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You can win all fifty albums by breaking into your local HMV, stealing them and getting away before the police turn up!
Culturedeluxe`s Top 50 Albums of 2008
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1. | `Eine Kleine Nacht Musik` |
| Eine Kleine Nacht Musik | ||
| A surprise choice at number one perhaps, but Henry `Riton` Smithson`s exquisite krautrock by numbers side project beguilled enough of our staff to take the top award. Loved by almost all who`ve heard it, if you haven`t then pick up a copy soon to put pressure on Mr Smithson to record a follow up. | ||
| Released on 14 July 2008 on Modular. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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2. | `Fleet Foxes` |
| Fleet Foxes | ||
| A release which embarrassingly initially passed us by and remains unreviewed, Seattle`s Fleet Foxes picked up plaudits from everywhere else in 2008 with an album full of genuinely jaw-dropping moments. | ||
| Released on 16 June 2008 on Sub Pop. | ||
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3. | `Intimacy` |
| Bloc Party | ||
| A year after the `difficult` second album, Bloc Party surprised us al this year with a characteristically strong third LP which blended the best elements of their previous discs into one time-honed tome. | ||
| Released on 27 October 2008 on Wichita. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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4. | `Oracular Spectacular` |
| MGMT | ||
| They made more new friends than anyone else at this year`s Glastonbury Festival and, with a string of radio friendly singles nagging the nation`s ears, `Oracular Spectacular` has sold handsomely all year. | ||
| Released on 10 March 2008 on Sony. | ||
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5. | `Falling Off The Lavender Bridge` |
| Lightspeed Champion | ||
| With a peculiar title that befits his obscure image and unconventional songwriting, Dev Hynes` debut solo effort was the first to entrance us this year scoring full marks in an early review. | ||
| Released on 21 January 2008 on Domino. | ||
| Original Review (10/10) |
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6. | `Third` |
| Portishead | ||
| So-called because it was literally their third LP in a seventeen year career, the legendarily worksky Bristol combo delivered further proof that the best things are worth waiting for with a harder sounding, ore experimental LP. | ||
| Released on 28 April 2008 on Universal. | ||
| Original Review (10/10) |
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7. | `Angles` |
| Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip | ||
| Few gave the DJ and poet double act much future after the semi-novelty` Thou Shalt Always Kill`, but the format stretched well to a full LP, of which the Radiohead-sampling `Letter From God To Man` was a breathtaking standout. | ||
| Released on 12 May 2008 on Sunday Best. | ||
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8. | `Off With Their Heads` |
| Kaiser Chiefs | ||
| With their reputation somewhat damged by the below average `Yours Truly, Angry Mob`, Nick Hodgson and Ricky Wilson moved quickly to deliver a highly competent, if unremarkable, third long player. | ||
| Released on 20 October 2008 on B-Unique. | ||
| Original Review (6/10) |
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9. | `Santogold` |
| Santogold | ||
| After years in the background, Santi White finally broke through with her own debut album of which tracks such as `L.E.S. Artistes` and `say Aha` were crossover pop gems. | ||
| Released on 12 May 2008 on Atlantic. | ||
| Original Review (8/10) |
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10. | `Stainless Style` |
| Neon Neon | ||
| You`ll never hear a better tribute to 80`s motor maverick John DeLorean, but then how often do the genius minds of Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip combine to produce a guest-laden album with a spectrum of styles and sounds? A brilliant sonic experiment. | ||
| Released on 17 March 2008 on Lex. | ||
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11. | `The Seldom Seen Kid` |
| Elbow | ||
| After eighteen years of trying to make it, Elbow`s fourth LP `The Seldom Seen Kid` catapulted Guy Garvey into a Jarvis Cocker-esque elder statesman of indie role. By the end of the year `Grounds for Divorce` and `One Day Like This` were permanently ensconced in the collective minds of the nation and the band had nabbed the Mercury Music Prize. | ||
| Released on 17 March 2008 on Fiction. | ||
| Original Review (10/10) |
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12. | `Friendly Fires` |
| Friendly Fires | ||
| One year on from the early buzz created by early singles `On Board` and `Paris`, Friendly Fires expanded on their early promise with an album full of dance-inspired indie gems. | ||
| Released on 1 September 2008 on Moshi Moshi. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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13. | `Sunday at Devil Dirt` |
| Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan | ||
| Following on from, and even eclipsing, 2006`s sublime `Ballad of the Broken Seas`, Scottish singer Isobel Campbell teamed up once again with former Screaming Tree Mark Lanegan for a collection of bittersweet duets that cemented their reputation as this generation`s Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra. | ||
| Released on 5 May 2008 on V2. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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14. | `This is Not the World` |
| The Futureheads | ||
| Cruelly dumped by their former label, Sunderland`s Futureheads responded with a fabulous two finger salute in releasing the single of the year in `The Beginning of the Twist` and a companion album which signalled a triumphant return to their signature speed-rock - and all through their own label. | ||
| Released on 26 May 2008 on Nul. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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15. | `Alas I Cannot Swim` |
| Laura Marling | ||
