Mid-Year already? Where does the time go...

As I come to the end of another June, I realize the time has come to cast a glance backward and briefly analyze the best pop albums released so far this year (2009). Of course, I had planned many blog posts, like a continuation of the Saint Etienne theme when they began to rerelease their catalog in the deluxe versions of Foxbase Alpha and Continental. There was also something regarding my passion for Little Boots, a Pet Shop Boys dedication (which may still come later), and further music business analysis. All of these were scuppered due to an insane schedule and too much time spent enjoying the information others were providing me with. I like to absorb lots of stuff and regurgitate my thoughts at the end, hence the post here. The blog acts as a way to collate ideas into a concise and (somewhat) entertaining point of reference, and as I am not in the business of acquiring readers for the sole purpose of pushing up the number of hits to interest advertisers and the like, thank you for taking the time to read ahead. Now on with the show...

1) PET SHOP BOYS--Yes

Some may cry foul at this predictable choice, but there are other "predictable" choices that you may find noticeably absent from this list. Why the Pet Shop Boys again you may ask? How about because they have created one of the best pop albums of the year, and possibly their best pop album, or at least one to rival their best. If I had to name my three favorite Pet Shop albums, this would probably sit there comfortably along with Very and Behaviour. However, I only believe there is one semi-weak album of theirs (I'll leave you to guess which one), so this is high praise indeed. "Love Etc." seems like a strange song to open with at first, with the loping 6/8 beat and the chanting vocals, but it gets under the skin in the most insidious way, opening with an odd half verse, followed by a chorus straight out of left field. The song continues to build as it develops, sliding perfectly into a wallop of a song, "All Over the World", with its Tchaikovsky sampling riff--listen to this track on a good stereo, and you will be a believer. The breezy "Beautiful People" continues the optimism of the previous track (and there is a lot of optimism on this record, much more than on Fundamental), and seems stylistically different than the rest on offer here, but the Pets do like variety once in a while (see Bilingual and Nightlife). "Did You See Me Coming" is absolutely ebuillent, and "Vulnerable" is the type of melancholy ballad they do so well without being morose. Side one finishes (I also own the vinyl) with the upbeat Obama-waving "More Than a Dream", a great song which would be any other band's first single from their album--who knows if it will see a single release here.


Side two begins with the provocative "Building a Wall", with its funny spoken word passages (I found it amazing that people got bothered by this--does anyone remember "West End Girls" where Neil spoke ALL the verses?). "King of Rome" is a ballad worthy of being included on the classic Behaviour, while "Pandemonium" and "The Way it Used to Be" are simply two of the best songs you'll hear all year. "Legacy" is a bit of a red herring, as it is far from the template created by the Xenomania production team throughout the rest of the album, but it is the epic type of closing piece the Pets embrace with open arms. Then there is the bonus track, "This Used to Be the Future", featuring the vocals of Neil and Chris as well as Phil Oakey from Human League. This song is simply too amazing to have been left off the album, with its themes of an arms race and energy consumption set to a percolating beat--I like to program this between the last two tracks of the album proper, as it really needs a firm home, just as "Fugitive" did with Fundamental a couple years ago. Its omission is a small flaw which does not lessen the impact of the album, but adding it would not dilute the impact of Yes either.


Song for song, Yes ranks at the top for me. That being said, I have followed Pet Shop Boys career pretty closely for 25 years now, and although their writing is consistently strong, criticisms have been laid at their feet of late, calling them too old or too gay, and while there may be some truth in this regarding their ability to attract new or young fans, there is talent there that cannot be denied. It saddens me that, an album such as this which I play in my store daily has only sold 10 copies since its release in late April (in the US). What will it take to make the world wake from its economically-induced coma? That is the big story that looms over all of the following quality albums of 2009. Is anybody listening, and if they are, are they paying to make sure the artists continue to make quality music? That rant is for another post...
















2) ROYKSOPP--Junior


While we anxiously await the release of the companion piece, Senior, due this fall, Royksopp served up some long awaited sounds with Junior back in the spring. Featuring the vocals of Robyn, Karin Dreijer Andersson, Lykke Li, Anneli Drecker, and Royksopp themselves, Junior is a pop masterpiece that shows the duo at the peak of their composition and production powers. Purists may balk at the fact that nearly every track is a somewhat structured song, but face it, songs (and good ones) are more difficult to write than moody instrumentals, as they require a certain amount of structure which is easier to dismiss when the vocal is not present. Tracks like "The Girl and the Robot" and "This Must Be It" find their feet firmly planted on the dancefloor with Robyn and Andersson in control, while the sweeter tones of Li and Drecker provide "Miss It So Much" with its Norwegian lilt and "You Don't Have a Clue" with a gently-skipping sparkle. A great effort from a couple of Norwegians, who finally surpassed their French counterpart, Air, in creating a superior electronic pop album.

















3) CICADA--Roulette

Electropop is having one of its best years with albums from bands like this. Cicada have been knocking around for a while as DJs and remixers, doing the odd job for bands like Depeche Mode, and this is their second song-based album since 2006's Cicada. Vocal duties are handled by the wonderful Heidrun Bjornsdottir, formerly of the Icelandic band GusGus, although a couple other guests lend a hand on their own songs--Bjorn from Pacific! and Tom from the Editors. While Cicada doesn't really need the celebrity guests, their song additions only add to the wonderful thing they have going with Heidrun. In GusGus, she always seemed to be a great singer fronting a somewhat chaotic group after Daniel Agust left. Here, Heidrun's feet are firmly planted in the textures of Cicada, as they do her justice with their music and she does their music justice with her voice. "Love Don't Come Easy", "Don't Stare at the Sun", and "Metropolis" are easily three of the best songs of the year, and rival anything from the previously mentioned albums on this list. Welcome Cicada, your time has arrived. Now about getting people to hear your music...


