Another year of music has come and gone, and to be honest, a lot of it was utter crap. We had to endure the release of Planet Jedward from those relentlessly irritating, media whores from Belfast. Then there was Mike Posner with his ridiculous shades and beats more boring than an interview between Fern Cotton and Peaches Geldof. However, there were genuine musical highlights this year and narrowing it down to just five was like trying to pick your favourite moment in Love Actually. So without further ado, here are our musical highlights.
Rachel’s Albums of the Year
From string quartets to evangelical Christmas albums, American multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens is unfailingly unpredictable. With The Age of Adz Stevens delivered an album that is simultaneously challenging and moving. Slight but beautiful opener ‘Futile Devices’ dissolves into a stream of static, whilst ‘Too Much’ is hijacked by berserk beats and sonic glissandos. But even at its most ambitious moments the orchestral instruments, looped vocals and samples are held together by Stevens’ finely wrought melodies and raw lyrics. Never has a tuba player having a nervous breakdown been such compelling listening.
Another Mercury nominated singer songwriter who sounds like a band may incite yawns in some, but anyone who dismissesVillagers (a.k.a. Conor O’Brien’s) debut is missing out on a treat. Becoming a Jackal boasts beautiful understated vocals and lilting melodies undercut by dark lyrics, striking primal imagery and occasional bouts of lycanthropic howling (naturally). A quietly received but deceptively robust gem.
2010 saw another predictably brilliant album from everybody’s favourite Canadian art rockers, Arcade Fire. The Suburbs is a stunning concept album that explores the anticipation, hope and disappointment of suburbia. The recurring melody of the title track evokes stagnating ambitions whilst the likes of ‘Month of May’ and ‘Ready to Start’ provide the ‘Indie boys in cardigans with their arms in the air’ choruses we have come to expect from Win Butler and co. Epic, emotive and stadium friendly (but thankfully not in a Coldplay way…)
The past year may have been dominated by the unstoppable Gaga and the ever-changing hair of Rihanna but the real deal in unhinged divas was undeniably Janelle Monae, the twenty-five year old protégée of Big Boi. The ArchAndroid brilliantly defies genres, skilfully blending dance, pop, funk, soul and even film scores to irresistible and spellbinding effect. Anybody who insists that pop has gone stale will be spluttering defensively when confronted by infectious singles ‘Cold War’ and ‘Tightrope’. Resistance is futile.
However, for me the album of the year undeniably belonged to Joanna Newsom. The harp playing singer songwriter has been steadily building a reputation as a uniquely ambitious and ethereal artist since her debut in 2004. Triple album Have One On Meis perhaps an intimidating prospect, eighteen songs over three disks, most over five minutes long, but those willing to rise to the challenge are richly rewarded. The melodies are meandering and beautiful, the lyrics are startlingly poetic and Newsom’s voice is rich and expressive. A powerful and frequently breathtaking showcase for a unique talent. Buy it now, even if it’s just for the lush sleeve notes.
So those were my top picks of 2010, but what do we have to look forward to in 2011? Well, amidst the financial meltdown, public service collapse, apocalypse (etc etc) I have high hopes for a number of artists.
For starters, singer songwriter Anna Calvi is hotly tipped having supported the likes of Johnny Flynn and been included in the influential BBC Sound Of… long list. Calvi grew up listening to her Italian fathers classical records and there is certainly an operatic feel in the passion and drama of tracks such as ‘Jezebel’, the story of a fallen woman that sounds like the world’s edgiest Bond theme.
Another BBC Sound Of… alumni are The Vaccines whose flirtatious indie pop has been setting tastemakers tongues aflutter, secured by performances on Jools Holland earlier this year. Listen to ‘Blow It Up’ and ‘If You Wanna’ for a taste of their catchy choruses and witty lyrics.
A rather more famous name due to release in 2011 is Lady Gaga. Whatever you may think of the attention grabbing peroxide addict, her first two albums have dominated the past couple of years and it will be fascinating to see if her third release, tipped for April, will cement her reputation as a 21st Century icon, or proves her to be all mouth and no trousers (meat based or otherwise…)
Now we are off to lie down before we have some kind of superlative fuelled aneurysm.
Chris’ Albums of the Year:
2010 was a year where I had to take back a few of my staunchly held opinions about certain bands. Their first single had me wretching every time I heard it and made me want to lash out at the nearest person to me in frustration. Now, after some behavioural correction and more songs I have done a miraculous u-turn on the pop-wonder that is JLS. They have gone toe-to-toe with the big boys Take That and if anything have produced a better album than the man-band.
There was no getting way of getting away from the upbeat art-pop group from Bangor, Northern Ireland, which comprises of three guitars and some wonderfully jaunty keyboards. I am of course referring to Two Door Cinema Club whose explosion onto the alternative, indie-rock this year has really been a joy to listen to and given me something new to bop away shamelessly away to in clubs.
It was also a year to try something new. I am quite a cynic when it comes to genres that stray from the guitar band formula, yet when I was first introduced to the album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty by Big Boi, I absolutely loved it and was won over to it instantly. Tracks like ‘Shutterbugg’ are some of my pure gems of 2010.
The XX need a mention on this list. Having rightfully walked away with the Mercury Award for their self-entitled debut album they were definitely a high point for music in 2010. Anytime I feel life getting to me or just want to chill after a night out; I find that their music is the perfect way to unwind with their hauntingly beautiful songs.
But for me the hotly contested number one spot had to go to something that I can listen to time and time again without ever feeling even slightly tired by. So for me, this accolade of accolades goes to the zeitgeist pop, resplendent with crashing guitars and crushing beats, of Sleigh Bells with their album Treats. The lead track, ‘Tell ‘Em’, is probably my favourite track of 2010 and if you haven’t heard it then it is album that is worth doing so.
So that was 2010 then but what do we have to look forward to in 2011? I have my eye on are few bands and what they are coming out with:
This experimental art rock band Warpaint from LA have already earned critical acclaim but I feel in 2011 they will really shine. Tracks like ‘Undertow’ and a clever cover of ‘Ashes To Ashes’ suggest a bright future.
With a new album set for 2011, this spoof hip-hop band Lonely Island look set take the world stage again with more comedy collaborations with the best and worse that the music industry has to offer. I hear Akon has already featured on one of the tracks…
Frightened Rabbit narrowly missed out on my top five of 2010 but this band have displayed so much undoubted talent in both their albums and their live performance that 2011 has to be the year that they receive the attention that the music credits them
On behalf of Scene we wish you a Happy New Year!