I keep getting the same two songs stuck in my head lately.

Bad Romance by Lady GaGa…

…and Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Every once in awhile I even get a little mental mashup of the two spinning around in my brain at the same time.

It’s too early to say for Bad Romance, but I actually think Maps recently made its way onto my All Time Favourite Songs list. Would you believe there was a time that I couldn’t stand the Yeah Yeah Yeahs? It took until Gold Lion for them to win me over. But now I love them, so I hope that all can be forgiven.

As the decade draws to a close, blog after blog and magazine after magazine have been publishing their end-of-decade best-of-the-aughts music lists. Allow Softsynth to dive in to that crowded pool.

It’s been a busy and exciting decade for electronic music after the dry-ish decade of the 90s that saw a genre in transition, unsure of what was to come next as the golden era of the 80s passed by and the resurgence was yet to come. Since 2000 we have seen ups and downs among the subgenres with some of the most interesting music those subgenres have ever produced bubbling up this decade. In the coming weeks we will share our annual best of the year list – the only time we break from the declared mandate of this blog and we include what we thought were the best albums of 2009 regardless of genre – but for now, we share part of the best of the decade in electronic albums.

We have spent more time than usual preparing this list, one that is as subjective as any other (and we have seen some electronic best-0f-the-decade lists that have swung wildly across the spectrum – to the AV Club you would swear that “electronic music” consisted of little more than the DJ community, for example) based on our own tastes but we try to be as inclusive as possible, knowing that 50 fans of electronic music will come up with 50 different permutations. We started with nearly 100 of the most notable electronic albums of the decade with the various electronic subgenres and whittled it painstakingly down to 25. Some released this year may well stand the test of time but haven’t marinated long enough – including new work from Venus Hum, and Assemblage 23. Only two 2009 albums have made it to this list, and both were releases at the very top of the year. On further reflection we may wish to have added the 2009 offerings from the above two or others (and it would be a safe set that each will be in our best of ‘09 list so stay tuned). For better or worse, here’s the best of the rest:

25. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz (2009)

Released just this year Yeah Yeah Yeahs embraced their inner electronic artist and produced their strongest, most emotional, and frankly best sounding album to date. It sounded like an odd idea – the post punk of Karen O and company blended with synths. How was that supposed to work exactly?

Well, work it did, as they produced one of the most shockingly effervescent albums of not just the year but the decade, electronic or otherwise. What turned out to be the nicest surprise was the way O’s normally aggressive weapon of a voice worked with the electronics. The album is also more ballad-heavy than one might have thought but these tracks, especially “Skeletons” are among the strongest. A perfect mesh of rock and electro led to one of the most solid offerings the genre has seen this decade.

24. Goldfrapp – Black Cherry (2003)

With Black Cherry Goldfrapp turned a major corner. Previously they were an ambient, thoughtful electronic group, full of airy, floaty songs that you thought a lot about more than actually “enjoyed” per se. With this album they dug into the sheer power Will Gregory and Allison Goldfrapp had at their disposal.

One listen to the explosive crunch of “Strict Machine” and there’s no mistaking this was a whole new Goldfrapp. Ballsy, in your face, energetic and more than a little dirty, they began to embrace the power heavy electronic pop/dance music could unleash. “Train”, “Tiptoe”, “Twist”, each in your face and unrelenting. And even the softer fare here had a propulsive energy. Unlike anything we had ever heard before it, Goldfrapp were writing a new book that would soon pay even greater dividends…

23. Apoptygma Berzerk – 7 (2002)

We could be forgiven for forgetting what Apop once were. In recent years they have reached for a more mainstream sound complete with pop sensibilities, rock-based instrumentation and accessible lyrics. But once upon a time these Norwegians were a pure EBM/gothy confection, as good at that as anyone else on the scene. Their peak during this period was on this album. The angry, barked vocals, the relentless, sequenced synths, the pounding programmed drums, the whole album feels like an electro assault.

None of it would matter if the songwriting wasn’t so good, but it really is. “Mourn”, “Half Asleep”, the awesome, if troubling violence of “Deep Red” and shredding “Non-Stop Violence” – song after song it’s a symphony lyrical angst and musical joy and it works beautifully throughout. They’ve never sounded better.

22. Imogen Heap – Speak for Yourself (2005)

Weird and brilliant. Brit Heap is a breathy oddball who knows her way around a clever turn of phrase and a keyboard equally proficiently. The sublime lead single “Goodnight and Go” summarizes what’s best about the album. The track shimmers and the tone bobs and weaves until you are almost seasick. She uses percussion in almost unimaginable ways including using vocal samples for sequence lines seamlessly (a trick she uses far more on her equally -strong-but-too-new-for-posterity followup, this year’s Ellipse) and her voice, all hiccups and swirls is a fantastic instrument in itself. On softer tracks (“Closing In”, “The Moment I Said It”) and faster ones (“Headlock”, “I Am In Love With You”) alike, she comes off as an artist that is wholly unique, despite reaching, desperate attempts to label her the latest Lilith Fair progeny. On this album she proves she is so, so much more.

21. Zeigeist – The Jade Motel (2008)

We’ve only very recently written about this remarkable Swedish band who only managed to produce this one rich, surprisingly thoughtful album last year, so we won’t revisit it in great detail but suffice it to say, take one part The Knife, one part Scissor Sisters and blend with a touch of freaky-artist and you have Zeigeist. It remains sickening that they only managed to release this one album before calling it a day, but what an album it is that they’ve left us. From the guiltless synth pop of “Wrecked Metal” to the exceptional S&M ode “Cuffs” they knew their way around a synth beat with vocalists Per and Princess trading provocative singing duties to great effect. One cannot help but wonder what else they might have produced had they managed to stay together a little longer but in the meantime we have this treat to enjoy forevermore.

20. Erasure – Nightbird (2005)

Erasure have not had a good decade. From the woefully underproduced Loveboat, to the dreadful acoustic experiment, to the horrific Light at the End of the World, it’s been a series of unfortunate misses that have tainted the memory of this once-towering band.

And then there was Nightbird. Out of nowhere came a startlingly good, perfectly crafted piece of electronic pop confection. A depth we had never seen from the duo before topped by better-sounding electronics than we had ever heard Vince Clarke produce. Powered by the near-perfect lead-off single “Breathe” the album is charged with song after song of Andy Bell’s best-ever vocals. Start to finish the album was a refreshing, memorable treat that has stood the test of time and still sounds fresh today.

19. Komputer – Synthetic (2007)

Formerly I Start Counting, formally Fortran 5, whatever David Baker and Simon Leonard call themselves at a given time, they are true devotees of electronic music and their love for the genre shines through on everything they touch.

