My 2011 Music Review

2011's Music

I was quite shocked when reviewing my last.fm this evening, that my last 12 months top five artists were:

1. Foo Fighters
2. Kanye West
3. Professor Green
4. Aloe Blacc
5. Kings of Leon

This is utterly appalling, however, I can explain. I absolutely caned Foo Fighters before and after they ripped up the MK Bowl back in the summer, such a brilliant day (and David Haye got beat up), I genuinely liked Aloe Blacc and Kanye West's latest albums, but it seems Professor Greens 1st Album is a guilty pleasure of mine. I am not ashamed to admit I like Kings of Leon's earlier material. In my defence, my last 6 months history is not quite so embarrassing, also if I had reported by Album plays instead, Chew Lips and White Belt Yellow Tag would have been in.


The above inspired me to write a little bit about my listening in 2011, I will start with a quick summary by category:

Best New Album:                        Torches by Foster the People
My break from the norm:          For True by Trombone Shorty
Never Gets Boring:                   Silent Alarm by Bloc Party
How had I not heard it before:  Stay Kids by ANR
Grower:                                        Velociraptor! by Kasabian
Back in the playlist:                   Teen Dream by Beach House
Disappointment:                         Suck it and See by Arctic Monkeys


There are plenty of other albums that deserve a mention for 2011, such as, that of Birdy, Miles Kane, Fenech-Soler, Rifles, Ghostpoet, Yuksek, Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi, Jamie Woon, Funeral Party, Twin Atlantic, Rival Schools, Mother Mother, AWOLNATION, Raphael Saadiq and Dels but to mention a few. 

I will not begin a rant on Radio and commercial music, but you cannot look back on 2011's music favourably, when a N-Dubz Greatest Hits Album has been released, there are artists such as Tinchy Stryder &  Pitbull releasing material, J-Lo has made a comeback, and worst of all, Tinie Tempah was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Luckily for me, I don't get too much exposure to that world, but it is certainly the worst breed of commercial music I can remember, a collection of shit artists sampling old classics very badly. (Kind of a rant, I'm sorry)

I haven't listened to nearly enough new music this year, and hope to rectify that in 2012. I hope to listen and review at least 5 albums per month in 2012. I will be working on my Twitter followings over the next few weeks, looking for inspiration for new music albums, so if you come across this, and you know of a tweeter or tweeters who know their stuff, let me know, it will be greatly appreciated.

I currently use the following to find new music

http://pitchify.com/
http://pitchfork.com/
Related Artists on Spotify
Recommendations on Last.fm

http://www.last.fm/user/swfswf

(Image from http://www.andromedachild.com)

Boy Crisis - Boy Crisis

Rating: 2.75/5 Certainly Not the Greatest Pop Band of all time, but OK

Boy Crisis – Boy Crisis

I think Track names are all messed up in Spotify.

This album has been sitting in my "Unheard" folder in Spotify for quite some time, no idea how it got there, or where it come from. For this reason I looked them up on Last.Fm, and I came across this page.
http://www.last.fm/music/Boy%2520Crisis?ac=boy%20crisis
The opening paragraph almost made me delete the album completely.

Anyway, to the music, if the opening statement of the link above does not give you the impression that they are utter d*cks, the first 15 seconds of the first track "The Fountain of Youth" may change your opinion.

Actually after those initial 15 seconds, "The Fountain of Youth" is a safe track, it is pretty listenable, not sure if it would get you dancing or not, but it is OK. "Dressed to Digress" is a bit of catchy track, despite it's questionable lyrics. After this point, it seems the track names are incorrect, which makes it a bit more difficult to write about. However, listening on from the last track I mentioned, the Album is OK, well last track is below the standard of the rest of the record.

I would go as far to say it would be acceptable background noise, never going to be a classic, and I doubt it is a grower. It lacks something, an edge, substance maybe, I am just not sure, difficult album to rate. Despite this, I will listen a few more times before I decide whether I will delete forever.