(thanks to blogger Phil of Worrapolava for introducing me to Cicada's music!)

















4) LITTLE BOOTS--Hands


Really, what can I say about Victoria Hesketh that has not already been said in the blogsphere? She was talked up, then ripped down, and now resides somewhere firmly in the middle between godlike and irrelevant. Seriously though, Hands is a damn good album, one which any other artists would be hard pressed to come up with as a debut. Yes, there are some differences between production on the newer and older tracks, but we are only talking the space of about a year, so any difference in tone or texture is all relative. Let's face it, "Remedy" will be one of the biggest Gaga-sized hits on the planet this year, whether intentional or not, and it was needed to balance out some of the headier fare here. That being said, it isn't like Hands is some art project by John Zorn or even Sonic Youth--this is pure electropop at its finest, and I cannot wait to hear what Boots comes up with in the future. From the glossy opener "New in Town" to the disconnected "Stuck on Repeat", to the sensuous "No Brakes", Hands is chock full of pop hooks and buzzy synths, with some inspired vocals from Victoria. Her duet with Phil Oakey (he's popping up everywhere!), the glorious "Symmetry", will remain one of my favorite pop songs this year. Your move La Roux...(she will most likely be featured in the second half of the year)














5) PATRICK WOLF--The Bachelor

This is an album that seems to have had a rather difficult gestation involving record companies and a wealth of material, yet there is no denying the talent and emotion that went into making this album, and while not as immediate as its predecessor, The Magic Position, Patrick has made his most challenging and wildly head-spinning album (and he isn't even 30 yet). One feels the general sense that this was the result of a difficult process due to the divergent styles featured throughout the album (the tracks done in collaboration with Alec Empire in particular stick out), and that becomes the album's attraction and its albatross. Some of Patrick's most awe-inspiring work is here in "Damaris" and "Theseus", while "Hard Times" is the best pop single in recent memory to feature a string section and a choir. While Patrick has a love for industrial music ("Vulture"), one finds that the style sits rather uncomfortably with his superior musical pursuits, leading one to wonder what would have happened had these albums been presented separately as a double album (as originally intended). Let's just call it Patrick's very own Wild Mood Swings.
















6) LILY ALLEN--It's Not Me It's You

A strong contender for best all-around pop album of the year has to go to Lily. This record, which was supposed to come out in 2008, approximately six months earlier, was delayed without Lily's consent. In turn, she kept leaking track after track in demo or unmixed forms through her myspace page until the album was released, leaving us to live with the promise of these songs for several months. Some have complained about the general pop sheen provided by producer Greg Kurstin (Kylie, Little Boots, Bird & the Bee...everybody really), and while some of the ska-lite may be gone, Lily's voice and writing have improved, and these songs go deeper into the heart of this young girl than before. With a snarky charm and throw-caution-to-the-wind attitude, Lily has stepped forward with songs like "The Fear" and "Back to the Start", which contain much more mature themes than some of her previous work. And "F**k You" is the funniest song I've heard in a long time.
















7) BAT FOR LASHES--Two Suns

On Natasha Khan's first album a couple years ago as Bat For Lashes, entitled Fur and Gold, we got a small taste of what she was on about--witches & warlocks, forest creatures, and general kookiness. On Two Suns, some parts of that are restrained while other parts are enhanced, making for a more focused, straightforward effort. That isn't to say that she has jettisoned all the kookiness--even 60's crooner Scott Walker makes a cameo on the closing track, "The Big Sleep", stalking around in the shadows like a phantom. "Daniel" and "Pearl's Dream" are two of the more conventional songs on offer, while "Moon and Moon" is a favorite of mine, with its waltz-y piano and creepy underwater backing vocals. "Two Planets" has a tribal Bjork-ish quality, while "Peace of Mind" sounds like it was recorded in the 30's with a southern gospel choir in attendance. With Two Suns, you never know what you are going to get, but you know that it's going to be good.

















8) FILTHY DUKES--Nonsense in the Dark


Filthy Dukes create a winner with this storming electronic album which grew out of years as DJs and club owners. Developing organically, the album features many vocal turns by artists who either became friends or frequented their club, something which bands like the Chemical Brothers have really gotten too big to have happen to them anymore. If only for "Messages" alone, one of the catchiest singles of the year featuring Tommy Sparks on vocals, this album demands attention. The first half of the album is one of the strongest collection of dance tracks in recent memory, while the second half waxes more subtle and melancholic. A collaboration with Brandon Curtis from Secret Machines proves fruitful with "Don't Fall Softly", as well as writing lyrics for "Light Skips Cross Heart", sung by Tim Lawson of the band. If you like dance music with substance, do not miss this album!

(Another shout out to blogger Worrapolava for this!)
















9) YEAH YEAH YEAHS--It's Blitz!