This third album from the band is their most complex and at the same time, in many ways, their most accessible. Their first, The World of Tomorrow, is straight ahead Kraftwerkian vintage electronic music; their second, Market Led, was almost fully experimental bleeps and bloops and frankly, not a lot of fun. But with Synthetik, Komputer reached a new level, one that was every bit as Kraftwerk-descended as anything that had come before, but with a beating heart to go with the cold German-influenced electronics. Their ode to the ubiquity of constant noise (“Headphones and Ringtones”) choking out every bit of silence or ambient noise we once knew is both profound and catchy. “Like a Bird” deals with isolation in a crowded world while again causing one to marvel at how well contained the lovely electronic rhythms propel the song. While much of the album is repetitive and droney it works on such a thoughtful level you’ll wonder why Kraftwerk never had the foresight to record exactly this album.

18. Shiny Toy Guns – We Are Pilots (2006)

In full, brutal honesty, Shiny Toy Guns seem like they may kind of be ass holes. Now, that’s not particularly scientific but their very demeanor does not endear listeners to the band. But that aside (not to mention their shit-tastic followup, Season of Poison) this is an unbelievably confident, brilliant electronic pop/rock album.

Most know the album for their hit “Le Disko”, but ultimately it’s actually among the weaker songs on the album. Employing the fashionable dueling vocalists, Chad Petree and Carah Faye Charnow, that are so de rigeur these days, the album casts a wide net including some more experimental work, songs that lend themselves to the rock side of the equation and those that are pure electropop like the flawless “You are the One”. Not the most original creation of the decade it simply deserves to be on this list because it has so many awesome, kick ass songs. The songwriting is near-perfect, the production rock solid and song after song simply delivers.

17. Bjork – Vepertine (2001)

This combination of strings, chamber orchestras, choirs and electronic beats did more to bring out the strength of Bjork’s voice than anything that has come before or since. Bjork has always recorded interesting material depending on her mood or that of her producers, but this was her most fully realized of the three albums she released during this decade. Listen to “Hidden Place” “Cocoon” or “Pagan Poetry” (the latter being on of Softsynth’s all-time favourite videos incidentally) and you quickly realize you are listening to something wholly original. Something you have simply never heard before. On this album she shifted the posts to expand what we could justifiably consider “electronic music”. But that wouldn’t be enough on it’s own. No, what makes this among the best albums of its genre of the decade is that soaring, gorgeous voice  of hers coupled with these clever beats and the lush strings to make a sound fully onto itself. She always has the potential to top her best – something liberating about being as eclectic and “of herself” as she is – but she would be hard pressed to ever produce an album as beautiful and meaningful as this one.

16. Assemblage 23 – Meta (2007)

Their newest album, Compass, may be even better but that late 2009 release needs more time to germinate. Meantime, we have this wonder. Album after album Tom Shear has improved on the already impressive tracks laid down previously. It’s a rare glimpse at constantly forward-moving trajectory. Shear, better than most at the balance, can combine anger (and oh so bleak is this category of anger), bitterness, and pain with incredible beats and power-driven synths. He’s not the only one doing it but he makes it look so easy, so utterly effortless.

This album showed a more accessible, dare we say ‘pop’ vibe than his previous works. All the key A23 ingredients were there but there was suddenly an additional layer on deck. The sheer power of “Truth” and “Raw” were unmatched the year this album was released, it stood out alone as the one album that was willing to kick the shit out of electro conventions. Beginning to end, sheer EBM-industrial influenced electro-rock pleasure.

15. IAMX – Kingdom of Welcome Addiction (2009)

Let there be no surprise that this was the best album released in 2009, hands down, genre be damned. When Softsynth does up its best of the year list it will be number one, no mystery. Other best of the year lists won’t reflect that and it’s a shame because it stands head and shoulders above everything that’s come down the path this year. We look for albums that may contain a song that goes straight into our hearts. You know what we’re talking about – that song with the chorus that gives you the shakes a little, that makes the hair on your arm stand up on edge. That song with the bridge that makes you open your eyes a little wider in pleasant surprise. That verse with lyrics that make you smile and shake your head in wonder. This album has no fewer than four such songs (“Teargarden”, “I Am Terrified”, “Shipwreck of Life”, “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction”) – something we can’t ever recall having heard before, with the exception of the album that is number one on this list. The remainder of the album is merely brilliant. Bombastic throughout, but brilliant. The third album from former Sneaker Pimp Chris Corner fires on all cylinders. Romantic, weird, twisted, danceable, powerful, dirty. Everything you could want in an album. Corner is in perfect voice soaring and purring song to song. It’s a work of electronic genius.

14. Daft Punk  - Discovery (2001)

Daft Punk occupy an interesting place in the world of electronic music. From the synthpop of “Digital Love” to the balls-out aggro-electro of “Aerodynamic”, every song is instantly identifiable as Daft Punk and no one else could it be. Oft imitated since no one has been able to achieve quite what these French oddballs have. Sure it’s “just” club music but does anyone on the globe do it better? On this album the boys achieved perfect balance between organic emotion and cold electronics. Tough to pull off but pull it off they do.

Many will get caught up in the silly costumes, the endless gimmicks, the “anonymous robot” schtick, but dig down into the marrow of the music and you will discover the joys of pure dance pop done the way it’s supposed to be.

13. Huski – Love Peace Pain (2006)

Some albums are on here because they broke down barriers, or opened up a new way of thinking about a given subgenre, or because it had the potential to change music. Then there are those albums that have taken up residence on this list because they’re just that damned good. Melanie Garside has since gone onto critical acclaim foe her excellent work as Maple Bee, but it was here that we heard her at her most playful and her most energetic.

There’s not a whole lot to say here. It’s just wonderful, wonderful music. Mostly languid, balladic and swirling, each song is a tasty treat, a lovely showcase for Garside’s enviable voice. Not the most special of the decade by a long way but song for song, one of the most enjoyable.

12. VNV Nation – Judgement (2007)

VNV Nation have been on a long journey to flesh out their sound year after year, album after album; from EBM instrumental purity to hard-edged electronic pop-rock with earnest lyrics angry for the state of the world and yearning for change.

Anthemic is the word that comes up over and over again as one listens to these tracks. Never more so than in “Testament” which sounds like a big stadium show closer, “Nemesis”, a preachy “watch what we’re doing because it’s all going to blow up” bombast, or “Illusion” a pretty but sad plea not to take the easy way out. Ronan Harris expanded into entirely new territory on this album and while many think he left all that made VNV Nation what it is, behind, in fact it was a building upon the EBM/industrial roots that made this album so strong. The combination of those roots, which once consisted of a lot of banging and processed sequence lines, with a more sophisticated sense of pop sensibility meant for the most fully realized VNV Nation album to date and among the most solid and entertaining of the decade.

11. Parralox – Electricity (2008)

Simply the best synth pop album of the decade. Each subgenre has their champion and this is the standard bearer for synth pop.

Many bands try to emulate or pay tribute to the electronic bands of the early 80s, many of whom do it very very well (La Roux, Northern Kind), but no one has achieved it so well as this Australian duo. It was the only album recorded with John Von Ahlen and singer Roxy, who left after the album was recorded but what genius they managed to squeeze in there while they were together.

