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






















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)