Afrobeat, James Brown Style

To keep the music varied on this blog, i'm going to introduce many people to afrobeat, but a funked-up version of it. From Nigeria an artist called Seun Kuti has really caught my ears, with afrobeat combined with jazz and funk but with very gritty and dark lyrics. He plays with a famous backing band his late father formed called Egypt 80, who i have heard his father Fela was also a very talented musician. Seun Kuti's lyrics are very dark and relate to the plight of Africa in the present day and they are thought provoking. Right here are two songs from Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, hope you enjoy!

Think Africa


Na Oil

South Of The Border

Hola peeps, today we have a London band called South, not massively big in the UK, but have a loyal following and who are one of those bands that have found a niche in the American indie scene. South are a group of very talented multi-instrumentalists, they mix rock, acoustic, electric and folk all into one mish-mash of excellence. They have released 5 albums all on independent labels which i'm sure has been hard to stick to with big labels coming to try and sign them up. This is a band you can just stick on and chillax too, it is very ambient and i am very relaxed listening to them right at this minute. Here are two tracks from their latest album 'You Are Here'.

Better Things (watch out for the Pixies bass line)


Here On In

Grand National

Sorry for all you horse lovers, I don't have secret info on who will win the next Grand National. I'm here to talk about The National a great band from Brooklyn, they have morose lyrics and a very deep baritone voice to rival and beat bands like Interpol and She Wants Revenge. They have 4 albums out and numerous EPs, but there best ones are Aligator and Boxer which are their two most recent, but as a fine wine they get better with age.

Since I love them so much here are a few tracks!

Mistaken For Strangers


Squalor Victoria


90 Mile Water Wall

Change We Can Believe In

Going a bit off the music topic, i want to talk about my admiration and how i find this man inspirational as a leader. If you have been living under some kind of rock for the past 17 months, then this is Barack Obama, potentially (hopefully) next president of America. Although, i am not American, Obama has inspired me whether it is through his speeches or his background and how he has managed to against all odds become a serious contender for president, he has inspired me and i admire him for being such a unconventional politician. He can change America and restore the image it enjoyed pre-bush years and hopefully restore it and do more then any other politician in history. His speeches stir up hysteria among tens of thousands of people at rallies Obama holds and it doesn't take any genius to work it out he is an influential and excellent speaker. He is almost treated more like a rock star then a politician. After coming out on top over the massive hurdle that was Hillary Clinton, let's face it she was a bitch to Obama and the further he can distance himself from her the better. Now there is George W. Bush pt.2 and i hope America has the backbone and motivation to vote this more then worthy contender.

Here is a kind of music speech hybrid about Obama's yes we can speech which is globally recognised as being a landmark speech.

I Like Death And Friends

I know this will be controversial but i love Coldplay's new album a lot. Perhaps it has something to do with being produced by Brian Eno who i loved in Roxy Music and he is a wizard when it comes to producing. Viva La Vida And Death Or All His Friends (mouthful) is amazing, it has Coldplay's signature downbeat lyrics but there is a sense of optimism and a feeling of warmth and richness to this album. Coldplay have also discovered strings for this album, with songs like Viva La Vida and Violet Hill relying heavily on this new sound.

42


Viva La Vida

On Top Of A Dark Everest!

Sorry about the near 2 month delay, i am currently doing my A-level exams and it is a very busy time so I apologise, but i have noticed more visitors so hello all newcomers. Today we have Black Mountain another band from the land of the Canadians, who i would describe as psychedelic prog-indie (they have a 17 minute song), who seem to be heavily influenced by bands such as Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath and Velvet Underground with these influences evident in their music. They are quite a strange fusion and i wonder if many of the band members working in a rehab facility influences any of their music and lyrics. Their style of music can vary greatly, there are grungetastic riffs to downbeat organ playing songs. This is why i love them, i like variety!

Angels

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah (Shock!)

This may not be for the majority of you, but diversity and all that. State of Shock are a hard rock melodic group from Canada (home of good music indeed except Nickleback), and the kind of music isn't something i would normally listen too, but i have been drawn to this band after hearing the song Money Honey (video below). They've been going around Canada the traditional way of picking up popularity by touring and building up grassroot fans, which is ace instead of being thrusted into the spotlight by some money-grabbing, souless multinational record company.

