onsdag 6 Jan 2010, 14:01

Top 10 Albums of 2009 – in no particular order because I can’t decide and I can’t be arsed.

1. White Lies – To Lose My Life
2. Imogen Heap – Ellipse
3. Metric – Fantasies
4. Florence and the Machine – Lungs
5. Editors – In This Light and On This Evening
6. Manic Street Preachers – Journal For Plague Lovers
7. 93MillionMilesFromTheSun – 93MillionMilesFromTheSun
8. The Antlers – Hospice
9. Japandroids – Post-Nothing
10. The xx – xx
Special mention to: Muse – The Resistance

1. White Lies – To Lose My Life
This album I played on repeat so many millions of times I lost count. From the very first moment I heard the first few notes of ‘Death’ I’ll admit I was hooked. I have a thing for voices and Harry McVeigh’s deep rumble is no exception. It’s the kind of voice that gives me shivers and part of the reason the album won’t grow old…for me at least. There is barely a weak track on the album though if I had to pick one it would be ‘Nothing To Give’, for me, it just doesn’t lead on to much.

2. Imogen Heap - Ellipse

I jumped for joy when I read about Imogen Heap’s comments about recording for her new album. It had been 4 years since her previous album and I thought she’d never release another so I was more than a bit happy about the arrival of Ellipse. It’s a good album although I would argue not as good as her second that aside, there are some real gems on it including ‘Bad Body Double’ and ‘Canvas’ as well as the first single released from it ‘First Train Home’. Immi had a lot of work to do to answer her critics and I feel she more than matched their expectations.

3. Metric – Fantasies
If there’s one bad I’d fight tooth and nail to see before I die, Metric would be top of my list. Emily Haines is a beautifully talented lady and although she has an embarked on a solo career for me, she works best in Metric. This was another album that I had constantly on repeat to the extent I dreamt in the lyrics. I can say with confidence there isn’t a track on the album I wish they’d not included – personal favourites include ‘Satellite Mind’, ‘Gold Gun Girls’ and ‘Stadium Love’. This will be a favourite album of mine until I die.

4. Florence and the Machine – Lungs
I think a trend is forming – another album I played too many times and another female artist – maybe 2009 was the year they shone for me. Florence, oh how I wish I could sing as high as you do. Sadly, I can’t and if my car were a living thing, its poor ears would be damaged beyond repair. I think her album struck a chord with me and that’s why it became a firm 2009 favourite. I’ll admit it wasn’t ‘til ‘Dog Days Are Over’ was it that I became a fan – ‘A Kiss With A Fist’ wasn’t something I liked to begin with but continuous listening and it grew to be one of my more favoured songs off the album. My first love however, will always be ‘Hurricane Drunk’ it’s great to yell along to in the car!

5. Editors – In This Light and On This Evening
I don’t care what anyone else says, Tom Smith does not sound like a poor man’s Iain Curtis and I will fight anyone who takes me on. With this album I think Editors defied people to hate them, to become annoyed at them and certainly a lot of people do and will continue to. Me, I love them even more. This album has been labelled as ‘dark’ and ‘brooding’ but I find it more uplifting and insightful of the Editors’ sound. It took me 3 or 4 listens to become really hooked but after that there was no looking back. I first heard ‘Papillon’ on the radio and I practically weed my self with excitement. I’ve always harboured a secret love for the synth-tasic 80s genre so when they pumped up on this record I barely contained myself. The boys are back in town.

6. Manic Street Preachers – Journal For Plague Lovers
This is quite a poignant album – lyrics, the fated Richey Edwards wrote before he mysteriously disappear in 1995 are used on this album and I’d go as far to say it is way up there as a contender for album of the year. I’ve always loved the Manics but never in epic proportions. They’ve always just ‘been there’ and I’ve happily listened to 90s classics ‘La Tritesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)’ and ‘Kevin Carter’ and whilst this album doesn’t scream (pardon the pun) out hits such as that I really appreciate the more mature sound. This hard, aggressive album appeals to my edgier need of sound. I adore down to the ground ‘Jackie Collins Existential Question Time’. I love it when a song catches you on first listen, you know then it’s the sign of good times ahead. The title track gets me air drumming in epic proportions – if only you could see…second thought, better you can’t.

7. 93MillionMilesFromTheSun – 93MillionMilesFromTheSun
Ignore the stupid band name and album title, shoegaze is the name of the game with this band. Having been lucky enough to catch them live, at a small intimate gig in the upstairs room of a pub, the bass throbbing my ears and chest I can say without doubt I’ll listen to these guys with a smile on my face. I was blinded by the lights and dizzy new heights at their gig – no need to see their faces its all about the music. Who cares if one some may blend into another; they create an atmosphere you’ll find yourself lapsing into each time you listen. Pure magic.
These next entries were late runners in my list – mixed it up a good’un!

8. The Antlers – Hospice
It’s not often I come across albums I can listen through the entire way with goosebumps on my arms and a tingle up my spine – this is a definite exception. One listen done and I’d already purchased the album in CD form it’s that good, kids. Prologue beckons you in with an eerie expression on its shadowy face and you don’t quite know where you’re going. The tone of this album is pretty horrific – the story behind a little worse still but it’s beautiful in an utterly strange way and there’s no getting away from it. Stand outs for me include ‘Bear’ and ‘Wake’ but there are no ‘bad’ tracks for the entire 52 minutes the album plays. I’ll keep my eye on these guys; they’re not to be overlooked.

9. Japandroids – Post-Nothing
Nothing like a little bit of raw, rough and ready noise to get the foot pounding. I like these dudes because there’s no..wait for it…pretention about them. (God, I hate that word.) What you hear is definitely what you get. I know next to nothing about them but that’s fine because I know that I like them. You find your ears getting pounded by sound but there’s no protest back because it’s wonderful.

10. The xx – xx
I’m pretty certain this band features heavily in ‘tipped for 2010’ lists. So yeah, I’m jumping on the bandwagon but only because I’m cool. Well also, it’s a great album. Sadly, Baria Qureshi left the band this year and personally she’ll be sorely missed. It was mainly her as an addition that made me like the album, her backing vocals worked well. But hey ho, onwards and upwards and I just hope her departure doesn’t affect the band too much. As for the album, the only justice I can do is say ‘have a listen’.

The special mention goes to: Muse – Resistance
Now, this isn’t really a favourite album of mine in 2009; sad but true. I felt I should put it in here as I was highly anticipating it and to be honest, great albums of 2009 have been more than a little thin on the ground. Sorry boys but this disappointed me quite a bit. Surely there are gems on it, well, a gem to defend your honour but the more I did the more I was left feeling not so excited about The Resistance. Give me some more Origins of Symmetry or Showbiz fantastic-ness. Yes yes, I know bands progress and their sounds changes but c’mon boyos it is all fancy-pants bravado and silly over the top strutting around. No me encanta.
And there you have it. Not a bad year for music you may or may not agree. Let’s hope 2010 brings us more joy and delights. And Daniel Kessler videos.