Sometimes I think magazines and websites and your average man or women on the street likes a record or a song or a band or artist because they've been told to like them, by other magazines, websites or people.
Some will call them hipsters. There's more to a hipster than that. Listening to a The War on Drugs song on YouTube, the comments section is littered with vitriol, backbiting, smears and accusations that if you liked the song you are a hipster, if you didn't you were an idiot. Some were asking why people couldn't just come out and admit to liking Wham, or Elton John or Coldplay, and naturally people hit back with the kind of petty insults you'd expect.
Now I like Elton John. The early stuff. About 1970 - 74 with a smattering of songs here and thereafter, but his best work comes in that period, on 'Madman across the water' 'Tumbleweed Connection' and 'Honky Chateau'. The first two Coldplay albums are great, and then Chris Martin disappeared up his own arse never to be seen again. There's the weird Hollywood A-lister who purports to be him, churning out sub-90's club dance tracks with his backing band and splitting up with his Hollywood A-lister actress wife to start up with another Hollywood A-lister actress, but I'm not sure who he is. He's not the curly haired student type that brought us 'Shiver' and 'High Speed' in the dying embers of the 20th century.
The point is that is seems we can all agree that Justin Bieber is a twat but we can't agree on what's actually a great band or record. Everyone will have their opinion, however wrong that opinion may be, buts it's those that spend their time, slagging each off on comment sections and forums that I don't get.
NME have just released their Top 50 album of the year. It took me a while to get to the number one as I trawled through pages of oppressively, distracting advertisements left, right and most annoyingly permanently at the top of the screen, but it turns out it was St Vincent, a record that has passed me by this year, maybe because I don't read NME and rarely go on their website unless through boredom.
I can remember when NME was important. Vital even. Based on the staggering array of brightly shining ads for albums, and clothes, and shoes and food, not that many people buy NME and its only source of income is by selling two thirds of the pages on NME.com to companies for gaudy adverts. The end of year album list used to inspire hundreds of comments. In nearly 24 hours there are 9.
For what it's worth quite a few of my top 10 albums of the year featured in their Top 50, none in the Top 5, or 10, or 15, but Royal Blood crept into the Top 20 at 19. I'm obviously not a hipster then. Thank fuck.
I've been side-tracked from the main purpose of this blog post, my Top 10 and ultimately favourite album of the year. I was going to ramble on about what was best about each record but instead I've rambled on about the what makes a hipster and why NME is now shit.
Anyway, I'll just list them here. I think you'll find that this is the definitive list and if you disagree you are a hipster and have no taste or your ears are all blocked with wax and you can't hear properly. Or you're a twat.
Top 10 Albums of 2014 are:
at No.10 -
Jack White - Lazaretto
at No.9 -
We are Scientists - TV en Français.
at No.8 -
Temples - Sun Structures
at No.7 -
Elbow - Take off and Landing of Everything
at No.6 -
Beck - Morning Phase
at No.5 -
Mark Morriss - A Flash of Darkness
at No.4 -
Morrissey - World Peace is none of you Business
at No.3 -
Alt-J - This is all yours
at No.2 -
Royal Blood - Royal Blood
and at No.1 -
Hookworms - The Hum
To be honest, there is not a lot between any of them. There is a cigarette paper between Hookworms and Royal Blood. Both incredible albums. I'm not sure if it is a coincidence that the top 5 are all from the latter part of the year, or at least I discovered them in the latter part of the year. I think those 5 are the best 5 of the year, although Beck's is a gorgeous lament and sound tracks the period between dawn and about 10am perfectly.
It is a thankless task, I'm not convinced looking at that again, that it's definitely in the right order. What I do know is they are all brilliant records.
What's odd about NME is that they manage to name 50 albums but when it came to the 50 Tracks of the Year, there were two tracks from an artist appearing. Surely you'd be able to pick a track off of each album or even tracks from albums that didn't make the list or single releases that were worthy.
Here is my 10% of a Top 50 Tracks of 2014.
No.5 - Hookworms - Off Screen
No.4 - Morrissey - Neal Cassidy Drops Dead
No.3 - Menace Beach - Fortune Teller
No.2 - Royal Blood - Figure it out
No.1 - Alt-J - Hunger of the Pines
Again, I could have others in there instead. There was 'Little Monsters' or 'Ten Tonne Skeleton' or 'Come on over' from Royal Blood that are all ball bouncingly good. I could have chosen 'I'm not a man' or 'Istanbul' or 'Mountjoy' from Morrissey's new record. There wasn't much doubt that 'Hunger of the Pines' was going to be No.1 though. A staggering song. If you'd have asked me at the beginning of the year if the best song of the year would have a sample of Miley Cyrus on it, I'd have told you to sod off.
Anyway, there it is.
I'm off to see Morrissey tomorrow at the O2, so I'll tell you all about that, and how 2014 was when I discovered the genius of Moz after 25 years of solo material, next week.