Money Honey

I Like Gold!

Again apologies for my lateness, right straight into it. Here is Santogold from sunny old Philadelphia in America (for you non-geographical nerds). Straight from the M.I.A. (a musical heroine) school of musical goodness, well not from the school just heavily compared and contributed with her. So a bit of background on this new sensation, well she is in a ska-punk band called Stiffed, which happens to be a million miles from what she does now that happens to be bombtastic (i love that word), bass orientated, electronic, new wave, grime music. This is proper house party music as i experienced when i took my ipod to a house party, although i was perhaps too wasted to appreciate fully, but i have been listening to the album for the past week, as well as having her EP for a couple of months. Look out for her during this year, she may be pushed aside over here but i know she will be appreciated in the States.

LES Artistes

A Cab Full Of Cute Death

Readers the whole two of you (i don't know how many maybe you can correct me), i offer my most sincere apologies as a month without a post is quite unacceptable. Right moving on from the rather downbeat opening. The american geniuses that are Death Cab For Cutie, argubably the best band of the millenium, well in my opinion anyway. They are in the process of releasing their 6th album, Narrow Stairs next month and i for one cannot wait. Their first single, I Will Possess Your Heart welcomes their new-found rockier edge. If you have heard Death Cab before you will know they are quite slow-paced and quite downbeat but they're new album sounds good from what i have heard. Right here is said song from the new album.

I Will Possess Your Heart (doesn't kick into the mid section so you may wish to skip half of it)

Born In The USA

Hey people, these posts are becoming a weekly recurrence which is a shame so to make up for my lack of posts. I am going to do something different and it is something wacky, it is called a megapost. To be honest I am disappointed at the lack of originality in new British artists in 2008 bar Foals, so I have been forced to look to America for that originality that Britain is lacking.


Weekend In Transylvania

These New Yorkers are creating quite a few waves in the music industry and I don't think there has been this much anticipation for US indie rockers since The Strokes, who coincidentally also come from New York. Mixing indie with African inspired pop melodies and Irish folk, this four-piece really have hit the mark. It may take a while to get your head round the genre mish-mash but it is worth it. Their anthem A-Punk also takes different genres into perspective, it takes advantage of post-punk disco and their love of 60's baroque pop is also apparent in many songs on their self-titled debut album. Look out for these in coming months as i'm sure this rising band will be big at the end of the year.

A-Punk


Black Kids

Off to Florida now, for another hyped-up band and quite deservedly too, Black Kids. They have become known due to a free 4 track EP (Wizard of Ahhs) they posted on their website, I have also heard that they sound amazing live which is good to know. Combining 60's style bouncy pop with playful upbeat dance grooves they have earned a loyal fanbase, it has made them internet sensations with bloggers singing their praises. Look out for these in coming months as many of the music press are bigging them up and look out for their album which comes out later in the year.

I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You

Managing Spectacular Oraculars

MGMT are from Brooklyn in New York, for all the people that didn't get the title reference, MGMT's album is called Oracular Spectacular. Having the good pop-friendly sound of The Flaming Lips, the satanic era Rolling Stones vibe about them, and the rest of the electro-psychadelic sounding tracks on their album, this band is fresh. Going back to their Oracular Spectacular album it is filled with musical depth and warmth and has cemented them as probably the best band this year for me, even though i've been a fan since last year (their album swayed me). Right enough of my rambles here is one of their amazing tracks,

Time To Pretend



Part 2 coming soon!!!

Pretty Damn Remarkable

Time to head up north to Norwich for today's band, The Unremarkables. A good new wave, indie pop band it is nice to hear some uplifting English indie, instead of the dreary indie that keeps coming out of England. Not that i'm dissing this indie because I listen to it quite a bit but there is only a certain amount of Editors or The Smiths I can listen too before feeling a bit drained. I love those two bands before anybody disses me for it. The Unremarkables definitely have a Manic Street Preachers vibe to them and they probably would have been massive during the britpop era. Here's hoping The Unremarkables can bring a britpop revival to this country, because it made the 90's bearable even though I was a wee nipper. The decade was overrun by manufactured pop and the noughties are also going that way but more along the line of crappy hip-hop singers like Rihanna. I predict big things for this band for the future and hopefully NME can pull their fingers out, to stop promoting wee-mo bands like My Chemical Romance and discovering decent music like The Unremarkables.

