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So, in light of all that, what have I rated this year? Well, read on. There's some new features this year, too... Album Of The Year
1. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not Hardly a surprise really, was it? Sheffield's finest musical exports since Jarvis Cocker and friends set Steel City drama to music, the 4 Chapeltown boys do the same but with a little more rhythm, a little less avant-garde and a little more anger. If you're Northern and of a certain age, it ticks all the right boxes. If you're not, what's to stop you appreciate some Monkey loving? It's bloody good music, excellent lyrics and it's The Sound Of Northern Britain. So get on board the bandwagon. 2. The Young Knives – Voices Of Animals And Men From The Sound Of Northern Britain to The Sound Of The Midlands. Stuck in a two-bit town in the middle of nowhere, 3 young pups (with one known as The House Of Lords) got some instruments, learnt to play, listened to a hell of a lot of New Wave and ended up being surrealist funk-punk legends. If the sound of 'She's Attracted To' doesn't make you want to break things, you're a very sad person. 3. Belle And Sebastian – The Life Pursuit And a welcome return to the Scottish multitude named after that funny French cartoon about a girl and her dog that we used to be inflicted with on a Sunday morning. Still brilliant, still writing songs that most bands would give their left arm for, Stuart Murdoch and friends still plough the furrow of glossy production that started with Dear Catastrophe Waitress. 'White Collar Boy' is brilliant, 'The Blue Are Still Blue' is a Stuart Murdoch classic, and the rest of the album just continues to prove that Belle And Sebastian are the best band that most people haven't heard of. Ultimately underrated, but always appreciated by those who are in the know. 4. Tiga – Sexor 5. We Are Scientists – With Love And Squalor 6. Secret Machines – Ten Silver Drops 7. Be Your Own Pet – Be Your Own Pet 8. The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers 9. The Vines – Vision Valley 10. The Longcut – A Call And Response Single Of The Year
1. The View – 'Wasted Little DJs' About as High Fidelity as recording through a tin-can telephone, 'Wasted Little DJ's reperesents the future of British rock and roll. Simple, catchy, and tinged with just the right amount of punk attitude, The View are the rightful heirs to Teenage Fanclub in that proud tradition of Scottish guitar genius. Watch this space. 2. Oasis – 'Acquiesce' Oh come on, did you expect anything different? It's The Single That Never Was That Now Finally Is. About bloody time. Forget the recent above-average stuff. This is the cream of Oasis, a reminder of how great, important and energising the band was. Shame Noel will never, ever reach those heights again. 3. The Gossip – 'Standing In The Way Of Control' Listen to the bass. It's like your whole body wants to join the party. Beth Ditto is another welcome addition to the ranks of fiesty female rock singers, proof positive that when it comes to rock, the female kind are just as good (if not better, in some cases) of leading the way. They've been around for yonks, but we're just getting the hang of The Gossip. More to come from this lot, rest assured. 4. Arctic Monkeys – 'Leave Before The Lights Come On' 5. We Are Scientists – 'Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt' 6. The Spinto Band - 'Mandy' 7. Be Your Own Pet – 'Bicycle, Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle' 8. Cansei De Ser Sexy – 'Let's Make Love (And Listen To Death From Above)' 9. Peter, Bjorn and John – 'Young Folks' 10. Eagles Of Death Metal - 'Leave Him Alone (The Boy's Bad News)' Non-Single Tracks Of The Year
1. Franz Ferdinand – 'L. Wells' Remember The Divine Comedy? Arty, high-brow Scott Walker-loving pop with a touch of humour? Well, this is like them, but about 4 billion times better. Once more the Archduke's namesakes continue to raise the bar. AND IT'S ONLY A BLOODY B-SIDE!!! 2. Arctic Monkeys – 'From The Ritz To The Rubble' Alex Turner writes tales of late-night debauchery like they're going out of fashion. But they're all so bloody good. This time Our Man gets stopped in the nightclub queue, chances it with a lady and the reminisces about it all the day after. All to a soundtrack angrier than a drunken Glaswegian. 3. The Young Knives – 'Here Comes The Rumour Mill' Voices Of Animals And Men is an album full of brilliance, but this is my personal highlight. Straight out of the Gang Of Four Guide On Snappy Basslines – 'Here Comes The Rumour Mill' is a tirade against gossip as form of social commentary. Except you could play it at the indie disco and watch the madness ensue. If The Young Knives were around 20 years earlier, we'd be exalting them as legends by now. So let's save the children of tomorrow a job, and do it now, eh? 4. The Futureheads – 'Yes/No' 5. My Morning Jacket – 'Lay Low' (Live) Compilation Of The Year (Biased Version) Oasis – Stop The Clocks Compilation Of The Year (Non-Biased Version) Various – North By North-West Live Highlights 1. Manchester Versus Cancer, Manchester MEN Arena, January 2. The Rakes, Sheffield Leadmill, February 3. The Young Knives, D-Percussion Festival, Manchester, August Don't Believe The Hype AKA The Big F**king Letdown Award Primal Scream – Riot City Blues The Futureheads – News And Tributes The Rapture – Pieces Of The People We Love The Are You Still Here? Award The Kooks The Velvet Underground Award For Most Influential Band This Year Pulp The I Can't Stop Listening To... Award The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion The Crying Shame Award Alan 'Fluff' Freeman P.S. I look forward to Vincent Roccoforte's own review – and all your comments. Bring on the hate!
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books  books and comics archive Author interviews and reviews from 2002 to 2008. film  film archive The best of cinema in the UK from 2002 to 2008. |
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