Albums: + an EP to upset JP
01:
Eels -
End Times
I got into Eels through last years Hombre Lobo release. Since then Eels have become one of my favourite bands. End Times could possibly be their best work in my book. I know many were disappointed with it but for me it's an almost masterpiece, a work of real simplistic beauty.
02:
I Am Kloot -
Sky At Night
I Am Kloot are a band I'd lost interest in over the past few years. I hadn't enjoyed anything they'd released since their second album. I gave this a go due to some good reviews & for me it's their best record. Again, I don't think many would agree & many think that the Guy Garvey made their sound a bit too similar to Elbow but I can honestly only hear it on one or two tracks. The bigger rich sound of the record really suits this batch of songs & as usual John Bramwell's lyrics & vocals are wonderful
03:
Shit Horse -
They Shit Horses Don't They?
Technically an E.P but I don't care, it's one of the best things I've heard all year. Gave this a chance when I saw somebody mention the vocals being a bit Captain Beefheart sounding & never looked back. Theres a genuinely unique sound on these tracks that are the most raw & exciting I've heard all year. I really hope they put a full length out in the future because the world needs more bands like Shit Horse
04:
Steve Mason -
Boys Outside 
Must admit, I've never been hugely into the Beta Band. Theres a handful of tracks which I love but they've never really clicked for me. Saw Steve Mason at a festival this summer & enjoyed it so checked out his debut solo LP & loved it. Reminded me of a more chilled out version of the better moments of Ian Brown's solo career. Lost & Found is one of the tracks of the year
05:
Grinderman -
Grinderman 2
Loved the Grinderman debut & Nick Cave can never do no wrong but for me this managed to top the debut. Took a while to click with me as a complete record but once it did I became hooked.
06:
The Futureheads -
The Chaos
Seems the Futureheads are destined to always be underrated. Heartbeat Song was one of the catchiest singles of the year & it did receive some airplay but still nobody bought the record & they still continue to play smaller venues than they should be. Their best work since their debut.
07:
Isobel Campbell And Mark Lanegan -
Hawk
Had never heard any of their work prior to this. So glad I checked this out, sounds like a modern day Nancy & Lee. Will be checking out their past records ASAP.
08:
The Tamborines -
Camera & Tremor 
I've seen this band half a dozen times or so over the past 5 years & they were always impressive. I started to wonder if they would ever release an album then later this year I found out they'd had a record out for months. Purchased it straight away & it's pretty damn good. The Tamborines do nothing new, it's a cross between Spaceman 3, BRMC & everything inbetween but they do it so damn well. A shame they never got snapped up by a bigger label, this record deserves much more credit.
09:
Nobunny -
First Blood 
Checked around maybe ten garage bands records from this year & this was by far the pick of the bunch. A full sounding production & catchy as hell tunes, it's just a 25 minute blast of garagerock that puts a smile on your face.
10:
Ryan Adams -
III/IV
Had given up on Ryan Adams in recent years. The majority of the work he put out with the Cardinals I found completely dull. When this was announced it sounded like the leftovers from the Cardinals so I wasn't very motivated to hear this but I'm glad I did. To me this sounds nothing like the Cardinals & falls somewhere inbetween his Rock & Roll & Love Is Hell records. A handful of tracks which rank up there with his best, a whole bunch more which are pretty good & a few duds. As usual he should of edited himself a bit but by now I've come to expect this from him.
11:
The Tallest Man On Earth -
The Wild Hunt 
Usually when an artist makes a 2nd LP sounding exactly the same as the first it's never as good but I think The Wild Hunt just about shades his debut.
12:
The Black Keys -
Brothers
Their most successful record to date. I'm a bigger fan of their 2-piece garagerock but they show with this that they can become a full band with a bigger production & still pull it off.
13:
Paul Weller -
Wake Up The Nation 
Absolutely loved the past two Weller records. He sounds like he has a bit of passion back in his belly & is trying to please himself rather than others with his music which has made a huge difference.
14:
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club -
Beat The Devil's Tattoo 
Probably one of their worst records they've put out which speaks volumes for BRMC. Sure it's too long at 13 tracks & theres a few duff tracks on here but theres still some of their best work spread throughout the record & tbh they can never do any wrong for me.
15:
Gorillaz -
Plastic Beach
A top 5 record throughout most of the year for me but I've kind of worn it out a bit now but still enjoy it. Such an ambitious record packed full of fun with so many great guests. The fact that they even managed to assemble such a squad is amazing & for the record to be pretty damn good as well is a real rarity
.
16:
Jesse Malin -
Love It To Life 
Great hook after great hook. A short blast of upbeat numbers which I probably enjoy alot more than I probably should.
17:
LCD Soundsystem -
This Is Happening
Will go down as a disappointment in my books but only because of the insane standards James Murphy set with the first two LCD records. Still has some amazing moments spread throughout.
18:
22-20's -
Shake / Shiver / Moan 
I think I might be one of many about five people on earth that even knew this came out. I tried it out as I did kind of enjoy their debut but this blows it out of the water. A genuine surprise for me & I'd recommend anybody who enjoyed them when they first was around to check this out
19:
Neil Young -
Le Noise
With Neil's solo records in recent years I usually enjoy them then never feel like revisiting them often though this I'm pretty sure I will keep coming back to. Sounds like nothing else he's done before & theres a couple of songs which I'd consider classic Neil Young tracks.
