to carry this amazing folk pop song with finesse. When the chorus rolls in, you let loose and do a little shindig.
"Cable TV" is delivered in a lo-fi, straightforward manner layered over with handclaps and beats. Interestingly, the end result tantalizes your palate.
Lady Gaga exploded into mainstream consciousness this year with her peculiar outfits and some irresistibly addictive songs. "Paparazzi" was one of those tasty and cheeky morsels she dished out. I thought the music video looked like a scene out of some super sleuth movie. If Gaga wanted to announce her arrival with this, well, no doubt the superstar of the new decade has arrived.
15. Little Boots - "Remedy"
In "Remedy", Little Boots aka Victoria Hesketh chirps: "Dancin' is my remedy, remedy, oh", making it hard to resist the urge to get up and boogie. Hesketh is a talented electropop musician in her own right and can give Lady Gaga a run for her money.
16. Metric - "Gimme Sympathy"
Metric has always straddled the fine line between indie and mainstream. "Gimme Sympathy" continues in the same vein, appealing to listeners between both ends of the spectrum. It's intriguing to hear Emily Haines namedrop the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in this song.
17. Miike Snow - "Silvia"
"Animal" seeped into cyberspace earlier this year, but "Silvia" was the one that grabbed my attention. Perhaps I have a thing for tales of love and lost, and "Silvia" pretty much encapsulates these feelings. The song starts off slow and gears up with synths into a full-blown electropop number.
18. Neko Case - "People Got A Lotta Nerve"
Indie songstress Neko Case wowed everybody with "People Got A Lotta Nerve". This immensely likable number mixes melodic pop with alt-country, and its rousing chorus makes for the perfect sing-along song.
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was arguably the breakout album for Parisian rockers Phoenix in 2009. Lead single "1901" was an exuberant, poppy number that impressed common listeners and music critics alike.
Even though Kanye West rained on her parade, there was no stopping Taylor Swift and her runaway hit "You Belong With Me". This infectious pop song is tightly produced without being overly cheesy or childish like some baloney you hear on mainstream radio today.
While everyone's busy doling out their best-of 2009 lists, BBC has just revealed a teaser for the forthcoming year -- the longlist for BBC's Sound of 2010. The annual poll showcases 15 of the supposedly hottest musical acts each year. Cherry-picked by 165 UK-based tastemakers, these 15 acts are set to make waves in 2010. And by that I mean they are going to sell more records than their counterparts.
It is great to see Ellie Goulding and Marina and the Diamonds make the cut since I've heard so much from them this year. As expected, Owl City is on it but I'm not a fan of his (read: cheesy lyrics). There's Gold Panda and Two Door Cinema Club though I'm not really acquainted with their music as of yet. Guess I will be hearing a lot more from them in '10.
BBC Sound of 2010 longlist [link] Daisy Dares You Delphic Devlin The Drums Everything Everything Giggs Gold Panda Ellie Goulding Hurts Joy Orbison Marina and the Diamonds Owl City Rox Stornoway Two Door Cinema Club
Post-rock outfit Explosions in the Sky hails from Austin, Texas -- The Live Music Capital of the World and the birthplace of SXSW. These guys have been around for about 10 years now, and I heard their live shows are fantastic.
Voxtrot is another relatively well-known Austin indie-rock band. Their song "Kid Gloves" has a tight melody and pretty interesting lyrics (is frontman Ramesh telling someone to f-off or something)?
I realised I've been going through a folk phase lately, constantly listening to music by talented acts such as Laura Marling, Laura Gibson and William Elliott Whitmore. Now, there's Alela Diane to add to the list. Her second album has received plenty of accolades in the music circles, and for obvious reasons so. "White As Diamonds" conjures an image of snowy, pristine white lands; you picture yourself wandering, lost in the vast expanse of her mystical world. Gosh, I'm looking forward to more material from this lovely young lady already.
I'm pretty excited about our boys, you know! If you ask me, this underrated Singapore post-rock/experimental quartet reminds me of Explosions in the Sky. Let's hope that by playing on a global stage, they'll open up more doors and gain new fans.
Au Revoir Simone is a reputable electronic indie-pop band from Brooklyn, NY. The trio have toured extensively with bands like Peter Bjorn and John, We Are Scientists, and Voxtrot.
O + S is an unlikely new collaboration between Orenda Fink (Azure Ray/Art in Manila) and Scalpelist (Cedric LeMoyne of Remy Zero). Their debut album will be released March 24 on Saddle Creek Records. This is one interesting new act to look out for.
Straight up noise pop. If you liked early My Bloody Valentine, you should love The Pains of Being Pure at Heart too. Or at least that's what I've heard.
Truth be told, I don't really care about the lyrics on the song "Bag of Hammers". It's such a delightful pop tune, I find myself paying scant attention to the words and focusing on the vocals of singer Thao Nguyen instead.
To those who are attending SXSW '09: Oh, you lucky bastards.
I will never get see such a large-scale music event being held in Singapore, not in my lifetime anyway. Unless our local music scene evolves at a crazy speed, and the government decides to spend tonnes of money bringing in talented musicians from overseas and we reclaim more land and convert our void decks, rooftops and public parks into spanking new music venues...
...otherwise I should just save up to visit Austin, Texas.
But I digress.
