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So it's the time of year again. My singles are at least a couple of weeks off but as there hasn't been an album released that I've been bothered about since October my Albums of the year countdown is good to go.

 

Previous albums of the year:

 

2006: Guillemots 'Through The Windowpane'

2007: M.I.A. 'Kala'

2008: Elbow 'The Seldom Seen Kid'

2009: Animal Collective 'Merriweather Post Pavilion'

2010: Beach House 'Teen Dream'

2011: Ben Howard 'Every Kingdom'

2012: Perfume Genius 'Put Your Back N 2 It'

 

As has become standard I shall review 2012 first and post what my top 5 albums of the year would be 12 months on.

 

05 (08) Django Django 'Django Django'

04 (27) Jessie Ware 'Devotion'

03 (05) Polica 'Give You The Ghost'

02 (02) Bat For Lashes 'The Haunted Man'

01 (01) Perfume Genius 'Put Your Back N 2 It'

 

Reasonably similar with the top 2 very much still the same. Jessie Ware shoots up as it was only really last December that I properly started to appreciate here and I've become slightly obsessed this year, she's in my top 10 most listened to artists of the year.

Edited by RabbitFurCoat

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Singles:

 

100 Andy Burrows Hometown

99 Miguel Adorn (feat. Jessie Ware)

98 The 1975 Chocolate

97 Say Lou Lou Fool of Me (feat. Chet Faker)

96 RY X Berlin

95 Thumpers Dancing's Done

94 The Kite String Tangle Given The Chance

93 Duke Dumont Need U (100%) (feat. A*M*E)

92 Wolf Alice She

91 Beat Connection Saola (ODESZA Remix)

 

90 Lewis Watson Into The Wild

89 Primal Scream It's Alright, It's Ok

88 London Grammar Strong

87 Parra for Cuva Something Near

86 Chris Malinchak So Good To Me

85 Miles Kane Don't Forget Who You Are

84 Ben Pearce What I Might Do

83 Summer Camp Two Chords

82 Foals My Number

81 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz)

 

80 British Sea Power Machineries of Joy

79 M83 Oblivion (feat. Susanne Sundfør)

78 Volcano Choir Comrade

77 Thumpers Unkinder (A Tougher Love)

76 Say Lou Lou Better in the Dark

75 Tom Odell Another Love

74 John Grant Pale Green Ghosts

73 Ghost Loft Seconds

72 Toro Y Moi Say That

71 The Naked And Famous I Kill Giants

 

70 Katy B Aaliyah (feat. Geeneus & Jessie Ware)

69 Neon Neon Hammer & Sickle

68 Vampire Weekend Diane Young

67 Gaz Coombes Presents Break the Silence

66 Le Youth C O O L

65 Bombay Bicycle Club Carry Me

64 Mt. Wolf Life Size Ghosts

63 Yeah Yeah Yeahs Sacrilege

62 Disclosure White Noise (feat. AlunaGeorge)

61 Atoms For Peace Judge Jury and Executioner

 

60 Tim Burgess The Doors Of Then

59 MTNS Lost Track of Time

58 Steve Mason Oh My Lord

57 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Let The Day Begin

56 The Naked And Famous Hearts Like Ours

55 Julio Bashmore Peppermint (feat. Jessie Ware)

54 Lulu James Closer

53 Crooked Colours Come Down

52 Justin Timberlake Mirrors

51 Ejecta Afraid Of The Dark

 

50 Vampire Weekend Unbelievers

49 Ghosts Wlvs

48 Foals Bad Habit

47 Rachel Zeffira The Deserters

46 Public Service Broadcasting Signal 30

45 M.I.A. Come Walk With Me

44 Deptford Goth Union

43 Jagwar Ma Man I Need

42 dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip You Will See Me

41 Pulp After You

 

40 Cloud Boat Wanderlust

39 The Juan Maclean Feel Like Movin'

38 dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip Stunner

37 Jake Bugg Broken

36 Primal Scream 2013

35 Bat For Lashes Lilies

34 Joywave Tongues (feat. Kopps)

33 Klingande Jubel

32 Keep Shelly In Athens Oostende

31 Holy Ghost! Dumb Disco Ideas

 