What can I say? I've never liked the Yeah Yeah Yeah's that much before, although I always thought Karen O had great style, and "Maps" was a nice little tune. Wow, when I heard this album, my entire perspective changed. Like Goldfrapp going hard electro, a similar thing happened here, only YYY's came from a place of indie alterna-rock instead of John Barry soundtracks. "Zero" establishes the mood immediately, with its guitars that sound like synths and synths that sound like guitars. It rocks hard, but it's catchy, it's also danceable, and is one of the best singles this year. "Heads Will Roll" follows suit nicely, turning up the beats even higher. The real killers of this album though are the ballads, which meld the electronic touches to Karen's punky purr. "Soft Shock", "Runaway", and "Hysteric" are all songs more direct and sincere than anything the YYY's have come up with before, all to great and tender effect. I guess what I'll have to say is, "more, please..."














10) CAMERA OBSCURA--My Maudlin Career

...or the album where we surpass Belle & Sebastian at their own game. 2005's Let's Get Out of This Country was pleasant enough--a little bit of Northern Soul and a lot of melancholy strings wedded to Traceyanne Campbell's wistful croon did the job with some sparkly highlights. Now fully formed, My Maudlin Career is a leap forward, albeit a consistent one, and from "French Navy" to "Honey in the Sun", this is a winner of an album. The addition of more horns to the mix helps liven things up a bit more, and Traceyanne's singing has never been better. This is one of those albums that DO sell when I play it in my store, and I think it's down to how beautiful the vocals are, mixed with that rustic feel of yesteryear. "The Sweetest Thing" and "Swans" are also two really great, upbeat songs, while "Careless Love" is Camera Obscura at their achingly beautiful best.


The rest:

ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS--The Crying Light
THE HORRORS--Primary Colours
EMPIRE OF THE SUN--Walking on a Dream
I AM X--Kingdom of Welcome Addiction
WENDY & LISA--White Flags of Winter Chimneys
FEVER RAY--Fever Ray
GLASVEGAS--Glasvegas (US release)
THE VEILS--Sun Gangs
FRANZ FERDINAND--Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
GOD HELP THE GIRL (Belle & Sebastian)--God Help the Girl
+1
DEPECHE MODE--Sounds of the Universe

Depeche Mode squeaks into this list with their latest album, which I find to be an album that is easy to admire but maybe less so to love. That being said, the vocals on the Antony and Fever Ray albums may be an acquired taste to many, while others may find Franz Ferdinand a bit of a letdown for all the time spent making it, but these are the eleven albums I enjoyed the most that followed the first ten. I would also add that I have enjoyed albums by School of Seven Bells, Kleerup, and Airborne Toxic Event which escaped my radar in 2008. Other fine albums were released by White Lies, Phoenix, Passion Pit, and Grizzly Bear. Albums missing from these lists would be U2 and Morrissey, both of which I felt to be possibly treading new ground in directions I don't really want them to be treading--not bad but not their best. Fischerspooner's album was good, but was it good enough? And BWO is always BWO for me--good cheesy fun without much depth--a guilty pleasure not really necessary on this list.

What am I most looking forward to for the remainder of 2009? Imogen Heap for one, and her soul sister Kate Havnevik for another. Since I will not be hearing La Roux until after it's June 29 release date, I'm sure it will be part of the year end lists. Noisettes released a very good album which I have heard, but am not sure yet where to place it. The Gossip and Muse also have my attention--we'll just have to see where they go. On the oh-so-Brit front, Florence & the Machine will undoubtedly rank very high at year's end (i.e. it sounds amazing), and hopefully that Lucky Soul record makes an appearance. Will the Pipettes? Sugababes (really)? A-Ha? Who knows?

In retrospect, 2009 has delievered some VERY GOOD MUSIC--I hesitate to say it is even better than 2008, being in a recession and all, but I think that fact may be making musicians work harder to release good product--at least for the new artists trying to break through. Pet Shop Boys may be an exception to the rule here, as they made a very good album, as did Wendy & Lisa (who were gone so long they may as well be new artists--Grace Jones anyone?), but the old guard may be finally turning. Watch this space...

A love letter to Saint Etienne...

As I was gearing up to post about artists who released some seriously disappointing efforts over the past year, I got swept away by the beauty of the new comprehensive singles collection from Saint Etienne, London Coversations. I quickly decided that I would rather speak about the attributes of this band and their music than dwell on all that was wrong with the last Madonna record. After all, this is tomorrow, and the Ets seem like they have always been there like a comfy chair, with Sarah Cracknell's voice operating, as Morrissey said in a recent interview, as a soothing "caress".

First of all, I must warn you about the confusion surrounding the tracklist. Do not cheap out on the two disc version unless you don't care about missing MY favorite song of the new year (so far), "Method of Modern Love", as it only appears on the deluxe 3 disc box set (as well as CD singles and downloads). This should be a no-brainer, as it contains a DVD featuring 18 promo videos from "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" through "Side Streets". The booklet is rather charming as well, with artwork from singles, magazine covers, and live date promotions.

Growing up in the geographic center of the United States would not automatically predispose a music fan to liking Saint Etienne. I had been a big fan of British pop since my early teens when the Durans, Culture Clubs, Eurythmics, and Thompson Twins came along, and continued to be fixated on music across the pond throughout the 80's. As the decade came to a close, acid house reigned supreme in the clubs (Yazz & the Plastic Population, S'Express), and began infiltrating the rock world as well (Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, etc.), which was about the time I discovered Saint Etienne. I was working in a now defunct Musicland store in a mall in Kansas when we received one copy of Foxbase Alpha. Featuring what looked like a hippy protestor on the cover, I thought they must be another one of those Candyflip/Beloved type dance bands with a psychedelic tinge. Little did I know just how enamored I would become with this release at the time, putting pretty much everything else of a similar nature aside. Etienne were for real, and although they used lots of sampling technology, they actually sounded like a real band.