Clearly a tribute in part to the great bands of the 80s (right down to song titles that reference O.M.D. and Yazoo) they took what was best from the era, the power and emotion behind the synths as opposed to the surface sheen and it works flawlessly. They even manage to do justice to an electronic version of Radiohead’s Creep(!). Danceable, smooth rhythms, and lyrics that sound good but mean little, just like the synth pop of yesteryear and brilliantly so.

Next: the top ten electronic albums of the decade…

I agree with the guy who said the thing about the albums — I’m such a one-hit ho now! Entire albums? That’s a commitment! But in the spirit of lists, I give you my top 5 favorites, kind of. I agree with some of the ones other people posted, but since have opted for some of my other favorites just to mix it up. I can’t even get into honorable mentions or we’ll be here all day; I will try to append those later.

Topping my list (in no particular order):

PJ Harvey: Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
I am SO glad this just made it into the ’00s (‘00 to be exact). Granted, it’s a little more puff and fluff than some of her other albums, but as a whole, it’s one that I can actually listen to the entire thing and not get bored.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Fever to Tell

The Black Keys: Magic Potion
Call it home-town pride or the fact that I’m still a little shocked every time I hear Dan’s voice — it does not align with my high school impression of him whatsoever — but I think they’re a great band. Actually, the hardest decision for me here was which album I was going to select. It was really a toss up between “Rubber City,” “Thickfreakness” and “Magic Potion.”

Wu-Tang Clan: Chamber Music
Really, just great, beginning to end. The album as a whole hits all the right peaks and valleys and is perfectly paced.

Neko Case: Middle Cyclone
This tornado loves you? It sure does.

In last month’s Q magazine, I read with some surprise and not a little disappointment, their (rather early) list of the top 50 albums of 2009. Although these lists are by their very nature incredibly subjective, I found myself taking issue with the vast majority of their choices. Florence and the Machine at number 2? Kasabian at number 1? The Decemberists skulking around just outside the 50? All quite laughable.

But at least it prompted me to start thinking about my own choices, and encouraged me to compile my list. At the outset, I will explain that it contains several albums that were not released this year – in fact, in at least one case, not even this century. However, they are all albums that are new to me this year, that I had not previously heard until 2009. In the interests of fairness I did try to keep the older ones out of the top 20, and in fact only one managed to sneak in.

I will present the list in full, without comment, and maybe revisit that decision and add a brief note to each one when I have more time.

I’d be more than happy to receive your thoughts on my choices, and your suggestions of glaring omissions.

In the interests of suspense, I will present them in ascending order of merit, from 50 to 1.

50)  Staff Benda Bililli – Tres, Tres Fort

A group of paraplegic street musicians who live in the grounds of Kinshasa Zoo in Kenya, including a 17 year-old performing incredible guitar-like solos on a one-string electric lute he designed and built himself out of a tin can. What’s not to love?

49)  Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

My introduction to the wonders of Wilco – the American Radiohead, according to some.

48)  Vetiver – Tight Knit

One of many new bands I discovered this year, and a pleasant record, but probably not their best. Enjoyed their set in the Big Top at the End of The Road Festival in September.

47)  The Low Anthem – Oh My God Charlie Darwin

If more of the songs were as good as the title track, this could have been a top 20 contender. An odd mix of lo-fi nu-folk (a la Fleet Foxes) and growly mad stomping blues (like Tom Waits let loose in a potting shed).

46)  The Broken Family Band – Welcome Home, Loser

One of three of theirs in the 50, and full of very fine songs with the trademark BFB witty lyrics and a fab cover photo and title to boot.

45)  The View – Which Bitch?

Lots of tracks, most of them very good and a step up from their quite listenable debut.

44)  Taylor Swift – Fearless

Stands out from the rest in this list as rather poppy and young, but Ms Swift does write a fine tune and lyric. Although this was purchased for Mrs Cook’s birthday the sheer catchy-ness of these songs has infected me too.

43)  Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass

Undoubtedly the best album title in the list, and packed with some fantastic songs. As ever with Yo La Tengo, they manage to sound like at least five different bands over the course of the same record. Never a dull moment.

42)  Cat Power – The Greatest

Spurred on by her great version of ‘Amazing Grace’ on the ‘Dark Was The Night’ compilation, I got this for a half price itunes bargain and was not in the least disappointed. Great voice, great piano, and a number of fine songs.

41)  Great Lake Swimmers – Great Lake Swimmers

Haven’t had time to listen to this one as much as the other two in the list by this fine Canadian band, but their debut showed signs of the huge promise that has been fulfilled on the subsequent records. Folky acoustic songs of the highest order.

40)  Great Lake Swimmers – Ongiara

This one had me from the opening seconds of the opening song ‘Your Rocky Spine’, discovered on Spotify on my birthday using my new laptop speakers. Was enthralled by this album for most of that afternoon. Sounded even better with the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies that inspired it on our trip in June.

39)  Woodpigeon – Songbook

Another Canadian band, and one of my first Spotify discoveries. ‘Death by Ninja (a Love Story)’, ‘A Sad Country Ballad For A Tired Superhero’ and ‘A Hymn For 2 Walks In Different Cities’ are all quite brilliant songs, in very different ways. Fast becoming a favourite band of mine.

38)  The Broken Family Band – Please And Thank You

Their most recent, and sadly their last album as they split up in October. The usual reliably great tunes, combined with the occasional barbed lyric, this would have been higher but for the fact I haven’t listened to it as much as my favourite of theirs, ‘Balls’, that appears further up the list.

37)  Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin

So much fuss is made of the Fleet Foxes, but I actually much prefer their Sub Pop label-mates BOH: there is more to the music, the instrumentation is better and the songs are a bit more interesting than the Foxes pastoral by numbers. For me, not as immediately satisfying as their debut, which appears higher up, but definitely worth a listen or several.

36)  John Martyn – Solid Air (Remastered)

Sadly I’d never heard any of John Martyn’s music until after he died earlier this year – this remastered version of one of his most popular records was a great starting point. ‘May You Never’, ‘Over The Hill’ and ‘I’d Rather Be The Devil’ are all stand-out tracks and I love his distinctive guitar playing style.

35)  The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain

Checked this out after a very good set they played at the End Of The Road Festival: intriguing acoustic rock – a bit of a grower.

34)  Cage The Elephant – Cage The Elephant

Brash, noisy, full of energy and highly enjoyable.

33)  Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

Love the cover, love the title, love his voice, adore ‘Rococo Zephyr’ and this would have been higher except one or two tracks are a bit too weird for my taste.

32)  Bat For Lashes – Two Suns

Think I need to give this more time, especially as many people have raved about it, but it is a step up from her debut and contains some great moments.

31)  She Keeps Bees – Nests

Another itunes bargain following a sterling closing set at the EOTR Festival, this is well worth checking out. A band to watch out for.

