Rusko - 2NAQ. Because 2 bags of weed just isn’t enough…
We Have Sound
Things that are good.
Benga - 26 Basslines.
Scratch Perverts - Stand By. Classic.
Bowski - Leggings. Watch out for the Booka Shade remixes of these guys.
Robyn - None of Dem (ft. Royksopp).
Bagley-Clifford Office of the National Bank of Detroit.
Michigan Central Station.
By Joel Sternfeld.
By Oscar Bolton Green.
By Oscar-Bolton Green.
Best albums of 2010
In tying with the new year, thought I’d review the last one. There were a good few gems from 2010 so I thought I’d share with you my favourites. You know, just for the crack.
1. The Roots - How I Got Over.
Featuring lovely guests such as members of the Dirty Projectors, this album from the Legendary Roots Crew was their best yet in my opinion. I am fully loving the funk/jazz/soul vibes from the title track, How I Got Over.
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Roots
2. Yeasayer - Oddblood.
It would just be wrong if this album wasn’t on this list. Described as both “odd and bloody marvellous” by The Guardian, this self produced album cemented Yeasayer as one of those bands everyone can enjoy, and quite frankly, everyone did.
http://www.last.fm/music/Yeasayer
3. Neil Young - Le Noise.
Teaming up with Grammy award winning producer, Daniel Lanois, who has previously proved Bowie and Dylan was clearly the right move. The song writing skills of this genius man have not dulled with age, as shown by the song Hitchhiker.
http://www.last.fm/music/Neil+Young
4. M.I.A. - Maya.
Pretty sweet electro-punk beats. This was M.I.A.’s highest charting album globally, probably after the mainstream success of Paper Planes. This lady won’t stop showing off, writing, producing, performing, directing so fingers crossed she releases some more gems later.
http://www.last.fm/music/M.I.A.
5. Beach House - Teen Dream.
Norway and Zebra are definitely two of my favourite songs of the whole year. They’re so hauntingly beautiful in their vocals, it’s not surprising this album came critically acclaimed and won them the larger fan base they deserve.
Artists to watch in 2011
My initial plan was to post this yesterday, on the first day of the new year, or the ominous 01/01/11. But then I had a hangover. So I didn’t. So you lucky Tumblr’s get it today instead!
1. The Joy Formidable.
These lot are from my own country, Wales! And you can tell when Ritzy Bryan sings. They have been described as “primal epic grunge” and if you like Arcade Fire, these guys are for you. Their debut album The Big Roar, comes out January 24th. The key track is Austere, on re-release from their 2008 EP, but my personal favourite is Whirring from 2009.
http://www.myspace.com/thejoyformidable
2. Wolf Gang.
Sounds like David Bowie has made sweet love to MGMT, producing someone probably along the lines of Kate Bush. Signed to Atlantic, these guys will be making a big fuss at British festivals in Summer 2011. Best track: Lions in Cages.
http://www.myspace.com/thisiswolfgang
3. Esben and the Witch.
This gothic trio from Brighton are said to be like Radiohead, without the melodramatics. Sounds good right? These guys are gonna be big purely because they sound like The XX, and everyone loves them. But the vocals are pretty sweet, think Siouxsie Sioux, especially on Marching Song, probably the best track of their album Violet Cries.
http://www.myspace.com/esbenandthewitch
4. James Holden.
The remix king of 2011. He got a degree in Maths from Oxford so you know that he’d have to be a pretty damn good DJ to be doing that instead. Clever boy! He describes his own stuff as “dark electro”, and recycling old sounds seems to be his calling by the sounds of his first full album, The Idiots Are Winning. Listen to the remix he did of Caribou - Bowls.
http://www.myspace.com/iamtherealjamesholden
5. Factory Floor.
If New Order’s Stephen Morris has claimed to be a fan, producing tracks for their début album, then you know they’re going to be good. They’re very trendy London art types so fingers crossed they won’t just be a one album job. Because I quite like them, especially the track A Wooden Box.
