Review Of The Year 2007: March

And so onto March, and it really makes up for the poor showing in February.

Before people (and when I say people, I mean Francis) start shouting at me for the order of these albums, I think Arcade Fire are far more talented, in every aspect, than Enter Shikari, and really, their album should be first, but when I listen to them both...

1. Take To The Skies - Enter Shikari

Lets be honest. Enter Shikari's demos that appeared in 2006 sounded like, at best, a bad metal band punching a synthesizer. Singer Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' voice sounded terrible, as did pretty much the rest of it. And so I was reluctant to listen to this album. From the first minute of the synth intro, you notice something different, and from the beginning of the first full track "Enter Shikari" its apparent how much work this band has done. This is one of the best recorded and produced albums I've heard in a long time, not just this year. Every part has been recorded and mixed perfectly, and the difference from the early demos is staggering. Oh, and did I mention they did everything themselves?
This is easily one of my favourite albums of the year, and is really worth listening to. It's mixed together as one track, with several interludes built in. The only track that stands out from this is "Adieu", a far slower track with an acoustic beginning, growing to a heavier ending, but still, far from the usual for Enter Shikari. Some of the guitar and synth playing on this album is great, and the backing vocals are amazing.
I urge anyone who hasn't heard this band to give it a listen, even if you've heard they are shit, or think it's really not your thing.
Best Tracks: Labyrinth, Adieu, OK Time For Plan B


2. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

Another "diffficult second album" to be released this year. Kaiser Chiefs' "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" really lived up to the stereotype of the second album being nowhere near as good as the first, and on first hearing this, I thought Arcade Fire had done the same, and returned to listening to their first album "Funeral". After their epic performance at Leeds Festival this year, I gave it another chance, and realised how good it really is. As with Bloc Party's "A Weekend In The City", there is clearly a movement towards music for arenas, and they've done it. The haunting "Black Mirror" and the massive organ on "Intervention" are so atmospheric, and then theres the up-beat "Keep The Car Running" and the truly amazing "No Cars Go", a re-recording of a track from their early EP. The huge, anthemic tracks are sandwiched in between some amazing slower tracks, "Ocean Of Noise" and "Neon Bible" stand out in particular.
I don't think this album is as good as Funeral, but it comes pretty close. Here, Arcade Fire have mastered the art of massive arena songs and done it in style. It's perfect.
Best songs: Keep The Car Running, Intervention, No Cars Go


3. Think Before You Speak - Good Shoes

As with the two albums above, I was apprehensive about this album. On first listen, the words 'boring' and 'repetative' come to mind, but give it some time, maybe see them live, and you'll grow to love it. The lyrics are not what you'd expect from a indie band, the social commentary of "Morden" and comments on current music throughout ('I play in a band, but I've got no talent' from "All In My Head") show some real talent.
This album is one of the best indie debuts of the year, showing at least some promise to come from the growing amount of repetitive bands, even if this album may be lumped as 'another generic indie album' on first listen, after a while, it really stands out as something a bit different.
Best songs: The Photos On My Wall, Never Meant To Hurt You, Small Town Girl


Thats my top 3 for March, but there were lot of great albums this month. Other highlights:
The Sound Of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
Best song: All My Friends
Strange House - The Horrors
Best song: Draw Japan
Yours To Keep - Albert Hammond, Jr.
Best song: Back To The 101



And that is it for March! Let me know if you think I've missed anything!

Review Of The Year 2007: February

Not a great month for music to be completely honest.

1. A Weekend In The City - Bloc Party

This album is so different from their 2005 debut "Silent Alarm", which was full of fast paced, simple guitar indie, mixed with really good lyrics (highlights being single "Helicopter" and "Positive Tension").
However, A Weekend In The City shows a complete change. It seems almost as though they knew that they would be selling out huge arenas by the end of the year. It's a long way from the manic style of the previous album that seemed much more designed for tiny sweaty gigs. The keyboards at the beginning of opener "Song For Clay (Disappear Here)" are perfect for the atmospheric opening you really need for an arena show.
The change is shown even further as you get past the first single to be taken from here "The Prayer". There are many far slower and more thought full tracks than you would expect, and the lyrics seem to take centre stage. One you listen to this, go back and listen of Silent Alarm and you will appreciate how good some of the lyrics are.
I love this album, and much prefer it to Silent Alarm, it shows the real tallent of the band in some of the music and really shows how good a song writer frontman Kele Okereke is.
Best tracks: Song For Clay (Disappear Here), Waiting For The 7:18, Uniform


Thats really it for February, really wasn't a very good month. Kaiser Chiefs released their second album "Yours Truly, Angry Mob", and despite a few highlighs ("The Angry Mob", "Highroyds", "Heat Dies Down") there really nothing worth saying about it.