While a mini-explosion of electronic rave music was happening with the Shamen and early Prodigy, Saint Etienne provided the perfect antidote to all that craziness and keyboard wizardry with beautifully arranged and structured songs with depth and atmosphere that echoed those wonderful 60's Bacharach melodies in a completely contemporary way. They were much more than a recent flavor for me--they mixed dance beats and indie pop in a unique and very British way. All the references to London in the lyrics, including many places and people I had never heard of before, were a certain form of escapism for a college kid who was generally unhappy with his physical surroundings. Along with Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Marc Almond, David Sylvian, New Order, The Cure, and The Smiths, Saint Etienne, the newest kid on their block, hold a special place in my heart, as they offered something new yet strangely familiar in the world of keyboard driven British pop.

Being a piano student and composer at university, music that featured keyboards and new or interesting sounds that had not previously been mixed on record was extremely important to me. I could appreciate bands like Ministry and Nine Inch Nails for their production savvy and development of the industrial sound, though I was not really a fan of super aggressive music. Etienne brought a warmth and optimism to everything they touched, and I think it is safe to say that bands like Air and Goldfrapp (in retro mode) would have sounded very different without their influence. Sarah Cracknell was the perfect muse for two quiet guys who liked to experiment in the studio, and together they wrote some of the most engaging songs of the past 20 years.

Foxbase Alpha was an incredible collage of found sounds and dialogue with great songs. Most people who have this album remember "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (which does not feature Sarah--she was yet to join), and "Nothing Can Stop Us". However, there are several beguiling album songs that connect the dots like a fantastic painting. "Carnt Sleep" is so full of atmosphere, you could cut the air around its echo filled rhythm track, reminiscent of Sade, but containing so much more menace. "Spring" lightens the mood a bit, only to drift back to the mysterious with "She's the One" and the rousing-yet-dreamy "People Get Real". They even had the audacity to put an eight minute instrumental, "Stoned to Say the Least", in the MIDDLE of the album! "London Belongs to Me" is absolutely stunning--a blissful sunkissed sound they would return to many times throughout their career (see the epic "How We Used to Live" from Sound of Water ten years later). "Like the Swallow", another eight minute epic, deserves special mention as a song which defies categorization in aura and scope. This is why albums are SO IMPORTANT.

So Tough was even broader and more accomplished, functioning as a soundtrack to an imagined movie. Who else would open a record with a sprightly track like "Mario's Cafe", only to follow it with an instrumental like "Railway Jam"? The songs that follow--"Calico", "Avenue", "You're in a Bad Way", and "Hobart Paving"...need I say more? One of the best first halves of an album EVER. The second half is more experimental and atmospheric (great for rainy days), and they bring everything home with the wry and ingeneous bonus, "Join Our Club". Who wouldn't want to?

Tiger Bay may be my favorite album of all the Etienne albums. While there were two different versions released on either side of the Atlantic, I prefer the British version with the "Western Wind"/"Tankerville" medley featuring the ever-so-wonderful Stephen Duffy on guest vocals. Tiger Bay has all the atmosphere of the previous two albums, but there are much fewer samples and more fleshed out arrangements, especially in the singles "Pale Movie" and "Hug My Soul". The band said they were trying to make their own version of Fairport Convention's Liege & Lief, which comes across in what may be my all-time favorite Etienne song, "Former Lover", a strummed acousitc-guitar stunner, and the lovely "Marble Lions". These songs would have never made it as singles, so thankfully there is an album format here for Etienne to explore this side of their personality. The US edition adds "I Was Born on Christmas Day", which doesn't really fit, but it IS a great single. ("Who Do You Think You Are" possibly their most immediate single, preceded this album, and surprisingly did not feature on it.)

Etienne took a bit of a break in the mid-90's, releasing the great compilation, Continental, only in Japan. It featured one of their best dance singles, "He's On the Phone", and another great song, "Burnt Out Car", which was so great, they remixed and released it as a single over a decade later. Two favorites of mine were SE's interpretation of Gary Numan's "Stormtrooper in Drag" as dark eurodisco, and the heartbreaking acoustic ballad, "Lonesome". "Angel" also got a major overhaul for their remix album, Casino Classics. Continental is really just as good as any other Etienne album, so it still remains a mystery to me why it was not released worldwide.

Good Humor put Etienne back on the map in 98, with "Sylvie" being a particular highlight, as an album track, and in remixed form. The great Fairfax High bonus disc of 11 further tracks turned Good Humor into an even better double album. Sound of Water followed a couple years later, and is full of restrained emotions the way only the British can convey them. Non-single highlights are the lovely "Sycamore" and "Just a Little Overcome". The Interlude CD that followed Sound of Water turned this into a wonderful double album as well.

Finisterre is a highly underrated album in the Etienne songbook, and features one of their very top singles, "Action". I thought of Finisterre as real thinking man's pop, as there are so many moods and styles, with a little something for everyone. "Shower Scene" is great dance-pop akin to "Pale Movie", "Soft Like Me" a giddy hip-hop hippy anthem, and "Amateur" and "New Thing" show their affinity for the electroclash sound that was blooming at the time. Everything on Finisterre is again, very London, and very reminiscent of where they came from on Foxbase Alpha.