Right I can't find any youtube vids or individual songs so he is there myspace!

Hollywood Rock

Hello all on this Sunday evening, today is an Irish band that I absolutely love listening too, LA Rocca. It is piano rock gone epic, I know piano rock tries to be epic but very few achive the dizzying heights of epicness (is that even a word?) but this band does. It is mainly due to the booming voice of the lead singer and how it fits so perfectly with the twinkling piano and the bass ramblings. Drawing comparisons from bands such as ELO, Bob Dylan (not a band, I know!) and U2. This arena-sized music makes me and possibly you wonder why isn't this band mahussive (massive in English terms) and actually selling out these arenas as well as the numerous number 1's they should be having. But as we all know the charts are the biggest load of bollocks ever, when hip-hop, rap and manufactured pop are so evident in this shambolic system. The charts are run by 13-17 year old chavettes and chavs and they choose who is number one, so its a shame that good bands like LA Rocca aren't present in this depressing system, probably why they live in Hollywood, at least some Americans have some taste in music.

Right here are LA Rocca with, Sketches (20 Something Life)

Soft Spot For This Band

Ahoy readers, I have to apologise about the infrequent posts lately, my Internet has been playing up something rotten and I have had the manflu again. I have also been disappointed with the lack of new music lately, but this band Soft have changed all that. Hailing from New York, this band have very ambitious music. Taking a lot from the 80's and early 90's UK indie scene, with their Stone Roses sounding riffs and My Bloody Valentine style vocals as well as some Verve thrown in for some good effect, this is a band that should be huge and possibly selling out stadiums, but aren't just yet. However they have supported many reasonably big bands, even though they don't sound anything like them, Kiss, Hot Chip and Maroon 5 are the eclectic bunch which have been supported by Soft. Right I am going to post a few songs by them to convert all you non-soft (yet) fans.

Droppin'


Higher


Dumb Blood

Dirty In Sin City

Today's new music comes courtesy of Dirty Vegas frontman Steve Smith. Now as some of you may know, Dirty Vegas are a successful house band from London. What I can say is that solo Steve Smith sounds nothing like Dirty Vegas, he has gritty vocals reminiscent of Kelly Jones (lead singer of Stereophonics), the songs have a rocky edge to them and since i'm not a fan of house music it is rejuvenating to know that musicians can jump genres and in my opinion Steve Smith has got better as a result of this. He also has the singer of one of the best American indie bands around (The Magnetic Fields) guesting on his album called This Town, which is out on Tuesday (19th) in America but I don't know the UK release date yet, so you're stuck with his lead single. Enjoy!

Hit Me Up

The Song Remains The Same

Hello, sorry about the lengthy absence (3 days) its been a very busy couple of days. This is a Danish band called Kashmir (note the Led Zep reference in the title), which they are named after. This band has many influences from the early days, Red Hot Chili Peppers to the modern day, Radiohead. They are so good, Lou Reed and David Bowie (my idols!) are fans and have done duets with them. I only have one album by them it is their most recent called No Balance Please with the latter artists both appearing on the album, with Lou Reed doing a spoken word song (reciting a poem by the lead singer) which is reminiscent of an instrumental Pink Floyd song, Bowie sings a duet called The Cynic. You guys should check them out, early albums if you're into Rage Against The Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers, later albums if you're into Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Coldplay.

Kalifornia



P.S. Sorry I couldn't find the individual tracks so its a Youtube jobby.

Hitting My Head Against A Wall

Chris Walla is the name of today's new artist, he is guitarist from one of my favourite modern bands, Death Cab For Cutie. He released his first solo album, Field Manual last month and it is very good. Those of you who have heard of Death Cab will notice that their songs tend to be slow-motion emotion-filled ballads, after years out of the spotlight, Chris Walla has made an album full of mid-tempo indie goodness, which put a smile on my face, since i'm still waiting for new Death Cab material (May Woo!). There is some hidden meaning to my title, I am Valentineless tomorrow and the frustrating thing is I really like this girl but I am getting nothing in return. Hmm, sorry about the personal rant, but it really is the most depressing, over-marketed day of the year and is just there purely to rub single people's faces that we are all lonely. Why isn't there a single's day? I propose we should have a single's day every year on the 13th of February. Right back to Chris Walla, here is my favourite song off his album, The Score.