So yeah, thats it for february.

Review Of The Year 2007: January

This is my review of this years music. Basically, the best albums released in each month. Click on the albums title to download.

January

Having heard Little Man Tate's "About What You Know" months before after it's leak on to the internet around September 2006, and being throughly disappointed with the feeling of over-production of the tracks on there. Everyone of the old tracks, the demo version is better, and I don't usually agree with bands putting b-sides on their album's, but if there was ever just cause for this, it would be with Little Man Tate, classics such as "Just Can't Take It" off their first single "The Agent", or "Teenager" of, probably the best track on the album, "House Party At Boothy's" single, really should have made it to the album. Saying that, the over-production would probably have destroyed them as well.
All-in-all a huge disappointment.

And, with that out of the way, on to the best albums of this month.

1. Panic Prevension - Jamie T

This album is so different from anything else released this year, it really hard to compare it with anything else. It's got such a great mix of songs, slow solo stuff ("Back In The Game") to really fast paced, full band tracks ("Operation"). . From simple tracks about getting pissed ("Calm Down Dearest"), to more serious songs ("Shelia") its great. The emphasis of the album is really drinking and youth culture, and his ability to tell it how it is, yet be almost comical about it, really put a different spin on things.
This album fully deserved it's nomination for the Mercury Music Prize.
Best Tracks: Operation, Shelia, If You Got The Money


2. Myths Of The Near Future - Klaxons

When Klaxons first surfaced in mid-2006, their blend of frantic indie riffs with dance drum beats was hailed almost as a revolution in music. "Xan Valleys EP" released later in 2006 (but not in the UK) very muched lived up to this. Singles "Atlantis To Interzone" and "Gravity's Rainbow" were a mess of keyboards and guitar, as well as a cover of Kicks Like A Mule's dance hit "The Bouncer" and the purely insane "4 Horsemen Of 2012", plus a few remixes, wrapped up the EP, and the album was set to be just as mental, judging by single "Magick" and demo "Totem".
However, it was not to be. Myths Of The Near Future is no where near the crazed, MDMA fulled riot that Xan Valleys EP is. A few tracks are, Atlantis To Interzone and Magick remain as they were, but the rerecordings of Gravity's Rainbow (and extra guitar part added) and 4 Horsemen (stupid vocal effects) have as good as ruined them. None of the other tracks stand out and the frantic indie-dance they were expected to be. Instead, Klaxons have almost chilled out, and by doing so have created perfect indie-pop. Tracks you could dance in a club, or go mental to at a live show. They have clearly properly sat down and put really effort into every aspect of this album. Where Xan Valleys was mess of noise and shouting (and it was great for it), Myths is a well crafted merging of the instruments.
I really was disappointed with this album at first, but now i really like it, if it is a bit repatative.
Best songs: Atlantis To Interzone, Totem On The Timeline, It's Not Over Yet


3. Wincing The Night Away - The Shins

I have literally got into this album this week, so Im not entirely sure what to write about this (see Francis' Blog for more about them). Its essentially what you would expect from The Shins (if you know them), and thats great lyrics. The music on Wincing The Night Away is also amazing, as is the production.
This album is very much an album where if you like this kind of thing, you'll love it, though there is better music of this type. If your not into this kind of music then its probably not your thing. Essentially, it's very good background music, that if you just sit and listen to you will appreciate even more.
Best songs: Sleeping Lessons, Australia, A Comet Appears (at the moment, these are likely to change)

And thats it for January. There were some great albums, elsewhere The View's debut "Hats Off To The Buskers" hit No. 1 in the charts (highlights are "Wasted Little DJ's", "Superstar Tradesman" and "The Don" to name a few, it's well worth giving a listen).

Album Of The Month - October: Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light

It was a close call between this and Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation. I prefer this I think.