| Although best known in 2008 for her single collaborations with Mystery Jets and Noah and the Whale, Laura Marling also managed to melt hearts across the nation with her own debut album - one with a strength and passion that belied her age and notorious shyness. | ||
| Released on 4 February 2008 on Virgin. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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16. | `Little Death` |
| Pete and the Pirates | ||
| Despite some of the catchiest singles on radio (or perhaps not on the radio - highlighting the problem), Pete and the Pirates excellent debut collection lay somewhat forgotten by the end of the year. However, songs as strong as `Come On Feet`, `Mr Understanding` and `Dry Wing` were simply too strong for us to forget when it came to poll time. | ||
| Released on 18 February 2008 on Stolen. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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17. | `The Age of the Understatement` |
| The Last Shadow Puppets | ||
| On a sabbatical from the Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner teamed up with The Rascals` frontman Miles Kane to record an atmospheric, 60`s tinged album part Walker Brothers to another Billy Fury. Some may have heard it all before, but young indie fans lapped it up as thirstily as their parents before them. | ||
| Released on 21 April 2008 on Domino. | ||
| Original Review (8/10) |
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18. | `Midnight Boom` |
| The Kills | ||
| The title referred to `the moment the moon comes up and everyone else goes to bed` and those of us who joined Alison and Jamie for the night were not disappointed. Jamie Hince`s relationship with Kate Moss may also have led to a minor `sales boom` later in the year. | ||
| Released on 10 March 2008 on Domino. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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19. | `Antidotes` |
| Foals | ||
| Although singer Yannis Philippakis denounced the album some time after its release, the strength of Foals` material (part afro-funk, part math-rock, part French O-Level) meant we were listening to this all year long. | ||
| Released on 24 March 2008 on Transgressive. | ||
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20. | `Chemical Chords` |
| Stereolab | ||
| Stereolab`s first genuinely great pop album in years arrived in August. An unlikely musical pact between Motown and krautrock was signed with results standing up admirably next to the band`s classic early 90`s material. | ||
| Released on 18 August 2008 on 4AD. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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21. | `Superabundance` |
| Young Knives | ||
| While not reaching the Mercury-nominated levels of its predecessor, `Superabundance` was the best thing the Knives have done to date with a wonderful mix of their multiple-paced tunesmithery. | ||
| Released on 10 March 2008 on Transgressive. | ||
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22. | `To Survive` |
| Joan as Police Woman | ||
| Joan Wasser`s second JAPW album built on the solid base of her first and hugely increased her fanbase helped along with guest appearances by David Sylvian and Rufus Wainwright. | ||
| Released on 9 June 2008 on Reveal. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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23. | `I Know You`re Married But I Got Feelings Too` |
| Martha Wainwright | ||
| While Rufus was helping out Joan Wasser, his sister was receiving rave reviews for her third LP with twelve folk gems and covers of Pink Floyd`s `See Emily Play` and The Eurythmics` `Love is a Stranger`. | ||
| Released on 12 May 2008 on Drowned in Sound. | ||
| Original Review (8/10) |
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24. | `Twenty One` |
| Mystery Jets | ||
| In danger of the whole world forgetting who they ever were, Eel Pie Island`s Mystery Jets returned with a second album and a glittering, gilt-edged 80`s pop sound. Soon people stopped referring to `that band that used to have the old geezer in it` in favour of `that band with the great song about the girl two doors down`. | ||
| Released on 24 March 2008 on Warner. | ||
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25. | `Parallax Error Beheads You` |
| Max Tundra | ||
| Ben Jacobs` third LP was his most accomplished as his wacky stylings, led by lead single `Will Get Fooled Again`, reached out further to a wider audience. | ||
| Released on 20 October 2008 on Domino. | ||
| Original Review (7/10) |
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26. | `Glasvegas` |
| Glasvegas | ||
| Almost certainly placed twenty five places lower than on the NME`s list of albums of the year, Glasvegas rode a tidal wave of weekly music press interest to deliver a competent album, even if it wasn`t as great as some would have you believe. Lyrics ranged from social worker saviors to never-present patriarchs all delivered in the rough Glaswegian accent of the uber-pretentious James Allan. | ||
| Released on 8 September 2008 on Sony. | ||
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27. | `Luna` |
| The Aliens | ||
| Perhaps less an album than a band showing off their adeptness at multiple styles, be it the psyechedelic pop-rock of `Magic Man`, the stadium metal of `Billy Jack` or the wonderful, dreamy stargazing of Lone Pigeon`s `Boats`. On `Luna` the former Beta Band members prove once and for all just how far advanced they are musically when compared to their higher-selling peers. One of the musician`s choices of the year. | ||
| Released on 29 September 2008 on Pet Rock. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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28. | `This Gift` |
| Sons and Daughters | ||
| The Glasgow act`s third album was preceded by the super indie cum pop of `Darling` in early January. Shortly after one of the best crossover albums of the year was with us. | ||
| Released on 28 January 2008 on Domino. | ||
| Original Review (8/10) |
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29. | `Saturnalia` |