My Single of the Album: Dressed to Digress

Birdy - Birdy

Rating: 3.5/5 Beautiful Voice, you need this after a bad day

Birdy – Birdy

This was recently recommended to me by someone whose music taste I am not familiar with, but I give them the benefit of the doubt, and added it to a playlist.

I had never heard of Birdy before I started to listen, after a few of the songs I recognised the lyrics, so I started the album again, and soon realised they were all covers, I may have realised sooner if I was not driving and had noticed the song names, not a massive fan of artists doing covers on a first album.

Well, I give it a chance, and ended up listening to it again afterwards, I put this unusual occurrence down to the awful day I had at work, I was in a foul mood, do not underestimate this mood, it was almost at the foaming at the mouth stage, obscenities were being screamed at just about everyone on the M25, and by the time I got home I had a smile for the Mrs and a friendly chat with the current lodgers (My Old man)

Birdy (all I know her as, I am yet to research any facts) has a very nice (find it hard using those combination of words without thinking of Borat) voice, which helps, especially as she has covered tracks that I listen to, or have listened to. 1901, Skinny Love, Young Blood and Shelter, are all very good tracks, and the others I haven't mentioned make up the numbers very well. For me, this album, will probably be a five minute wonder, but the current five minutes are very enjoyable.

If you have had a bad day, stick this album on, it helps, believe me!

My Single of the Album: People Help the People

Givers - In Light

Rating 2/5 Up Up Up & Away from my playlists

Givers – In Light

I found this album on Spotify's'New Album Releases' Playlist, and the fact that it was new, was the only reason I decided to listen, out of sheer desperation of finding some good music.

The first track 'Up Up Up' had similarities to 'The Drums', a band that I liked for a while, but who I soon got bored of, saying that, It's not a bad track, but it is a pretty disappointing album.

To me, this was just noise, which I found very difficult to listen to, so much in fact, that the whole album could have been one long boring song after Up Up Up. On a positive note, I have listened to this before going to bed, so shouldn't really have any problems sleeping.

Just not my type of Band or music, I will swiftly deleting this one.

I fear this could be a bit harsh based on my first and only listen of this album, but I doubt it.

Switchfoot - Vice Verses

Rating: 3/5 Not quite Rock for me, worth a listen all the same

Switchfoot – Vice Verses

Another Album that has been in my 'Unheard' Folder in Spotify for so long, I cannot for the life of me remember how I came across it.

I must admit, I had to look these up on Last.fm, embarrassingly for me these have been around since 1996, and if this Album is anything to go by, I shouild really check out there older stuff, not my idea of Rock though

The Album contains a few good tracks, mainly in the first half to middle of the album, I found 'The War Inside' a good tune, and 'Blinding Light' was annoyingly catchy, even 'Selling the News', despite the voiceover instead of singing has something about it, 'Dark Horses' will wake you up if the previous, more mellow tracks were not doing it for you.

I like Jon Foremans (yes, I did some research) Vocals, whether the heavier/rockier tracks on the album, or the crooning variety, not forced, just easy on the ears.

In all, a half decent Album, that could be played from start to finish, without any dreadful tracks getting in the way, although the last couple of songs are not as effective as the rest.

This Album is by no means for everyone, but I would recommend listening at least once, and all the way through. I will definitely be saving into one of my folders, but it certainly won't be in the one named 'Rock'.

Class Actress - Rapprocher

Rating 2/5 - Noisy Disappointment


Class Actress – Rapprocher

After listening to Class Actress EP in 2010 (Journal of Ardency), I've been almost excited at the prospect of a full album being released. The EP only had a couple of decent tracks, but that was enough material to wet the appetite for more.

Today that day came for me, I finally got around to listening to the full album, and what do I get? A piping hot plate of disappointment. It's quite possible this album is not as bad as I am making out, I just had high expectations, plus I was stuck in traffic, which didn't help my listening mood.

I listened to each and every track, thinking, "OK, this is where the album is going to kick off", but it didn't, there are one thousand and one analogies I could use here, but it does not deserve the creativity. I hope I am overreacting, and someone suggests listening to this great album they have come across, but I can't see it.

