30. Arcade Fire- We Used To Wait

Well Arcade Fire. My new favourite band. There truly hasn’t been anything them before and there won’t be anything quite like them again. The first official single released from their superb third album “The Suburbs” is quite simply, brilliant. It ponders the idea of actually waiting for any communication, and the idea of how important something as simple as receiving a letter could be to a person which is something that we’ve lost in recent time due to the new digital age of technology. For a first single, it’s remarkably evolved and not conscious of breaking the mainstream, something which Arcade Fire has never tried to do but yet, it appeals to a mass audience. The repeated chords on the piano and sparse but powerful drums gradually builds as guitars and synths are added to the piece all of which come together for the rousing finale in which Win cries for the audience to “scream and sing the chorus again.” This rousing first single complete with one of the most innovative videos of all time is a brilliant way for them to re-introduce themselves into the mainstream, somewhere in which I’m sure they’ll stay throughout the rest of their careers.

The live performances of this song are also quite incredible, with Win walking purposefully through the crowd, breaking the fourth wall and connecting himself and his band more powerfully to their ever-growing fan-base.




Link to their groundbreaking new video. If you haven’t done it already, WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN DOING YOU NEED TO WATCH IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (you do need Google Chrome though)

31. Delta Spirit - 9/11

Who doesn’t love a good protest song? I stumbled upon this song on Later with Jools Holland and instantly loved it. The little known 5 piece from San Diego, California have released two albums to this point and with 9/11, their beginning to leave their mark. To even call a song 9/11,nearly 10 years afterwards is still considered to be taboo but the message they deliver is so solid and poignant that it deserves praise.

Lead singer Jon Jameson (is that his real name?) has such a gruff, strong voice, like a drill sergeant shouting orders at you, which fits in so well with the protest theme. This combined with the hard hitting lyrics “If your God forgave all of your sins/Then why would you make murderers out of them?” makes such a compelling song. They’ve had the courage to stand up for what they believe in without sugar coating it and that, in my opinion deserves a listen.

(the live version)

32. Kanye West - Power

Kanye West. He’s made a bit of a fool out of himself in the odd year or so hasn’t he? He’s created quite the stir on twitter by following a boy from coventry (who is friends with my housemate ricky. I know, small world!), ruined the best moment of Taylor Swift’s life, even the president has called him a “jackass.” It seems only fitting that he should make such a startling comeback. The lead single of his latest album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”, “Power” is a definite tongue in cheek look back at this turbulent time in his life. It’s this period through Kanye’s own, rose tinted geek glasses point of view. The talent that Kanye has shown so many times throughout his glittering musical career is very prominent here. His witty lyrics are at their best with so many wonderful one liners throughout, my personal favourite “They say I was the abomination of Obama’s nation/Well that’s a pretty bad way to start a conversation." Take that world! On top of this he’s created a bridge between his old hip hop roots and his new electro direction of recent so effortlessly where others have struggled so badly. Yes he’s a prick, but with this song there’s no doubting the man’s talent and after the breakdown of sorts he’s had this year, he’s made one hell of a good comeback. Not bad for a gay fish.

33. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

For too long The National have lurked in the shadows of mainstream success, people claiming they were too boring but anyone with who cared to listen could see past this and everyone, including themselves knew that they rightfully belonged elsewhere. It is with their fifth album “High Violet” and more specifically, the lead single from this album “Bloodbuzz Ohio” that the 5 piece deservedly make the long awaited leap forward. Lead singer Matt Berninger’s distinctive baritone hits its most effective peak here; whilst the pounding drums lead this song deep into the consciousness of everyone listening. The prominent but minimal sounds that the rest of the band produce perfectly help to create the euphoric feeling that the lyrics paint about the elated feeling of returning home.

34 - Grinderman - Mickey Mouse & The Goodbye Men

Does Nick Cave ever stop? This his 4,5670 side projects second album Grinderman, is a very good album. The first track off of this very good album, is the very good Mickey Mouse and The Goodbye Man. It slowly builds up from sparse distant sounds into a sudden howling, heavy whirlwind that pulls you in and doesn’t let you live until it’s beaten the living shit out of you. Cave’s distinctive baritone sits very comfortably over the screeching guitars, groovy bass and powerful drums. The wonderful thing with Nick Cave is he’s never tempted to sell-out so to speak and continues producing such distinctive and awesome songs. He and his band epitomize and ooze cool which isn’t bad for a band over 40 and this song is so rock and roll it hurts.

35. I Am Kloot - Proof

I Am Kloot have always been a band that have flirted with success their entire career. Their first and arguably best album “Tourist History” garnered much critical acclaim and their steadily built up a loyal fanbas. Since then, the Mancunians have struggled to live up to this and have lurked in the shadows of their peers, Elbow. However, with new mercury prize nominated album “Sky At Night” they look to change that. The first single off the album “Proof”, a re-working of a track off their second self titled album, is ironically proof that they can compete in the mainstream. This slow, sweet song is driven by the soft vocals and acoustic guitar. John Bramwell is a wonderful understated lyricist and his ode to an evening out with a loved one is truly divine. “hey, heard you read another book/ should I take another look/ who am I without you?” I Am Kloot have more than competed with the big guns and from the sounds of this, their perfectly comfortably doing so.

