I know it sounds a bit old school to write about buying CD’s from a record shop, but whatever. One of my few pleasures is buying physical albums from HMV. It always makes me feel like a kid, and there’s something fun about looking forward to opening the case up.
Anyway, I brought myself three albums this weekend. Three of the most anticipated pop albums of the year, and they were all as good as I expected them to be. So here’s each one, with an album track that I particularly enjoyed. What a dorky post… Anyway, try and buy a CD every now and again. It would be a shame to see them go…
In theory, this is the sort of album that wouldn’t warrant more than one listen every now and again. But Laura Mvula’s album has been on repeat all over the weekend. The way she writes these songs… Sublime…
Think what you like about Justin Timberlake but this guy always delivers slick production on his records. There’s a rumour he’s releasing a follow up album before the end of the year.
Ive been so busy these last few days that Woodkid’s new video passed by me… Epic and a powerful way to start the week. Enjoy this- I love Woodkid so, so hard.
I started the Random List last year, and it was pretty fun for me to do so I figured I’d carry the tradition on for another year. So here, I present to you the winners of some random, and not so random, categories that have come out of 2012.
Biggest debut to come out of nowhere
Miriam Bryant. This category also covers best track of the year too, I guess (which I’m sharing with Beatrice Eli, below). I still remember reading the email introducing to her. I really didn’t expect to hear what I did. It picked up with other blogs too. In terms of debut releases, this really is as big as they come.
Best gig of the year
Woodkid featured in last year’s Random List, and a few weeks ago I had the privilege to catch him at London’s South Bank. Epic is an understatement for what I was exposed to.
Most upsetting
This one’s a tie between Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida. Unnecessary cameos from both of these on what otherwise are pretty good pop tracks (like above) have led me to just really not like either one of these. I know that will upset a lot of people, but sorry. Enough.
Scariest but fiercest track from Scandinavia
This one goes to Beatrice Eli, one of the standout artists of the year for me. I should also point out that this is my joint favourite track of the year, along with Miriam Bryant (above). It’s so hard to believe this is one of her first tracks. Can’t wait to hear new tracks!
Most exciting big-label signing
Jetta. Expect to hear more over the coming months from this lady.
Marina & The Diamonds. Actually, it’s not so much of a u-turn as an appreciation for her. Rarely do I moan about artists on this site, but Marina was behind one of my biggest whines back at the start of 2011. That post got me some pretty nasty feedback from some. This year though, her second attempt at ‘being bigger’ paid off when Primadonna was released and topped the charts. Good for her.
I don’t want to say much about what I saw Woodkid do this evening at the Southbank Centre, just because it was indescribably huge and needs to be experienced in the real. All I can say though is… awe-inspiringly epic and perfect. Probably one of the best gigs I’ve been to, period.
So everyone’s doing their lists for 2011. They’re fun to read but a nightmare to compile, so I thought I’d shake it up a bit with my list by using some really rather pointless categories.
2011′s Most Painfully Cool
Woodkid - This is one of those ‘hidden loves’ I have who I don’t really blog about because I want to enjoy for myself. Kinda selfish it sounds but it’s only because if I do blog about them I just won’t stop… Friendly Fires being an example. Anyway, anything Woodkid touches turns to gold.
2011′s Best Second Album
Friendly Fires - Pala. Second albums are so hard to get right but Friendly Fires had no trouble coming back with a piece of genius.
2011′s Best Album To Fall In Love To
Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia. Patrick Wolf has one of the most devoted set of followers for any musician that I know in the UK. I have a few records of his, but this is by far the standout album that he’s produced to date. Just because the story behind it is so simple- he fell in love. And the songs that feature are a pure joy to listen to.
2011′s Most Underrated Album
Alex Clare - Lateness Of The Hour. Produced by Diplo and mixing some really heart-stopping beats with a raw voice and big lyrics, it’s just stunning from start to finish. I really hope it picks up in 2012 because this record is just too good to not be heard.
2011′s Most Bittersweet Album
Amy Winehouse – Lionness. You may know that I am a huge fan of the late Winehouse. So when this was released last month I was stunned at how some of the songs which had already been released sounded so different when arranged the way Winehouse actually wanted. It’s a beautiful record, but I really hope her estate releases more.
2011′s Most Addictive Track
M83 – Midnight City. This track makes you feel like a kid running around in the dark pretending to be a space hero or something. It’s amazing.
2011′s Biggest Pisstake
Ed Sheeran – ‘+’. I know people love this kid to bits, but I physically wanted to snap his album in half when I brought it. It was without doubt one of the wettest, most boring pieces of music I’ve had to make myself listen to. Which is a shame because I was really excited about the talent. And they definitely went overboard with the ginger- an orange album and having that Harry Potter kid play him in a music video gets a bit sickly after a while.
2011′s Most Anticipated Debut
Penguin Prison – Penguin Prison. This chap’s been causing a stir on the blogs for a couple of years now and his debut album came out a few months back. Most of the songs have already been out, but there’s something about hearing them in full set that makes the ears very satisfied.
2011′s Most Welcome Return
Man Like Me. One of my favourite bands by a mile, purely because of the genius behind their sillyness, Man Like Me released some new material this year that got me a bit excited.
2011′s Most Interesting Lyric To Come Out Of A Rap
Childish Gambino – Freaks & Geeks: “An elephant never forgets, so my dick remembers everything”.