I am going to delete this album, never will it disappoint me again.

Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Rating: 2.5/5 Lost Interest

Ben Howard – Every Kingdom

We all know Ben Howard is a little commercial, 'Howard' I have heard of him otherwise? I no longer hold the commercial thing against Artists, and I proved that by listening to this at least three times.

Yes, I listened at least three times, yet I could not tell you much about it, it just did not draw me in, I would almost forget it was on, then a half decent track (because there are a couple) would attract my attention, briefly, before my mind once again wondered.

I suppose on the plus side, I managed to listen all the way through, without becoming physically violent, or grinding my teeth at the sheer agitating nature of the music..

Put it this way, I have heard worse.

Miles Kane - Colour of the Trap

Rating 3.5/5 Kane you dig it?

Miles Kane – Colour Of The Trap

Never a fan of the Rascals, however, I quite liked Kane's work with Alex Turner on the Last Shadow Puppets, so I thought I would give his new solo album a try, plus I had heard a track off of the new album on one of those sky channels that plays music (arguably) in between adverts.

The album starts off very well, I really enjoyed the opening two
tracks, catchy, lively and good toe tapping beats. The quality (maybe the wrong choice of word) of the album takes a slight dip as it continues, but the first two tracks are a hard act to follow, this does not mean the middle section of the album is still not up to standard, the last couple of tracks seem to be making up the numbers.

I would say parts of the album could probably pass as Arctic Monkey B sides, but that's not necessarily a bad thing is it? I have listened to this a number of times whilst trying to get this written up, and after five or so listens, my opinion has not changed, it is what it is

In summary, this isn't a bad album, with a few more than decent tracks on, have a listen, disagree with me.

Fenech-Soler - Fenech-Soler

Rating: 4/5 I like this, I actually Like this


Fenech-Soler – Fenech-Soler


I had this album saved within my Spotify account, not hidden, just sitting there, virtually gathering dust. I vaguely remember listening to this quite some time ago, and must have just chucked it in a folder thinking I'd listen again soon, but I didn't, and I'm angry, well not really.

I'm going to take a wild guess that I am not in the majority liking this one, but that's the beauty of music, it splits opinion, and there is not one single band or artist that everyone will agree on, some people even like "The Rakes".

From the first track "Battlefields" I was drawn in, then "Lies", very catchy and had me taking notice, it's usually at this point I get excited, expectation grows and a wave of anger floods over me as I am yet again disappointed by the rest of the album, not this time though, it's genuinely a good album. I mention the first two tracks above, that is not to say the rest of the tracks are not of a similar good standard, "Demons". In terms of genre there is plenty of artists and making similar noise, but this just works for me, even with lead vocals not being fantastic, I would not have been disappointed if this would have been Bloc Party's follow up album.

Most definitely one of the better albums I've listened to recently, so much so, I have listened to it 3 times in 12 hours today. I have not looked into how old this album is, whether or not any were released as singles, so I could be stating the obvious now, but that is what comes from being in a musical bubble, and not listening to Radio stations.

Just listen to it.

The Rifles - Freedom Run

Rating: 3.5/5 Let this grow on you

The Rifles – Freedom Run

I will first admit that 'No Love Lost' was one of my favourite albums for a fair old while, "Peace & Quiet's" a particular song that was close to my heart,  I was not so keen on The Great Escape, and to be honest, thought that would be the last we would hear of them.

I was wrong, they're back, or are they, is it actually them?Yes, it is, and it is a very different sound for them, but different is not always bad. In fact, it's pretty good, definitely a grower, I know this first hand, as it has taken me so long to get around to writing this, I've listened three or four times.

A plus for me is the fact I cannot pick out particular tracks as 'top tunes' it's just  a decent album. I should however note that the album can be at times a little Kasabianesque, considering I like most of their material, that isn't a problem for me. The downside is, it's "nice", and "fun", and lacks the energy I am used to from these guys.

In summary, Freedom Run will get quite a few more listens, and will probably get some space as one of my offline Albums.

