Sunday, January 3, 2010

My Top 10 Albums of 2009

My lists begin, first of all with my favourite albums of 2009! So, here we go...

10.
Maximo Park - Quicken the Heart

Seemingly a little more serious than their previous albums, Quicken The Heart doesn’t seem to having any owning tracks like Our Velocity or Apply Some Pressure but its sinister numbers certainly make it something amusing. Top tracks are Let’s Get Clinical and The Kids Are Sick Again.

9.
Editors - In This Light And On This Evening

I was pretty worried to here Editors had gone “electronic” with their third album, but luckily for me the reports were a little over the top. This is certainly a change for the Englishmen, but certainly not a bad one. I like it more and more with each listen. Top tracks are Papillon and Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool (for its title, if nothing else).

8.
The Von Bondies - Love, Hate and Then There

I had my reservations about this album at first – I hadn’t realised it was released for several months after the fact and then discovered a few questionable reviews. It might not be as kickass as Pawn Shoppe Heart, but I for one think its quick, punchy rock and roll numbers are great. Top tracks are She’s Dead To Me and Blame Game.

7.
Bertie Blackman - Secrets and Lies

Completely changing your tune works! Not that I didn’t like her music before (Favourite Jeans was great) but Secrets and Lies just has too many good songs to excuse Bertie’s decision. It also has one of naffest choruses (White Owl). Top tracks are Byrds of Prey and Black Cats.

6.
Metric - Fantasies

Best festival performance of the year + two incredible singles = top 5. Again, this is a versatile album that doesn’t seem to ever get boring. Top tracks are Stadium Love, Help I’m Alive and Sick Muse.

5.
The View - Which Bitch?

I can’t stop listening to this album, which is lucky because I loved their first album so much. This is certainly a different take to the debut, though. The View stepped away from the attitude a bit, but certainly tried out a bunch of cool new ideas. Top tracks are 5 Rebeccas, Glass Smash and Distant Doubloon (for being so theatrical).

4.
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

As much as I love the first two Kasabian albums, I find I’m liking this one more and more thanks to its diversity. It really moves around and provides more interesting tracks than the first two albums, albeit not as anthem-like. Top tracks are Fire and Vlad the Impaler.

3.
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

I saw the Arctic Monkeys at the Palais in January and immediately liked new songs (Crying Lightning, Dangerous Animals). Humbug is the perfect evolution for this band. Basically, they’ve received criticism for their live show not equalling the party energy of their tracks, whereas here they’ve developed a much darker sound that’s more mature (and awesome on a different level) to Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.

2.
The Temper Trap - Conditions

I was expecting to love this album and luckily it delivered. Having seen these guys many times before they disappeared, it was weird that they had completely ditched all their old material. Releasing the album under a mass of hype then disappearing overseas seems like it paid off – doesn’t look like I’ll be catching them at the Toff again anytime soon. Top tracks are Resurrection and Science of Fear.

1.
Doves - Kingdom of Rust

There is not one song on this album I don’t like and I was instantly sold on its lead title track. Jimi Goodwin is singing at his best on this album. It was actually the first of the Doves I’ve heard, which of course led me to their back catalogue. Jetstream is a brilliant opener, Kingdom of Rust, Winter Hill, House of Mirrors and 10:03 are all addictive listens. An awesome show at the Palace certainly helped this choice, too.

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