36. Laura Marling - Devil's Spoke

Ah Laura Marling. The NME Queen of cool... She is pretty cool but really? Anyway one thing that cannot be disputed is that she makes great albums as well as awesome singles. The first single from her widely acclaimed and mercury prize nominated second album “I Speak Because I Can” is “Devil Spoke” a brutal, sexual song that adds a vicious undertone to most folk songs. It’s fast-paced driving acoustic guitar adds menace to the promiscuous song topic as Laura as she always does wraps the song in stunningly poetic lyrics but still makes the song relatable and clear. “Eye to eye/Nose to nose/Ripping off each other’s clothes in the most peculiar way” she sings so passionately over the climax of the song. Laura may not have lived up to her promise of releasing two albums in a year, but with songs like this she most definitely keeps us waiting so impatiently for her third LP and I’m sure it’s going to be one we will remember as fondly as the last one.
P.S She's really hot.

37. Warpaint - Elephants

One of the brightest and most talked about bands of the new decade. Warpaint are an all girl group formed 6 years ago but were yet to release anything until last year’s debut EP “Exquisite Corpse,” from this the single Elephants was released. With a sparse wave of sound, similar to the of last year’s surprise hit The XX. Lead singer Emily Kokal’s siren like voice sits so brilliantly on the distant sounding drums and dreamlike guitar. The sound gradually builds and builds until the guitars begin to screech and Emily’s voice begins to ghostly woo over the top. The sound never overpowers the song itself, everything gel’s together perfectly and with this Warpaint more than justify the hype that’s been surrounding them. Their albums not bad either.

38. LCD Soundsytem - Home

Oh LCD Soundsystem, why must you bid us farewell! It’s true, James Murphy has said this is the last LCD album and this, is the last song on it. Home is a fond farewell to the highs and the low’s (but mainly the high’s) of their career. This fond farewell keeps all the trademarks the resemble everything you love about LCD Soundsytem. The long build ups, the groovy synth sounds and the wit infested lyricisms of Mr Murphy all merge together so wonderfully and so typically of them. This added with a sense of seriousness and a beautiful vocal harmony for a chorus makes this the perfect curtain call for one of the most important bands of the last 10 years. It sounds like LCD will miss us a much as we'll miss them.

39. Twin Shadow - For Now

Brooklyn based electro pop act George Lewis Jnr, aka Twin Shadow is making noticeable footprints on the indie scene. His debut album Forget is receiving endless praises from music fans and critics alike and it’s clear to see why. His talent for creating catchy chorus and beat is at its clearest in For Now. It’s wonderfully danceable melody is complimented with clever lyrics surrounding the mess of adolescence and trying to find meaning in love “In Bed with all the ones I hate/ To give myself, myself away.” Twin Shadow captures and celebrates the brilliance of 80’s pop in a way that so many others have tried and failed and For Now is one of the brightest neon stars in the collection.

40. Chapel Club - Surfacing

Chapel Club are a new band that is yet to release an E.P or L.P but have released great tasters during the year as well as playing the NME Radar tour with The Joy Formidable and Flats, quietly creating hype around them. One of their first offerings, the brilliantly subtle, swirling , Surfacing is a brilliant way to assert yourself on the forefront of the indie scene.
Lead singer Lewis Bowman, an award winning poet as a teenager, really creates a beautiful atmosphere around the booming drums and thudding bass with his wordplay “Night breezes seem to whisper I love you/Bodies swinging in the sycamore tree/ Dream a little dream of me.” With this they already pull themselves out of the “post Joy Division” catalogue with exciting live shows and a depth that exceeds most other bands looped in this category. Watch out for them as one of the big new bands of 2011.

Paul's Top 40 songs/ Top 10 Albums of the year!

Introduction

Hi guys! I’ve kind of done a blog a bit before but never knew exactly what to focus on completely so it’s just dwindled really in the existence of near completion. I’ve decided to do a best of the year style thing with songs and albums.
I’m going to choose the top 40 songs that I personally think are the best of the year, and the top 10 albums of the year. It’s surprisingly difficult narrowing it down. When you really think about what to include it becomes a lot tougher, there were a lot of songs that were on the verge of entering the top 40 and I know, along the line there will be a couple of songs that I probably should have included, and a couple I definitely know I was right to not include (MCR – NANANANANANANANANA) but I hope that this list will also open up a few new songs that some people may not have necessarily heard before and also give me a chance to share an appreciation with others of a certain song or album.

I hope you enjoy this list as much as I enjoyed listening to it.