30 Cosmo's Midnight Phantasm (feat. Nicole Millar)

29 Josh Record Bones

28 Roses Gabor Stars

27 Belanger Take Me Home

26 Daughter Youth

25 Flight Facilities Clair De Lune (Feat. Christine Hoberg)

24 Postiljonen Supreme

23 Junip Line Of Fire

22 David Bowie Love Is Lost - Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA

21 Tcts 1997

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Albums:

 

50 John Grant 'Pale Green Ghosts'

49 Delphic 'Collections'

48 Rudimental 'Home'

47 Kings of Leon 'Mechanical Bull'

46 Ducktails 'The Flower Lane'

45 Phoenix 'Bankrupt!'

44 !!! 'Thriller'

43 Widowspeak 'Almanac'

42 Submotion Orchestra 'Fragments'

41 Steve Mason 'Monkey Mind's In The Devil's Time'

 

40 Veronica Falls 'Waiting For Something To Happen

39 CHVRCHES 'The Bones of What You Believe'

38 Franz Ferdinand 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action'

37 Toro Y Moi 'Anything In Return'

36 Editors 'The Weight of Your Love'

35 Everything Everything 'Arc'

34 The Joy Formidable 'Wolf's Law'

33 Dutch Uncles 'Out of Touch in the Wild'

32 Daft Punk 'Random Access Memories'

31 The Courteeners 'Anna'

 

30 Primal Scream 'More Light'

29 Maya Jane Coles 'Comfort'

28 Polica 'Shulamith'

27 Maps 'Vicissitude'

26 Washed Out 'Parocosm'

25 Local Natives 'Hummingbird'

24 Boards of Canada 'Tomorrow's Harvest'

23 Daughter 'If You Leave'

22 Justin Timberlake 'The 20/20 Experience'

21 The Naked And Famous 'In Rolling Waves'

 

20 Disclosure 'Settle'

19 Atoms for Peace 'Amok'

18 Vampire Weekend 'Modern Vampires of the City'

17 No Ceremony 'No Ceremony'

16 Foals 'Holy Fire'

15 The National 'Trouble Will Find Me'

14 Darkstar 'News From Nowhere'

13 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 'Specter At The Feast'

12 Junip 'Junip'

11 Volcano Choir 'Repave'

 

10 Keep Shelley In Athens 'At Home'

09 Jon Hopkins 'Immunity'

08 James Blake 'Overgrown'

07 Arctic Monkeys 'AM'

06 I Am Kloot 'Let It All In'

05 Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'Mosquito'

04 Arcade Fire 'Reflektor'

03 dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip 'Repent Replenish Repeat'

02 Jagwar Ma 'Howlin'

01 Public Service Broadcasting 'Inform - Educate - Entertain'

Edited by RabbitFurCoat

  • Author

There's no chance of an act topping my albums chart for a second time this year as none of my previous number ones have released an album I've been interested in hearing.

 

I've bought or downloaded a nice round 50 albums this year so I shall count them all down, starting with the dreadful ones. I shall hopefully rush through the first half of this tonight.

 

50 John Grant 'Pale Green Ghosts'

 

http://wegaveitseven.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/john-grant-pale.jpg

 

Hyped, good reviews, lead single and title track was excellent, but I only once managed to make it the whole way through this album.

 

Essential listening:

 

49 Delphic 'Collections'

 

http://images.popmatters.com/news_art/d/delphic-collections.jpg

 

Following up one of the best albums of the last 5 years can always be a difficult ask, and 'Acolyte' remains fantastic to this day, but this has to rival last years Temper Trap album as biggest disappointment of the decade so far. It's not terrible, there's just nothing at all worthy of repeated listens.

 

Best track: Of The Young'

 

48 Rudimental 'Home'

 

http://i2.cdnds.net/13/10/200x200/rudimental_home.jpg

 

Responsible for one of my favourite songs of 2012 a Rudimental album was always going to interest me, but it's a mishmash of styles that fails to flow and often falls into being dull and abysmal.

 

Best track:

 

47 Kings of Leon 'Mechanical Bull'

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R0TySYXS0ew/Ujc9kvAO4mI/AAAAAAAAAwI/nRbMbF6ZvYg/s200/81Pvs2TW5HL._SL1500_.jpg

 

I have no idea why I bothered. I didn't expect much at all and it failed to even match my expectations.