Really Excellent Matter

Ok, I am aware that I already have wrote a post on R.E.M. but they have just announced a show at the Royal Albert Hall on the March 24th and I will be buying my tickets on Friday at 9 woo! They also have an album out on March 31st, which I will definitely be getting its called Accelerate. I've had such a shit day and it is good to hear some good new music, as let's be honest 2008 has sucked so far in terms of albums, only a handful released so far have been good and it is only a handful 2 or 3 possibly. Right time for a treat, R.E.M's new single,

Supernatural Superserious

Moby Dick

Good Sunday morning to you all, so I listened to the new Moby song (Alice) yesterday and whilst listening I was thinking 'what the f***'. I am a big fan of Moby's music but this was not good in the slightest, it does have the same vibe as a normal Moby song but vocals come from intolerable rappers, that isn't me being a music snob, but it doesn't fit a song by Moby. I know he tries and experiments with different music genres but rap really isn't his forte, I was looking forward to the new album (Last Night) out in April but now I probably won't end up buying/downloading it unless I hear something I like. I think I will be going to be turning to Daft Punk for the void Moby's new songs have taken away. Here judge them for yourselves,

Alice



Disco Lies

Marvling After New Talent

Today we have a young 18 year old (2 days older then me) called Laura Marling, she has intergrated folk with indie. Much like Regina Spektor and Joni Mitchell before her, her lyrics flow like poems and she sings about many typical topics; love, romance and self-loathing. Sublime songwomanship has made her popular among other musicians, such as, Jamie T, who invited her on tour with him. She has also been 'bigged' up by the music press machine and is being tipped for great things in the future. So now i'm going to stop rambling and let you listen to her.

New Romantic

One Two Three Four

Yes that really is the extent of my counting ability. Right I am quite aware that my blog seems to be very male-dominated, so I am going to do a few posts on female vocalists either solo or part of a band that I like to listen too as well. First is up is Feist, who is from our good bacon-producing friends, Canada. You may know her for the amazingly good 1 2 3 4 song on the ipod advert, but she has also made many other recognisable songs which you may not have associated with her. She fuses Jazz and Indie rock and makes wonderfully written songs and tunes that get stuck in your head.


My Moon My Man



Mushaboom

Foaling Around

Today we have a band some of you may be familiar with and some may not, Foals. These dance-punk, math rock funksters are tipped for big things in 2008, and even though they dropped their demo hits from their album (out end of March) it's amazing and its called Antidotes, easily one of the best albums of the year so far. Their influences vary from Radiohead to The Rapture, the latter being the more probable influence. Their live concerts are something of legend and they have a tendency to play house parties a lot. I really need to see this band live and I suggest you should too. Here's Balloons,

Risk Of Electric Shock!!!

Apologies all for not writing for a few days, i've had a lot of work to do, coupled with organising birthday meal. Yes, it's my birthday tomorrow and I will be able to legally drink, vote and drive a big-ass motorbike if I so wish too. So my music listening habits has changed to the sometimes strange but always joyous to listen too, Eels. Those who aren't familiar with them or E and his ever-changing band, you are missing out because it is a sound so diverse and no two songs sound the same. This is my waiting for the bus music because there are a lot of mellow joys that calm me before going to college and facing another day of nagging teachers and deadlines. Enjoy,

Novacaine For The Soul


Trouble With Dreams

Half A Sound Wave

Off across the pond now to Minneapolis to a band that formed 13 years ago. An Alternative Rock band which are extremely good even if they did support Texas (crap band both live and on record), sounding a bit like the Goo Goo Dolls but obviously better plus I can hear a bit of a Counting Crows vibe coming from them. Their songs are songs you can just lie back, enjoy and do a bit of air instrument playing. The Feeling Strangely Fine album is worth getting if you're interested.

