So.... the 24 days of Christmas Crackers didn't quite come to fruition. Turns out there are quite a lot of parties and gigs at Christmas time and I had too much music to listen to and not enough time to write about it. I'm sure you were all devastated.
Anyway, 2010 is here and the blog is back on form, and I have a feeling it's going to be a great year for music. 2009 wasn't bad but there were only a few stand out albums for me, and there should have been more. Here are the few that tickled me pink last year...
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
The Leeds lads finally graduated to the big time and if this storming album didn't do it for them, then nothing would have. Moving on from their typically lad-driven sound, this record was heavily influenced by psychadelia but it was a change in direction that suited them perfectly. Their songs proved them band have more substance than their previous two releases gave them credit for. Kasabian's new found success has spurred them on so much that they aim to have their next album out at the end of this year; if they manage it, it will be most interesting to see if it ends up sounding too rushed, and what direction they take next (sources say it's already quite Nirvana-esque).
Noah and the Whale - First Days of Spring
Moving on from their pop-folk sound, NATW undeniably released one of the most emotionally heart-wrenching albums of last year, or perhaps even of the decade. It's not often that a guy puts his emotions on such blatant display, but lead singer Charlie Fink took the risk and it most certainly paid off. Anyone who can make it to the end of the album without a tear in their eye needs to check they actually have a heart.
The Maccabees - Wall of Arms
After receiving much acclaim for their debut release, the Maccabees managed to pull off the difficult second album with mature success. Much like Noah and the Whale, their follow up release showed a somewhat darker side to the band, with deeper lyrics and less ambrosial fluff. The gap in between their debut and second releases also gave the band more time to gel together on stage and made them ones to watch on the gig circuit.
The Temper Trap - Conditions
These New Zealanders made a definite impression with their debut single release, 'Sweet Disposition', which seemed to be forced onto us via the medium of film soundtracks, adverts, various tv shows and of course, radio play, towards the latter part of 2009. Luckily for us, it's a great song. Their ethereal indie sound captured the attentions of music listeners everywhere, and the band have already sold out three dates at Shepherd's Bush Empire in a few months' time based on their debut single alone. Not bad going. 2010 is the time for these boys to prove they are more than a one-hit wonder, and they certainly have the potential to do so.
Other releases worthy of a mention:
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
Alex Turner proves these Sheffield lads are more than polo shirts and witty lyrics.
Muse - The Resistance
If someone had told us two years ago that Matt Bellamy and co. would cross Knights of Cydonia with Freddie Mercury, we'd have laughed. Somehow, it works.
Hockey - Mind Chaos
Indie rap never sounded so good. And they're from Portland! Who'd have thought it.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
After years of unjustly flying under the radar, these French boys finally gained some commercial recognition with their catchy pop tinged with a touch of electro.
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