 

Best track:

 

46 Ducktails 'The Flower Lane'

 

http://www.dominopublishingco.com/images/artists/ducktails/200_200/Ducktails_The_Flower_Lane_Packshot.jpg

 

Solo project of Real Estate singler Matt Mondanile, I thought it would be worth a listen as the 2011s Real Estate album 'Days' was so good. In reality it's not massively dissimilar, but where there are similarities it just leaves me longing for Real Estate.

 

Essential listening: 'Letter of Intent'

 

Delphic :heart:
  • Author

45 Phoenix 'Bankrupt!'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fQh6x3zT/WarehouseArticle-110706/Phoenix-Bankrupt.jpg

 

Another huge disappointment here, 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' is one of my favourite albums of the last 10 years and this follow-up, four years later, fails to get anywhere near their previous standards.

 

Best track: 'The Real Thing'

 

44 !!! 'Thriller'

 

http://www.mp3boo.com/cover/medium3458.jpg

 

Half of this album is pretty good, the other half however is rendered unlistenable by the vocals of the lead singer. !!! (or Chk Chk Chk) weren't a band I'd ever considered buying an album of before but spontaneous purchases sometimes work, my album of 2012 was spontaneous so they're worth a go every now and again!

 

Essential listening:

 

43 Widowspeak 'Almanac'

 

http://i.recordshopx.com/cover/normal/3/33/335846.jpg

 

Whilst 'The Dark Age' is a cracking lead single the rest of the album never really amounts to anything better than 'pleasant enough'.

 

Essential listening:

 

42 Submotion Orchestra 'Fragments'

 

http://www.vibrations.org.uk/newcopy/updater/upload/uploads/Submotion%20Orchestra%20-%20Fragments%20-%20cover%20image.jpg

 

Home to my first Unknown Pleasures entry of the year their album is about as successful as my entries have been! It's very good in places but like a lot of albums that I tend to place round here, goes on for at least 2 or 3 songs too long to keep me interested.

 

Essential listening:

 

41 Steve Mason 'Monkey Minds In The Devil's Time'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fFUdjh0T/WarehouseArticle-111021/Steve-Mason-Monkey-Minds-In-The-Devil-s-Time.jpg

 

This could be a much better album, but there are too many interludes and just bizarre songs on here which makes it go on for far longer than is welcome. Take the best 9 tracks or so and there's a decent album in here.

 

Essential Listening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKUEq_FNlSE...;Fire!'

  • Author

40 Veronica Falls 'Waiting For Something To Happen'

 

http://i.recordshopx.com/cover/normal/3/34/340107.jpg

 

For Veronica Falls 2013 read Best Coast 2012. It's good, but it really lacks that something that made their debut seem so dreamy and effortless.

 

Best track:

 

39 CHVRCHES 'The Bones of What You Believe'

 

http://images.popmatters.com/music_cover_art/c/chvrches.jpg

 

As they spent the year releasing singles which were worse than the previous one I'd lost the huge amount of interest I had in a CHVRCHES album but so much good was said about it on release I thought it must be worth buying. Unfortunately it wasn't really better than I initially expected, it appears far longer than it is which is never a good sign and all vocals should be done by Lauren, leave the other two well alone from a mic.

 

Essential listening:

 

38 Franz Ferdinand 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action'

 

http://www.punknews.org/images/covers/franz-ferdinand-right-thoughts-right-words-right-action.jpg

 

The only thing worth saying about this is it took them FOUR AND A HALF YEARS to make it!

 

Best track:

 

37 Toro Y Moi 'Anything In Return'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fkyItuuT/WarehouseArticle-108433/Toro-Y-Moi-Anything-In-Return.jpg

 

I think this is where I reach the point where I get to albums that I actually quite like. Excellent production throughout on a good mix of genres, if it does lack that extra punch at times.

 

Essential listening:

 

36 Editors 'The Weight of Your Love'

 

http://i2.cdnds.net/13/27/200x200/editors-weight-of-your-love.jpg

 

If you've liked all of their previous albums this is worth listening to, if you bored of them easily then it's one to avoid. It's another good album from them though definitely lacks a highlight like 'Fall', 'Smokers...' and 'In This Light...'

 

Essential listening:

  • Author

35 Everything Everything 'Arc'

 

http://images.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGCOVERS/music/cover200/drt300/t396/t39634by48t.jpg

 

Not a band I'd previously liked and had therefore ignored the first couple of singles from this but it's a far better album that I'd ever expected them to make. It's another which is a couple of tracks too long but there are enough good single choices on it.