Friday, 28 November 2014
Thursday, 27 November 2014
2014 - It just got better
First, I'm going to do something I don't normally do. I'm going to disagree with Noel Gallagher.
The wise, sage like figure that he is was giving his time for the WarChild charity in an Evening with Noel Gallagher on the radio station XFM. He was chatting with Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers when, whilst reminiscing about the year 1994 and all the classic, much lauded albums released that year, he said that no-one would remember 2014 as there weren't any bands and records like there were 20 years ago.
It was a watermark year in British Music history, albums like Definitely Maybe, The Holy Bible, Dog Man Star, Vauxhall and I, to name but a few, were released to much critical and public acclaim.
But this year has been a high point of the otherwise underwhelming 21st century that started with such a bang, the likes of The Strokes, The White Stripes and Kings of Leon invading our shores from States side, has fizzled out with the poor recent efforts from the former and latter and the split of the Detroit duo. There was a brief serge of excitement when Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Kasabian et al appeared in the mid noughties but only Arctic Monkeys can claim to have risen to the top and stayed there with any authority (NB My distaste for Kas-a-bi-an will become more apparent later).
Indeed the most note worthy, ground shaking footnote in musical history of the past 14 years will be the split of Oasis.
This year has bucked the trend. Not since my teenage years in the late 90's have I bought so many albums in one calendar year. There has still been the normal dross, radio fodder for the masses but not for a long time could I name 10 records that I can safely say I will be playing in 20 years time.
So here's the list, to get it out of the way; in chronological order of release (bar one that passed me by for a few months)
Temples - Sun Structures
Elbow - Take off and landing of everything
Beck - Morning Phase
We are Scientists - TV en Français
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Jack White - Lazaretto
Morrissey - World Peace is none of your business
Royal Blood - Royal Blood
Mark Morriss - A Flash of Darkness (February discovered in August)
Alt-J - This is all yours
Hookworms - The Hum
It all started with a band that didn't actually release an album this year, that comes in January 2015, Menace Beach.
I slight aside from this is the fact that I am an obsessive Mansun fan. If you don't know who they are, then I don't want to know you. Or you could just Google them. Or search Mansun on YouTube or Spotify and be very pleasantly surprised. (I'd love to re-discover Mansun. Hearing 'Attack of the Grey Lantern' for the first time, again. It almost makes amnesia seem a good idea).
Ever since their demise (sob) in 2003, I have been an avid follower of anything Mansun/Paul Draper (the lead singer/guitarist/song writer/producer of Mansun) related. The subsequent release of the 4th album sessions, the special 3 disc re-release of AOTGL and the first offering of Paul's collaboration with Catherine AD, as The Anchoress, have all been consumed. Following on Twitter, Friend on Facebook, signed up at least twice to the mailing list. I've done it all.
Anyway, I digress, but it was necessary so you would know why I knew that Paul was on Marc Riley's BBC 6Music show with a band I'd never heard of called Menace Beach.
It was only after the event however that I took much notice as the internet/Twitter/Facebook furore that followed his appearance on the radio was seismic. When the word had gotten out he was to appear on 6Music, the hordes of Mansun fans took to their computers/phones/tablets and went into an email frenzy and bombarded the show. It almost turned into an "Ask Paul" session and the poor band were pushed aside.
The result of this was a snowball effect that took Paul with it and a subsequent Convention, promise of a solo record, special preview of a track and further recording sessions, mean that we will be hearing more from Mr Draper in 2015.
Anyone that took time to listen to the band will have been rewarded. On Riley's show to promote an EP, the first track was streamed online, "Fortune Teller", a Hammond Organ waltz of a fairground tune with added post-punk guitars and snarling vocals. A fine introduction.
The only way to get the EP was by purchasing the vinyl and getting the download. Lack of record player would normally have stopped someone, but I decided to get it anyway on the strength of that track and another "Where I come from" on Soundcloud.
When it arrived, I couldn't play the vinyl, but the download code was used and the MP3 was on my iPod. I've always had a fascination with vinyl. I can remember my Dad's all spines together in a row in the cabinet under the TV. The moving colours of Elton John's Too Low for Zero through the shapes on the cover as you pulled the sleeve out. The weird, Dali-esque dripping and contorted instruments on the front of Dire Straits Alchemy Live record.
When he moved to Gloucestershire a few years ago a took his old vinyl and kept them at my Mum's as I had nothing to play them on.
The Temples album came out and that was purchased (all double vinyl and thank God for the download code) but still no turntable.
I have to confess, you may have noticed that the Elbow, We are Scientists and Jack White albums aren't on vinyl. There is a reason for this. Elbow was pre-ordered before my new vinyl obsession, We are Scientists is actually my better half's as she pre-ordered it, signed. Jack White would have been on vinyl but at the time the unique, special pressing of Lazaretto had sold out so I had to buy the download from iTunes with old voucher money sat on the account.
A work bonus in April allowed me to order the record player you see in those pictures. Nothing special, but good enough to get started (and wired up to the home stereo it sounds pretty good).
And so it began.........
