As revealed on Twitter over the last few weeks, here's the complete rundown of the 25 best tracks of the year.
25. When I'm Alone- Lissie
24. Wrecking Bar (Ra Ra Ra)- Vaccines
23. We Are Sex Bob-Omb- Sex Bob-Omb
22. All Eyes On You- Philip Selway
21. Blue Blood Blues- The Dead Weather
20. Tighten Up- Black Keys
19. Fast Car/Slow Traffic- Paul Weller
18. Drunk Girls- LCD Soundsystem
17. Dead American Writers- Tired Pony
16. Crossover- Magnetic Man ft Katy B
15. Laredo- Band Of Horses
14. Truth Sets In- Avi Buffalo
13. POWER- Kanye West
12. Photoshop Handsome- Everything Everything
11. Devil's Spoke- Laura Marling
10. Bloodbuzz Ohio- The National
9. Stylo- Gorillaz
8. Tightrope- Janelle Monae
7. (It's Not War) Just The End Of Love- Manic Street Preachers
6. Fuck You- Cee-Lo Green
5. Spanish Sahara- Foals
4. Month of May- Arcade Fire
3. Pass Out- Tinie Tempah
2. Tenderoni- Kele
AND THE WINNER IS...
1. Stay Too Long- Plan B
Perhaps not as revolutionary as many tracks that have found their way onto this list, Plan B's comeback nevertheless tops this chart based on the explosive impact it had when it was first heard. Ben Drew had found considerable success as a potty-mouthed rapper singing about social issues like child abuse and alcoholism. But after the revelation of his voice on Chase & Status' End Credits single at the end of last year, Plan B spent the year living the life of Strickland Banks, the soul man whose life is destroyed on his album.
The song depicts a night out after a big gig. Strickland heads to a bar, gets blindingly drunk, runs from the law, takes drugs and finally ends up having an a one night stand with an obsessive fan (feeding directly into next single, She Said). The heady rush that Drew sings and raps about is captured perfectly in the music, an exhilarating run through the London streets.
Stay Too Long didn't quite go for the full-on soul of tracks like Praying, She Said and Love Goes Down, but this was easily the most exciting sound of the year, all the while Drew keeping up with the social explorations of his older work.
It's with a level of sadness we learn that Plan B is returning to hip hop next year. But if his next album The Ballad Of Belmarsh can retain the artistry of songs like this then it's also something that can be faced with excitement too.
Tuesday 28 December 2010
Monday 27 December 2010
Review Of The Year: Best Albums Part 3 (The Top 5!)
This is it...after much deliberation, these are the top five albums of 2010 according to Rockinfreakopotimus. If you don't agree with the choices or want to have your say, leave a comment and let the debate begin.
This is the best music of the last 12 months, and I hope you've enjoyed the top 25. Rockinfreak will be back soon with a look forward to 2o11.
5. The Besnard Lakes- The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night
The band's first album, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, was one of the most underrated albums of the last decade, and it's sequel is looking to head the same way. Largely ignored in other end-of-year lists, this absolutely deserves to be heard. Filled with deep, sumptious epics, this takes the sonic distortion of bands like MBV, turns it down and suffuses it with slow-burning melody. Absolutely delicious.
Best Track: Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent Part 2: The Innocent
4. The Archandroid- Janelle Monae
Following on from last year's EP, suites II and III of Janelle Monae's Metropolis-obsessed robotic love story did not disappoint. The story was almost incomprehensible, but like all the greatest concept albums, the songs are of such a uniform standard that it would work without it. Some of the most inventive and sheer FUN pop music of this or any other year, she's a mindblowing live act to boot.
Best Track: Tightrope
3. Plastic Beach- Gorillaz
To say that Damon was under pressure for this would be an understatement. Demon Days was one of the best pop albums of the last decade, and for its follow up, Albarn went further into the rabbit hole. While vocally the focus is even more off him, this is his vision through and through- brave, bold and uncomprimising. Lou Reed, Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, Jones and Siminion, Mos Def and De La Soul were queueing up to be part of this masterpiece, and not even an ill-advised appearance at Glasto can stop this being Damon's year
Best Track: Stylo
2. The Suburbs- Arcade Fire
The most critically-celebrated album of the year (it's been made official), and who am I to argue? Neon Bible was biblically awesome, but could have proved a creative cul-de-sac.