 

Essential Listening:

 

34 The Joy Formidable 'Wolf's Law'

 

http://i1.cdnds.net/13/03/200x200/music-the-joy-formidable-wolfs-law-cover-artwork.jpg

 

Female fronted rock is hardly my thing but 2010's 'The Big Roar' was a superb album, and whilst this doesn't manage to match that it still has its high moments and is punchy enough throughout.

 

Essential Listening:

 

33 Dutch Uncles 'Out of Touch in the Wild'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fByccKuT/WarehouseArticle-108349/Dutch-Uncles-Out-Of-Touch-In-The-Wild.jpg

 

The first album of the year I bought and one I was looking forward to after the wonderfully poppy singles 'Fester' and 'Flexxin', whilst the rest of it doesn't hit those highs it remains consistent enough throughout to be an enjoyable listen.

 

Essential Listening:

 

32 Daft Punk 'Random Access Memories'

 

http://i1.cdnds.net/13/12/200x200/daft-punk-random-access-memories-artwork.jpg

 

Without a doubt the most overhyped album of the year. Yes, 'Get Lucky' is amazing and yes they're hugely talented, but to call this anything close to album of the year is utterly laughable. When it's great it's close to as good as anything they've produced but when it's not it's really not good at all.

 

Essential Listening: 'Doin' It Right' (feat. Panda Bear)

 

31 The Courteeners 'Anna'

 

http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/imgrec/sl-86999.jpg

 

Remaining surprisingly good are The Courteeners. One of the worst bands to emerge from the saturated British indie period of 2004-2007 they were one of a few to improve (and significantly) with their second album. Still going fairly strong, they're still progressing well.

 

Essential Listening:

This should be a very good countdown indeed! I think you probably have the closest taste to mine on the site so will this be an interesting read.

 

So far I own & adore:

 

Everything Everything

CHVRCHES

 

Massively agreed with you on Daft Punk - "Get Lucky" remains the stand-out but there isn't anything anywhere near as good on the rest of the album sadly. :(

 

I didn't buy Phoenix, but I did like "Entertainment". Good stuff! :D

  • Author
Cheers Doc, Entertainment is quite good, which is why I bought the album but it's not worth checking out really. 'Random Access Memories' really does have its excellent moments but half of it is quite poor, particularly 'Touch'
  • Author

30 Primal Scream 'More Light'

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QUIl_XKcmjY/UZV2_fL4lHI/AAAAAAAADyo/pblI4OgWiSo/s200/scream.jpg

 

Their 10th album and they're still going fairly strong. They've become a lot more laid back as they've got older but they're still capable of moments which take you back 20 years. At 69 minutes it's not entirely free of filler but well worth a go.

 

Essential Listening:

 

29 Maya Jane Coles 'Comfort'

 

http://www.fredhystere.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Maya-Jane-Coles-Comfort-200x200.jpg

 

Containing some interesting vocal features (Karin Park, Catherine Pockson from Alpines, Tricky) this was a spur of the moment purchase for me and one which has proven well worth it, a decent and varied album from the DJ.

 

Essential Listening:

 

28 Polica 'Shulamith'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.f0B1RuIU/WarehouseArticle-126735/Polica-Shulamith.jpg

 

It's hard to not say it's a bit of a disappointment following on from the excellent 'Give You The Ghost' 18 months previous, but it's still a good album which does still reach the highs of GYTG in parts.

 

Essential Listening: 'Smug'

 

27 Washed Out 'Parocosm'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fp8k3j-T/WarehouseArticle-120509/Washed-Out-Paracosm.jpg

 

Not a great departure from 'Within and Without' and that's certainly not a bad thing as 'Parocosm' is just as good.

 

Essential Listening:

 

26 Maps 'Vicissitude'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fZuvkY4T/WarehouseArticle-114576/Maps-Vicissitude.jpg

 

A third album from Northampton's James Chapman, and he's still able to hit the highs he has done with previous work. It's no radical departure but the first half of this is the best music he's made yet.

 

Essential Listening:

 

 

  • Author

25 Local Natives 'Hummingbird'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fKTtXVwT/WarehouseArticle-108557/Local-Natives-Hummingbird.jpg

 

Male fronted folk inspired, this is a whole lot better and more consistent than their previous album 'Gorilla Manor'

 

Essential Listening:

 

24 Boards of Canada 'Tomorrow's Harvest'

 

http://therecordexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/boards-of-canada_tomorrows-harvest-200.jpg

 

The first of two electronic albums that are almost entirely instrumental this was the first I paid attention to Boards of Canada. It's different enough throughout to never for the quality to never dip and it never feels like it takes an hour to listen to it.

