The Albums of 2007!

Best of lists seem to be the bread and butter of any blog these days so here is my side of the story that has been 2007's albums. Remembering I am not superhuman, and haven't listened to everything out this year I am going to be explaining my top 5, just the big deals!

1) LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
It is hard to place this above the others, especially as this has been such a good year for electronic music and also with every man and his dog either agreeing, or shooting anyone down who does for latching on to the trends. However, there is something that happens when I listen to this, and it's the thought that people will still be partying to these classic tunes for many years to come. For me, this album represents 2007, perhaps along with one other, and this is why it is sitting pretty at the top of the pile.

2) Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Arguably the biggest band in the world at the moment (until the return of Radiohead), coupling an immensely popular No.1 album with breathtaking live shows spanning the US and Europe. For many, this wouldn't be at all 'cool' however, I'd rather a band making music like Because of the Times be the biggest in the world than many others who find themselves splattered across the worlds publications and websites. Filled with potential singles, interesting and tight musicianship, and quirky takes upon the history of rock music this album was almost impossible to separate from the one above. It still was the rock/pop album of the year for me.

3) Frank Turner - Sleep is for the Week
Hilariously funny and starkly truthful lyrics underpin Frank Turner's debut, an album that lead the way for me, for most of the year. On the 13 tracks he doesn't put a foot wrong and they all offer us an insight into different corner's of his mind. Underpinned by a sense of melody and rhythm which bridges the gap between quirkiness and pop appeal this LP was a real triumph of 2007!

4) Feist - The Reminder
1, 2, 3, 4, is Feist "cool" anymore? That is the question many seem to be asking, and one which seems seemingly strange when you realise that Feist's lead single, and advertisers dream, is another hark back to classic 60's pop, something hardly unusual for either the artist nor the whole indie-pop (eugh, genre's!) scene as a whole. The whole album, like Turner's above, doesn't really disappoint throughout and seems a natural progression from 2005's Let it Die. For me the success is deserved and this is an album which will appeal to many, so all the better that it has reached them.

5) mewithoutYou - Brother, Sister
For a moment I thought I'd gone soft but here are mwY to provide a suitable end to the list with their unmistakable brand of alt/rock. As a bass player the first thing I noticed about this album was the super-tight rhythm section and clever, melodic bass lines which sit prominently amongst the mix but to singly focus on bass alone (although bass player's never get enough credit!) would be to ignore the band as a whole, who are very proficient in all their respective instruments. The style's really vary across the album and it is aided by brilliant production, especially in the opener where the light rain is broken by those fast-paced ringing chords. Topped off by deep and introspective vocals, there is longevity in this record and always something to keep coming back to.

That was my personal highlights of this year and the records I feel have offered the most. There are several other records of note I'd like to run through real quick though!

• M.I.A - Kala - With artists like LCD, Girl Talk and others M.I.A has pushed the envelope this year and this was a record which has topped many proper music journo's lists. Left out alot because she canceled on Nottingham! This wave of dance has helped to make wide-eyed freshers like myself even more aware of the super-hip, vice-led scene which populate the globes coolest districts, bringing it a little closer to rural England!
• Band of Horses - Cease to Begin - Like a rolling ball of snow (my effort to be seasonal!), BoH are rapidly picking up admirers across the world but this record just didn't quite match their debut for me.
• Biffy Clyro - Puzzle - Really fun album, just off the list as I've found I haven't listened much since that first month. Much like Zeitgeist too.
  
• James Murphy & Pat Mahoney - Fabriclive 36 - If I felt compilation's were worthy this album would be sitting up there with the best but unfortunately I don't and possibly the funnest album of the year will have to be content with this mention.

There you have it, my list and please reply with your favourites of the year. I'm aware of the Animal Collective, Burial and, of course, Radiohead efforts along with many other's but I just couldn't put down stuff that I haven't given my full time to!

Hope everyone continues to have a good seasonal time,
Josh x

Carling Festival 2007: Leeds (Part 2)