| Gutter Twins | ||
| The second collaboration for Mark Lanegan in 2008 and his second appearance in the Top 30 albums. This time he teamed with former Afghan Whig Greg Dulli finishing off recordings they`d started some five years previously with great results. | ||
| Released on 3 March 2008 on Sub Pop. | ||
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30. | `Seventh Tree` |
| Goldfrapp | ||
| After the glam, pop and horse-tail madness of `Black Cherry` and `Supernature`, Alison Goldfrapp and co returned to the realms of their debut `Felt Mountain` for a more downtempo, ambient sound. The spots on television adverts may have dried up but an understated, beautiful album remained. | ||
| Released on 25 February 2008 on Mute. | ||
| Original Review (8/10) |
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31. | `The Renaissance` |
| Q-Tip | ||
| The former A Tribe Called Quest man released his first album in nine years just over a month ago and this new collection which featured collaborations with Mark Ronson, Norah Jones and D`Angelo was universally lauded. | ||
| Released on 3 November 2008 on Universal. | ||
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32. | `The Dotted Lines Mixtape` |
| Sway | ||
| Preceding and ultimately topping his second LP, UK hip hop star Sway released `The Dotted Lines Mixtape` to the Internet in February as a taster of what to expect from `The Signature LP`. Most agreed he should have released this instead. | ||
| Released on 11 February 2008 on DCypha Productions. | ||
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33. | `Music for An Accelerated Culture` |
| Hadouken! | ||
| Surfing the same sonic waves as Enter Shikari and Klaxons, Hadouken! were the music of choice in 2008 for the thinking kid in a day-glo hoodie. | ||
| Released on 5 May 2008 on Surface Noise. | ||
| Original Review (7/10) |
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34. | `Flight of the Conchords` |
| Flight of the Conchords | ||
| Already established through their trans-continental comedy show, New Zealand`s Flight of the Conchords proved their music stood up to repeated listens with this impressive debut in May. | ||
| Released on 12 May 2008 on Warner. | ||
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35. | `Made in the Dark` |
| Hot Chip | ||
| While not htting the same heights as `The Warning`, `Made in the Dark` did boast the dancefloor friendly `Ready for the Floor` which invited us to do it, do it, do it until the cows came home. | ||
| Released on 4 February 2008 on EMI. | ||
| Original Review (6/10) |
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36. | `Crystal Castles` |
| Crystal Castles | ||
| Named after an ancient computer game, Crystal Castles music sounded like that of an ancient computer game with added shouting. By the end of the year Alice Glass had been named the coolest person in the world by the NME which means I wouldn`t hold out for a follow-up any time soon (eh, Beth Ditto?) | ||
| Released on 28 April 2008 on Trouble. | ||
| Original Review (6/10) |
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37. | `I Can Hear Your Heart` |
| Aidan John Moffat | ||
| With former Arab Strap partner Malcolm Middleton still basking in his surprise Christmas Top 40 success, Aidan `John` Moffat released a highly personal, autobiographical album designed to be read first and listened to after. Highlights included a cover of Bruce Springsteen`s `Hungry Heart` and an engaging tale of Moffat drunkenly gate-crashing the party of a teenage girl. And they say Glasvegas monopolised dour Scottish music this year? | ||
| Released on 21 January 2008 on Chemikal Underground. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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38. | `When the Haar Rolls In` |
| James Yorkston | ||
| The album I personally voted as the year`s best only just scrapes the Top 40 when all the votes are counted up. It probably best sums up just how many people out there have missed out on the year`s most impressive collection from the most bankable of all the Fence Collective. | ||
| Released on 1 September 2008 on Domino. | ||
| Original Review (9/10) |
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39. | `Offend Maggie` |
| Deerhoof | ||
| Deerhoof`s thirty thousandth (well, it seems like it) album was preceded by a novel promotional campaign that saw the band release the sheet music to the song `Fresh Born` before the song itself so that fans could create their own versions and learn to love the song from a new angle. That`s reason alone for their inclusion here. | ||
| Released on 13 October 2008 on ATP. | ||
| Original Review (6/10) |
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40. | `Black Sheep` |
| Julian Cope | ||
| Cope`s annual album outing actually brought with it a few tunes this time round and, as a massive return to form, was actually heard by those outside his loyal legion of droogs. | ||
| Released on 8 September 2008 on Head Heritage. | ||
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41. | `Dear Science` |
| TV on the Radio | ||
| The Brooklyn five-piece`s 2008 effort outshined previous work `Return to Cookie Mountain` combining the 80`s influence of Peter Gabriel and David Bowie with their alternative rock staple. | ||
| Released on 22 September 2008 on 4AD. | ||
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42. | `I Started Out With Nothing And I`ve Still Got Most Of It Left` |
| Seasick Steve | ||
| Signing to a major label may dilute the whole `hobo with nothing but a three stringed guitar and a bottle of Thunderbird` image that made Steve`s name, not to mention the production but it harms neither the simple tunes and stories that have made Seasick Steve`s blues twang hugely popular over the past couple of years. | ||
| Released on 29 September 2008 on Warner. | ||
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43. | `Asking For Flowers` |
| Kathleen Edwards | ||
| The Canadian country star`s third LP was an emotional affair recalling the likes of Tom Petty and Neil Young over eleven tracks. | ||
| Released on 28 April 2008 on Universal. | ||