Japanese Voyeurs - Yolk

Rating: 1.5/5 A sympathy half mark for not making it to the end

Spotify: Japanese Voyeurs – Yolk

Again, no idea how this ended up on my play list, more than likely a Pitchify link. They're a British Alternative Metal Band.

The first track alone could put you off the album, but I soldiered on, Dumb was just as bad, yet I continued, and to be fair to them, it does improve a little. 'Cry Baby' & 'Feed' are noticeable improvements on the opening 'infernal dins' (the words my grandad uses to describe the music anyone under 50 listens to). However, after that, it pretty much descends back into noise, which is what Alternative metal is.

I won't waste anymore time on this, It's getting deleted straight after I've published this.

Villagers - Becoming A Jackal

Rating: 2.5/5 A Decent Chorus or two, That's it.

Villagers – Becoming A Jackal (2010)

I have no idea has this album ended up on my playlist, I'm guessing I clicked related artists at some point after listening to a half decent album. Spotify's related artists is another blog all together.

Well, what a difficult album to listen to, if I wasn't driving I am quite sure I would have cut this one short. It's now 24 hours since I listened to it, and I still can't decide if I hate it or not. Majority of this album is pretty dull, and hardly inspiring lyrically.

Track 2, Becoming a Jackal has quite a catchy chorus, but the you can pretty much right off the rest of that track. Home is another strange one, catchy tune and chorus, but the rest of the track just does not match up, just odd.

I will delete this album, never to increase the play count on my last.fm. If anybody likes this, and it turned out to be a grower, please let me know, unlikely though.

Kasabian - Velociraptor!

Rating: 3.75/5 Not their best work, but still worth a listen

Kasabian – Velociraptor!

I see these at Glastonbury in 2010, and I was slightly disappointed at their performance, maybe I was still on a downer from the news Cilla black had died, or Michael Jackson, or whoever it was, anyhow this album has slightly disappointed me too, but only because I really liked WRPLA

It is by no means their greatest work to date, but it is a one of the better albums I've heard over the past month or so. It is the norm, what you come to expect from Kasabian (not all of the tracks), good chorus, good beats & lyrics which are at times, cryptic to me.

This album may be one of those you don't admit to liking (because nobody else does), but probably do. I would put my neck on the line, and gently hint you should listen to this, but actually listen to it, it could work for you.

Note to self: Give this a few more goes.

Kids in Glass Houses - In Gold Blood

Rating: 2/5 Nothing grabbed me

Kids in Glass Houses - In Gold Blood

Listened to this whilst working from home, and I kept thinking "I've heard it before", then I realised, it sounds pretty much the same as anything else in its genre.

Maybe that isn't a bad thing, I mean, it's not awful, The Florist and The Animal aren't bad tracks I suppose. The album from start to finish doesn't offend too much, there's no real spark and absolutely nothing that makes you stop and actually give it your full attention.

Doubt I'll listen to this again.

Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know

Rating: 1.5/5 Not for me

Spotify: Laura Marling – A Creature I Don't Know

It is a bit harsh for me to rate this Album, as I've never really warmed to Laura Marling's material. This album didn't change my opinion on her music though.

She undoubtedly is talented, with a unique-ish voice, but I am not going to waste anymore time on this, I just don't like it, dull, depression inducing.. almost.

Slow Club - Paradise

Rating: 3/5 Good Start, but peters out in the middle

Slow Club – Paradise

Another Album I listened to whilst snowed under at work, but my ears pricked up for this one, which is surprising as I used to despise any lead female vocals, but since listening to Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Chew lips, Hundred in the hands, Alice Gold etc, my opinion has changed.

The first song 'Two Cousins' is catchy, which I hoped would set a trend for the rest of the album. Unfortunately my hopes were dashed, it slowly peters out, not quite as bad as Arsenal have petered out since February this year, but peters out all the same, probably loses its way from track 4 or 5.