 

Essential Listening:

 

23 Daughter 'If You Leave'

 

http://images.popmatters.com/news_art/d/daughter-if-you-leave-200x200.jpg

 

Female led folk inspired music this time. It's generally a very enjoyable listen but it does stray a little too close to boring in places, half of it is excellent though.

 

Essential Listening:

 

22 Justin Timberlake 'The 20/20 Experience'

 

http://images.popmatters.com/music_cover_art/t/timberlakecover.jpg

 

I can't say I'd ever imagine listening to and enjoying a whole album by Justin Timberlake but there's always something appealing to me about longs songs and I was incredibly intrigued as to what this would be like. I was surprised at how well it kept its quality throughout.

 

Essential Listening: 'Strawberry Bubblegum'

 

21 The Naked and Famous 'In Rolling Waves'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.flBgB9BU/WarehouseArticle-122721/The-Naked-And-Famous-In-Rolling-Waves.jpg

 

If ever there was a band that I thought would be one album wonders it was probably these, but 'In Rolling Waves' is just as good as 'Passive Me, Aggressive You', it's a more coherent and consistent album if anything.

 

Essential Listening: 'A Stillness'

  • Author

20 Disclosure 'Settle'

 

http://i1.cdnds.net/13/16/200x200/settle.jpg

 

Definitely one of the surprises of the year for me, there's the odd dud but there usually are on albums which are 14 songs and over an hour long, especially with Dance albums. The songs with featured vocalists are varied and generally inspired choices and the songs which are just Disclosure are good enough too.

 

Essential Listening: 'Confess To Me' (feat. Jessie Ware)

 

19 Atoms For Peace 'Amok'

 

http://georgetownradio.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Atoms-for-Peace-Amok-200x200.png

 

An album fronted by Thom Yorke in my top 20 isn't something I ever expected to happen, but this 'supergroup' seemed to manage to take everything I occasionally like about Thom Yorke and Radiohead and put into one album managing to maintain its quality throughout and not get boring.

 

Essential Listening:

 

18 Vampire Weekend 'Modern Vampires of the City'

 

http://i1.cdnds.net/13/06/200x200/vw_mvotc_final_1.jpg

 

This is the first Vampire Weekend album I haven't ended up completely loving, though in places it's still as good as what's come before it, it just doesn't quite flow as well as a VM album should.

 

Essential Listening:

 

17 No Ceremony 'No Ceremony'

 

http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/imgrec/sl-92321.jpg

 

I wasn't sure a whole album from Manchester electro-pop act was going to be of such a high standard as singles 'FeelSoLow' and 'HurtLove' but it was a surprisingly strong effort. Definitely hoping for better things and a bit more hype for them in the future.

 

Essential Listening:

 

16 Foals 'Holy Fire'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fcGdXVrT/WarehouseArticle-72552/Foals-Holy-Fire.jpg

 

It was always going to be a tough ask for them to be able to top previous album 'Total Life Forever', but releasing the best single of last year 'Inhaler' it felt like it could be done. It's an album which shows excellent progression for them again and 'Inhaler' is by far the standout but the rest of the album is still a stellar effort.

 

Essential Listening:

Rudimental | Chvrches | Delphic | Daft Punk :D

 

All fabulous listens :)

  • Author

15 The National 'Trouble Will Find Me'

 

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/media/AbstractArticleBigData/image200/.fiPkMXLU/WarehouseArticle-130526/The-National-Trouble-Will-Find-Me-Deluxe-Clear-Vinyl-Box-Set.jpg

 

This sounds exactly like anyone would imagine an album by The National to sound, but like always it still manages to sound fresh. It's not as good as their past two albums but it's still a stellar effort.

 

Essential Listening: 'I Should Live In Salt'

 

14 Darkstar 'News From Nowhere'

 

http://i.recordshopx.com/cover/normal/3/34/345556.jpg

 

The highest placed album here that was a complete spur of the moment purchase. I'd never heard of them, let alone anything by them, but it was cheap and sounded alright so why not? It's rather wonderful and fairly varied, in places ('Amplified Ease') it's so Animal Collective it might as well be on 'Merriweather...' whilst in others it's utterly beautiful and so chilled out.