The song that is on loop on my pod and what i'm listening to now, Closing Time,

I'll Have Fish With That

Right I have to do a quick post on Hot Chip. Purely because their new song is genius, Ready For The Floor which is from their new album, Made In The Dark. From what i've heard of it, the rest of the album is good from first impressions. Ready For The Floor was originally written for Kylie Minogue and i'm glad Hot Chip kept it, because Kylie couldn't make my head bounce as much as Hot Chip do with the song. I love it and it got me through 2 hours of boring frees in the college library. Here it is,

Caught On Film

Going north of the border, to Glasgow and The Cinematics. Right how do I sum this band up, well think Bloc Party (Silent Alarm), Interpol and We Are Scientists and if you like all them you will love The Cinematics. Shimmering guitars and passionate vocals make the songs, a joy to listen to. Their debut album A Strange Education has been on loop on my ipod every couple of weeks for almost a year now and has no sign of stopping. Highlights include; Race to the City, Human and Keep Forgetting, along with all the other songs on the album.

Here is Break from the album,

I Love My Cardigans

So I finished my exams today, with the final exam in Political Ideologies. Heaps of fun that was, it went better then I expected but still crap. After that stressful experience, I thought I would kick back and listen to some Cardigans. Which may be my guilty pleasure, but they are very good and I don't care if people take the mickey. You're all sad if you do.

Erase Rewind

In A Room On Cloud Nine

All the way from NYC it is The Cloud Room, with the blend of 80's post-punk and the lead singer sounding almost identical to David Bowie. It is the perfect mixture and the result of this is perfect pop songs with the most infectious choruses you could wish for. I believe they are a step up from The Strokes and The Killers in terms of musicianship and I know I will cause controversy with that statement, but it is true. They've already hit the big time with a song on a Pepsi advert, but unfortunately aren't that big in the UK which is a shame as quite a few of their influences come from our shores.

So the self-titled album, I love it, to put it bluntly. From the ever so contagious Hey Now Now as the opening track this should be on everyone's ipod, especially in the summer because it has that summery feeling to it. Then there is the gentle opening to Waterfall, soft guitars and marching band style drums. Blackout! has the slow opening but progresses. Sunlight Song has the same vibe as The Thrills. There are too many good songs on this album, but you should all buy or download this because you will enjoy it.

Hey Now Now

What's That In The Sky?

For the regulars, you may notice there was no post yesterday. That's because I went to see these lads, Air Traffic in Bournemouth. I have to say it was the perfect gig due to different reasons, I would post up pics of the gig but there are so many different functions on the camera which I haven't yet figured out to use, because the only manual in the box is a bloody quick start guide which doesn't tell me anything. Those who aren't familiar with Air Traffic, what the hell is wrong with you? plus there a local band (Bournemouth) you should be ashamed. I suppose I will let it slide for all of you non-air traffic hearers (if that is a word) by posting 3 songs which you should and must listen to.

Charlotte


Shooting Star


Never Even Told Me Her Name

That's Me In The Corner

Today's obsessive music is R.E.M, so I had my Economics and Business exam today, I thought it went well but i'm sure my results will disagree with me. There was no big hall for us to sit in as there was only 6 of us just a conference room and I was sitting in the corner with an invigilator sitting behind me, which isn't the greatest thing when you're trying to concentrate and you have someone breathing down your neck. I had to listen to something that was pleasent on the ears but gets me to singing along, i need something soothing when I finish exams as I will be a miserable bastard if I don't, its funny how music changes your feelings. Right here comes the R.E.M megapost with 3 yes that's right 3 of my favourite R.E.M songs.

I Took Your Name


Country Feedback (sound is a bit cack)


Orange Crush

Old Man River

I couldn't come up with any witty (?) titles so this is the singer's bands name. So all the way from down under, the beck sounds are uncanny but there is also a distinct Nick Drake sound coming out as well. What can I say well as I always say he is awesome and I have the same butterflies in my stomach that I got from hearing Bob Dylan or Beck for the first time. How can I describe his music, well the lyrics have the same optimism as Jack Johnson but also the same sound just a bit more experimental. This song is called Sunshine and it has a distinct Indian sound to it, as well as the video being shot in India.

Oliver Twist Was An Orphan Boy

Today's new blog post comes in the middle of my Economics and Business revision (exam tomorrow). Time for a new band I think. Orphan Boy from Manchester the capital of quite a few little bands that not many people have heard of. That last sentence was sarcasm, in case anyone jumps on my wagon and shoots me. So moving away from my ramblings, Orphan Boy are full of talent and sound like Bromhead Jackets but are better. I'm expecting big things from these and I hope they do well in the future. Here's Trophies Of Love,

Kent is in Sweden?