(Next blog will have those records in an end of year type list and the Number 1 announced)
The wise, sage like figure that he is was giving his time for the WarChild charity in an Evening with Noel Gallagher on the radio station XFM. He was chatting with Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers when, whilst reminiscing about the year 1994 and all the classic, much lauded albums released that year, he said that no-one would remember 2014 as there weren't any bands and records like there were 20 years ago.
It was a watermark year in British Music history, albums like Definitely Maybe, The Holy Bible, Dog Man Star, Vauxhall and I, to name but a few, were released to much critical and public acclaim.
But this year has been a high point of the otherwise underwhelming 21st century that started with such a bang, the likes of The Strokes, The White Stripes and Kings of Leon invading our shores from States side, has fizzled out with the poor recent efforts from the former and latter and the split of the Detroit duo. There was a brief serge of excitement when Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Kasabian et al appeared in the mid noughties but only Arctic Monkeys can claim to have risen to the top and stayed there with any authority (NB My distaste for Kas-a-bi-an will become more apparent later).
Indeed the most note worthy, ground shaking footnote in musical history of the past 14 years will be the split of Oasis.
This year has bucked the trend. Not since my teenage years in the late 90's have I bought so many albums in one calendar year. There has still been the normal dross, radio fodder for the masses but not for a long time could I name 10 records that I can safely say I will be playing in 20 years time.
So here's the list, to get it out of the way; in chronological order of release (bar one that passed me by for a few months)
Temples - Sun Structures
Elbow - Take off and landing of everything
Beck - Morning Phase
We are Scientists - TV en Français
Jack White - Lazaretto
Morrissey - World Peace is none of your business
Royal Blood - Royal Blood
Mark Morriss - A Flash of Darkness (February discovered in August)
Alt-J - This is all yours
Hookworms - The Hum
It all started with a band that didn't actually release an album this year, that comes in January 2015, Menace Beach.
I slight aside from this is the fact that I am an obsessive Mansun fan. If you don't know who they are, then I don't want to know you. Or you could just Google them. Or search Mansun on YouTube or Spotify and be very pleasantly surprised. (I'd love to re-discover Mansun. Hearing 'Attack of the Grey Lantern' for the first time, again. It almost makes amnesia seem a good idea).
Ever since their demise (sob) in 2003, I have been an avid follower of anything Mansun/Paul Draper (the lead singer/guitarist/song writer/producer of Mansun) related. The subsequent release of the 4th album sessions, the special 3 disc re-release of AOTGL and the first offering of Paul's collaboration with Catherine AD, as The Anchoress, have all been consumed. Following on Twitter, Friend on Facebook, signed up at least twice to the mailing list. I've done it all.
Anyway, I digress, but it was necessary so you would know why I knew that Paul was on Marc Riley's BBC 6Music show with a band I'd never heard of called Menace Beach.
It was only after the event however that I took much notice as the internet/Twitter/Facebook furore that followed his appearance on the radio was seismic. When the word had gotten out he was to appear on 6Music, the hordes of Mansun fans took to their computers/phones/tablets and went into an email frenzy and bombarded the show. It almost turned into an "Ask Paul" session and the poor band were pushed aside.
The result of this was a snowball effect that took Paul with it and a subsequent Convention, promise of a solo record, special preview of a track and further recording sessions, mean that we will be hearing more from Mr Draper in 2015.
Anyone that took time to listen to the band will have been rewarded. On Riley's show to promote an EP, the first track was streamed online, "Fortune Teller", a Hammond Organ waltz of a fairground tune with added post-punk guitars and snarling vocals. A fine introduction.
The only way to get the EP was by purchasing the vinyl and getting the download. Lack of record player would normally have stopped someone, but I decided to get it anyway on the strength of that track and another "Where I come from" on Soundcloud.
When it arrived, I couldn't play the vinyl, but the download code was used and the MP3 was on my iPod. I've always had a fascination with vinyl. I can remember my Dad's all spines together in a row in the cabinet under the TV. The moving colours of Elton John's Too Low for Zero through the shapes on the cover as you pulled the sleeve out. The weird, Dali-esque dripping and contorted instruments on the front of Dire Straits Alchemy Live record.When he moved to Gloucestershire a few years ago a took his old vinyl and kept them at my Mum's as I had nothing to play them on.
The Temples album came out and that was purchased (all double vinyl and thank God for the download code) but still no turntable.
I have to confess, you may have noticed that the Elbow, We are Scientists and Jack White albums aren't on vinyl. There is a reason for this. Elbow was pre-ordered before my new vinyl obsession, We are Scientists is actually my better half's as she pre-ordered it, signed. Jack White would have been on vinyl but at the time the unique, special pressing of Lazaretto had sold out so I had to buy the download from iTunes with old voucher money sat on the account.
A work bonus in April allowed me to order the record player you see in those pictures. Nothing special, but good enough to get started (and wired up to the home stereo it sounds pretty good).
And so it began.........
(Next blog will have those records in an end of year type list and the Number 1 announced)
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