Where Daft Punk get their samples from...

Love this.

LPs of 2011

1. The Antlers - Burst Apart 
2. How to Dress Well - Love Remains
3. Bright Eyes - The People’s Key
4. Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit
5. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
6. I Break Horses - Hearts
7. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
8. Azari & III - Azari & III 
9. The Horrors - Skying
10. Rustie - Glass Swords 
11. Pete & the Pirates - One Thousand Pictures
12. Title Fight - Shed
13. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
14. Locussolus - Locussolus
15. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
16. The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient
17. Jeniferever - Silesia
18. Wilco - The Whole Love
19. Death In Vegas - Trans Love Energies
20. SBTRKT - SBTRKT

Special mention to: Other Lives - Tamer Animals, only just bought this due to other recommendations.  If I had longer with it it seems almost certain to be top 5.

LPs of the Decade

The Pitchfork beating LP of the Decade List (Don’t worry about the last 6 months!)

1. Bright Eyes - Lifted or The story in is in the soil, keep your ear to the ground (2002) 
2. Sleepy Jackson - Lovers (2003)
3. At the Drive In - Relationship of Command (2000)
4. M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us (2005) 
5. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (2007)
6. Daft Punk - Discovery (2001) 
7. Primal Scream - EXTRMNTR (2000)
8. Beck - Sea Change (2002) 
9. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (2000) 
10. Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
11. The Shins - Chute too Narrow (2003)
12. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed America/Jimmy Eat World (2001)
13. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) 
14. Black Mountain - Black Mountain (2005) 
15. Lindstrom & Prins Thomas - Lindstrom & Prins Thomas (2005) 
16. White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
17. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (2002) 
18. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)
19. Doves - The Last Broadcast (2002)
20. Death From Above 1979 – You’re a Women, I’m a Machine (2005)
21. Hope of the States - The Lost Riots (2004)
22. M. Craft - Silver & Fire (2006)
23. Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City (2007)
24. Pulp - We Love Life (2001)
25. Royksopp - The Understanding (2005)

LPs 2010

Mark’s Lp’s of 2010 - Unfinished, but never going to get finished now!

1. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz. At first listen you wonder if Sufjan has totally lost the plot as the abstract electronic beats dominate.  The second listen finds the pop hooks deep in your mind.  By the third it all falls together and you mind explodes.  One of the finest lp’s I’ve ever heard.  Only Wilco’s - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot has made this kind of impression in such a short time in the last 15 years.
2.  Fang Island - Fang Island.  An album of National Anthems.  Happy Mogwai (thank-you James).  Kind of joyous, happy, chanty punk.  Just a few of the ways I’ve tried to describe this lp to friends this year.  Whatever it is, nothing has put a bigger smile on my face this year.  Nothing sounds quite like Fang Island.
3. The National - High Violet.
4. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest. 
5. Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner. 
6. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Before Today.  
7. Chemical Brothers - Further.  Exactly what Tom and Ed should sound like in 2010.  A nuclear powered, psychedelic trip to places only previously attempted by My Bloody Valentine.
8. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor.  Only got on this late in the year.  A heavy cross between Bruce Springsteen and Bright Eyes.  Themed around the US Civil War and full of historical references but don’t let that take away from the musical brilliance.
9. Neil Young - Le Noise.
10. Robyn - Body Talk.
11. No Age - Everything In Between
12. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
13. Foals - Total Life Forever
14. Pantha du Prince - Black Noise
15. Caribou - Swim
16. Stornoway - Beachcomber’s Windowsill
17. Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme
18. Gayngs - Relayted
19. Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
20. MGMT - Congratulations

LPs of 2009

Mark’s Lp’s of 2009 (Better late then never!)

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The band did good! Favourites of mine since 1999, this year they finally made their masterpiece and found the adulation they deserve. Poppy, dancey, euphoric, makes me equally happy and proud. Singles and standouts are held together by stunning Love Like a Sunset. Totally ruled Brixton Academy October. One of only two lp’s (see no. 2) this year to be truly, memorably great. Phoenix, Phoenix, Phoenix!
   
2. Royksopp – Junior. Royskopp have produced their masterpiece; starting with the playful Happy Up Here before colliding into The Girl and the Robot, featuring vocals from Robyn. Filtered, dirty, squelchy and smooth this has had my brain pulsating since the summer. This Scandinavian elite is complete when Karin Dreijer Andersson (The Knife, Fever Ray) lends a guest vocal. As far as electronic music (and crime writing) Scandinavia is producing the finest in the world right now.
   
3. Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream. Blissful 80’s influenced pop from the godlike Luke Steel. This feels like the perfect next step after the Sleepy Jackson. Overblown and outrageous with three of the strongest singles of the year. Electronic, with perfect pop sensibilities, like the beach boys rung through a Cut Copy mangle. Shares with Phoenix the quality that makes it equally at home in nightclubs or on a Sunday afternoon.
   
4. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor. A welcome surprise in early December. As uplifting as Arcade Fire and as breathtaking as Fleet Foxes. Energetic, youthful, Americana, which aims to please; this band could go on to truly great things.
   
5. Dark was the Night - Various Artists. The first compilation I’ve ever included in my end of year lists. Curated by the National and including the cream of the alternative US indie scene, this is the strongest double lp I’ve ever bought. All acts are on the top of their game and the tracks are woven together perfectly, somehow never feels like a compilation. This has soundtracked my year.
   
6. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk. Conor Oberst, Jim James, M Ward and Mike Mogis, all on one lp, in outrageously good form, what more could you possibly want?
   
7. Memory Tapes - Seek Magic. Another unexpected highlight, someone else described this as New Order playing Neil Young. Can’t describe it better myself. The guitar line at the end of bicycle is the best minute of music for years.
   
8. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport. In which the previously almost unlistenable F Buttons collided with Lord Andrew Weatherall. The product was the apocalyptical sound of a volcano spewing out beats as it rises through the ocean straight into a London basement party. Play it loud and play the entire 58 mins, this is a complete album of ideas rather than a collection of tracks.
   
9. Saint Etienne - Foxbase Beta (Richard X remix). First a compilation then a remix lp, what has happened to my list this year? One of my all time favourite bands handed over all of the masters of their debut to pop producer and DJ, Richard X (Sugababes, Kelis & Liberty X). This idea did not excite me. When I finally got around to buying it I was amazed, this really is a thing of beauty. Not better than the original, equally as good, just viewed through different shades. If you love Foxbase Alpha, you must own its new baby sibling, the children’s choir at the crescendo of Like the Swallow has to be heard to be believed.
   

10. Manic Street Preachers - Journal for Plague Lovers. Touted as the follow up to the Holy Bible, due to the band using Richey Edwards lyrics which he left behind when he went missing 10 years ago. In reality this is nowhere near as bleak as that masterpiece, but it is an incredible return to form. Loud, intelligent, witty, hooks galore, this is the Manics I fell in love with in 1991.
    
11. The XX - XX
    
12. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
    
13. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
    
14. The Horrors - Primary Colours
    
15. Lindstrom & Christabelle - Real Life is No Cool
    
16. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
    
17. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
    
18. Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
    
19. Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care
    
20. Jack Penate - Everything is New
    

Gigs: Neil Young at Hyde Park. Radiohead at Reading. Phoenix at Brixton. Bloc Party at Olympia. Wilco at The Forum. Spiritualized at Royal Festival Hall
Single: Bruce Springsteen - The Wrestler 2010
New Acts: Broken Bells, Hurts, Joy Orbison, Free Energy,
Old Acts with exciting new lp's: Foals, Four Tet, Hot Chip, Beach House & LCD Soundsystem.
Extreme excitement for the return of Daft Punk in Tron! Movie, soundtrack & (tour?) 

LPs of 2008

Mark’s Lp’s of 2008

(The new Dad with less time to indulge himself on the computer edition!)

Gigs: Primal Scream and MC5 at the Royal Festival Hall will live long in my memory as one of the most euphoric nights of my life.  

My Bloody Valentine reformed and played the same set as 18 years ago (they were the 3^rd band I ever saw live), but were by far the live band of the year at both the Roundhouse and Bestival.  Bestival was again the festival of the year: Foals, The Count and Sinden, Let’s Wrestle, Grace Jones, Underworld, Sebastian Tellier and especially Hot Chip & The Specials were all highlights, along with my 7 month pregnant wife who not only survived but danced her way through the torrential conditions.

Neil Young graced a windswept Hop Farm with wigged out majesty.  Bruce Springsteen gave me the most unexpectedly fun night out of the year after I blagged into The Emirates stadium for a tenner.

Iron Maiden rocked better than ever at Twickenham.  After Rage Against the Machine’s mighty performance it was an uphill struggle for all the other acts, but Pete & The Pirates, Digitalism, Bloc Party, Mystery Jets and Conor Oberst were all brilliant.