30)  The Decemberists – The Crane Wife

29)  The Decemberists – Picaresque

28)  The Broken family Band – Balls

27)  Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

26)  Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band – Outer South

25)  First Aid Kit – Drunken Trees

24)  Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

23)  Band Of Horses – Everything All The Time

22)  The Duke & The King – Nothing Gold Can Stay

21)  The Airborne Toxic Event – The Airborne Toxic Event

20)  Loney Dear – Loney, Noir

19)  Regina Spektor – Far

18)  Joyce, Nana Vasoncelos & Mauricio Maestro – Visions Of Dawn

17)  Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels

16)  Woodpigeon – Treasury Library Canada

15)  Muse – The Resistance

14)  Slow Club – Yeah So

13)  Monsters Of Folk – Monsters Of Folk

12)  Wilco – Wilco The Album

11)  The Leisure Society – Sleeper

10)  Emmy The Great – First Love

9)  Joe Gideon & The Shark – Harum Scarum

8)  Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca

7)  Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs

6)  Various Artists – Dark Was The Night

5)  Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!

4)  The Cave Singers – Welcome Joy

3)  Loney Dear – Dear John

2)  Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More

1)  The Decemberists – The Hazards Of Love

Reading: Latour, Bruno. 1999. Pandora’s hope: essays on the reality of science studies. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.

p. 21

“When we talk about hybrids and imbroglios, mediatios, practice, networks, relativism, relations, provisional answers, partial connections, humans and non humans, ‘disorderly messes,’ it may sound as if we, too, are marching along the same path, in a hurried flight from truth and reason, fragmenting into ever smaller pieces the categories that keep the human mind forever removed from the presence of reality.”

As promised, here’s the second installment of my top albums of 2009. The year carried on into March, which brought us releases from some very familiar acts (and in the case of the one-man Bono show, sometimes too familiar), such as U2, The Prodigy, PJ Harvey and John Parish, Prince, Gomez, and Pet Shop Boys. We also had albums from The Decemberists, The Whitest Boy Alive, The Great Lake Swimmers, MSTRKRFT, vitaminsforyou, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Polly Scattergood, Neko Case, Royksopp, Julie Doiron, Peter, Bjorn and John, and lastly, the Filthy Dukes, who already made my countdown. The Rakes gave their swansong with a Klang and one half of The Knife went more obscurely experimental as Fever Ray.

April signalled the return of Camera Obscura, Bat for Lashes, The Veils, The Noisettes, Doves, Super Furry Animals, Metric, Junior Boys, Butcher Boy, El Perro del Mar, Art Brut, and Silversun Pickups. It also became the month for debuts from The Mummers, Dananananaykroyd, Micachu and the Shapes, and the truly odd “supergroup” of Tinted Windows, which features the likes of James Iha and Taylor Hanson (sounds like a bad practical joke, doesn’t it?). Spearmint frontman, Shirley Lee, dropped his first solo record, and Depeche Mode delivered a disappointing one, especially after the relative success of Playing the Angel.

Back to the countdown…

32. Primary Colours – The Horrors
I admit it – like many music fans, I dismissed the skinny-jean-wearing, back-comb-coiffed Horrors when they released their first album. With the NME covering them and Noel Fielding boosting them, it all just seemed like a pale imitation (pun intended) of goth nonsense. And so I kicked against listening to their sophomore record, flicking and clicking swiftly through some player that streamed the full album and ignoring the incessant buzz about it, hoping the hum was from the flies gathering around the moribund band. Then I actually forced myself to have a proper listen in the name of giving as many 2009 releases a chance as I could. And I had to acknowledge the less than exciting cartoonish antics were over, and The Horrors had made an admirable album. It very obviously borrows from both post-punk and shoegaze, but it does so with a youthful, fresh energy and sweeping sense of melody. What The Raveonettes are to The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Horrors now are to Echo & the Bunnymen.

Who Can Say – The Horrors

Scarlet Fields – The Horrors

31. Sigh No More – Mumford & Sons
I came to the debut album from this London indie folk band late and only after being alerted by Rol over at Sunset Over Slawit. It took a moment for me to get into the record, but when I did, it started to move me in a similar fashion to how Frightened Rabbit does. Their folk style is more traditional than Frightened Rabbit, but the ragged, yet erudite, world weariness comes through with the same intensity. As frantic banjo jostles against soaring choruses, Mumford & Sons craft poignant mini-narratives of vulnerability, heartbreak, hope, regret, vindictiveness, and stunning lines like “if only I had an enemy bigger than my apathy, I could have won.” As gentle as a good weep and as self-affirming as a good scream, this record is catharsis at its finest.

The Cave – Mumford & Sons

Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons

30. Polly Scattergood – Polly Scattergood
This oddly menacing debut by Ms Scattergood grabbed me with its emotionally-exhausting fragility and hand-wringing vocals (you can read my original review here). The self-psychoanaylsis is gripping as her voice slips in between sweet childishness and erratic descents into a slightly mad register. Lines are dropped, whipped and pulled taut as she recounts an incredibly agitated mental state, exacerbated by toxic relationships and niggling insecurities. Sure, it’s overwrought, but you sense the violent emotion hovering behind the rasps and coos and it is all delivered more articulately and artistically than most adolescent angst. The music, which features subtle electronic accents, drum machines and keyboards, provides a fluid backdrop for the turmoil of the lyrics’ delivery, lapping gently and pushing at the cracks like a stream full of drowned flowers.

Please Don’t Touch – Polly Scattergood

Bunny Club – Polly Scattergood

29. Sun Gangs – The Veils
This third album from The Veils is a beautiful exploration of an “unmanned universe.” Finn Andrews’ voice never ceases giving me chills and his passionate, literary lyrics of emotional fractures pair perfectly with the dark warmth in the sulfur-smoky depths of the music. The Veils even had a competition around the time of the album’s release, where you could come up with a creative way of expressing what you thought a “sun gang” is. I submitted a poem, which wasn’t anything more than a rather slapdash job from a very rusty poet, but as yet, I haven’t heard about the results (considering it is now six months later, I figure the contest was aborted somewhere along the way). If you’re curious about what I submitted as an entry, you can read it here, and if you want to read what I thought about the album earlier in the year, click here.

Sun Gangs – The Veils

Killed By the Boom – The Veils

28. Merriweather Post Pavilion – Animal Collective
This album will likely crown a lot of lists this year – it was like that decision was unanimously declared by hipsters back upon its January release. And while it won’t be topping my list, nor even making it into the top half (I’m contrary that way), it is worthy of a spot. Their neo-psychedelic music manages to be both brittle and soulful with swirling, overdubbed sounds filtered through reverb; like an eternally gushing fountain, it bubbles over with melodic strains that also feel so delicate that they may drift away at any moment like an errant balloon. The lyrics are full of a pleasurable, giddy glee, and the album ends up feeling like all of the seasons crashing in on you at once: the heady perfume of spring, the golden laziness of summer, the crisp brightness of fall, and the mesmerizing hush of winter. Merry weather indeed.