No silly, i'm not Jade Goody, i'm talking about the band Kent from Sweden. Apparently they sell out stadiums in Scandinavia and I can tell why. They have squillions of albums out and they are all in swedish so I don't know what the hell they are saying but the musicianship is ace. So if foreign language bands aren't for you and you don't feel like cracking out the Swedish phrase book, then Kent aren't for you, but if you like new music and fancy listening to something different enjoy!

Music Murders Children

Bonjour people, today's band is Rock Kills Kid from California. Don't be fooled by the emo hairstyles and black clothes in the picture, their music has drawn comparison to Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure and U2. They have one album out called Are You Nervous?, which is an absolute joy to listen to. Stand out tracks for me are Back to Life and Hideaway, if you have the chance to buy or download it is worth your investment or time if you are downloading. Why don't any of these good bands grace the shores of the UK, ah well I guess i'm stuck with the album and you are stuck with their only single. Here's Paralyzed:

Joe's A Cool Guy

All the way from Austrailia, Eskimo Joe. They are one of a few good Australian bands which are good musically and lyrically and I have been addicted to their Black Fingernails, Red Wine album for nearly a year. With their easy on the ears songs and their catchy choruses, you'll soon know the words to them. I can't think of a way to describe but if you think Crowded House they are many times better and a less rockier Jet but with better songs. I am going to put two songs up and it would be good if you could give them a listen.

New York

Sarah

Like Looking Into A Mirror

I!AMYOU are from Weymouth, a proper local band and are somewhat of legends around the local area. Their real-life and often improvised lyrics might be too intense for some people but they have a comical factor to them. With a guitar and synth Yan and Chan are set to embark on a world tour around Weymouth. With tickets going quicker then a snail snap em up soonish.
Shiznit Live

I'm A Creep

Not my words, the infamous words of Thom Yorke. I am a bit of an obsessive Radiohead fan at the moment, I have listened to all their albums religiously since I got In Rainbows in October. They are one of the best bands to come out of Britain ever, and after a shit day I found comfort in The Bends. I have so got to see these in the summer except most of their dates clash with Glastonbury, so I am going to have to get a ticket and coach package but it'll be worth it. Enjoy my favourite 3 songs.

Bodysnatchers the best song on In Rainbows



Just from The Bends



Karma Police from OK Computer best Radiohead song

Like A Spider

Yes people another post, sorry about the bombardment but i have a lot of new music to spread around. Right Eight Legs from London, are a bunch of teens which have a flavour of Good Shoes and The Maccabees about them. Songs about drunkeness and boredom are turned into something special. The lyrics are mundane teenage neuroses which are lifted by the music and they are a joy to listen too.

Feel Good Inc.

So the day started off with a trip to Dr. Blunt to get some medicine for my manflu, which has worked miraculously and I am feeling good hence the name of my post. Also, it links in with the new drink I have come round to being addicted to Feel Good Drinks. Oh yes, juicy goodness and one of my five a day. Plus only one lesson today, which was heavenly. Not a bad day to celebrate my Monday new found lust for life, two of my all-time favourite songs which are proper classics. Enjoy!

Mexicans Like Coca-Cola

The Mexicolas sounds an exotic name and you wouldn't be a fool to suspect they were from Mexico. Nope they are brummies and they don't make fast acoustic spanish-style music. They have a rockier sound, think Foo Fighters cross-fusioned with Stereophonics and a sprinkle of Incubus and you have Mexicolas. So before the useless washed-up journos at Kerrang pick them up and go into overhyping mode have a listen.

I'm A Teenager

The Teenagers are a French/English band who have been playing on my ipod constantly over the past couple of months and are being hyped for good things. What can I say they do definitely live up to the hype. Playing the same style of music as Justice and Simian Mobile Disco mixed with Klaxons it is definitely worth buying their reality check album which comes out in March.

This is their hormoned filled song complete with cheerleaders and lyrics about sex.

Revision...What an old cliché

Four hours of revision achieved today, still curled up in bed with manflu but getting better. So revising for my politics ideologies exam, what do you think I listened too? Perhaps some ambient sounds such as waves in the ocean or some slow jazz. Nope I listened to Enter Shikari and a bit of Bob Dylan. It is kind of a big difference in terms of music types, but for Enter Shikari I needed the energy and motivation to actually get me doing revision and I needed Dylan's poetic lyrics to actually get me concentrated.