1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago.
Out of nowhere, Bon Iver has emerged with an LP so raw, heartbreaking and magical it it is this years unanimous best.  Written and recorded by himself in a hunting lodge in Wisconsin after the break-up of his previous band and his relationship.  The stark, cold, loneliness is all over these nine tracks, this is not just a collection of songs, but a remarkable statement of personal experience.  Wondrous.
2. M83 - Saturdays = Youth.  Forth LP from one of my favourite bands, this one needs to be listened to loud, not because it rocks, but because it contains such a tapestry of sounds, good quality headphones really do it justice.  An 80’s influence has made this their most accessible LP yet and Graveyard Girl possibly the song of the year.
3. Mystery Jets - Twenty One.  The development of the Mystery Jets has been guided this year by DJ/Producer extraordinaire Erol Alkan.  This coupling has produced a slick indie disco classic of an LP, any other band would kill to have written either Young Love or Two Doors Down, yet these two shine and are ably backed up by what is by far the funnest [sic] LP of the year.
4. Beck - Modern Guilt.  People want different things from Beck, most want the hip hop sampling sound of Odelay and when he produces anything but that, it is regarded as a disappointment.  I’d take being disappointed by Beck every year if this is what he produces.  Teaming up with like minded soul Dangermouse the pair have produced an LP of equal parts shoegaze and melancholy, which rewards repeated listens and almost matches his best LP Sea Change.
5. Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim.  Discovered after hearing her duet with the Mystery Jets, this quickly become the family favourite LP this year.  Defies her age (19!) with the maturity of the sound but somehow her age shines in the freshness of the lyrics.  Essentially a female, acoustic, folk LP with pop sensibilities, in reality an irresistible, charming masterpiece.
6. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours.  A sunshine drenched collection of bangers from the jewel to the Modualr crown.  This has been the soundtrack to the summer referencing Talking Heads to New Order, this has an eighties feel sprinkled with some noughties magic.  After their superior Fabric Live mix they shacked up with LCD Soundsystem’s Tim Goldworthy, to make their own dance floor fillers, unashamedly euphoric, indie tinged, house music.  Essential.
7. Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel.  Erol Alkan’s second produced album in the top ten.  This young group are heavily influenced by club music and have seemingly thrown every different beat and rhythm they have danced to into this glorious melting pot of an LP.  A complete mess on first listen but then evolves in front of your ears to be this years most exciting and original debut.
8. Jay Reatard - Singles 06 - 07.  Lo-fi garage rock from Memphis, Tennessee, just dripping with catchy hooks and instant melodies.  Ok, it might take a little to get past his chosen monicker, but let’s forget that for now!  Bought on a bit of a whim this has proved to be my loudest favourite bedroom pogoer(!?) of the year.  At times this has the pop hooks of Blur, White Stripes or even Supergrass, this guy should really be massive.  This is more a collection of tracks (there are seventeen here, not all brilliant) than an LP, but hopefully will serve as an introduction to what will follow.
9. Primal Scream - Beautiful Future.  Their best since 2000’s XTRMNTR, but a very different LP to that sonic assault.  This has been influenced by a wide spectrum of sounds ranging from New York disco to the German Krautrock scene.  It excels with the dubbed out disco of Uptown, possibly the best track they’ve produced in recent times (dig out the David Holmes & Andy Weatherall mixes).  The LP falters with the terrible Zombie Man, but recovers with the stark Fleetwood Mac cover with Linda Thompson, this is the Scream at their heart-aching best.  Forget the more populist sound, when they do this country tinged, Memphis blues my heart is theirs.
10. Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too.  Minimal balearic techno, from the furthest most technicolour disco in the sky©.  Shades of LCD and Giorgio, in fact shades of many electronic artists impeccably pieced together by this Norwegian artist.  Works as atmospheric background music, turned up loud it will destroy a dance floor of deep house heads.  Three tracks running at over fifty minutes, this is a musical statement like no other this year.
11. Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
12. Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
13. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
14. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
15. David Holmes - The Holy Pictures
16. Black Mountain - In the Future
17. Spiritualized - Songs in A & E
18. Pete & The Pirates - Little Death
19. Foals - Antidotes
20. No Age - Nouns

I haven’t forgot Bloc Party - Intimacy.  It has fallen from number 1 back down to twenty something, a great experiment with some amazing tracks (Ion Square).  It just hasn’t held up as a great LP.

2009?  Mumford and Sons harmonies are beautiful and original, if they can produce an LP of similar quality then it could well be one to love.  Grammatics  have taken all year to produce their highly anticipated debut, hopefully it lives up to the gestation. I’ve loved Let’s Wrestle this year hopefully the full length debut will encapsulate their live chaos.

Little Boots and White Lies look like being pretty big, not convinced about either yet.

Can’t wait for the new LP’s from Doves, The Shins, Regina Spektor and Sufjan Stevens.

Happy Christmas and, as ever, Believe in Magic in 2009….