The Week in music #2

Yes, I know I missed one last week but there was no point reporting on just a couple of albums I heard. It's been a bit of a slow start to the year...up until this week that is. I've been off ill so it gave me a fair few chances to relax, listen to some classics and new albums.

Starting with the big leaks, Lana Del Rey's Born To Die is out there if anyone wants to have a listen since she's seemingly everywhere at the moment. I quite like the album, it trails off at the end, but if you want some nice Pop to listen to (in a similar vein to Gwen Stefani, I miss her) then give this a go. The hype around her is ridiculous, but to be fair she seems to be handling it pretty well. Good for her!

Another album to cause a few mini-excitements is Grimes' Visions, but it's a very divisive album. Similar to Gang Gang Dance's Eye Contact last year, squeaky vocals, synth-pop and a few J-Pop influences; I like it, and I honestly don't know why, because the first time I heard it it gave me an even worse headache than what I already had, but repeated listens later and it's something I can find myself listening to when hyped-up on sugar, or just a very immature and light listen.

Finally gave the new Guided By Voices album a go...not really that impressed. Feels half-finished and hit-and miss, and Tennis have a new album out too! They're probably the most inoffensive band ever, and it's a minor step up from their debut...but honestly, I have no idea where their 3rd LP will take them, they haven't really evolved their sound, so they might be the Pitchfork Oasis or something.

Of Montreal have exceeded themselves in pretentiousness too in Paralytic Stalks. They make Arcade Fire sound like The Vaccines; it's just a little bit too crazy for my liking, but I'm not giving up on it that easily.

That's about it! Next week I'll have an update on Perfume Genius (yay), Gonjasufi (hmm), Crippled Black Phoenix (ooooooh!), and perhaps Lambchop and Xiu Xiu...there's a fair bit of stuff coming out.

The Week in Music #1

A new year brings new music, and at the moment things have started a bit slowly in terms of big names. There's still a few months before my favourite artists start releasing new material, but at the moment I'm just continuing to check out new stuff.

The best album I've heard so far this year (hah, only been 13 days...) is Cloud Nothings' 3rd album, where they've changed their sound from the Lo-Fi Punk to something a little more moodier. Quite a surprisingly good album and definitely a step up from last year's effort.

As for the best compilation, Pinch's Fabriclive is a good mix of Dubstep and Techno, and definitely something I can see myself listening to when I'm in the party mood. Lindstrom's latest album Six Cups of Rebel is a bit of a disappointment, it's a never-goes-anywhere kind of listen, and a very frustrating one at that. I really wanted to like it, but I can't bring myself to get enthusiastic about it.

The earliest contender for worst album of 2012 is almost definitely The Big Pink's Future This. Even though I thought their debut was alright, the 2nd album is an uninspiring and bland listen, and it just sounds like their repeated Dominoes 13 times.

Currently I still have to listen to Of Montreal's new album, I just hope it's much better than their last release, and a Dubstep offering from Goth-Trad (awful name, but it's a pretty solid album (needs more listens))

Interesting start to 2012 indeed.

Iddy's top 100: 3,2........1!

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN! (is now playing in your head)

So it's time to end this long list with the final 3. It's been so bloomin' stressful to try and order everything out, and unlike last year, there wasn't a definitive number 1 this time, and the order changed so many times over the last month.

Ask me again it might change, but I'm fairly certain this is it.

3. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

WARNING - this album will either drive you nuts and you'll curse me for putting it this high, or chances are you really like weird, Psychedelic Pop with squeaky female vocals...you'll fall into one or the other.

I really, really love this album, and it's hard to explain why. First of all, the lead single is a 12 minute slow build-up of a burst of happiness (the album opener Glass Jar), and then after that the album never really lets up. It goes from extremes to extremes, even includes a guest vocal performance by that guy from Hot Chip...y'know, that guy.

Then you have those random dance breakdowns, and believe me when I say it sounds fabulous when you're slightly drunk on wine at 1am on a Friday... Sounding interesting? Like I said at the start, it's a hugely divisive album. Don't say I didn't warn you.

2. Andy Stott - Passed Me By/We Stay Together

WARNING #2, these two mini-albums (released as one "big" album) WILL destroy your headphones, and I mean that in the way that it will reach the lower frequencies because it's such a bassy listen. 

But I love this guy...I mean, pure bass love <3 Passed Me By is something like "swamp Techno", where it's devilishly dark and moody, while We Stay Together features longer, more progressive tracks that juggernaut. Like Bassy music? Want to listen to something...slightly different this year? Listen to these two. 

By far and away the best "discovery" I made this year (thanks Atease)

Damn it, this is still number 1...

...It's a modern day classic if you ask me...

1. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

A lot of things have been said about this album already and I'm not going to re-write all that. Instead, I'm just going to say that this album is just about the most perfect listen I've heard all year, there are no weak moments at all, and it's incredibly easy to love - I bought it for my mum and it's one of her favourite albums now!

It's also strange considering before her album was released, I was optimistic yes, but no-one was prepared for an album this good. We all know she's a bit of a legend, but it's great to see an artist still pushing their creative peak at the tender age of 40.

..and that's the end of 2011!

Thanks to those who've been reading. I know I'm not the best writer and all that, but I always like to make these lists and then look back over them at a later date. That, and it's also nice to celebrate good music, isn't it?

Merry christmas everyone, hope you all have a great 2012.

Iddy's top 100: 4

4. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Oh hohoho, this was nearly number 1...very nearly, and considering there are 3 other albums above it, that's how undecided and confused more than anything as to what was my number 1 of 2011.

Personally, I reckon St Vincent goes from strength to strength. She hasn't released a single bad album, and continues to gather more fans, admirers and even casual listeners. I nearly saw her live a few weeks ago in the Deaf  Institute, I was puzzled why she still plays in small venues :(

So what makes this album tick? It's pretty and kooky pop, throw in a few aggro, and it never ever gets dull. She deserves to be much bigger than what she is now.

Iddy's top 100: 5

5. Lucy - Wordplay For Working Bees

"Wait, what? What is this shit?"

Well, this is yet another Techno album I got into this year, but it was a bit of a random choice. It was cruelly left out of Resident Advisor's top 20, but I'm pretty sure it's in every other Electronic music website's lists of 2011...or on most of them anyway.

Considering the genre it's very easy to get into it. I was pretty much hooked straight away, and this was always going to be the dark horse for my 2011 title. Unfortunately it didn't quite make it, but in any other year it could be top 3 at the very least. Poor Lucy.

Iddy's Top 100: 6

6. Wild Beasts - Smother

This is where the going gets very tough. At one point Smother was top 3, then dropped a bit, then went back up, and has now eventually settled into 6th place.

It's very hard to pick my favourite track on this album, because I think the first half is flawless, and so is the album closer, and even the B-side Smother! I didn't hesitate to buy a ticket to see their show in Manchester next year, should be a great one.

Top 5 is coming tomorrow. I think I settled on a definitive one this time...

Iddy's top 100: 7

7. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

This isn't a typical Hip-Hop album, it's so deep in weirdness, "pretentious" song titles and awkward time signatures, that it's one of the most outstanding albums of the year, nevermind just in the genre. Considering how odd it is at first, it became a favourite very quickly, and by the end of the year, I felt very comfortable with the music, and it usually takes me a while to get into Hip-Hop albums.