Bob Dylan wearing a bandana haha.

The Final Countdown

No Europe haven't re-released their tragically awful anthem, 25 years too late. I can't believe they were rumoured to support Iron Maiden, ah well two crap bands together won't end the world Since I have only just started this blog. I thought 20 days late I would do a countdown of my favourite albums of last year.

Lets get straight into it:

10. Aqualung - Memory Man








I have to admit, I was gutted I didn't find this Southampton born singer-songwriter sooner. Matt Hales plays piano rock like any of the big players (Coldplay, Embrace etc.). This album is so under-rated and should of recieved some airplay here in the UK. It is a great shame that Aqualung isn't selling out stadiums and this country's loss is America's gain. The fourth album from Aqualung doesn't disappoint from the epic, pressure suit to the gentle, glimmer. The album was on loop on my ipod for a good few weeks.

9. Bjork - Volta












Bjork's sixth album doesn't disappoint in the slightest, she pulled out all the stops in making this album a success, bringing in superstar (yawn!) producer Timberland to produce three tracks for her. Even though i do usually hate Timberland's work, what he did with Bjork did make me think he is wasting his talent producing hip-hop. The standout track on this album is declare independence, which up there with anything on the post album.


8. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist










The best reunion of 2007 apart from Led Zeppelin, this was a true return to form for the pumpkins, I don't know why it was critically panned but there is nothing wrong with it. You have Billy Corgan's unique whining voice and Jimmy Chamberlain's insane drumming plus a few pumpkins-esque headbangers, I don't know what more you could want. Stand out track is Bring the Light.


7 - Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City










So the tricky second album that backfires on a lot of good bands, this one doesn't backfire. Bloc Party have achieved the feat, few bands do achieve that is making the second album better than the debut. Bloc Party with this album have firmly cemented their reputation as a respectable band. There are many stand out tracks on this album but the two that stick out for me are, hunting for witches and kreuzburg.


6. Prince - Planet Earth








The controversial album given away with a sunday newspaper, this album is classic Prince, full of surprises and variety. This album has it all , rock, funk, soul, R&B and the brilliant band and backing singers cater for these genre jumps excellently. I have to admit he brings out the best of an album live but his albums still have the longetivity factor and I am going to enjoy this for years to come.



5. Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly Angry Mob












Another worthy second album, this time from the Leeds quintet. I was a bit iffy as to whether I would like but it has grown on me like a fine wine and one of the best wines out there. Going a bit off the topic there with wine. This album is amazing, I can't sum it up in many other words. Every song could be a single and its an album full of anthems. Even though it came out last february I can still listen to it from start to finish without getting tired of it and very few albums do that for me.

4. Switches - Heart Tuned to D.E.A.D












An excellent debut from this Southend band, with catchy songs throughout this album. Starting with Drama Queen, influenced by Graham Coxon the songs are written so well that they stay in your heads for weeks and you can recite the songs after a couple of listens. This is another band that gets very little airplay when they deserve more.

3. Air Traffic - Fractured Life












Another ace debut album from a local band (Bournemouth), this piano rock is in the vein of Coldplay but more optimistic as they describe themselves 'supergrass crossed with little richard' which isn't too far off the mark. Charlotte is the indie anthem of 2007 and with switches it has the catchy pop factor.




2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible











The second album from the Canadians experimentalists and it is sheer genius. The lyrics are wrapped up in tragedy but the music makes you feel free, they address 9/11, George Bush and death but the musicianship that is present in this record makes you forget about the tragic lyrics and something magic happens as soon as the orchestra of strange and wonderful instruments kick in. The whole album was recorded in churches and the atmosphere and acoustics you get from the record make it one of the best albums of the 21st century.


1. Radiohead - In Rainbows









This album is flawless, what can I say some of Radiohead's best work, not in the same league as pablo honey or OK computer because its more melodic but it proves Radiohead can do almost anything. Nude, Bodysnatchers and Videotape are easily the best Radiohead songs they've ever made and you can't feel after the album finishes asking, is that it? I am in love with this album and it just shows that Radiohead aren't capable of making a shit album.