Rather than top it, the Canadians pulled back and scaled down, with a trip to their hometown inspiring a look at the oft-observed city outskirts. The depressing, suffocating air that fills those towns is present here, but the band punch through the fog, dreaming of escape. What we're left with is a relatable album, filled to burst with musings on modern life. Worht every word of praise it's given.
Best Track: Month of May
And the album of the year goes to...
1. I Speak Because I Can- Laura Marling
A wonderful breath of youthful, folky air with her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim in 2008, the leap forward on its follow up is astronomical. With a stronger embrace on more traditional folk songwriting on tracks like Rambling Man and Goodbye England (Covered In Snow), Laura mixes this with a less traditional approach to recording to push the genre out of obscurity and into relevance to a 21st Century audience.
Marling voice has deepened and grown. On Alas...she was a young girl, but on I Speak Because I Can she is fully woman. It's darker and more mature, which is a familiar path for second albums, but this one sidesteps the cliches entirely. The opening needle crackle and ominous chords of Devils' Spoke will stop you in your tracks, and Marling will not let go until she has proved her independent talent at the end of the title track. Make no mistake, this album gets under your skin, and offers more than enough subtlety to allow the songs freshness even after 300 listens.
The promised follow-up has yet to materialise but no matter. Laura Marling has confirmed herself as a talent with a long, open future
This is the best music of the last 12 months, and I hope you've enjoyed the top 25. Rockinfreak will be back soon with a look forward to 2o11.
5. The Besnard Lakes- The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring NightThe band's first album, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, was one of the most underrated albums of the last decade, and it's sequel is looking to head the same way. Largely ignored in other end-of-year lists, this absolutely deserves to be heard. Filled with deep, sumptious epics, this takes the sonic distortion of bands like MBV, turns it down and suffuses it with slow-burning melody. Absolutely delicious.
Best Track: Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent Part 2: The Innocent
4. The Archandroid- Janelle MonaeFollowing on from last year's EP, suites II and III of Janelle Monae's Metropolis-obsessed robotic love story did not disappoint. The story was almost incomprehensible, but like all the greatest concept albums, the songs are of such a uniform standard that it would work without it. Some of the most inventive and sheer FUN pop music of this or any other year, she's a mindblowing live act to boot.
Best Track: Tightrope
3. Plastic Beach- GorillazTo say that Damon was under pressure for this would be an understatement. Demon Days was one of the best pop albums of the last decade, and for its follow up, Albarn went further into the rabbit hole. While vocally the focus is even more off him, this is his vision through and through- brave, bold and uncomprimising. Lou Reed, Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, Jones and Siminion, Mos Def and De La Soul were queueing up to be part of this masterpiece, and not even an ill-advised appearance at Glasto can stop this being Damon's year
Best Track: Stylo
2. The Suburbs- Arcade FireThe most critically-celebrated album of the year (it's been made official), and who am I to argue? Neon Bible was biblically awesome, but could have proved a creative cul-de-sac.
Rather than top it, the Canadians pulled back and scaled down, with a trip to their hometown inspiring a look at the oft-observed city outskirts. The depressing, suffocating air that fills those towns is present here, but the band punch through the fog, dreaming of escape. What we're left with is a relatable album, filled to burst with musings on modern life. Worht every word of praise it's given.
Best Track: Month of May
And the album of the year goes to...
1. I Speak Because I Can- Laura Marling
A wonderful breath of youthful, folky air with her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim in 2008, the leap forward on its follow up is astronomical. With a stronger embrace on more traditional folk songwriting on tracks like Rambling Man and Goodbye England (Covered In Snow), Laura mixes this with a less traditional approach to recording to push the genre out of obscurity and into relevance to a 21st Century audience.
Marling voice has deepened and grown. On Alas...she was a young girl, but on I Speak Because I Can she is fully woman. It's darker and more mature, which is a familiar path for second albums, but this one sidesteps the cliches entirely. The opening needle crackle and ominous chords of Devils' Spoke will stop you in your tracks, and Marling will not let go until she has proved her independent talent at the end of the title track. Make no mistake, this album gets under your skin, and offers more than enough subtlety to allow the songs freshness even after 300 listens.