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44. | `Dig Lazarus Dig!!!` |
| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | ||
| Following his Grinderman sabbatical, Nick Cave was charged with following up 2004`s sublime double LP `Abbatoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus` which he did with his highest charting album ever. | ||
| Released on 3 March 2008 on Mute. | ||
| Original Review (8/10) |
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45. | `Quaristice` |
| Autechre | ||
| Designed for release in .FLAC format and released in January, Autechre finally agreed to release a physical CD in March. For fans, the absence of a discernible beat for much of the album was of little bother as they immersed themselves instead in spacious, difficult soundscapes. | ||
| Released on 3 March 2008 on Warp. | ||
| Original Review (7/10) |
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46. | `Snowflake Midnight` |
| Mercury Rev | ||
| Gone were the radio-friendly sounds of `Opus 40` and back were the sometimes difficult, experimental sounds of `Boces`. The result was an impressive curate`s egg. Those who loved it loved it and those who didn`t bought another copy of `Deserter`s Songs` from iTunes. | ||
| Released on 29 September 2008 on V2. | ||
| Original Review (7/10) |
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47. | `Alopecia` |
| Why? | ||
| A springtime follow-up to `Elephant Eyelash`, `Alopecia` had journalists literally tearing their hair out. Not because it wasn`t very good, but simply that barely anyone outside a music magazine office seemed to have heard one of the year`s most unique LPs. | ||
| Released on 10 March 2008 on Tomlab. | ||
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48. | `Sonic Diary` |
| Costanza | ||
| In a battle of former Tricky vocallists, Costanza ruled over Martina Topley-Bird in 2008 (and over Tricky himself come to think of it) with an album full of unfettered electronica in an evocative, esoteric masterpiece. | ||
| Released on 14 July 2008 on ZerOKilled Music. | ||
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49. | `Carried To Dust` |
| Calexico | ||
| Calexico`s sixth LP may very well be their best yet, certainly the finest amalgmation of their twin influences in alternative country rock and traditional Mexican mariachi. `Writer`s Minor Holiday` was an absolute triumph while the unlikely mambo of `Inspiracion` will have you grinning wildly trying to keep the words `Carlos Santana` off your lips. | ||
| Released on 8 September 2008 on City Slang. | ||
| Original Review (8/10) |
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50. | `Modern Guilt` |
| Beck | ||
| As is Beck Hansen`s wont, every second or so album steps outside the mainstream and indulges the other side of his oeuvre. This is one of those and, while there was no `Sexxlaws` or `Devil`s Haircut` to groove to down the local indie disco, there was still plenty to recommend it as always. | ||
| Released on 7 July 2008 on XL. | ||
Bubbling Under...51 - 100
51. Grace Jones - `Hurricane`
52. Calvera Conspiracy - `Inflikted`
53. Meat Beat Manifesto - `Autoimmune`
54. Glow - `Glow`
55. Vikki Jackman - `Whispering Pages`
56. The Flaming Lips - `Christmas on Mars`
57. Bardo State - `Mariposa`
58. El Guincho - `Alegranza`
59. The Ting Tings - `We Started Nothing`
60. Boris - `Smile`
61. Frank Turner - `Love, Ire & Song`
62. Deerhunter - `Microcastle`
63. Drever, McCusker & Woomble - `Before the Ruin`
64. David Holmes - `The Holy Pictures`
65. Barry Adamson - `Back to the Cat`
66. Brigade - `Come Morning We Fight`
67. Get Well Soon - `Rest Now Weary Head You Will Get Well Soon!`
68. Mogwai - `Hawk is Howling`
69. Grails - `Doomsdayer`s Holiday`
70. Zombie Zombie - `A Land for Renegades`
71. Eugene McGuinness - `Eugene McGuinness`
72. Chase & Status - `More Than A Lot`
73. Muscles - `Guns, Babes, Lemonade`
74. The Dandy Warhols - `Earth to the Dandy Warhols`
75. Religious Knives - `The Door`
76. Vampire Weekend - `Vampire Weekend`
77. The Acorn - `Glory Hope Mountain`
78. Menahan Street Band - `Make The Road By Walking`
79. The Walkmen - `You & Me`
80. Version Big-Fi - `Everything But`
81. The Ralfe Band - `Attic Thieves`
82. Diamanda Galas - `Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!`
83. Paul Weller - `22 Dreams`
84. Amadou & Mariam - `Welcome to Mali`
85. Rolo Tomassi - `Hysterics`
86. The Japanese Pop Stars - `We Just Are`
87. Billy Bragg - `Mr Love and Justice`
88. Earth - `The Bees Made Honey in the Lion`s Skull`
89. Idle Tigers - `The Spirit Salon`
90. Cut Copy - `In Ghost Colours`
91. The Young Gods - `Knock on Wood`
92. Nine Inch Nails - `The Slip`
93. Cynic - `Traced in the Air`
94. Fonda 500 - `Je M`Appelle Stereo`
95. My Brightest Diamond - `A Thousand Shark`s Teeth`
96. Asva - `What You Don`t Know Is Frontier`
97. Juana Molina - `Un Dia`
98. Duffy - `Rockferry`
99. Johann Johannsson - `Fordlβndia`
100. Tapes `n Tapes - `Walk It Off`
Thanks to Bob Ferguson, Chris Unitt, Richard Brown, Dean Coster, Andy J, Phil Russell, Bryony Jones, Keith Haworth, Ben Goldrun, Andy Thorn, Nick Foster for their votes.
Last year`s Top 50 Albums can be found here.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Oasis may have released yet another decaffeinated version of their original, now apparently outlawed, brew last year, but that hasn`t stopped their fans from riding the buzz of their latest sugar pill. Yes, the somewhat mouldy Mancs picked up an unbelievable seven nominations for this year`s NME Awards last night - however, with a tantalising nod for `Worst Band` it`s clear not everyone is still enamoured with the Gallagher brothers.
Elsewhere, the nominations look like a who`s who of the NME front cover over the past year including two shouts for Crystal Castles who`s Alice Glass picked up the much-derided number one spot in last year`s `cool list` and various recognition for the work of Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets.
This year`s `Godlike Genius` award, nominated by the magazine, goes deservedly to The Cure for over three decades of fine music, horrendously-applied make-up and disguising cosummate happiness as acute misery.