My Girls – Animal Collective

Bluish – Animal Collective

27. Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack – Karen O and the Kids
I would name Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers’ film adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s most famous picture book one of my new favourite films. It lived beyond the hype, stretching what was a naturally limited narrative into a piece of art that doesn’t offer any specific resolutions while keeping the thematic content intact. There’s an interesting darkness at its heart, which when placed in such close proximity to the idea of the child, can create a disturbing dissonance for some people. Working in an academic setting devoted to the study of young people, I heard a variety of opinions about the film, including one comment about the almost unsettling surreality. This same person then went on to mention the soundtrack and how significant it is to know the music’s context in relation to the film, meaning Karen O’s own identity becomes wrapped up in the interpretation of the narrative. And it’s true; however, I would like to take a slightly less academic look at it and say how perfectly the music fit the film’s atmophere and contributed to the chaos. I can’t imagine a better sound to accompany this movie. Karen O’s child-like voice could have been that of a bratty, young boy with ADHD who escaped and became king of the wild things, but it also brings that dazzling, rambling feel of childhood – the place where everything is made up as you go along. In many ways, the film reminds you that the adults are just making it up as they go along, too.

All is Love – Karen O and the Kids

Hideaway – Karen O and the Kids

26. Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees – Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees
I only became aware of this Canadian band nearly two months ago when I attended a Dragonette show with them as the opening act. Their self-titled debut is an electronic maelstrom of splintered samples, high-pitched whines and dirty guitars. The distorted, warped vocals of Rebekah Higgs blur in and out of the highly-danceable beats. Grinding like a MSTRKRFT fronted by Peaches, this album is filled with enough manic complexities to keep it from being just another catchy electro record. And in some spots it gets downright dreamy.

You Don’t Miss Me – Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees

Danse Danse Resolution – Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees

25. It’s Blitz – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Oddly enough, I’ve never really listened to a lot of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. No good reason. It’s not that I ever thought they weren’t a decent band and I was fully aware of Karen O’s onstage antics, but I guess I never really stopped to pay closer attention. Then I heard Zero this year. People can argue that the band lost something in their new glammy accessibility, but it made me (and others) take notice, and Zero became one of my favourite songs of the year along with Heads Will Roll. But there’s more here than glitzy electro; you’ll also find a chimerical whimsy in slower tracks. Skeletons is a stand-out track in its synthy re-imagining of celtic ballads, and Runaway is a twinkling symphony. I’m now going back to find out what exactly I missed by skimming over their previous two albums. Along with their involvement in the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack, it’s definitely the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ year.

Zero – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Skeletons – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

This week’s runner-up to the countdown is Sugar Sugar by Diving With Andy. I don’t think this French band is all that well-known, at least not in the online circles I travel in, but I’m glad I finally came across them. They are retro loungey and as sweet as their album title. Conjuring up the insouciance of the chic 60s and sometimes using a James Bond-like sweepingly decadent background, Sugar Sugar feels as shambolic and sensuous as a bohemian Sunday morning in Paris.

Sugar Sugar – Diving With Andy

This weekend will feature the last proper weekly mix of the year before the Year-End Round-Up starts. But you’ll have to wait til next Friday for more of this list.

Foram eleitas a melhores músicas da década, e sinceramente esperava mais…

Eis a lista

1. Beyoncé – “Crazy in love”  – como diria o kanye west: “Single Ladies é a melhor música da década”
2. MGMT – “Time to pretend”
3. The Strokes – “Hard to explain”  – existem músicas deles que são melhores – Reptilia, Someday, Electricityscape…
4. MIA – “Paper planes”  – também existem música melhores dela – Pull up the people, 10 dollar, bucky done gun
5. Outkast – “Hey ya!”  – ainda lembro do estardalhaço com essa música, mas depois de eles deram uma bela sumida
6. The Rapture – “House of jealous lovers’
7. Klaxons – “Golden skans”
8. Blur – “Out of time”
9. Arcade Fire – “Rebellion (lies)”
10. Arctic Monkeys – “A certain romance”
11. The Libertines – “Can’t stand me now”
12. The Streets – “Dry your eyes”
13. The Walkmen – “The rat”
14. The White Stripes – “Seven nation army”
15. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Bang”
16. Rihanna – “Umbrella”
17. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps”
18. Outkast – “Ms Jackson”
19. Radiohead – “Reckoner”
20. Hot Chip – “Over and over”

Sobre o resto, não comentarei muito… A lista foi produzida pelo seminário inglês “NME”, o que esclarece o motivo de não haver outro tipo de música, ao não ser aquela relacionada com o idioma inglês… e também a maioria dos músicos serem ingleses…quero um dia poder ver uma lista que também envolva músicas com outros idiomas, existem músicas muito boas por aí e que não são cantadas em inglês.

. 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs en escena

El trio neoyorkino Yeah Yeah Yeahs estará presentándose este mes de enero tanto en Guadalajara como en la Ciudad de México, una fecha para cada sede. La gira se realiza para promocionar su nuevo material, It’s Blitz!, que estaba siendo esperado con ansias por parte de sus seguidores. Aunque al parecer hay tiempo de sobra, es un hecho que los boletos van a volar.

• 25 de enero de 2010 – Guadalajara – Teatro Diana – 21:00 Hrs. – $280 a $880.00
• 27 de enero de 2010 – Ciudad de México – Palacio de los Deportes – 20:30 Hrs. – $310.00 a $878.00

Boletos disponibles en Ticketmaster.

Los Yeah Yeah Yeahs se han caracterizado por un estilo que orbita entre el indie y el rock garage, con una presencia escénica muy particular, y un estilo que los ha convertido en una de las bandas favoritas.

Va propun un nou set de 5 piese cu trupe care au in prin plan sexul frumos…Sunt curios cine va iesi  si tare din paruiala asta? Voteaza la final!

Enjoy!

Track 1: The Gossip – Heavy Cross

Track 2: The Kills – Cheap and Cheerful

Track 3: Metric – Sick Muse

Track 4: Asobi Seksu – Thursday

Track 5: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll

I can’t get enough of Karen O with her cute smile, mind-boggling shirts and wavering, tear-drenched vocals as she yelps: “What’s the time, what’s the day, gonna leave me / What’s the time, what’s the place, gonna leave me / Leave me out.”

Oh, and I can’t stop watching her, too.

In an interview with Pitchfork, The O says of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s latest album “It’s Blitz!”:

(Confusing punctuation situation above. How to rectify !”:?)

Anyway… she says:

“It’s like talking about your diary entry. It is a little more confessional. That’s where I was at. My friend, he can coin a phrase in a second, you know? The way he put it– and this is kinda the way I feel about it– was, the first album was like, ‘We’re gonna fuck you up.’ And then this album is like, ‘Don’t fuck with us.’”

I feel the same way about MY DIARY ENTRIES!

It’s Blitz! is available on iTunes. Get the Deluxe Edition please. And check this remix of Soft Shock as well.

Adored.