Saint Etienne carried their London love to even greater lengths on 2005's Tales from Turnpike House, an all-out masterpiece. The UK and US versions of this album were once again, so very different, while the UK version played like a dawn-till-dusk day in towerblock life, and the US version rearranged songs for maximum pacing and added three new bonus tracks and removed one (the David Essex duet, "Relocate", which many hate, but I find endearing). "Lightning Strikes Twice", "Good Thing", and "Stars Above Us" are the obvious singles, but the addition of some very special vocal harmonies bring tracks like "Sun in my Morning" and "Side Streets" into focus. "Milk Bottle Symphony" is a complete classic with its tempo changes and sweet vignette, while "Slow Down at the Castle" and "Teenage Winter" are songs only Saint Etienne could have written. It closes with the lovely acappella of "Goodnight", and at little over two minutes, they leave me wanting so much more.

Which brings us to the present. As I said before, "Method of Modern Love" is an amazing song, deserving of such a higher chart placing than it will get in England (come on people...Etienne are yours!), and even though they did not write it, it has easily inserted itself in the Saint Etienne canon as a wonderful and important addition. The driving "This is Tomorrow" is more reminiscent of their darker side (think "Like a Motorway"). They were both produced by studio wizard, Richard X (Rachel Stevens, Annie, Pet Shop Boys), and he is apparantly in charge of remixing and remastering parts of Etienne's backcatalogue, with Foxbase Alpha appearing in early summer 2009. If his work here is any indication, I cannot wait to hear what he has done with these classic albums.

Saint Etienne have never nor will they ever be household names, especially outside of the UK. However, fans can be found in the darndest places, as they are literally everywhere. That is one reason why Etienne can play almost anywhere and people will come out of the woodwork to see them. While their music is a unique escape from a rather bland world, their universal appeal shows how many of us have, at one time or are currently, continuing to escape our mundane lives. We could have it so much better...

Now for the songs...2008 edition

Before you lose any sleep, here were my choices for best songs of 2008. Make of it what you will:

1) GOLDFRAPP "A&E"--simple and very beautiful
2) THE PRESETS "This Boy's in Love"--electro heaven
3) THE KILLERS "Human"--did Pet Shop Boys lose a member?
4) HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR "Blind"--Antony kills this track!
5) DUFFY "Rockferry"--her best song by a mile
6) LADYHAWKE "Paris is Burning"--catchy AND innovative
7) BRITNEY SPEARS "Womanizer"--nuff said
8) CUT COPY "Hearts on Fire"--joy in repetition
9) CYNDI LAUPER "Grab a Hold"--Dragonette one-ups themselves!
10) GRACE JONES "Williams Blood"--best song since Slave to the Rhythm
11) SANTOGOLD "L.E.S. Artistes"--I love her manifesto here
12) COLDPLAY "Viva la Vida"--great song, epic percussion!
13) GIRLS ALOUD "The Loving Kind"--so lovely, yet danceable!
14) SAM SPARRO "Black & Gold"--more like this now...
15) KEANE "Spiralling"--Bowie-esque!
16) ABC "The Very First Time"--killer song from overlooked album
17) SOLANGE "Sandcastle Disco"--best song from an album with many
18) AIMEE MANN "31 Today"--her best single in years
19) I AM X "President"--why isn't Chris Corner a household name yet?
20) DRAGONETTE "Jesus Doesn't Love Me"--can't get enough of this!
21) GIRLS ALOUD "The Promise"--one-ups Emma Bunton!
22) LAST SHADOW PUPPETS "My Mistakes Were Made for You"--one-ups Scott Walker!
23) HOT CHIP "Ready for the Floor"--quirky dancefloor fun
24) VAMPIRE WEEKEND "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"--love the Peter Gabriel reference!
25) KYLIE MINOGUE "Do It Again"--Bird & the Bee gone disco! (Thanks Greg Kurstin!)
26) THE TING-TINGS "Shut up & Let Me Go"--dumb fun (sorry XO)
27) BRITNEY SPEARS "Circus"--maybe even better than "Womanizer"?
28) BLACK KIDS "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You"--good times!
29) SUGABABES "Every Heart Broken"--love the murder references!
30) KAISER CHIEFS "Never Miss a Beat"--Mark Ronson brings a new vibe!
31) GOLDFRAPP "Caravan Girl"--more glorious retro pop
32) MADONNA "Heartbeat"--had to namecheck her somewhere--actually a good song
33) JAMES "Hey Ma"--best (and delinquent) post 9-11 song
34) THE WHIP "Frustration"--who needs New Order?
35) THE HOOSIERS "Goodbye Mr. A"--peppy, well arranged tune
36) PRIMAL SCREAM "Uptown"--a whole new side to Bobby Gillespie?
37) R.E.M. "Supernatural Superserious"--they discovered a heartbeat!
38) WALTER MEEGO "Girls"--can Daft Punk still write catchy tunes like this?
39) ADELE "Chasing Pavements"--young girl, big voice
40) ANNIE "I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me"--oh the debacle--should have been HUGE.


My last comment here is that 2009 will definitely be tougher, as there are already several projects lining up to really clamour for the top. An early fave--Lily Allen's "The Fear", which was actually premiered in mid-2008 on her myspace, but took another 6 months to get a video! When it is officially released stateside in 2009, I will already predict a top 10 placement for the coming year. Everyone else has their work cut out for them!

Next post--assessing the pros and cons of selected 2008 releases!

2008--IS THAT ALL THERE IS?