Best British Band
Bloc Party
The Last Shadow Puppets
Muse
Oasis
Radiohead
Best International Band
Crystal Castles
The Killers
Kings Of Leon
MGMT
Vampire Weekend
Best Solo Artist
Ladyhawke
Laura Marling
Lightspeed Champion
Jay-Z
Pete Doherty
Best New Band
Glasvegas
Late Of The Pier
MGMT
Vampire Weekend
White Lies
Best Live Band
The Killers
Kings Of Leon
Muse
Oasis
Radiohead
Best Album
Bloc Party `Intimacy`
Glasvegas `Glasvegas`
The Killers `Day & Age`
Kings Of Leon `Only By The Night`
Oasis `Dig Out Your Soul`
Best Track
Kings Of Leon `Sex On Fire`
The Last Shadow Puppets `The Age Of The Understatement`
MGMT `Time To Pretend`
The Ting Tings `That`s Not My Name`
Vampire Weekend `A-Punk`
Best Video
The Last Shadow Puppets `My Mistakes Were Made For You`
Late Of The Pier `Heartbreak`
Oasis `The Shock Of The Lightning`
Radiohead `House Of Cards`
Vampire Weekend `A-Punk`
Best Live Event
Glastonbury
Isle Of Wight
Reading and Leeds
T In The Park
V Festival
Best TV Show
Gavin & Stacey
The IT Crowd
The Mighty Boosh
Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Skins
Best Film
The Dark Knight
Juno
Quantum Of Solace
Twilight
Wall-E
Best Dancefloor Filler
Bloc Party `Mercury`
Crystal Castles `Courtship Dating`
Dizzee Rascal & Calvin Harris `Dance Wiv Me`
Friendly Fires `Paris`
Late Of The Pier `Bathroom Gurgle`
Best DVD
Arctic Monkeys `At The Apollo`
Foo Fighters `Live At Wembley Stadium`
Kaiser Chiefs `Live At Elland Road`
Muse `HAARP`
The Rolling Stones `Shine A Light`
Hero Of The Year
Alex Turner
Barack Obama
Brandon Flowers
Noel Fielding
Noel Gallagher
Villain Of The Year
Amy Winehouse
George Bush
Gordon Brown
John McCain
Pete Doherty
Best Dressed
Alex Turner
Alexa Chung
Brandon Flowers
Noel Fielding
Noel Gallagher
Worst Dressed
Amy Winehouse
Brandon Flowers
Johnny Borrell
Katy Perry
Pete Doherty
Worst Album
Britney Spears `Circus`
Coldplay `Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends`
Jonas Brothers `A Little Bit Longer`
Razorlight `Slipway Fires`
Scouting For Girls `Scouting For Girls`
Worst Band
Fall Out Boy
Jonas Brothers
Oasis
Scouting for Girls
Tokio Hotel
Sexiest Male
Carl Barat
Keith Murray
Matt Bellamy
Miles Kane
Pete Doherty
Sexiest Female
Alison Mosshart
Hayley Williams
Kate Jackson
Lykke Li
Stephanie Dosen
Best Website
Bebo
Facebook
Last FM
MySpace
YouTube
Best Venue
Brixton Academy
Manchester Apollo
London Astoria
Glasgow Barrowlands
London O2 Arena
Best Album Artwork
The Cure `4:13 Dream`
Guillemots `Red`
The Killers `Day & Age`
Muse `HAARP`
We Are Scientists `Brain Thrust Mastery`
Best Band Blog
Foals
Lightspeed Champion
Little Boots
Noel Gallagher/Oasis
Radiohead
Godlike Genius
The Cure
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Dizzee will have to fend off a fierce attack from novelty euro-dance act Basshunter who follow up the number one 'Now You're Gone' with 'All I Ever Wanted' and presumably another video featuring nubile young women in questionable garb.
Elsewhere, Glastonbury performances from MGMT and Jay-Z have seen their sales soar with the former's 'Electric Feel' entering the Top 20 and re-entries for both '99 Problems' and 'Numb' for Mr Z who, reports suggest, proved critics wrong with his Saturday night headline slot.
Coldplay, meanwhile, will keep a tight grip on the top of the album chart as middle-aged iPod recipients keep downloading 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends' in their thousands.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Although this year's line-up is on the lean side (particularly the open air stages) there's still plenty to excite you from the likes of The Futureheads, Chemical Brothers, Los Campesinos!, Rage Aaginst the Machine, dEUS, Erol Alkan, Sons & Daughters, The Stranglers, Band of Horses, MGMT, Lightspeed Champion, Little Man Tate, Aphex Twin, Justice, DJ Hell, Miss Kittin & The Hacker, Rob Da Bank, Primal Scream, Echo & The Bunnymen, Vampire Weekend, The Ting Tings, Interpol, Hot Chip, Seasick Steve, Battles, 1990s and Yeasayer among others!
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Elsewhere the bill has been bolstered by Jeff Mills headlining the Slam tent and The Blackout and Mindless Self Indulgence offering some post-lunch shouting to bored teens from the Radio 1 / NME stage.
Meanwhile Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly hits the low end of the King Tut's bill, MGMT and the 1990s make up for the addition of Will Young to the Pet Sounds arena and Glasvegas, White Lies, Air Traffic, Sonic Hearts, Jack McManus and Ida Maria all make the Futures stage line-up somewhat more promising.
Tickets sold out ages ago, but can still be bought from e-bay, 'ripofftickets.com' and the unconvincing forger who hangs around outside the Brunswick Cellars on a Tuesday afternoon.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The line up for the Reading and Leeds festivals were announced yesterday (March 31st) and the full line up (so far) is:
Reading: Friday August 22, Leeds: Saturday August 23
Main Stage Rage Against The Machine
Queens Of The Stone Age
The Fratellis
The Enemy
Biffy Clyro
Serj Tankian
Dizzee Rascal
Taking Back Sunday
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Anti-Flag
NME/Radio 1 Stage
Babyshambles
The Wombats
Vampire Weekend
MGMT
Reading: Saturday August 23, Leeds: Sunday August 24
Main Stage
The Killers
Bloc Party
The Raconteurs
Editors
We Are Scientists
Dirty Pretty Things
The Subways
NME/Radio 1 Stage
Manic Street Preachers
Bullet For My Valentine
Justice
Foals
Reading: Sunday August 24, Leeds: Friday August 23
Main Stage
Metallica
Tenacious D
Slipknot
Feeder
Avenged Sevenfold
Dropkick Murphys
NME/Radio 1 Stage
The Cribs
Conor Oberst
Pendulum
Nick Foster (View Original Article)
This time round they're talking to Josh Homme on the subject of his band's rider, his favourite half of Korea and slapping his astonished face. Later E from Eels cuts an interview short, the hunt is on for Patrick Wolf and Guy Garvey professes his love for Bulgarian trance music.