Saturday morning and with memories of the Pumpkins still as fresh in the mind, as the dew on the grass, we were up and about early for the day's music. First up was the second half of The Pipettes and although it was hard to judge on a few songs, I think these girls coped well with the early slot, getting some early birds dancing to their Motown grooves. Searching for some undiscovered gems, we moved on to the Carling Stage to see fresh faced Nashville punk rockers, the Turbo Fruits. Blasting through a 30 minute set that included 3 chords, 2 ripped string vests and 1 lonesome blow up ball the kids tried their best and at times managed to sound at least a little like The Stooges. By the looks of it, time is on their side so maybe they'll be back again next year.
So, if we had waited 10 minutes longer for the mysterious "Hooks For Hands" we would have been presented with the greatest surprise of the weekend...a secret gig from Leeds very own Kaiser Chiefs, and, although I am by no means a huge fan, I have to say I would have love to have caught them. We moved on quickly, to the sunny main stage, and I had another chance to see The Long Blondes, another local band, who have risen to fame off a critically acclaimed debut album. They were again, pretty fun and almost marked a real start to the day in terms of music.
Next, I decided to venture off alone and I returned to Carling Tent for my first band of a planned double header. Blood Red Shoes were meant to just be my warm up but they turned out better than expected and their tight, edgy two piece rock showed an early ear for hooks and clever melodies. Next up was the one I had waited for, Frank Turner. Almost at the front, I was in prime position to sing, shout and jump my way through his charismatic and warm show. This is a guy who is writing some of the most interesting tracks in the singer/songwriter field and his live performance showed off the personality that is spawning such clever and catchy songs, all with his angry folk/punk edge.
After, with many friends going to see Maximo Park on the main stage I thought I'd come along as there was nothing else that caught my attention. This is a band I've never really been into, but in the live setting they really weren't so bad and all my mates seemed to have a great time dancing and singing to the hits! Interpol were next up on the main and I faced a major clash, them or The Bronx. After much deliberation, I went with my heart and ran off to catch LA's finest for my second occasion. They really didn't disappoint. This is a band which sweats and bleeds passion, a punk band I really believe in and the show was fucking awesome. Spending more time in the crowd than on stage, frontman Matt Caughthran, actually means it when he says he wants to break down the barriers between audience and band. For me, this brings so much respect, and after seeing several bands already profess such things and not really live up to their outlandish claims, it was a refreshing change. Racing through no end of hits like "Shitty Future" and "White Tar" (which I think I got to shout a line on!) the band showed that they meant business. For the former, he lead with the line;

"The bad news is here comes the next song. It's for all the psychopaths. It's feeding time!"

After which he dove into the crowd for what seemed like most the set. All that needs to be said about this band now is, if you want hard rock to believe in and to motivate you, look no further than these guys!
After that exhilarating experience, the fun didn't stop as Kings Of Leon took to the main stage. I've always loved KOL but this performance cemented their place as one of my favourite bands, they are the consummate rock band, a band at the height of their powers. With style, panache and truly brilliant songs they rocked through a set that lasted a little over an hour and took in material from all three records. Slowing it down, on tracks like "Fans" and the beautiful "Knocked Up", and then rockin' out again, with others like "Spiral Staircase" and "Four Kicks", Kings Of Leon are a band that deserved to be entertaining 60,000 smiling fans on that Saturday evening.
Finally, we sat on the grass for a more relaxed view of headlining act, Razorlight. As a big fan of the first album, but not its follow up, I was interested to see these guys, especially after they disappointed me back last year in Nottingham. Plus it was a good chance to just hang out with friends and chill. My overall impression of the set was that they were, not bad. I respect the fact that the songs they have written carry alot of emotion for millions of people and in that area they seemed to entertain their fans, but to me, the new material is a little flat and unexciting and this is highlighted in the live situation. Excluding 'those' two singles, I didn't hear anything that, was up to par with the songs from "Up All Night", the edgy, paranoid and essential debut. Personal highlights for me were when they dipped to the bottom of their relatively shallow bag of songs, to pull out classics such as "Rock & Roll Lies" and "Rip It Up" which did sound as good as when I first heard them. Overall then, they were better than in Nottingham, and maybe with a more creative third effort they'll be able to find another, more interesting, direction but on that Saturday evening they were thoroughly outclassed by everyone's favourite American band of brothers.

Set List
'In The Morning'
'Hold On'
'Golden Touch'
'Back To The Start'
'(Don't Go Back To) Dalston'
'Fall To Pieces'
'Pop Song 2006'
'Can't Stop This Feeling'
'LA Waltz'
'Leave Me Alone'
'Rock 'N' Roll Lies'
'Vice'
'America'
'Rip It Up'
'Who Needs Love'
'In The City'
'Funeral Blues'
'Stumble And Fall'
'Somewhere Else'

Frank Turner - Sleep Is For The Week (2007)

Semi-Acoustic Folk/Punk from this ex-member of UK hardcore outfit Million Dead. This was one of my slightly more random finds of the year so far and definitely one of the most refreshing. Frank Turner has a way with words and his lyrics, not only hit home in ways we can all to relate to but they also make you laugh;

"I've got friends who are bankers, and it's an easy rhyme to call them wankers"

He comments on all aspects of life, from his teens becoming a young punk to his current surroundings and balancing anarchy with his responsibilities. In all, this makes for an interesting combination and one that makes this such a facsinating listen. "Vital Signs" does stand out from the rest as a real anthem, but the whole album is solid. Variations in style, melody and pace mean that songs are easy to define and remember, unlike some in this genre. Finally, in the songs with a full band, the arrangements are fuller than you perhaps would expect and this benefits the album alot, making individual songs more memorable. Definately check this one out if you are looking for a different angle on the songwriter genre, its been one of my faves of 2007.

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