So I checked out the SXSW Music Festival Schedule to see who's playing at the event, and I came up with a selection of artists that I've either heard of before or am keen to see them play live (I've only selected those with MP3s for sampling). Here it is, my list for Day 1 (March 18):
If cool, catchy indie electro-pop is what you're looking for, Fol Chen has the answer. The Californian band doles out infectious electro-pop on "Cable TV", the lead single off their debut album. Dig the handclaps on this number.
Jay Jay Pistolet aka Justin James Hayward-Young is a talented young man of 21, plays folk music, and is good chums with Mercury Prize-nominated songwriter Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale. Need I say more?
Phillipa "Pip" Brown, otherwise better known as Ladyhawke, draws influences from 80s synth pop. She makes music that I would roughly categorize as new wave/old school electro pop. "My Delirium", for instance, is a rocking tune which wouldn't seem out of place on the dance floor. It's so hip, it hurts.
I remember being blown away by the sensual voice of Angie Mattson when I first read about her on Womenfolk (excellent music blog, by the way), and I went on to devour her EP, Monarch. Good for her now that she has own LP and is playing at SXSW. It helps that she's easy on the eyes too.
I only have a grand total of 6 albums on my favourites list. Yeah, you read that right. 6 records from 6 different musicians. Why not 10 or even 20, you ask? Well, that's because I missed out on a lot of good stuff in 2008. And the rest didn't make my list because they weren't really my cup of tea.
Anyway, without further ado, I present to you my best-of 2008 list:
Bon Iver is the recording name of Wisconsin-based singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. After splitting up with his old band DeYarmond Edison in 2006, he went away to live in his dad's remote log cabin for 4 wintry months, and ended up purging his inner demons into songs. The result is Vernon's critically acclaimed debut album, comprising 9 emotionally charged songs. From start to finish, he sings in falsetto, backed by acoustic guitars and sparse melodies. Granted, not everybody likes a slow-burner like this, but if you enjoy gorgeous low-fi tunes (and Iron & Wine), For Emma, Forever Ago is worth a spin.
Laura Marling is certainly wise beyond her years. Only 18, she sings about love, pain and regret like an old soul. Her debut album Alas I Cannot Swim is a folk gem, drawing comparisons to established names such as Joni Mitchell. In fact, this record was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2008. Marling's vocals are so heartfelt and emotive, and the lyrics are astonishingly mature for someone her age. In "Night Terror", one of my personal favourites off the album, she sings like a tortured woman about a lover having a nightmare. Simply put, it is hauntingly beautiful. Alas I Cannot Swim also incorporates elements of country, pop and rock.
Death Cab for Cutie probably needs no introduction. The indie rock quartet released their breakthrough album Transatlanticism in 2003, and subsequently catapulted to fame with 2005's Plans. With their sixth studio album Narrow Stairs, they took on a different sound, crafting a wonderful assortment of songs ranging from the 8½ minute epic "I Will Possess Your Heart" (about a crazy stalker) to the usual, more upbeat fare like "No Sunlight" (paired with depressing lyrics). Though in my opinion Narrow Stairs can never match the brilliant record that is Transatlanticism, it comes in a close second.
Rachael Yamagata is a perennial favourite of mine. After 2004's Happenstance, it took her 4 long years to release her sophomore record Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart. Nonetheless, the album is truly well worth the wait. It is split into 2 CDs -- Elephants showcases the heartwrenching tunes the smoky songstress is famous for (in the vein of Happenstance) while Teeth Sinking Into Heart is Yamagata's tribute to garage rock. It is refreshing to see her channeling PJ Harvey for a change! This underrated singer-songwriter deserves greater recognition for her effort, and Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart looks set to change all that.
Acid Tongue isn't just Jenny Lewis' record. It is the work of the talented Rilo Kiley frontwoman, plus luminaries such as her boyfriend Johnathan Rice, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward (both of the She & Him fame), Elvis Costello -- and boy, have they created something so delightfully fun. Combining elements of gospel, country, pop and rock, it is a nod towards its folk-tinged predecessor Rabbit Fur Coat, with a bit more rock sensibilities thrown in. Don't get what I mean? Listen to this record to have a taste of Lewis' genius.
Icelandic singer-songwriter Emiliana Torrini's third international release tops the list as my most loved album of 2008. Listening to Me and Armini is like going on a musical journey, as Torrini explores a wide spectrum of sounds ranging from reggae (on the title track) to trip-hop (midway through the acoustic "Birds") to pop ("Big Jumps") to electro-rock ("Jungle Drums", "Gun"). In the final verse of "Gun", the pixie-like Torrini sings: "Hey look me in the barrel and tell me that you love me/Yes this is a kiss that I swear will blow your mind," displaying a much darker side of her that wasn't evident on previous releases. I really love "Dead Duck", an electro-popish number which clocks in at 5½ minutes.
Elegant yet subtle, Within and Without's sensual and refined sound is an evolution from Ernest Greene's earlier material. "Eyes Be Closed" is the lead single and one of the album's stand-out tracks. Soft, gauzy synths are glazed over with a hazy feel, and the beats are crisp and clear. "Amor Fati", or Latin for "Love of Fate", sounds blissfully sweet (read the full review here).
Lykke Li has come a long way since her Youth Novel days. Wounded Rhymes, her second album, is a work of art. It's defiant, darkly hypnotic, yet deeply passionate, you just get sucked into the swirling vortex. There's a whole lot of emotions going on, but you have to give it to the lady (and producer Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John fame) for pulling it all together into one neat, minimalist package. Certainly one of the best Swedish exports yet.
