As in the previous years, I've had to exclude some records due to personal bias: as in the other years the Fiery Furnaces are discounted from this review (this time Widow City misses out) because, as I've previously stated, they're my favourite obscure band that no-one – other than Obsolete – appears to has heard of. This year the Furnaces have the pleasure of being joined by Radiohead's In Rainbows – my favourite current band - and !!!'s Myth Takes – who are fast becoming my favourite live band.
I've also had to exclude the following albums as they were Christmas pressies and so I haven't had time listen to them properly: Untrue by Burial, Holy Fuck's LP We Start Fires' self-titled album, Roisin Murphy's Overpowered and also Rilo Kiley's Under the Blacklight.
Anyway, now on to the other ones I've obtained...
Alloy Mental – We Have Control
This lot appear to have created their own genre of music, which is best described as “Mosh 'n' Bass”...
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
It's not as immediate as their début which may be the reason I didn't enjoy it at first. However, I seem to be coming back to it again and again.
Battles – Mirrored
Dance-y math rock with a guy who sings like he's an alien, i.e. typical Warp Records weirdness!
Bird & the Bee - Bird & the Bee
Partly laid-back, part sweary electro-pop.
Bjork – Volta
The odd Icelandic woman is back again with another album of odd techno, in a style similar to her Post album, but differing music.
BRMC – Baby 81
Their first two albums were shoe-gazing/Jesus & Mary Chain-style smack-induced rock, while their third was in a country-blues style. This fourth one is a mixture of the previous three! Despite this description, it's not an Oasis-style retread of their other ones, it's an enhancement of the best bits off their previous work.
Chrome Hoof – Pre-Emptive False Rapture
An odd and very difficult-to-describe mixture of metal, electro and disco.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Some Loud Thunder
American indie with a slightly annoying singer. Don't judge it by “Satan Said Dance”, as they've not gone disco-punk, it's more of a progression of their début.
Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
Slightly sweet, slightly weird band, with a distinctive singer: a Japanese woman singing in English is always noticeable. They're also Matt Groening's favourite band, so they must be good!
Editors – An End has a Start
Birmingham's own Joy Division head off into U2 territory... but it's better than that sounds.
Future of the Left – Curses!
Two-thirds of Mclusky come back even angrier than before. Saw them three times this year, but I can only remember one of them: the first time I was too drunk and the second time I was knackered... third time was great though, especially how they deal with hecklers! Plus any band that calls a song "Fuck the Countryside Alliance" gets my support...
The Go! Team – Proof of Youth
The second album from Brighton's dance-y, shouty, day-glo massive...
Interpol – Our Love to Admire
New York's own Joy Division head off into, well, more of their own territory.
Johnny Boy – Johnny Boy
I've been following this band since 2003 when they released the single “Johnny Boy Theme”. They disappeared for about 18 months until they released the single and got some publicity with “You are the Generation that Bought more Shoes and you get what you Deserve”. Again, once releasing this they disappeared until earlier this year when I noticed that they were playing a free gig in Shoreditch and bought this album. I'd describe them as part-Phil Spector's Wall of Sound with punky guitars.
Justice - † (Cross)
Two French guys make “bangin' techno music” (I think this is the phrase...). Don't judge this album by "D.A.N.C.E." - it's a lot more of a hard-house bent than that!
Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future
Arty Shoreditch-types bring back rave for the late-00s. Not bad considering the stereotype...
LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
Saw them twice this year and enjoyed both gigs... just a pity I was in the seated bit, not in the standing section.
Liars – Liars
Their first album was punk-disco; their second was a very odd concept album based on German witch-hunts; their third was a mixture of noise-rock/feedback and this, their fourth was more like the Jesus & Mary Chain. To say they're varied is an understatement!
M. I. A. - Kala
Possibly the most varied album I've come across in a while – hip-hop, African music, day-glo pop-rave, all mixed up by Ms. Arulpragasam.
Noisettes – What's the Time Mr. Wolf?
Awful name for a record, but a good art-punk all the same, so I'll forgive them!
Pram – The Moving Frontier
Country-fied trip-hop mixed with the music you get from jewellery boxes...
Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Sustain Release
In a previous incarnation, they were the fay indie-types Simian, but after not getting anywhere , despite making the album and song “We are your Friends”, they changed to making “bangin' rave choons”... I'm glad they did!
Von Sudenfed – Tromatic Reflexxions
What happens when you mix the Fall with German techno? This!
Wolf & Cub – Vessels
A mixture of psychedelia, shoegazing and dance... one of these albums which causes me to zone out when I listen to it...
And the winner is? Well, it's a tie between Von Sudenfed and Battles.
UPDATE 2011: A Spotify playlist of most of the albums is now available. Tweet
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