GIGz10) OFWGKTA – ABC, April Great gig. Downside was, I was reviewing it, and I wrote that Syd Tha Kid was on the decks. Turns out she wasn’t.
Cue a dozen geezers on twitter trashing me
Yeah, I know, they all look the same etc etc, LOLZ.
9) New Order – T in the Park, FridayNo Hooky but plenty of banging tunes. First time seeing them indoors, where they should be imo, with a proper superclub-sized PA.
8) The Horrors – Liquid Room, March.7) Primal Scream – Queen’s Hall, Dunoon, July“Great”, I thought, “Primal Scream are playing an island seaside resort near Glasgow. That’ll make a perfect summer day out!” The weather was so fucking bad that most of the ferries were cancelled. Thankfully, the Scream fucking smashed it. They dropped most of Screamadelica and went back to XTRMNTR. Huge teemz, etc.
6) GZA – The Arches, MarchI had never heard Liquid Swords until about two days before this. I’ve played it almost every day since. WHEN THE MCs CAME
5) Holy Mountain – Wickerman FestivalThey’re a power trio from Glasgow, just signed to Chemikal Underground. Think Black Sabbath meets Motorhead. Heavy as fuck, but great fun to watch live. I reckon a few folk on here would love them.
4) Toots & the Maytals – Liquid Room, AugustBest reggae band still touring. Kill for a ticket next time they play near you. Such good fun. Plus this was on one of the few properly warm days of the summer, which was fitting.
3) Morrissey – Usher Hall, Edinburgh, JulyEasily the best time I’ve seen him. I don’t know if it’s because he wasn’t on tour, so this was a special show, or if it was the grand venue, but he was in a great mood throughout and was clearly enjoying himself. An amazing setlist as well, covering all bases. Played the likes of ‘You’re the One For Me, Fatty’ and ‘Alma Matters’. Would have been my number one gig most other years, tbh.
2) The Stone Roses – Heaton Park, Saturday nightEverything I could have hoped for and more. It was so perfect that it was almost like a dream. The experience was definitely helped by the fact I was there with a good-sized group of friends, and we all got in to the front pit and had a great view of the stage. That and the fact we all took enough drugs to kill a herd of cows.
1) Action Bronson – Camden Barfly, MarchJP said it was one of the best nights of his life. It was one of the best nights of mine as well. Huge, huge teems. Too many moments to mention – SJ on stage, me falling arse over tail and knocking 678 pints over in the process, pulling shapes in the club after with the lads – one to tell the grandkids about
LPz21) Haight Ashbury – Haight Ashbury 2: The AshburysAlso the winners of this year’s coveted ‘Shittest album title of the year’ award.
20) The Brian Jonestown Massacre – AufhebenFrankly, he should have been jailed for that last album, but Anton just about redeemed himself with this, and playing a cracking show at TintheP.
19) Field Music – PlumbField Music, innit? Hugely underrated.
18) Liars – WIXIWI simultaneously hate and really admire this record. They’re not a band I had a lot of time for, but you can’t argue with them when they hit top form.
17) Jo Mango – MurmurationNot the sort of record I usually listen to, but she’s a huge, huge talent and the production is just lush.
16) Errors – Have Some Faith In MagicDecent record. The frontman is also really good looking, I bet he has his pick of the birds!!
15) Jack White – BlunderbussA solid record, but ultimately I found it a bit dull. Hope Meg sorts her shit out and they can reform the Stripes quicksmart.
14) Hector Bizerk – Drums, Rap, Yes!Kept meaning to start a thread about these guys. Basically it’s one MC, and a bird on the drums. No hype man, no decks, nothing. Sounds shit, but they are actually fucking amazing, especially live. Also winner of the coveted 'Best album title of the year' award.
13) The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever KnowA challenging and at times difficult third album from the Kilsyth band, but not one without some great moments.
12) Action Bronson & Party Supplies – Blue ChipsI was a bit unsure of this at first, as it’s a totally different record from Well-Done, but it’s grown on me a lot. It’s a bleak album in places, proof that Bronson can rap about more than cooking and smoking. Hookers at the Point is especially brutal. That line: ‘That’s what she gets for being a whore though’ cuts me every time.
11) Battery Face – Addams Family Values Hardcore party rock from this Glasgow three piece. This debut album sounds unlike anything else I’ve heard this year. The band recorded and produced the entire thing themselves, and the result is an exciting, muddy mess not a million miles from the VU’s second album.
10) Miaoux Miaoux – Light of the NorthThe arrival of a big production talent. Check out his single ‘Better Now’ for an idea of what he’s about.
9) Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet LightA welcome return to form for J Spaceman. Even better was their live show in Glasgow in March, they were fucking brilliant.
8) Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All – The Of Tape Vol 2Not their best compilation, but it does include the mighty Oldie and the stinging Rello.
7) Beach House – Bloom
6) Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Mature Themes If you’ve not heard ‘Symphony of the Nymph’, you’ve not lived
This is a better record than Before Today, I reckon.
5) PAWS – Cokefloat!High energy punk rock from the Highlands, but with a surprisingly melancholic twist. ‘Catherine 1956’ is both banging and devastatingly sad
Glad to see JP also rates them
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4) Django Django – Django DjangoIt’s by no means perfect, but it’s still a really strong debut from a quality band. Hail Bop is fucking immense.
3)Clinic – Free ReignI don’t think anyone else on here rates them, but this is a tremendous album. Definitely worth getting even if you’ve never heard them before. The first three tracks are pretty much a good summing up of what they’re all about. One of the best and most consistent bands in the UK.
2) Goat – World MusicA proper beast of an album. The production makes it - If this had been polished it would have lost most of its power. My highlight is the last track, Det Som Aldrig Forandras, which then leads back into Diarabi. Beyond epic. Cannot wait to see them play live.
1) Frank Ocean – channel ORANGEI was tempted to put Goat as number one, just so I wouldn’t be choosing the same top album as both Shortlist and the Guardian, but the fact is it’s the better album. It’s not flawless, there’s a few dud tracks, but Pyramids is the best thing released this year by a country mile.
At least you have 5 of your top10 choices in the global top10. 
Cue a dozen geezers on twitter trashing me 
Glad to see JP also rates them 