I can't be bothered to write a long(ish) review like i did of the Foo Fighters album last month, but basically, its got everything. It shows both sides of Jimmy Eat World, the heavier, fast paced tracks like the ones from 2001's "Bleed American" ("Big Casino", "Electable (Give It Up)") and the slower rock tracks like the ones from 2004's "Futures" ("Carry You", "Chase This Light").

I have hardly been able to stop listening to it since it leaked in September. Like I said, its got everything Jimmy Eat World are great at, and it sounds alot more finished than previous albums.

Best Tracks:
Big Casino
Carry You
Chase This Light


Download


enjoy.

New Reverend & The Makers Tracks

Here are a few new tracks from Reverend & The Makers people might not have


Paris At Night (Demo) - this is an old track but only surfaced recently
Everybody Hates Ryan (Demo)
Dead Men's Shoes Ft. John Cooper Clark (Demo)
The Last Chapter (Demo)
Politics On Pogosticks (Lowlands Session)
Treacle On Tap (Lowlands Session)
Dear Lydia (Live @ Eurosonic) - another oldish one but not widely known

enjoy.

Album Of The Month - September: Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

This album has the perfect combination of beautiful ballads and rock classics that Dave Ghrol & Co are so good at producing.

Lyrically, its easily an improvement on all other Foo Fighters albums. For once, theres clearly some really heart in the lyrics, especially in Let It Die. It's been said it was written about Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, and its easy to see how that idea could come about.

Musically also, it shows the Foos at their best. Full of the manic guitar of their previous 5 studio albums, but also the slower tracks that show how the band have gelled over the years.

If one thing is for sure, its that the Foo Fighters know how to start an album. The Colour And The Shape (1997) opening with Doll straight into the timeless Monkey Wrench and All My Life at the start of One By One (2002). Again, with single The Pretender, they've produced a classic opening to a truly classic album.

Put simply, this how 2005's In Your Honor should have sounded, and then so much more.

Best Tracks:
The Pretender
Long Road To Ruin
Home

DOWNLOAD

enjoy.

Beans On Toast

This is all my stuff by Beans On Toast, about 35 tracks. Saw him at about 2 in the morning at Leeds Festival this year.

Link

Give him a listen.

www.myspace.com/sexdrugspolitics

enjoy.

Sheffield Music

I thought I'd put up some tasters of some of the current up and coming bands from Sheffield. Its still got the best music scene...

Give some of these a listen, then go out and support them...

Alvarez Kings
Best song: A Means To An End

Dead World Leaders
Best song: One Thing After Another

The Field
Best song: I Never Even Knew That You Could Dance

Gas Club
Best song: Bordertown

The Headliners (technically, they're from Barnsley)
Best song: Hanging On The Washing Line or Figure You Out

Paddy Orange
Best Song: Where Did You Go?

enjoy.

Some classic sets

Here are some classic sets that I've downloaded over time. They are all bootlegs, none were released at live albums.

The Killers - Glastonbury 2007
Everything about this set was just immense. if you saw it on the BBC Glasto coverage you'll know what I'm talking about

Arctic Monkeys - Sheffield Forum - December 12th 2004
The version of A Certain Romance on this is great

Arctic Monkeys - Electric Factory, Philadelphia - May 17th 2007
My favourite Arctic Monkeys set I have, and I have about 25 I reckon. It's a really good recording, it's got some quality banter from Alex and the songs just all sound awesome.

Ben Gibbard - Live At Schuba's Tavern
This is just amazing

Ed Larrikin - Live At Residence Gallery
The version of At The Feet Of Rae is just beautiful

Little Man Tate - Live At Boothy's
This set sums up Little Man Tate perfectly in just under 35 minutes

Muse - Live At Shepherd's Bush Empire
Black Holes & Revelations album launch gig. My favourite bootleg from the best live band on the planet (see Q Awards, October 8th 2007).

The Wombats - Live At London Calling Festival, The Paradiso, Amsterdam - 31/03/2007
I was there. As with Little Man Tate, this set sums The Wombats up perfectly in just under 35 minutes.


enjoy.

Lesser known albums of the year

Here are 10 albums released this year that everyone may not have heard of, but really needs to hear:

Enter Shikari - Take To The Skies
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
GoodBooks - Control
Milburn - These Are The Facts
Justice - †
Good Shoes - Think Before You Speak
Air Traffic - Fractured Life
Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
Harrisons - No Fighting In The War Room
Gallows - Orchestra Of Wolves

give them a listen. especially if you've never heard of them.

enjoy.