It's enormous fun from start to finish as always - especially when your work has come over all Pakistan and banned youtube. Check it out here.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
'21' is based mainly on the popular book 'Bringing Down the House' by Ben Mezrich which tells the story of a group of MIT students who come up with a Black Jack card counting system that foxes nearly every casino in Las Vegas.
Other noteworthy inclusions on the soundtrack are The Aliens with 'I Am Unknown', MGMT's 'Time to Pretend', yet another outing for 'Young Folks' by Peter, Bjorn and John and, now this sounds good, a Soulwax remix of The Rolling Stones' 'You Can't Always Get What You Want'.
The album can be bought on import from March 18th but there is no date set yet for a UK release.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Some more famous, yet interesting, inclusions are R.E.M., Daryl Hall, Was (Not Was), Hanson, The Presidents of the United States of America, Tia 'Wayne's World' Carrera and Dolly Parton.
The list is, naturally, subject to change and can be viewed in its entirity here. As always the site will expand with exact dates, venues and times and, hopefully, a considerable collection of free MP3 files to download.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
A more laid back offering than the first two singles it may take a couple of listens but once it`s sunk in you`ll find it hard to shift this one from your (dead) head.
Nick Foster (View Original Article)
MGMT are a welcome return to considered, song-based indie synth-rock so prevalent in the post-Britpop period nearly a decade ago and, with the music scene crying out in pain for a change from formulaic juddery pop, I expect to see this band blaze a trail into the hearts of indie fans by the end of 2008.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
I am reliably informed that I took in the artful, wordy Los Campesinos! and even delivered a string of appreciative whoops. However, it's likely I passed out before either Gareth or Aleksandra had time to finish introducing one of their over-long titled songs. I know I surfaced again in time for The Music with an in-form Robert Harvey ruling over the King Tut's stage with skill, albeit less majesty than their NME stage headline slot of a few years ago. Early material such as 'The People' sits well with new anthems such as 'Strength in Numbers' and, those who haven't been for a tactical puke yet, bounce along with the wide-eyed abandon that first nights at festivals inspires.
A long course is plotted to the NME stage, ensuring no sound of cash-in Verve is overheard, where The Chemical Brothers appear to have turned up, placed a CD in the mixer and buggered off leaving an incredible light show to accompany their sounds. However, a trained ear picks up some intentionally super edits, a sober eye enjoys the marching robot and exploding paintball visual effects perfectly synchronised to the music and Sky+ reveals that the brothers were skulking in the shadows all along. Not exactly what you'd ask for from a headlining slot, but it's only Friday and at least it drowned out the glorified busking of Richard Ashcroft and co.
Superheroes - with Friday billed as fancy dress day there are caped crusaders as far as the eye can see. But spare a thought for the chap who dressed up as 80's cartoon star Bananaman only to find there was already one there.
Smurfs - one of the weirdest sights I noticed in the Pet Sounds tent was a group of five blokes covered in blue paint and, understandably, out of their trees. The four white-capped smurfs were taking cues from the red-capped 'Papa smurf', the craziest of the lot.
Scotland Flags - not being waved in the air, but the choice of many young ladies at T in the Park as capes, aptly covering their modesty as underneath most were wearing very little at all.
'Altern 8' Rave Boiler Suits - these disposable coveralls double up as perfect mud-guards (for which there was no need) and ideal attire when you're 'on one' in the Slam tent.
Nostalgia continues with a trip to a packed out King Tut's tent for an early afternoon performance by The Stranglers. Although it's a long time since they last played with Hugh Cornwell (and drummer Jet Black is also missing today), long-term stand-in Baz Warne is on blistering form as always taking lead vocals on most of a classic-filled set featuring the likes of 'Peaches', 'Always the Sun', 'Golden Brown', 'Duchess', 'Strange Little Girl' and finishing with a storming 'No More Heroes' which threatens to raise the roof off a full tent. The only criticism one can levy is their ludicrously low placing on the bill resulting in a reduced set.
Reminding myself that it is, in fact, 2008 and not 1978, it's time to head to the Pet Sounds arena to Dev Hynes and an afternoon run through 'Falling off Lavender Bridge' by Lightspeed Champion. Dev appears on stage sporting his trademark furry hat, while his bassist prefers a red beanie and, before long, a sizable crowd are cheering in the first few bars of 'Galaxy of the Lost'. Highlights of the set include a breathtaking version of 'Tell Me What It's Worth', a violin-heavy run through the theme to 'Star Wars' and two new tracks (one of which is called 'Happy Birthday') which suggest Hynes and co may be about to surpass this year's fabulous debut album.
Back to the King Tut's tent and Adele Bethal of Sons & Daughters is highly-wired, squealing and shrieking her way through 'Gilt Complex'. Late in the set they wheel out a disappointing cover of Adamski's 'Killer' which makes some sense when the line 'All of the Sons and Daughters already know how that feels' appears, but it's scant reason to butcher a classic. The pieces are picked up in style by the set-closing 'Dance Me In', however, and the band escape, reputation in tact, with appreciative applause from the home crowd.
Special mention must go out to the 'Healthy T' area, conveniently located next to the excellent Pet Sounds stage, where, for a couple of quid more, revellers can enjoy excellent Loch Fyne roast beef and lamb rolls, Buffalo burgers, proper coffee, smoothies and (my personal favourite) stovies and put an end to those worries about food poisoning from the over-priced 'quality' burger vans that pepper the rest of the arena.