Karen O y compañía regresan a nuestro país para ofrecer un par de conciertos en promoción de su más reciente placa “It’s Blitz!“. YYY’s visitarán México para presentarse los días:

25 de enero / Teatro Diana GDL
27 de enero / Palacio de los Deportes DF

La preventa Banamex para estas fechas, se llevará a cabo los días 26 y 27 de noviembre. La venta al público en general será el 28 del mismo mes.

Via:Warp

Fine anno. È tempo di classifiche musicali, con i migliori album del 2009. Iniziamo con la rivista Q, che concede il primo posto ai Kasabian, e le piazze d’onore ai Florence and the Machine e agli Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Ma stavolta c’è di più: abbiamo anche da inaugurare una lunga lista di album che hanno contrassegnato il primo decennio del nuovo secolo. Ecco qui la classifica di NME, con al centesimo posto uno dei miei preferiti – gli MGMT con Oracular Spectacular – e al primo gli ottimi Strokes. E comunque, la collezione più completa di informazioni la si trova (ovviamente) su Pitchfork.

[Rocklistmusic, NME, Pitchfork]

Listas, listas, listas…

Oh, las listas, que absurdas son pero como mola hacerlas. Elegimos los 50 discos de la década, los 25 míos y los 25 de eldrsaleabailar (próximo miércoles). Ambos coincidimos en algunas referencias, pero sobre la mayoría estamos en radical desacuerdo, he aquí mis 25, con comentarios hirientes propios de eldrsaleabailar.

1. The Strokes – Is This It

Indiegnado: Indudablemente, el disco de la década. Once autenticos himnos que han inspirado tanto a músicos como a simples mortales durante los 9 años que esta maravilla lleva con nosotros.

Eldrsaleabailar: Indudablemente, unos pijos medianías de NY que tuvieron la suerte de vivir (artisticamente) en la década más medianía de la historia.

2. Arcade Fire – Funeral

Indiegnado: Con su instrumentación barroca, sus melodías completamente particulares y diferentes, hizo que, por primera vez, la palabra épica adquiriera un nuevo significado.

Eldrsaleabailar: Uno de los pocos descubrimientos de Pitchfork que me hicieron volver a creer en la música después de los 90

http://musicwebzine.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/morrissey-you-are-the-quarry/

3. Morrissey – You Are The Quarry

Indiegnado: Con este disco, Morrissey volvia tras siete años de silencio. Y lo hizo con el mejor disco que ha firmado en solitario.

Eldrsaleabailar: Grandísimo, guapísimo y con la mejor canción de la década. Un recuerdo para la organización del festival en el castillo de Sohail, espero que no hayan levantado cabeza desde aquel despropósito.

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell

Indiegnado: “Fever To Tell” es un disco de rock hecho en los 00, y cuando digo hecho en los 00 me refiero a que suena de esta decada, no es un revival, ni intenta copiar a nada anterior. Solo ellos consiguieron hacer un disco de rock, aportando algo más en estos ultimos 10 años.

Eldrsaleabailar: Vamos de sobrada en sobrada. Perdonadle, es joven.

5. The GO! Team – Thunder, Lightning, Strike.

Indiegnado: Ian Parton es el ideologo de esta autentica joya. Creando a partir del mash up sobre discos de los 70 y aportando voces y matices, Thunder Lightnin Strike es un disco que no se repite en ningun momento y que en cada corte crea melodias perfectas. Tremendamente fresco.

Eldrsaleabailar: Thunder Lightnin Strike es un disco que no se repite en ningun momento, Thunder Lightnin Strike es un disco que no se repite en ningun momento, Thunder Lightnin Strike es un disco que no se repite en ningun momento, Thunder Lightnin Strike es un disco que no se repite en ningun momento” ¿QUÉ NO QUÉ?

6.Los Planetas – La Leyenda Del Espacio

Indiegnado: Siempre en progresión, siempre dando un paso más en su música, Los Planetas consiguen en “La Leyenda del Espacio” fusionar el flamenco con el rock, algo que nos intentaron colocar erroneamente con “Omega“. Ellos lo consiguen firmando algunas de las mejores canciones de todo su repertorio, desde “Ya no me asomo a la reja” hasta “Si me diste la espalda“.

Eldrsaleabailar:Lo único erróneo es tu animadversión a “Omega“, pieza clave de la historia musical patria.

7. Death Cab For Cutie – Transanlanticism

Indiegnado: Death Cab For Cutie son uno de los grupos que más vende en america, juegan en la liga numero uno del mainstream americano, algo que empezaron a conseguir tras su “Transantlanticism“, un disco de pop preciosista simplemente perfecto.

Eldrsaleabailar: Me aburren un poco. Para mainstream americano me quedo con Britney Spears.

8.Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Indiegnado: Animal Collective hacen la música que se deberia hacer en el siglo XXI, música actual que aporta algo nuevo y se olvida de esa estupidez estendida del “todo esta inventado” ellos demuestran que no, que aun se puede hacer algo nuevo que no suene mal, algo nuevo, que de hecho suena como nada más suena actualmente.

Eldrsaleabailar: Estoy de acuerdo, lo que no sé es si gracias a dios, nada más suena a ellos.

9. Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare

Indiegnado: El debut de Arctic Monkeys fue un golpe de aire fresco en el panorama musical, y supuso un disco que llevo la musica a aquellos oidos que la relacionaban con horteradas varias sin sentido. Pero lo mejor llego con su segundo disco, un disco que no se centraba en el hit instantaneo, sino que buscaba nuevos matices y nuevos sonidos.

Eldrsaleabailar: Los caminos del myspace son inescrutables.

10.La Casa Azul – La Revolución Sexual

Indiegnado: “La Revolucion Sexual” es un disco perfecto, hit tras hit y estribillo coreable tras estribillo coreable, los intentos anteriores habian  dejado grandes canciones, pero no es hasta esta revolucion sexual cuando todo suena engranado y menos organico, pero a la vez, más profesional, un sonido que le va mucho mejor a La Casa Azul.

Eldrsaleabailar: Guille Milkyway es lo más importante que nos ha pasado, si señor.

11. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

Indiegnado: Soplo de aire fresco. Los lideres del afroindie, con un debut mas que interesante lleno de cambios pero sonando siempre a ellos mismos. Increible.

Eldrsaleabailar:Increible, de inicio a fin, yo también caigo rendido y espero que el nuevo trabajo me siga hechizando

12. Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand

Indiegnado: Grandes. Su primer disco es una coleccion de hit tras hit, y con canciones tan míticas ya como “Take Me Out” o “Michael“.

Eldrsaleabailar: Grandes no, gigantes.

13. TV On The Radio – Dear Science

Indiegnado: “Dear Science” es el disco que mejor suena de Tv On The Radio, aunque muchos prefieran el anterior, en “Dear Science” alcanza una variedad de estilos, sonidos y matices que pocos han conseguido en estos 10 años.

Eldrsaleabailar: No me acaban de llegar, pero no se puede negar que no sean buenos

14. The XX – XX

Indiegnado: El debut de 2010. Ellos han demostrado que se puede tener 20 años, un par de guitarras y una caja de ritmos para crear un disco redondo y con un sonido exquisito, 11 canciones llenas de magia.