The promised follow-up has yet to materialise but no matter. Laura Marling has confirmed herself as a talent with a long, open future
Albums Of The Year part 2 (15-6)
15. Queen of Denmark- John GrantThe Czars frontman returned from a long spell in the drug-ravaged wilderness, and headed into the studio with Midlake to record these wonderful ruminations on life. Melancholic, dark but always somehow joyfull, Grant reminded the world what a talented songwriter they had in him
Best Track: Where Dreams Go To Die
14. Man Alive- Everything Everything
Indie's seachange was definately on the other side of the Atlantic this year, with the genre being largely redundant in this country. The Manchester-based Everything Everything (and, more recently, The Vaccines) were an anomaly, bringing their pretentious, entertaining and catchy anthems to a downbeat nation.
Best Track: Photoshop Handsome
13. This Is Happening- LCD Soundsystem A massive crushing disappointment compared to its predecessor, Sound of Silver. Mind you, how James Murphy and co were supposed to follow one of the most widely-regarded masterpieces of the last 25 years is anyone's guess. Based on the album's own merits, this was fresh, funny, innovative and exciting electronic pop. If this is indeed their last album together, they've bowed out in style.
Best Track: You Wanted A Hit
12. Infinite Arms- Band of HorsesIt took a Cee-Lo Green cover of No One's Gonna Love You to thrust them towards the mainstream, but on the merits of this, their third album and first as a unified band (despite their name). It didn't rock the boat too much: the usual mix of beautiful metodies, stunning harmonies and perfectly crafted songs, they just threw in a more ambitious tone.
Best Track: Laredo
11. Wake Up The Nation- Paul WellerAn unexpected delight, Weller dropped the folksie approach of his solo work to bring back the thrills. One of the most suprisinly experimental mainstream albums of the year, Weller's urge to "get your face off the Facebook and turn off your phone" clearly reenergised him too, and he was awarded with a Mercury nod for his troubles.
Best Track: Fast Car/Slow Traffic
10. Congratulatons-MGMTAn album whose reputation will perhaps unfairly follow it when mentioned in future, this was not the destructive, unlistenable disaster that was promised. Instead, the band shyed away from the weird pop of their debut into far more psychadelic territory, pushing their own boundries and writing songs about Brian Eno. Great cover art too.
Best Track: Siberian Breaks
9. High Violet- The NationalIsn't them being Barack Obama's favourite band enough? Ok then. The National proved to be the critical darlings of the year, and gained a loyal following, as shown with their Q Awards win. This was an album full of rich and warm melodies, given emotional weight by the soft burr of frontman Matt Berninger. Do believe the hype.
Best Track: Bloodbuzz Ohio
8. Familial- Philip SelwaySelway has done an amazing thing: banished all memories and presumptions on drummer albums. No one expected the Radiohead sticksman's debut to be this tender. Far more human then recent bandmate efforts, Selway unveiled a beautiful, fragile voice that transcended the usual bloke-with-an-acoustic-guitar album
Best Track: All Eyes On You
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7. The Defamation of Strickland Banks- Plan BBy far the most unexpected reinvention of the year, Ben Drew's jump from potty-mouthed rapper to socially-concious soul-man in the mould of Curtis Mayfield was a joy. Far from selling out, this jump kept the edge of his hip-hop and brought the issues to a wider audience, with a great story of soul star in downfall. Next year's return to hip hop, The Ballad of Belmarsh is an exciting prospect.
Best Track: Stay Too Long
6. Total Life Forever- FoalsFrequently running in ever-decreasing circles during adventures in math-rock, Foals proved themselves far more pallatable in more human form. Their intelligence and sense of adventure remained their main selling point, but a strong focus on songwriting proved to be their big success. The album soared at it's most emotional, as seen in the brilliant Spanish Sahara.
Best Track: Spanish Sahara
Wednesday 8 December 2010
Review of the Year 2010: Best Albums (25-16)
Right this is it...from today I will be looking at the best (and, in places, worst) this year has had to offer. So let's get the album countdown underway:
25. Flaws- Bombay Bicycle Club
Found moderate success as a run of the mill indie group with their first album, but it was with this they became a far more interesting acoustic proposition. In a year filled with suprising reinventions, this was one of the best.
Best Track: Rinse Me Down
24. Sea of Cowards- The Dead Weather
After a promising but somewhat underwhelming debut, Jack White's other "other" band hit back with a tough, bluesy offering to silence the critics. Updating the blues via Nick Cave's brand of fire and brimstone, White is one step away from taking over the universe.