Acute disappointment is also a theme to the normally bankable Kaiser Chiefs headline set on the NME stage later. A string of new songs gauge an unimpressive response from the crowd leading to Ricky Wilson uttering a petulant "When we're headlining the main stage next year you'll all be singing along to them", clearly aimed at the immense crowd being entertained by Rage Against the Machine mere yards away. One new song, however, has single written all over it and, while not in the league of 'Ruby', 'I Predict a Riot' and 'Oh My God' which do find the crowd on their side, coupled with the band's gymnastic ability (particularly Ricky's stage-climbing antics) and unbreakable enthusiasm they pull the gig from being unremarkable. However, if Ricky's premonition is to come true, the third album needs to be more than a few steps above 'The Angry Mob'.
In typically anti-establishment mode, Rage Against The Machine have overrun their allotted stage time meaning virtually the entire festival are there to witness a triumphant run through 'Killing in the Name'. The line 'Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me' seems strangely apt as I check my watch and imagine an angry stage manager tapping his foot. Of course, the line is usually meant as a political statement and coupled with an update to the first verse 'Some of those that hold office, are the same that burn crosses' the band receive a huge round of applause that suggests their explosive start to the gig (a blistering run through 'Testify', 'Bulls on Parade', 'People of the Sun' and 'Bombtrack') was no fluke and, perhaps, loyalty to the Kaiser Chiefs live show was misguided this night.
Sunday starts late for us as I'm grudgingly led to the main stage for Shed 7's annual payday. Their audience is made up of sunbathers, some of whom can remember the lyrics to the band's sizable back catalogue remarkably well. It also gives me the chance to meet up with some pals whom I'd been unable to contact. So, thank you Mr Witter - just this once, mind.
The swarm of people heading towards the King Tuts stage for The Ting Tings worries me somewhat. Once again this is a two thirty show the organisers may not have expected to be completely full, given that they booked the band when they were a relatively unknown, hitless double act. With claustrophobia washing over me just looking at the potential crowd I slope off to the Pet Sounds tent for My Morning Jacket, an act I've heard mentioned often enough but never checked out. It turns out to be a rather inspired choice and when Jim James arrives on stage wearing a cape I figure 'what's not to like?' With a rather small crowd perfectly aware that the act they're watching will never hit number one, unlike their King Tut's rivals, and an enjoyable mix of plodding, dub-tinged grooves and melodic alternative rock punctuated by the odd shriek, My Morning Jacket are a perfect sunday afternoon band. Jim also reveals that today he's wearing the International Peace Belt designed by Wendy Black-Nasta and makes an impassioned plea for world peace to a crowd that clearly agree with every word.
Battles are one of the acts I've been most looking forward to, having enjoyed the experimental, abstract sound of last year's 'Mirrored' album. I'm clearly not alone as a large crowd have made their way down to Pet Sounds, some unsure what they're letting themselves in for. After half an hour of what appears to be improvisation (and almost certainly isn't), they finally make some sense when the chipmunk glam stomp of 'Atlas' begins and the gathered throng stamp along in approval. Leaving the stage with a highly-confusing run through 'Race: In', it's not clear if what we heard was actually great but I highly enjoyed it.
Taking a break for an hour or so, I head back to Pet Sounds yet again for Seasick Steve, the toast of last year's Connect festival and another on my list of must sees. The praise is vindicated immediately when Steve arrives, his home-made, three-string guitar in one hand and a bottle in the other. Joined by a drummer shortly after, the duo work their way through story-based alt.country stomps, pausing to deliver a heart-felt ballad to two lucky young ladies who join Steve on stage. Clearly feeling three strings to be a luxury, Steve then switches to a one string guitar for one of the highlights of the set, before being united with his usual instrument to finish with some 'three string trance', a gigantic clap-a-long that gives you some idea of how dance music may have sounded if it had originated in Oakland instead of Detroit and Chicago. Having delivered the performance of the weekend, it makes the disappointment of finding the Slam tent full for Justice's heavy electro set worthwhile. It also gives me the chance to catch the first few tracks by Metronomy on the tiny Relentless Energy stage, playing guaranteed floor-fillers 'My Heart Rate Rapid' and 'Holiday' to about twenty people.
Having been truly spoiled by Seasick Steve's set, to then be wowed by the most musically brilliant act of the weekend, Holy Fuck, makes my day. Again on the Relentless stage and with no more than one hundred clued-in viewers present, the band show exactly why their 'LP' begins with live track 'Super Inuit' (present today). Although barely addressing the audience as they hunch over various machinery, Holy Fuck successfully fulfill their modus operandi - to create dance music largely without the help of synthesizers - with memorable performances of 'Milkshake', 'The Pulse' and a wonderful finale of recent single 'Lovely Allen'. I must also make mention of the band's method of recycling tape to a sizzling sound effect and the fact that REM's Michael Stipe has since been quoted as being rather miffed they were scheduled at the same time as his own act as the act would have had a rather famous crowd member in other circumstances.
Passing Michael smugly we hear that he's still 'pushing an elephant up the stairs' and decide to leave him to it and give The Prodigy a fifth T in the Park audience. Liam, Keith and Maxim appear happy in their role as a 'retro' band tonight, albeit sounding closer to a heavy metal act now than the cartoon ravers who first excited us in 1991. The hits come thick and fast with a mid-set 'Firestarter' still sounding immense while 'Breathe', ironically, appears an asthmatic, wheezy shadow of its former self. The comparatively poor (at the time) 'Voodoo People', on the other hand, has never sounded better. The best tracks are saved for the encore though and both 'Poison' and an abridged 'Out of Space' leave the crowd happy and ready to go home and sleep...for a week if possible.