Eldrsaleabailar: Buff, empezó sin gustarme y ahora me empieza a encandilar, en mi lista no llegarían a tiempo.

15. Capitán Melao – Lágrima

Indiegnado: Si tengo que elegir un descubrimiento personal del underground mas underground me quedo con Capitán Melao. Un disco injustamente olvidado hasta por su creador, que desde entonces no ha vuelto a dar señales de vida al proyecto y con canciones tremendamente buenas.

Eldrsaleabailar: Si es tu disco fetiche nada tengo que objetar, para que no me taches de inmaduro

16. Astrud – Tú No Existes

Indiegnado: “Tú No Existes” es el disco mas pop de Astrud, esa música tremendamente recordable llena de arreglos electronicos y acompañadas de esas letras tan divertidas. Ni que decir que “Noam Chomsky” o “El Vertedero De Sao Paulo” son de lo mejor que astrud han firmado.

Eldrsaleabailar: ¡Increíble!, va el tío y escoge el menor de todos los discos de Astrud de la década, en fin…

17. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black

Indiegnado: La drogada mas mal vista del mundillo rosa, ¡canta! y ademas lo hace de una forma absolutamente espectacular. “Back To Black” es un disco imprescindible dentro del revival soul que se creo, en parte, gracias a ella.

Eldrsaleabailar: Me aburre

18. Triángulo De Amor Bizarro – Triángulo De Amor Bizarro

Indiegnado: El noise patrio, las ganas y la furia de los gallegos, todo eso esta contenido en el debut de TAB, un debut que pronto tendra su esperadisima continuacion. y dentro de ese debut una de las mejores canciones de la decada a nivel nacional, “El Fantasma De La Transición“.

Eldrsaleabailar: ¿Son tan buenos como para estar entre los 25 mejores?

Indiegnado: Rotundo sí.

19. Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Indiegnado: Coldplay son los nuevos U2, los herederos de los estadios, lo llenan todo, incluso un año antes, de locura. Pero esa euforia que se ha desatado en los ultimos años poco tiene que ver con el pop pianistico de los inicios, lo verdaderamente bueno de Coldplay

Eldrsaleabailar: ¡Viva La Vida! , ¡Afroditaaaaa! (Prefiero a dana internacional)

20. Ellos – Lo Tuyo No Tiene Nombre

Indiegnado: El primer disco de Ellos es el mas fresco, y punto. LLeno de himnos bailables y un aire muy divertido

Eldrsaleabailar: Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, ¡por fin algo bueno!

21. Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin

Indiegnado: El primer disco fue un disco aclamado en todos los medios, pero no fue hasta el segundo “Cease To Begin” cuando Band Of Horses alcanzaron su exquisitez musical, canciones pop rock con un aire americano realmente exquisito.

Eldrsaleabailar: Apenas les conozco, será por algo.

22. El Guincho – Alegranza

Indiegnado: Si tuvieramos que el artista nacional con mas proyeccion y que mas fronteras ha conseguido romper, ese es sin duda, El Guincho, por primera vez, un artista nacional no es tratado como secundario, sino que se coloca en las privilegiadas primeras posiciones, y ademas con un discazo absoluto como es “Alegranza“.

Eldrsaleabailar: Absolutamente de acuerdo

23. The National – Boxer

Indiegnado: El post punk ha sido el estandarte mas copiado e irritante de la decada, que si interpoles, editores, y catpeoples insulsos todos, pues bien, The National escapan de esas connotaciones y colocan su “Boxer” como un disco lleno de matices y buenas canciones.

Eldrsaleabailar: Disco precioso, de verdad, para escuchar con alguno de M. Ward.

24. Ladytron – Velocifero

Indiegnado: Viva el electropop de los 00´s y claro, vivan Ladytron. Cuatro discazos en siete años, el mejor, el último, un disco impecable.

Eldrsaleabailar: A mi no me ponen.

25. Sigur Rós – Takk…

Indiegnado: ¿y que seria de la decada sin la bizarrez extrema de Sigur Rós? Pues nada, lo suyo si que es autentica epica, sin el significado negativo.

Eldrsaleabailar: ¿sin?

amazing.

RIP, prince of werewolf pop.

Realmente bueno el album de los Strokes, recuerdo que en el cch era la sensanción...

Todos conocemos el semanario musical NME, que se dedica a promocionar a la música Indie en Gran Bretaña, comúnmente siempre al día de todo el entorno musical tanto local como mundial. Esta vez la publicación inglesa nos proporciona la lista de los 100 mejores discos de la década. ¿En que se basaron? Bueno, realizaron una encuesta hace como 2 semanas (no recuerdo bien cuando vote) y el resultado completo se puede ver aquí. Yo solo les dejo la lista de los primeros 10 con su respectivo link de descarga ;D.

Me gusto el resultado, realmente se le hace mucha justicia a bandas que han marcado la década, como los Yeah Yeah Yeahs aunque me hubiera gustado que salieran The Hives…pero no se puede obtener todo en la vida xD! Me deprime que el Absolution de Muse este en el lugar 49 pero creo es algo a comparación de Coldplay que esta vez, apesar de estar en la lista de votación, ni siquiera aparecio entre los 100… Ni modo nos quedaremos con la mención en el 2002 -w-u.

La gran mayoria esta en MU solo dos en RS. Diviertanse escuchando musica =3

1. The Strokes – Is This It
2. Libertines – Up The Bracket
3. Primal Scream – XTRMNTR
4. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say That’s What I’m Not
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell
6. Pj Harvey – Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
7. Arcade Fire – Funeral
8. Interpol – Turn On The Bright Lights
9. The Streets – Original Pirate Material
10. Radiohead – In Rainbows

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Hysteric (Acoustic Version)

No Longer No Longer
What You Ask
Strange Steps
Heels Turned Black
The cinders the cinders
They light the path
Of these strange steps
Take us back tae us back

Hysteric
Hysteric
Hysteric
Hysteric
Hysteric
Hysterical

Aún no termina el año pero ya hay grandes anuncios de presentaciones para empezar con todo el siguiente año, una de estas tantas es la de los Yeah Yeah Yeahs las cuales serán en las siguientes fechas.

25 de Enero – Guadalajara (Teatro Diana)

27 de Enero – Mexico D.F (Palacio de los Deportes)

Dichos shows están mas que confirmados, podrán ver las fechas anunciadas ya en su myspace.

La info acerca de la venta y precios del boletaje aún no la tengo pero en cuanto tenga ese dato se los rolo.

So like most people I love all types of music. I pretty much have my iPod or iTunes going all day. In the morning getting ready for work, on the way to work, at work (got to love iTunes at work), going home from work, working out, and sometimes at night when I just want to relax.

I appreciate good music, and I tend to like a lot of genre’s . One thing that really “grinds my gears” though, are music snobs. I admit there is some pretty awful music out there *cough* Miley Cyrus *cough* but people like what they like. Just because you like emo and someone else loves pop doesn’t make you better than them. Just sayin’. Music can be appreciated by all types of people, and all types of people can appreciate a lot of different music.