Well, it's that time again. Time to crack open the year that was, and what a year this was, and I don't necessarily mean that in a positive way. After a pretty smashing 2007, 2008 began promising, but became rather lackluster pretty fast when it came to music. Maybe it was the economic crash or a lame duck president, but music went on most people's backburner by the time July rolled around, never to fully recover. My list even surprised myself by how weighted toward the early half of 2008 it seems. That is not to say there were not any good releases in the second half of the year--just noticeably fewer. So without further ado, here are my choices for tops of 2008. Grab your knickers as we wade in:

1
CUT COPY
In Ghost Colours

The best album by the end of 2008 was the best album by June 2008. Cut Copy delivered an album that far surpassed their last effort (hell, did anybody really even remember their last album?), stitching together catchy tunes propelled by snappy beats, jangly guitars, and layered keyboards in a way that referenced the 80's while avoiding cliche. "Hearts on Fire" and "Lights and Music" were particularly good songs from this particularly good effort, while "Far Away", "Out There On the Ice", "So Haunted", and "Nobody Lost, Nobody Found" beat New Order hands down at their own game. Opener "Feel the Love" even references the melody from Electric Light Orchestra's "All Over the World". Still, this does not even begin to touch the lovely melancholy that is "Strangers in the Wind". New Order should be very jealous that they haven't been able to turn out a full record this good in nearly 20 years, choosing instead to constantly bicker. Maybe they should just take a tip from Cut Copy and have a good time. Way to go Modular Records!

2
GOLDFRAPP
Seventh Tree

This should not come as a surprise, as Goldfrapp also had my second favorite album of 2005, SUPERNATURE (they registered behind Madonna's CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR--Madonna released a new album this year as well, however, she does not appear on this list). A complete shift of instrumentation and approach might derail most groups, but somehow Goldfrapp made the transition seem almost effortless, as if it were a logical progression away from the stark electro beats of their two previous releases. Some things did remain constant: 1)Alison Goldfrapp is a fantastic vocalist, 2)Will Gregory is a great musician and arranger/producer, and 3)They continue to write great original songs. "A&E" may be the most beautiful single of the year (sorry Leona Lewis), while "Caravan Girl" and "Happiness" showed the poppier side of pastoral English folk music. At first listen, it seemed as though "Clowns" had been beamed in from some outer space clone of Alison, but as the song progresses, she slips right into it like a worn shoe. We mustn't forget the lyrics about "titties that go on & on". Heck, they even used harps on this album! Closing with "Monster Love" is an appropriate way to wrap this bon bon up nicely. Now about all those different versions...

3
PORTISHEAD
Third

What can be said about this that I have not said already except it reminds me at times of Deep Purple. Not the color, the band. An eleven year gap produced some head-turning moments here similar to what Goldfrapp did with their three year gap, but Portishead have a lot more emotional baggage to unleash. For anybody who thought they would just make the same type of album, this came as a shock, but a rather refreshing one. Sure, most of the hip hop beats are gone, but that doesn't mean they can never make a comeback. This was the album P wanted to make in 2008, and there is some pretty visceral material here. There are no radio bangers, nor do they ever sound happy, but would we want them to? Beth Gibbons sounds just as fractured as ever, while the band creates soundscapes ranging from fragile folk to psychedelic sludge. Not for the faint of heart.

4
GRACE JONES
Hurricane

The first entry from a late 2008 release comes in the form of a 19-year wait for Grace Jones to return. Unlike the most acclaimed albums of her career, which featured many cover tunes and a scattering of a few original songs, Hurricane is a mission statement that is all Grace. Aided by many first rate musicians (Brian Eno, Sly & Robbie, Tricky, Wendy & Lisa, Ant Genn), these original songs are some of the most personal she has ever committed to record, and at times, they soar. "Williams Blood" in particular chronicles her growing up in a strict religous household, while "I'm Crying (Mother's Tears)" is the more tender side of the same event. Balanced with the more direct "This Is" and "Devil in my Life", alongside the scarier Massive Attack-influenced material of "Hurricane" and "Corporate Cannibal", Grace released an album that may not sell mountains, but she can be very proud that she has released the best album of her career (NIGHTCLUBBING runs a very close second).

5
LADYHAWKE
Ladyhawke

This Kiwi girl with Aspergers syndrome really surprised in 2008, working mainly with great producer, Pascal Gabriel, to come up with one of the catchiest, well-written pop records of the year. Coming on like Kim Wilde's dark young stepsister, the songs are 80's influenced, but work as more than just pastiche, featuring some truly original elements (see "Paris is Burning"). This album is one great tune after the next, all disarmingly humble and never too slick, becoming the kind of pop record we need to hear more of in 2009. "Magic", "My Delerium", "Another Runaway", "Back of the Van", and "Dusk Till Dawn" are all great pop records. That's 2 for Modular Records!

6
SIGUR ROS
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

Sigur Ros never really registered with me until this album. I owned the first with the fetus on the cover, and while I enjoyed it, I felt much of the music that followed was simply drawn out rehashes of the same concept. This is the album where the tables really turned. Not only did they discover drums and rhythm, but they actually sing a bit in English! An unconventional video featuring young men & women running around through the countryside did not do much to raise the profile of the album (the cover art seems to be drawn from those shoots), but the music is the most kaleidoscopic in variety Sigur Ros have recorded. The first two tracks alone are absolutely uplifting, with their tribal drums and brass sections, only to be followed later on the record by the lovely "Ara Batur", featuring the London Symphony and Children's Chorus who sang on the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter soundtracks. A gorgeous effort which the band can be proud of.