Best Track: Blue Blood Blues
23. The Family Jewels- Marina & The Diamonds
In a year dominated by female pop artists, Marina Diamandis proved you didn't need to be stuck in retrofit or force your ubiquity to be an interesting artist. Her album filled with inventive, powerful pop songs proved this.
Best Track: Mowgli's Road
22. The Drums- The Drums
Hyped beyond the point of death, the leaders of this year's US indie invasion managed to live up to it for once. Dropping the surf-pop of their Summertime EP, their debut was filled with pert yet heartbreaking laments to love lost. Losing their guitarist has barely touched their confidence either.
Best Track: Forever and Ever Amen
21. Odd Blood- Yeasayer
Reinvention #2: formerly purveryours of world music through an indie prism, on album number 2, the Brooklyn group streamlined their focus into one of the most forward thinking pop albums of the year. They even scored some radio play with O.N.E, so the future is bright for one of the world's best kept secrets.
Best Track: Ambling Alp
20. Treats- Sleigh Bells
One of the big new sounds of 2010 to hit the mainstream was this: mixing sweet, Shangri-La alike vocals to tough hardcore dance-rock. Sleigh Bells were by far the best at this new movement, and turned in a fascinating debut album.
25. Flaws- Bombay Bicycle Club
Found moderate success as a run of the mill indie group with their first album, but it was with this they became a far more interesting acoustic proposition. In a year filled with suprising reinventions, this was one of the best.Best Track: Rinse Me Down
24. Sea of Cowards- The Dead Weather
After a promising but somewhat underwhelming debut, Jack White's other "other" band hit back with a tough, bluesy offering to silence the critics. Updating the blues via Nick Cave's brand of fire and brimstone, White is one step away from taking over the universe.Best Track: Blue Blood Blues
23. The Family Jewels- Marina & The Diamonds
In a year dominated by female pop artists, Marina Diamandis proved you didn't need to be stuck in retrofit or force your ubiquity to be an interesting artist. Her album filled with inventive, powerful pop songs proved this.
Best Track: Mowgli's Road
22. The Drums- The Drums
Hyped beyond the point of death, the leaders of this year's US indie invasion managed to live up to it for once. Dropping the surf-pop of their Summertime EP, their debut was filled with pert yet heartbreaking laments to love lost. Losing their guitarist has barely touched their confidence either.
Best Track: Forever and Ever Amen
21. Odd Blood- Yeasayer
Reinvention #2: formerly purveryours of world music through an indie prism, on album number 2, the Brooklyn group streamlined their focus into one of the most forward thinking pop albums of the year. They even scored some radio play with O.N.E, so the future is bright for one of the world's best kept secrets.Best Track: Ambling Alp
20. Treats- Sleigh Bells
One of the big new sounds of 2010 to hit the mainstream was this: mixing sweet, Shangri-La alike vocals to tough hardcore dance-rock. Sleigh Bells were by far the best at this new movement, and turned in a fascinating debut album.
Best Track: Riot Rhythm
19. Diamond Eyes- Deftones
This year's been one dominated by pop and urban music, meaning it's been difficult at times to be a fan of metal and hard rock. Flying that flag were the metal Radiohead Deftones. Marrying a forward thinking attitude and strong melodies to the crunching guitars, this was by far their best set yet.
Best Track: Diamond Eyes
18. Band of Joy- Robert Plant
An erratic solo career in the shadow of a certain mothership came to an end in 2007 with the multi-grammy winning Raising Sand. Ever the restless soul, Plant left Alison Krauss behind to explore American country music deeper. He found there a set of wonderful songs to make his own, and the best backing band in the world.
Best Track: Even This Shall Pass Away
17. Brothers- Black Keys
No longer labelled White Stripes copyists,Auerbach and Carney moved into their own space on album number six. Smooth, funky and hearfelt, this was probably the most suprising US Top Ten hit of the year, but one of the most quietly exhilarating at the same time.
Best Track: Tighten Up
16. Crazy For You- Best Coast
Featuring on its cover the second most talked about cat of the year (presumably this one didn't end up in a bin), Best Coast led the Pavement-obsessed slacker movement from the West Coast. Lyrics about boredom, smoking weed and losing your boyfriend, this stood as one of the most accessible indie albums of 2010. Quite whether the formula can work again remains to be seen.
Best Track: Crazy For You
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