20:
Kevin Burgess -
Vaudeville Hopscotch 
Kev's 3rd record & for me his best. I still can't believe he wrote Elias Dread, every time I hear it I punch the air it's without a doubt one of the best songs I've heard this year. A urge anyone who never got around to hearing it to check it out.
21:
The Soft Pack -
The Soft Pack 
Straight forward garage/rock. You could call it forgettable and nothing new but for me it's fucking exciting.
22:
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti -
Before Today 
Hated this the first couple of times I heard it then each time I put it on I liked it more & more to the point where for a long time this year I'd of had this in my top five. As times gone on It's lost a tiny bit of it's sparkle for me but still it sounds like nothing else I've ever heard & I hope he/them continue to make music in this vain
23:
Cee-Lo Green -
The Lady Killer
Ridiuclously fun album full of top pop tunes backed with Cee Lo's huge vocals.
24:
Band Of Horses -
Infinite Arms 
It took me a while to get into this, I didn't like it on first listen then discarded it for a long time. For me it's pretty much on par with their other two records.
25:
Darker My Love -
Alive As You Are
Took me a while to come around to the fact that Darker My Love were no longer the dark sounding Psychedelic band they used to be but once I did come round I started to dig the record. A complete Byrds ripoff, but a good one.
26:
The Coral -
Butterfly House
Got rave reviews & seems most people love it but for me it's the weakest LP they've put but saying that it's still pretty damn good. A Dissapointment by my expectations of them but I could never be disappointed with songs like Walking in the Winter & The North Parade
27:
The Divine Comedy -
Bang goes The Knighthood
The Duckworth Lewis record got me interested in The Divine Comedy, had never really given them a go before. Really enjoyed this release, full of witty clever lyrics. Must check out their old releases.
28:
Holly Golightly & The Breakoffs -
Medicine county
Not as instant as the previous two records Holly's done with the Breakoffs but still a brilliant record.
29:
Gil Scott-Heron -
I'm New Here
First time I'd ever heard the music of Gil Scott-Heron. Before this I'd only knew his name through being namedropped by LCd Soundsystem. A lovely record which I like to stick on and chill out to when I'm tired.
30:
Eels -
Tomorrow Morning
The third part of E's recent trilogy, must go down as a dissapointment in my books. It's a good album but not a great album like the two before but still theres enough good material on here to make this another good Eels record.
............................
Those 30 I really really liked & will revisit for a long time to come I'd imagine. Others which I enjoyed were:
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Calibro 35 - Ritornano Quelli Di...
The Vaselines - Sex With An X
Deer Tick - The Black Dirt Sessions
Babian - Hälften Dör Av Fetma
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Mark Sultan - $
The Fall - Our Future Your Clutter
Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks
The Vermillion Sands - The Vermillion Sands
Edwyn Collins - Losing Sleep
Best Coast - Crazy For You (should of been an EP, I become annoyed with it by the end everytime I hear it)
Weekend - Sports (only heard it once)
The Charlatans - Who We Touch
Tracks01: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Bad Blood
02: The Black Keys - Never Give You Up
03: LCD Soundsystem - All I want
04: Ryan Adams - Stop Playing With My Heart
05: Eels - A Line In The Dirt
06: British Sea Power - Zeus
07: Kevin Burgess - Elias Dread
08: I Am Kloot - Proof
09: Shit Horse - Twelve Horses
10: Cee Lo Green - Fuck You
11: Steve Mason - Lost & Found
12: Neil Young - Love & War
13: The Tallest Man On Earth - King Of Spain
14: Doves - Andalucia
15: The Vaselines - It Wasn't All Duran Duran
16: Jesse Malin - Burn The Bridge
17: The Futureheads - I Can Do That
18: Nobunny - Blow Dumb
19: The Tamborines - Sally O'Gannon
20: The Divine Comedy - The Complete Banker
Gigs01:
Pixies @ Troxy
02:
Primal Scream (Performing Screamadelica) @ Grand Hall Olympia
03:
The Flaming Lips @ Glastonbury
04:
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Electric Ballroom
05:
Grinderman @ Hammersmith Apollo
06:
The Cribs (Performing their first two albums) @ The Garage
07:
The Brian Jonestown Massacre @ Shepherds Bush Empire
08:
Eels @ Brixton Academy
09:
British Sea Power @ The Scala
10:
The Charlatans @ Brixton Academy
11:
Stevie Wonder @ Glastonbury
12L
LCD Soundsystem @ Glastonbury
13:
GZA/Genius @ The Jazz Cafe
14:
Stereophonics (Performing Word Gets ARound) @ Hammersmith Apollo
15:
The Fall @ Field Day
16:
Pavement @ Brixton Academy
17:
Doves @ Troxy
18:
The Black Keys @ Brixton Academy
19:
The Futureheads @ Brixton Jamm
20:
The Vaselines @ The Scala