7
DRAGONETTE
Galore

It seems as though every one of the last three years, an album seems to pop onto my list that has actually been floating around as an import or on the internet for quite some time, and here is this year's entry. I'm not really sure when this album was first officially released (it may have been 2006), but I bought my copy in early 2008, and it was finally issued in the US in November of this year. Similar to what happened with Robyn and Junior Senior's recent releases, Galore may have been around for a while, but it is pop music of the highest order, featuring a smart lyrical bent that never sinks to the banal (sorry Katy Perry and Lady Gaga), yet still maintains a sophisticated humor delivered by an attractive lead singer. "Take it Like a Man" and "Jesus Doesn't Love Me Anymore" are the kind of songs most bands would kill to record, much less for their debut effort. I cannot wait to hear what they come up with next.

8
GIRLS ALOUD
Out of Control

I just realized that GA landed in the exact same position on last year's list with TANGLED UP, and here they are again. Another year, and another great album from the TV contest winners who have become so much more than that. I was just looking at Popjustice where the Girls Aloud general discussion page is up to 415 pages! Now that's is a rabid fanbase! That being said, this is a great pop album. A little less dance than the previous one, there may be a bit more variety and growth here, as is evident in the Pet Shop Boys assisted "Loving Kind" and the expansive "Untouchable". Still, the Girls serve up class in songs like the catchy 60's-ish "The Promise", and the Johnny Marr assisted "Rolling Back the Rivers in Time". Spice who? More please!

9
THE PRESETS
Apocalypso

Another album I feel I have talked about ad nauseum, but damn if this isn't a great electronic pop album. Rather dark & scary at times, these guys are not afraid to take chances, yet can turn out some really great tunes like "This Boy's in Love" and "If I Know You". Their imagery, along with songs like "My People" can also speak to those with more aggressive tastes, putting them in the interesting position of being an alternative electro band with accessible overtones. There has to be more great music to come here, so stay tuned. Way to go Modular--that's number 3!

10
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Vampire Weekend

I heard this numerous times at work this year, and it really stuck with me. Sometimes the hype is just hype, but sometimes there is a reason for it. VW may have more to prove to be a lasting group that isn't tied to just one sound, but for now, this was a highly enjoyable record with humorous references, memorable melodies, and a nice Afro-beat backdrop complimenting their indie sensibilities. Nerd rock never sounded so good (sorry Devo).

11
SUGABABES
Catfights & Spotlights

Their most consistent effort since ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES, and it feels like they are actually enjoying themselves most of the time. Amelle is becoming a great addition. Now if they could only get past the press who hound them for selling fewer records.

12
COLDPLAY
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends/Prospekt's March

A really solid effort from a really solid band. Nothing to complain about except you wish they loosened their self-consciousness a bit more. The PM EP was a nice addition to an already great album.

13
SPARKS
Exotic Creatures of the Deep

Nearly 40 years of recording and still going strong, with this, their 21st album. It doesn't get much better than this.

14
THE KILLERS
Day & Age

Redeeming themselves from that which was Sam's Town (you guys are NOT Bruce Springsteen), Flowers & Co. release a solid effort produced by Stuart Price of Madonna's "Confessions"--fame. Duran Duran called and wants their sax player back.

15
CYNDI LAUPER
Bring ya to the Brink

A bad title to a not great title track, the rest of Cyndi's album was the return to form that saw her taking chances on the dancefloor with many up and coming hot producers, not ones that were already flaming out (sorry Madonna). Who knew that Cyndi & electro could make such great partners? "Into the Nightlife", "Echo", "Grab a Hold"...winners!

16
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS
Age of the Understatement

A side project for Alex of the Arctic Monkeys, this Scott Walker-flavored affair brought back the 60's in an edgy, indie way. It may not have clicked with all the Monkeys fans, but it was a great stopgap, no doubt.

17
BRITNEY SPEARS
Circus

Last year's BLACKOUT was arguably a better album, but Ms. Spears managed to pull herself together (with a lot of help) to record another undeniably fun and catchy pop album of the highest order. How she ever managed to accomplish what she has in one short year is beyond me, and it's not like the cracks don't show, but good for her for trying to get back to what she had. It may not be as great as BLACKOUT, but it will definitely connect more with her fans.

18
KELLI ALI
Rocking Horse

A late addition, anybody who remembers Kelli will know that she was the singer on Sneaker Pimps first album, only to be fired shortly after, and release a couple of rather unspecial pop records. ROCKING HORSE is her first album in a few years, and while some may say she is pulling a "copy Goldfrapp" moment, this album has been in the works for over three years, and features no drums. Kelli recruited chamber musicians to play oboe, flute, strings, and some light keyboard to produce a fragile folk record recalling early Kate Bush mixed with Joni Mitchell. Where Kelli differs is in the rather dark subtext of the lyrics and the fractured manner of her delivery. Refreshing.

19
HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR
Hercules & Love Affair

I already said this was one of the best albums of the year. Still is. Antony's contributions are undeniably good, but the rest is good as well. Rarely does a record put you in New York circa 1982 without being cheesy. This one succeeds masterfully.

20
KAISER CHIEFS
Off With Their Heads

Just 18 months on from their last effort, this Mark Ronson produced affair may not give them the breakthrough they are looking for, but there are some damn good songs here, and having Lily Allen sing backups doesn't hurt either.