On the plus side a few good tracks, Two Cousins, If we're still alive & the Dog worth a mention, the album is worth a listen, I'd say this is mood music. I will save this album under the folder "Give it another chance"

Note to self: Go on give it one more chance

Joshua Radin - The Rock and the Tide

Rating: 1/5 Irritating

Joshua Radin - The Rock and the Tide

This just isn't my kind of music, I could detail exactly what I don't like, but that would waste my time, which I could spend finding some new music.

I found the album very irritating, it regularly disturbed me from my work, and I found myself gritting my teeth through a few of the tracks.

In Summary, didn't like it.

Okkervil River - I Am Very Far

Rating: 3/5 Flows together well, epic at times, something missing though

Spotify: Okkervil River - I Am Very far

My review of this would have been very different, if I hadn't give it another chance during my flight to Las Vegas, which indicates, it could quite possibly be a grower.

I would have discarded this based on my first listen, which was whilst snowed under at work, so no time to really appreciate how well this is put together. Some epic choruses early on, and the album is stitched together well, found myself uninterested in the lyrics a lot of the time.

In summary, definitely worth a listen, twice!!

Note to self: Could be a grower.

The Kooks - Junk of the Heart

Rating: 2/5 You won't remember this one

The Kooks – Junk Of The Heart

My expectations of this Album were pretty low, before I started listening, and I was not disappointed, and I would not be surprised to see reviewers link the album material to one of the words in the albums title.

After listening to the first song, I thought this could actually pleasantly surprise me, but it descended into a whiny Luke Pritchard bore-fest, until "Is it me" which isn't a bad track. Unfortunately I couldn't tell you a thing about the rest of the album, as just after hitting Junction 26 on the M25, I realised there was no music playing, just the whirring of my air conditioning.

Like most recent mainstream albums, just the one track on it that you wouldn't tut at if you heard on the radio. On the plus side, I did actually listen to the end.

Note to self: Did you really expect any better?

Little Dragon - Ritual Union

Rating: 2/5 Forgotten Already

Spotify: Little Dragon - Ritual Union

Jools Holland show also responsible for me finding this group too, but that is no good thing,

An album that gets progressively worse the further you get into it, I actually find this album annoying, I found myself checking how far I was into it, to see how much longer I have to listen, which is a shame, as I believe the lead singers voice is better than this.

It's Repetitive, uninspiring & reminds me of standing in a club you've got in too early that is playing shit music until the proper DJ turns up.

Note to self: Delete

Trombone Shorty - For True

Rating: 4/5 Decent, Definitely worth a Listen.

For True - Spotify

Well, I'm pleasantly surprised, I came across this Artist whilst watching Jools Holland (Live on Jools Holland), where they performed "Do to Me", which is a good track, but I wouldn't say it was the best on the album, "Mrs Orleans" is a good track, despite featuring Kid Rock.

I would definitely recommend listening to this all the way through at least once, easy listening, for true. Easily an album you could have on in the background whilst friends are round having a few drinks, or even doing the housework/cooking.



Note to self: Save this one, good to put on when struggling for material.

Welcome

I have spent far too much of the last 6 years listening to music, 1000's of Artists, 10's of thousands of tracks, and have discovered some material that will always be on my "portable music device" from 1950's to yesterday.

However, since the start of iTunes & Spotify, it seems that anyone can get a Album recorded, and put out there, this has made the tasks of finding GOOD music almost impossible.


So I have decided to blog on the Albums I listen to, just to remind myself of the criminal music activity I come across, and to make sure I never listen to it again.

Please read >>>>>>>>

Ed Sheeran - +

Rating: 3/5 Ok as background noise, worth a listen

If you listen to Radio 1 you are probably sick of hearing his voice, or you are a commercial drone, I don't listen in on that particular radio station, and in moderation, this guy is pretty good.

I couldn't put this in any particular genre, however the more I listen the more it reminds me of a more 'current' Jack Penate (Especially Sunburn). A very good lyricist, a varied album, from the lovey dovey Lego House to You need me, I don't need you's energy.

In Summary, it's worth a listen.

Note to Self: This one will probabaly get boring.