Post to Twitter
Last week, I declared The Zookeepers record to be "the album of the year so far, hands down". I was then chatting to someone earlier this week about the merits of doing a ‘records of the first half of the year’ list, rather than waiting until December for a 2009 round up. Then the excellent Ryan’s Smashing Life did exactly that.
So I felt like fate was telling me to create my own albums of the year so far list. Which is what I’ve done here.
I love this band. Manic schizo pop with humour and suss - could well be the album of the year come December 31st.
Just the kind of pop punk perfection we’ve grown to expect from let’s wrestle. But with added oomph in the production department. Witty lyrics often ridiculous (Diana hair) but always clever without being show off. Buy this album, you will not be disappointed.
As they say it themselves, they are the men you’ll grow to love soon.
Yorkshirecana bluegrass brilliance from Serious Sam. He plays a mean 12 string resonator, mixing songs about his home county with traditional southern folk stompers. There’s authenticity, there’s soul - someone to get very excited about. I’ll be posting a full review soon.
More about the album on Yadig Records
Serious Sam Barrett - Lay A White Rose from James Rhodes on Vimeo.
Genius lo fi punk rock - like Cody Chestnutt drip fed on The Gories and The Peechees. Basic pop punk with hooks a plenty and slinky cretin hop beats.
Younger lovers video is at the top of the page, just to confuse you.
You may be sick of hearing about them, but fight the music snob’s instinct to resist because White Denim truly truly deserve the hype. A frenetic rock masterpiece, fizzing with ideas and anchored in waves of familiar retro sounds. Genius.
<
Black Lips style languid psychey garage rock. There’s a lot of this kind of thing about, and The Smith Westerns could just be the best of the bunch.
Twee without making you feel like you’ve overdosed on butterscotch angel’s delight, The Lovely Eggs charm you with their pop ditties and then suprise you with occasional bouts of NOISE.
The Dexateens in mellower mood, as captured by Lampchop producer Mark Nevers. A fantastic collection of camp fire country sing alongs, with the occasional moment of whoop ass.
Like Marcellus Hall from Railroad Jerk fronting Cold War Kids with their amps turned up to 11 and the drummer possessed by John Bonham.
It couldn’t be an artrocker.com list without a nod to Art Brut. Thankfully, their Black Francis produced third album is the band at their gleefull best. The lyrics are, of course, as witty and entertaining as ever - and the Pixieness seeping into the record through Frank Black’s fingers adds an extra sparkle too.
Alcoholics Unanimous video on YouTube
23 minutes of excellent old skool hardcore punk, with Eddie Argos-esque vocals. Chunky garage tinges to the guitar give the record a Hellacopters meets Minor Threat / early Dag Nasty feel. Top stuff.
Country inflected rock n roll with the necessary balls, rough edges and cheeky twists, made all the more interesting by Marc Bolan style rock pixie vocals from Erika Wennerstrom.
Photos from a recent FOE gig - a friend of our friends Hold Your Horse Is - she’s gonna be big!!! Read the gig review after the jump.
Shots of North Carolina’s folk-rocking Avett Brothers’ stop in Glasgow - 22.08.11
Read the review of the gig here.
Take a look at the acts and art on offer at this year’s Latitude Festival in Suffolk. Included are the likes of Fight Like Apes, Lykke Li, Sea of Bees and Seasick Steve. Photos from our own...
Good time with Bad Guys. Photos from the May 29th gig at the Old Blue Last. Read the review by the Bad Guy himself, Stuart London after the jump.
Artrocker.com exclusive: for fans of White Lies and Crocodiles we’ve got some fresh pictures from their UK show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire earlier this month, courtesy of Alessandro...
Forgot to include Brakes
.. doh. Their Touchdown album is fantastic - I’d stick it in at number 7.1.Post new comment