21
PRIMAL SCREAM
Beautiful Future

This return to form is welcome after their return to trying to be the Rolling Stones. The Scream are always better when experimenting, and this has the looseness of EVIL HEAT, but manages to be much more accessible and memorable from the great tunes.

22
THE WHIP
X Marks Destination

This album will probably never be released in the US anywhere other than iTunes (unless you find an import like me), or it will come out in two years like the Dragonette. In any case, this is a great electro-pop album inspired by bands like New Order, but leaning more to the pure groovy side than Cut Copy. Still, there are some great pop songs like "Frustration" and "Sirens". A very good investment if you can find it.

23
SOLANGE KNOWLES
Sol-Angel & the Hadley St. Dreams

Beyonce's little sister finally comes into her own and beats big sis at her game with this great gem of an album. Serving up retro melodies in a totally current way, there are many highlights here, but any R&B girl who samples from Boards of Canada and Thievery Corporation deserves some serious attention.

24
SANTOGOLD
Santogold

Is she new wave? Is she R&B? Is she electro? Santi White, Philly girl extraordinaire, is all of these things and more. Where she goes from here, only she (and maybe M.I.A.) know, but I'll be watching!

25
R.E.M.
Accelerate

A loud return from a band that needed to wake from its slumber, R.E.M. proved they are still a force to be reckoned with. This album had a lot of very good songs. Now if they can keep the energy and write even more GREAT songs, they may go even further. Welcome back guys!



More lists, including my favorite songs and the biggest disappointments of 2008, are around the corner!

20 Y.O. (or something like that)--Janet, I feel your pain...

I know I don't get around to posting very often--(life has me beat to a pulp)--but I hit a milestone yesterday--the big 4-0. No, I don't mean height, I mean...you know what I mean. Such is the case in the world of Miss Jackson where turning forty is named "20 Y.O." (that means 20 years in the business, although in her case, I think it was a way of making herself sound a LOT younger than she REALLY was). I am not usually a massive fan of lists (I'm sure you couldn't tell that from my blog), but I thought it was definitely time for a list. Maybe the most important list of my pop life. My 40 favorite songs of the past 40 years. There may be several from one year and none from another. I tried to keep it to only one song per artist (if I was super strict about the list, there would be several Pet Shop Boys, Marc Almond, David Sylvian, Erasure, and New Order tracks, but that would leave little room for anything else). This way, the list also represents my greatest pop loves of the past 40 years. Some songs may be overrated due to their freshness, while others I have left off are possibly underrated (i.e. U2's "One", Coldplay's "The Scientist", Dead or Alive's "You Spin me Round(Like a Record)". They are not necessarily the best songs, or the most popular, but somehow hold a special meaning to me, or move me emotionally.

So here is the list, presented in all its glory. Maybe you'll find something worth checking out.


40)"Valentine" by the Delays
39)"Just Like Heaven" by the Cure
38)"No Regrets" by Robbie Williams
37)"Election Day" by Arcadia
36)"Imitation of Life" by R.E.M.
35)"Who's That Girl?" by Eurythmics
34)"Bad Cover Version" by Pulp
33)"Victims" by Culture Club
32)"Hold Back the Night" by Sinead O'Connor
31)"Life on Mars" by David Bowie

30)"Goodbye to Love" by the Carpenters
29)"Frozen" by Madonna
28)"Poison Arrow" by ABC
27)"Sour Times" by Portishead
26)"Don't Give Up" by Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
25)"#1 Crush" by Garbage
24)"Stay" by Shakespear's Sister
23)"Everyday is Like Sunday" by Morrissey
22)"Pain in Any Language" by Billy Mackenzie w/Apollo 440
21)"Falling" by McAlmont/Butler

20)"Love is Stronger Than Death" by the The
19)"Winter" by Tori Amos
18)"Hide & Seek" by Imogen Heap
17)"True Faith" by New Order
16)"Torch" by Soft Cell
15)"With Every Heartbeat" by Robyn w/Kleerup
14)"Tarantula" by This Mortal Coil
13)"Always" by Erasure
12)"Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John
11)"Still Life" by Suede

10)"Running Up That Hill (a Deal With God)" by Kate Bush

9)"Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me" by the Smiths

8)"The Winner Takes it All" by ABBA

7)"Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode

6)"Utopia" by Goldfrapp

5)"Teardrop" by Massive Attack feat. Liz Frazier

4)"Forbidden Colours" by David Sylvian w/Ryuichi Sakamoto

3)"My Hand Over My Heart" by Marc Almond

2)"Bachelorette" by Bjork

1)"Miracles" by Pet Shop Boys


Maybe some of your favorites are on this list too!


other songs that didn't quite make the cut:

"Heartbeat" by Annie
"Save Me" by Aimee Mann
"Before Today" by Everything but the Girl
"The Damned Don't Cry" by Visage
"Do You Realize?" by the Flaming Lips
"My Best Day" by Lightning Seeds w/Alison Moyet
"Situation" by Yazoo
"Deadline for my Memories" by Billie Ray Martin
"Peek-a-Boo" by Siouxsie & the Banshees
"Higher Than the Sun" by Primal Scream
"Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club
"You Know me Better" by Roisin Murphy
"Crucified" by Army of Lovers
"Tonight We Fly" by the Divine Comedy
"White Flag" by Dido
"Don't You Want Me" by the Human League
"Sloppy Heart" by Frazier Chorus

maybe next time!