As is tradition, it's that time of year where I go through the CDs I've bought this year and hand the award that everyone looks forward to more than anything: the "D-Notice Album of the Year" award.
As a recap, there are also lists for
2005,
2006,
2007 and
2008.
Before we get started, it's only right to state that there are two albums which I have had to exclude due to personal bias:
The Fiery Furnaces'
I'm Going Away and
Sonic Youth's
The Eternal. As usual I've had to exclude Sonic Youth's album because they're my favourite band and the Fiery Furnaces are also removed from my consideration because they're my favourite band which no-one has heard of.*
Anyway, here are the nominees:
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
"An album of two halves", to misquote the famous football phrase. Ms Khan's work this time round consists of her usual folky stuff in one bit with more electronic-based stuff in another bit.
The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love
I first saw this band at an NME awards show at the Islington Academy earlier this year. I was impressed ten and I'm impressed now. This is what happens when you mix electronic music and tons of feedback.
Doves - Kingdom of Rust
It's a Doves album: epic-style indie with shoegazing aspects.
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream
With an album cover that looks like some 80s fantasy film... and sound like one too!
Fever Ray - Fever Ray
The woman from the Knife (winners of 2006's award) makes a solo album. It sounds similar to the Knife's last album only more sparce. Like listening to the Artic.
Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
In which FF move on from spike-y indie guitars to a more keyboard-y sound. Still recognisable as them though.
Health - Get Color
As my dad would say "That's not music, it's noise". However, in my view metallic-sounding dancey-noise is a good thing.
The Horrors - Primary Colours
The more I listen to this album, the more it reminds me of
My Bloody Valentine's
Loveless, which is a good thing.
Maps - Turning the Mind
Moving on from their folk-gazing debut into a more electronic sound [which I've just noticed is a theme from 09's choices]. It still has the fay vocals though.
Mew - No More Stories...
[There's an ellipse because the full title is four lines long]
Denmark's finest indie-prog band get upbeat with this album.
The Mummers - Tale to Tell
Lush, orchestral music from a woman with an Earth Kitt-esque voice.
Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts
Is this their "Sell out" album? If so, then I feel they deserve it. A progression from their scratchy-punky debut. Now embracing folk and dance and Shingai's voice is as good as ever.
Oneida - Rated O
A triple-CD prog rock/psychadelic epic. It's a lot better than what the description makes it out to be.
Pet Shop Boys - Yes
The duo go back to their 80s sound with impressive results.
Portico Quartet - Isla
This is the first time I've ever bought a jazz album and I like what I hear from them. It's also a rarity for me in that it's an instrumental album which I enjoy.
School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms and The Secret Machines - Secret Machines
I've grouped these two together because they are linked together: the Secret Machines used to have Ben Curtis who left to form SoSB with two sisters. The Secret Machines album is similar to their other ones: prog-rock meets shoegazing. SoSB's one is more folk-y, but still has obvious shoegazing leanings. Out of the two, I favour SoSB's album, but would recommend this or any other Secret Machines one too.
Simian Mobile Disco - Temporary Pleasure
Is it too much of a pun to say that they had the audacity to go huge in their music? Yes, I think it is...
Teeth of the Sea - Orphaned by the Ocean
Saw this lot supporting Oneida and was very impressed by them. in fact I was so impressed, I bought the album from the merchandise stall.
The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
What happens when you mix two Londoners with some Malawian guy? This. I really like this album, even though I have never previously shown an interest in "world music". This album is best described as the 00s version of
Graceland, only without the cultural-tourism aspect.
Vitalic - Flashmob
Sounding like a soundtrack to an 80s-sci-fi film,comes this. Probably the only album which I have from this year which would be classed as "Club music".
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
I have tried to get into this album, but I cannot get past the singer's falsetto. Therefore, I am unable to give a view on whether or not this album is not or not as a result. In a way I'm disappointed in myself, because I try to make sure the vocals don't affect my judgement, but on this occasion, I was unable to do so.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
As with Franz Ferdinand, in this album they have gone from making art-punk music to getting a keyboard-based overhaul. In my view it is a resounding success.
... and the winner is: The Horrors.
* Over Christmas I also obtained the following: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion; Annie - Don't Stop; Editors - In this Light and on this Evening; Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest; Juan MacLean - The Future Will Come; Little Boots - Hands and Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Twice Born Men, but due to time limits, it would be unfair to try and judge them in time for this article!
UPDATE 27/12/10): I've belatedly done a
Spotify playlist. It features most of the albums, but some do not appear to be on Spotify.