 

Essential Listening:

 

13 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 'Specter At The Feast'

 

http://filtermagazine.com/images/sized/images/uploads/Black-Rebel-Motorcycle-Club-Specter-at-the-feast-200px-200x200.jpg

 

Releasing their 7th album this year, they're still as good as ever. Infact this is their best after 'Howl'. I've always expected them to go rubbish again one day but every album they release seems to deliver. Criminally underrated.

 

Essential Listening:

 

12 Junip 'Junip'

 

http://images.popmatters.com/news_art/j/junip-200x200.jpg

 

I listened to lead single 'Line of Fire' and thought it sounded very much like José González singing, so it wasn't a surprise when I discovered Junip are the band he's a member of. Unlike José's solo material, where his cover of The Knife's 'Heartbeats' is the only thing really worth listening to, this remains consistently good throughout. You can tell it's him, it's still fairly folk-y, but it's a lot more instrument heavy which suits his beautiful voice a whole lot more.

 

Essential Listening:

 

11 Volcano Choir 'Repave'

 

http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/imgrec/sl-92324.jpg

 

Speaking of bands where the singer is better known from else where, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver returned this year with the second album of his other project Volcano Choir. As above, it manages to sound a lot like a Bon Iver record but still different enough to be able to easily differentiate.

 

Essential Listening:

Edited by RabbitFurCoat

  • Author

10 Keep Shelly In Athens 'At Home'

 

http://filtermagazine.com/images/sized/images/uploads/keep-shelly-in-athens-at-homex200-200x200.jpg

 

It's not been a vintage year for female vocalists (well in this small section of this forum anyway) as this is the first of only two albums sung by a female in the top 15. I wasn't expecting a huge amount of this for some reason but the vocals can be haunting and it's wonderfully dreamy.

 

Essential Listening: 'Time Exists Only To Betray Us'

 

09 Jon Hopkins 'Immunity'

 

http://www.dominopublishingco.com/images/artists/jon_hopkins/200_200/hopkins_immunity.jpg

 

I downloaded this after hearing and immediately loving his single 'Breathe This Air' (with Purity Ring) and was slightly disappointed I didn't read anything about this album and found it contained no vocals, but it only took a couple more listens before realising how great this is. The perfect relaxation album, but is something to pay close attention to as well.

 

Essential Listening: 'Collider'

 

08 James Blake 'Overgrown'

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hqLUorui64k/UWfm7Zq-6PI/AAAAAAAAEh8/5aQaaL1K_S0/s200/james-blake-overgrown-410.jpg

 

It's not a huge departure from his self titled debut, which I always thought whilst excellent in parts was overrated, but 'Overgrown' is a whole lot more consistent an album. He previously showed huge potential and that's definitely being realised now. A fully deserved Mercury winner.

 

Essential Listening:

 

07 Arctic Monkeys 'AM'

 

http://i1.cdnds.net/13/29/200x200/arctic-monkeys-am-album-artwork.jpg

 

Whilst 2011s 'Suck It An See' contained some wonderful songs, it's safe to say that it was Arctic Monkeys weakest album yet. Luckily it still is and by a large margin too, as 'AM' saw them truly return to form. It's probably as varied as they come with some incredibly catchy joyous pop 'Snap Out Of It', the dark 'I Wanna Be Yours' to the heavy 'R U Mine?'. The guitars are as heavy as they've been before and it's generally a good thing. This album isn't completely devoid of weak parts, though they are very occasional, but the rest of 'AM' more than makes up for it.

 

Essential Listening: [urlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHoSRT2fNME]'Snap Out of It'[/url]

 

06 I Am Kloot 'Let It All In'

 

http://www.musikmachen.de/var/musikmachen/storage/images/musik-news/i-am-kloot-neues-album/8730690-1-ger-DE/I-Am-Kloot-veroeffentlicht-Let-It-All-in_content_box_big.jpg

 

I'd always quite liked I Am Kloot but they were always an OK band with the occasional great song ('The Great Escape', 'From Your Favourite Sky') but that certainly changed this year with the release of the trio's sixth album. Lyrically it's often superb and John Bramwell's vocals are as lovely as they always are. They're typically northern, but they're absolutely wonderful.