Special thanks to Andy J for input, photographs, lodging and perhaps saving my life over the weekend.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Friday, April 25th
Just arrived at the venue. The temperature isn't too bad - only 95f (last year was 105f). Seeing Black Kids in a few minutes and just caught the end of Redd Kross - pleasantly surprised as I was thinking of Kriss Kross! No evidence of pants being back to front though...
The Verve
Watching (or rather listening) to Vampire Weekend, who sound rather feeble in an outdoor environment but at least they're not wearing sweaters today. The Breeders played a chaotic set but rolled out 'Cannonball' and 'Divine Hammer' to keep the masses happy. Black Kids were very cool, Jens Lekman not so much although his current single 'Opposite of Hallelujah' was well received. Coming up Goldfrapp, Aphex Twin and The Verve.
The Verve played most of Urban Hymns so obviously it was a great set! Richard Ashcroft's voice was soaring, particulary on 'The Drugs Don't Work'. Goldfrapp were a little disappointing - the new folky material hit and miss, with the rushed changeover contributing to some sound problems. I'm sure they would have insisted playing the main stage if it wasn't for their late addition to the lineup. However, 'Happiness' sounded great, as did the songs from the last album. Caught a bit of Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip which was cool.
Saturday, 26th April
We started Saturday amongst the throng watching MGMT but the increased Saturday crowd and temperature (99f today) make the tented stages almost unbearable. So we're over at the main stage watching Cold War Kids. Stephen Malkmus follows on the other outdoor stage. Looking forward to Kraftwerk and Portishead later.
Cold War Kids were good, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks better - their trippy jams perfect festival fodder... Caught a couple of St Vincent songs but wasn't really feeling it so hit the dance tent for Hot Chip who played as the sun was going down. They were ok, as are Rilo Kiley who just played 'Moneymaker'...
Portishead
Portishead and Kraftwerk were both amazing with the Brits having a slight edge over the Germans on account of not being replaced by robots at any point during the set! Both had superb visuals with Kraftwerk using some of their well known videos and imagery. Portishead, meanwhile, used live black and white footage with two or more cameras blended using the sort of bleed and distortion techniques used in Dr Who or Top of the pops in the 70's - perfect for the haunting music. Beth Gibbons voice was immaculate and it was interesting to compare the Portishead set with the messy set of Goldfrapp yesterday...
Sunday, 27th April 2008
Just finished watching I'm from Barcelona, who were good fun. Kind of a Swedish Polyphonic Spree but with more singers and less instrumentation. Not sure who else to see today but want to catch Spiritualized or Metric later...
The most memorable thing so far today was getting attacked by a swarm of bees. The sky went black in a somewhat Hitchcockian episode. Saw a little of Shout out Louds including their Cure ripoff which is probably a single as I've heard it a few times. Wasn't feeling Manchester Orchestra so went to see Stars (possibly the fourth best band in Montreal) and Set yourself on fire is applicable song for Coachella weather. Checked out Does it offend you yeah! but nu-rave is getting a little old this weekend. Back at the main stage watching Gorgol bordello who are surprisingly entertaining and going down a storm!
Love and Rockets
Earlier, we gave up on Spiritualized (whose strings and semi-acoustic set was being spoiled by the close proximity to the dance tent) and went over to watch Metric, who were pretty good.
Didn't see much of Roger Waters as we wanted to get a headstart on the 120 mile trip to LA. Overall this year wasn't great, but highlights were Portishead, The Verve, Kraftwerk, Stephen Malmus and the Jicks, Black Kids and Love and Rockets - I guess that pig did fly after all!
Ian D Matthews (View Original Article)
First though, I quick mention to the support act. Virgin Passages have hobbled themselves with an awful, awful name but their main obstacles on the night seemed to be outside their control. Their post-rock noodling was marred and muddied by the soundsystem and, with few of their vocal harmonies coming together, I'm guessing they had monitor issues too. After a couple of songs we retreated to the rear of the venue. From there we didn't hear much improvement, nor did we hear much from front when they left the stage. Still, not every gig can be a blinder, eh?
MGMT, if you've not met them yet, are Brooklyn-based duo Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser (plus touring band) and their stock in trade is slightly experimental rock with trace elements of Klaxons-esque mysticism.
'Time To Pretend' gets an early showing with lashings of trouser-shaking bass and its catchy synth line. That bass disappeared for the rest of the night and I found myself missing it - head music is all well and good but something a little more primal never goes amiss.
My highlight of the evening was the mid-tempo, Prince-channelling groove of 'Electric Feel' which arrived mid-set and provoked the most head-nodding (by the guys) and hipshaking (by the girls).
However, much of the rest of the set lacked the verve shown on those two songs. In fact by the end of the evening it had become apparent that so far MGMT have three good songs under their belts. The rest is (admittedly reasonably decent) filler that leaves the band only ever a few bars away from another aimless and uninspired wigout. Oh, the interminable wigouts...
Returning for an encore (if hiding behind the speaker stack counts as leaving the stage) of 'Kids' the drums were abandoned for a drum machine and there followed an extraordinary show of bare-chested jumping, whooping and larking about, completely at odds with the reserved performance of minutes ago. The essence of the song was shoehorned in around these antics but the constant bass thump was enough to get the front rows to jump about.
So do MGMT justify the hype? Well, on the strength of this performance, no and not by some way. That said, their heads are clearly fizzing with ideas - if they can only decide how best to use them their wilful experimenting could well pay off.
Chris Unitt (View Original Article)
| 1. | Kids |
| 2. | Time to Pretend |
| 3. | Electric Feel |
| 4. | Weekend Wars |
| 5. | The Youth |
| 6. | Pieces of What |
| 7. | Of Moons, Birds & Monsters |
| 8. | 4th Dimensional Transition |
| 9. | The Handshake |
| 10. | Future Reflections |