They (although I don’t know who the “they” is) often say music defines your style. To an extent that is true. Right now I am loving Muse, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Adele, the Noisettes, KOL, so my style is a little feminine (floral, flowing, and lace) mixed with a rock edge (boots, torn jeans, dark nail polish). With that in mind check out Polyvore.com. Here is an example of my styling choices for New Years.

Music is just so defining.  I can relate certain songs with certain points in my life, and when I hear the music it takes me back to those times. For example, on of my favorite songs when I was younger were “Gloria” by Laura Branigan & “Horse with No Name” by America. On the other side I have this cute little video of my dad singing “Walk Like an Egyptian” by the bangles, and I am just flailing my arms around in excitement.

One of the best Christmas memories I have was when I was about 5 or 6. My much older sibs were holding me up and would sing “Help,” then they would point to me and I would continue “I need some body . . .”

Elementary school was defined by the ever popular Spice Girls, Nsync, and Hanson.

High School went from B. Spears to 311, OAR and Sublime.

College was when I really expanded my listening pleasures. I have always loved blues but have become a bigger fan of it. As a kid I always loved “At Last” by Etta James (now made famous by the Obama’s), Billie Holiday, and BB King. I recently started to get back into it. I also enjoy musical show tunes. I used to love the songs from older movies such as South Pacific, the King and I, Oklahoma, Gypsy, Cry Baby. I also love Rent, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Grease, etc.

Anyway, I could go on forever. I will always be grateful for good music, old & new. It is what gets me through life.

Back in Austin…NYC was so much fun!

I had a great time hanging out in Alphabet City and hitting the clubs on Avenue A. It was like the good old times when I lived there. There are so many great sounds coming out of NYC, and it’s always great to see my buds. The highlight of my trip was meeting Matt Pinfield at the CMJ music conference. He spun my song Warriors….it was so exciting!

Before heading out to New York, I was able to catch some shows at Austin City Limits. It rained most of the festival and it got very muddy and gross in the field. I was still able to enjoy some pretty great music though. At the top of my list was of course…..the Dead Weather. Jack White playing drums while singing was something to be heard. He is such a well rounded musician and writer. I also was able to catch Passion Pit, Girl Talk, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to name a few. Despite the horrible weather it was a good time!

I have been adding more dates to the tour! Check out the dates on the Shows page of my web site (link below). Bassist Colleen Bonner and drummer Marty Mack will be joining me. I have also been recording again and have started working on a new album. More details on that next time!

If you live in Austin, come check out our show on December 16th at the Red Eyed Fly.
http://www.whitewidowmusic.com

Rather than babble about B.S. you have no interest in hearing about, or continue my assault against Bill Simmons’ 4th-and-2 inanity (yes, I’m still mad), I’m going to just give you some music this morning.

Karen O looks and sounds particularly demented in this clip, though I think that’s sort of the point.

You had to be there, that’s the general feeling after watching the film marking 10 years of the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival. Either because the performances were so good that film could never fully capture the moment, such as Grinderman’s rampant 2007 set, or because eventually indifference settles in towards clips of strangers being drunk, performing covers of ‘Maps’ and making out during Seasick Steve and The Boredoms. Those are their festival stories, nobody else’s, and it’s not much different from being shown other people’s holiday photos.

This film, though, would be nothing without the fans – a collaborative effort, film by fans, artists and filmmakers has been cut together by director Jonathan Caouette, most thrillingly at the start of the film when various footage of two different performances of ‘Atlas’ by Battles build to a rowdy climax. Most of the clips are from 2004 onwards, since when the availability of relatively cheap cameras and phones and YouTube has made everyone a potential documentary maker.

ATP’s back story is covered briefly in a sequence where founder Barry Hogan watches himself being interviewed on The Culture Show. There are unanswered questions, such as how it stays sponsorship-free or how curators are chosen, but mini-manifestos from Jerry Garcia, Thurston Moore, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop certainly explain at least part of what ATP stands for – reclaiming rock & roll from big business and industry. It’s worth considering during the clips of chalets bustling with ad hoc ‘fan bands’, an idea that has since been co-opted for multinational brands’ for ad campaigns.

Audience and artists living, mingling and performing alongside each other (as Daniel Johnston, Lightning Bolt and Grizzly Bear are filmed doing) is a great part of ATP’s appeal, but it’s the action onstage that’s the most exciting here, such as a lush version of ‘The Boy With The Arab Strap’ by original festival curators Belle & Sebastian, and invigorating, intense performances by Yeah Yeah Yeahs; a ritualistic, chaotic Stooges; and furiously funky and lo-fi Gossip. Les Savy Fav, who performed at the film’s screening tour in October, bring the stage to the audience and together they sum up 10 years of ATP as good as anyone when they shout: “We were there when the world got great! We have to make it that way!” Originally written for High Voltage

Out: on DVD now

Grinderman – ‘No Pussy Blues’ (Live @ ATP 2007 with Bobby Gillespie)

Like trying to make a gourmet PB&J Arcade Fire has taken one of the simplest songs (yet one of the greatest) and added grandeur to it. With Win Butler and Régine Chassagne on vocals and the remaining 30 some odd members of Arcade Fire providing the arrangement without overdoing it and killing the integrity of the original work.

I don’t know how old this cover is but either way it’s still a good find.

Karen O, American singer (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)

Another night out, another faux epiphany.

I was dress as a droob from clockwork orange and had been preparing for this night for at least three weeks. There have been an abundance of 18th birthday parties, this one from the little i remember was a good one. The night stated with me drinking far too much whisky and rum and ended the next day with me being as sick, sick and sick again.

Sprawled over our newly delivered sofa my hung-over body stagnated while watching banal Saturday tele and half of Twilight. I thought to myself whether it was worth it; not being able to eat with out regurgitating or seeing people I haven’t seen in far too long. I think the trade-off is ultimately worth it – not that I condone binge drinking.

Nietzsche, who loved a celebration, would hopefully agree with me, and by the time I finish “Beyond Good and Evil” I should be more informed. So far it is quite and deep and funny read. And Nietzsche’s moustache is second to none.

This video was before my musical tastes started to develop but I think it’s a fantastic video. The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s have been a favourite of mine for a while and this video is dark, disturbing and funny. I want the kids they’re hilariously distributive .

Oh and the songs good too;

I am also enjoying Yeasayers at the minute. I saw them at last Leeds 2008. They blew me away and were the band I had not heard of before that I came home telling everyone about. A lot like my love of Wild Beast which really developed at Leeds 2008.

I really love the future/past sound of Yeasayer. They have a beautifully epic sound that is indescribable in genre terms. We at least I can’t find the words, apart from great.

Back to the epiphany, I have been living more “healthily” recently after a different 18th party and this latest one made me question whether I should keep it up or increase my “healthyness”. Ultimately I will probably do neither.

SYULTRALLGTR. XX