 

Essential Listening:

  • Author

05

 

http://www.spin.com/sites/all/files/130114-yyyscover_0.jpg

 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'Mosquito'

 

The follow up to an album that is one of your favourites of all time is always something you're a bit nervous for. You hold such high expectations but you know it surely can't be as good as their previous so will end up disappointed. It took me a while to really get 'Mosquito' but then it took at least a couple of years before I decided that 'It's Blitz' really was one of the best albums I'd ever heard. In places this is a lot more mellow than they usually are but the quality certainly doesn't dip, 'Despair' and 'These Paths' are amongst their best ever. Unusually for an album the second half is by far the stronger. Another album passes and they remain criminally underappreciated.

 

Essential Listening:

 

'These Paths'

 

 

  • Author

04

 

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Arcade Fire 'Reflektor'

 

One day Arcade Fire will probably release an album that isn't brilliant, but four albums in and that day hasn't come close to arriving yet. It's not their best album but it's not their weakest either and once again is remarkably consistent, no other album this year comes close to producing a pair of singles as fine as 'Reflektor' and 'Afterlife'. Even with its length of well over an hour it doesn't ever come close to being boring. If there's anything it does lack it's vocals from Regine, the lack of a 'In The Backseat' or 'Sprawl II' is disappointing but if anything it makes her sporadic appearances more special.

 

Essential Listening:

 

'You Already Know'

 

 

'Porno'

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03

 

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dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip 'Repent Replenish Repeat'

 

After both released solo albums a couple of years ago these to paired up for their third album, three and a half years after their second, and it is by far their strongest. Over the last seven years Pip has become a wonderfully accomplished poet and rapper and this really shows on this album, it's incredibly varied with the spoken word of 'Terminal' to the club track of 'Gold Teeth' with Flux Pavilion. Stunning lyrically and in some places utterly beautiful, their passion and appreciation for their music and their fans is superb to see.

 

Essential Listening:

 

'Teminal'

 

 

 

I shall reveal the top 2 tomorrow, not that anyone seems to be following, but I imagine they're pretty easy to guess!

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02

 

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Jagwar Ma 'Howlin'

 

An album which contains such a wonderful amalgamation of styles. Compared to the Manchester sound of 20-25 years ago is perhaps an odd comparison for an Australian trio that probably hadn't learned to speak at that point, but listening to 'Howlin' you see where the comparisons with the likes of 'Screamadelica' and the Happy Mondays come from, the mix of rock and dance is quite superb throughout and touches both ends of the spectrum at various points whilst always flowing coherently. Some years this would be album of the year, this year it doesn't even come close.

 

Essential Listening:

 

'That Loneliness'

 

 

'Let Her Go'

  • Author

01

 

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PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING 'INFORM - EDUCATE - ENTERTAIN'

 

I'm sure when anyone listens to a PSB song for the first time they'll think they've heard nothing like it before, some will love it but many will find it far too bizarre to enjoy. Upon hearing 'Everest' just over a year ago I was in the former camp straight away, using an old public information film as lyrics over some clever music, such a unique and inspired thing to do, but it always likely to be a one off, no? It's nice as a novelty but you wouldn't want too much of it, but delving into their other material ('Roygbiv', 'Spirfire', 'London Can Take It') they got better if anything. But surely a whole album of this would get boring wouldn't it? No, ok then, but what about live? It must be a bit of an odd thing to be able to transform into a live show, but they were probably the best band I've ever seen, a stunning set of visuals along with excellent live instrumentation as well as entertaining dialogue with the crowd made for a thoroughly entertaining hour. There were experience gig-goers a lot older than me saying it was one of the best they'd ever been to, it seems if you like them you love them.

 

For a concept such as this you have to make each track different otherwise there'd be a reasonable risk they'd blend into one and 'Inform - Educate - Entertain' has this down to a t, each track easily distinguishable from the last. The wide variety of instrumentation and samples works a treat, from banjos to heavy guitars to electronics, the likes of 'Signal 30' and 'The Now Generation' wonderfully upbeat and lively matched by the beautiful mellow-ness of 'Lit Up'. It's hard to pick a standout but taking an old film about the Post Office and turning it into a rap (well, as much as they possibly could) on 'Night Mail' is something everyone should hear. It'll be interesting to see where on earth they can go next, because SURELY this can't work for another album?!

 

Essential Listening:

 

'Spitfire'

 

Edited by RabbitFurCoat

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