Donna Summer, Queen of Music

When Michael Jackson died a few years ago, I took a special time out to comment on this blog at what a sad waste of talent the end of his life was, and how he seemed to throw everything away.  This year of our Lord 2012 we have lost several musical icons already--Etta James, Levon Helm, Whitney Houston, Adam Yauch--and while I could take the time to comment on every one, let me just say that, while some were harder to believe than others (Yauch in particular), others like Houston seemed like it was just a matter of time.  I guess what angered me the most about Houston's sad death was, similar to Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson, these artists still had gifts to give, and they threw their talents away.  In Houston's case, I suspect she realized her voice was gone forever and sank into a depression spiral there was no recovery from.

The passing of Donna Summer this week is an incredible loss, and unlike a Houston or Winehouse, Donna never threw her talent away, and generally took care of her asset (her voice), sounding much more vibrant and alive on her 2008 album Crayons, recorded at age 59, than Houston did on her final album, I Look to You, recorded when she was just 46.  I will never forget how Donna's music changed my life as a child of the 70's growing up in a remote prairie town, where the extent of my popular music listening had been soft rock duos like the Carpenters and Captain & Tennille, light female pop singers like Dionne Warwick, Helen Reddy, and Cher, and inoffensive fare like the Fifth Dimension, Herb Alpert, and random Beatles records.  I remember absolutely loving "Last Dance" as a 10-year old, then "MacArthur Park", culminating in my first purchases of 45's for "Dim All the Lights", "Hot Stuff", and "Bad Girls" (I didn't have the money to buy the full Bad Girls double LP, so I bought an ABBA LP, Super Trouper, instead).

Had it not been for the influence of Donna's music, I would have probably continued down the path I had begun to walk with Styx, Journey, and Kansas (living in Kansas, being a fan was a given).  Sure I had the odd ELO and Billy Joel record, but most of my records were sending me straight to 80's hair metal heaven. Donna made me realize it was possible to cover a whole range of styles while staying a strong and soulful singer (the Pointer Sisters did this too, although not in such a direct way).  Her records had elements of dance, rock, pop, new wave, electro, swing...even a little country.  She didn't oversing her ballads, but gave them just the right amount of poignancy and heft.  She made me think about music from around the world as well, especially Europe, as her past connections drew her there through the time she had spent overseas.  Without Donna, I may never have discovered Grace Jones, Madonna, or Eurythmics, whose Annie Lennox probably had a bigger influence on me as a budding teen musician than any other artist of the time in the way she combined a certain British detachment infused with an incredible soul voice.  Others like Lisa Stansfield and Billie Ray Martin would later follow, and even pop girls like Olivia Newton-John and Kylie Minogue have a certain connection to the dance music Donna produced, and that is why all roads then lead back to Donna.  I knew I would never really be able to sing like Donna (being a man and all) but her style did lead me to discover lots of incredible male singers who operated in a similar style like Martin Fry or Green Gartside.  Even bands like Duran Duran owe some of their beats-meet-sequencer construction to songs like "I Feel Love". 

I cannot help but feel a certain part of my childhood has died this week.  Donna made some great videos like MJ ("She Works Hard for the Money"), could hold long notes like Whitney ("Dim All the Lights" in particular), and had an ability to reach a large audience similar to a Beyonce or Rihanna.  She was a diva but never seemed cold or mean like Christina Aguilera or Mariah Carey could sometimes be.  Listen to a greatest hits album (Gold is quite good), and you will realize that Donna's music will continue to keep her alive through its energy and heart.  As someone who knows almost every word to every major song of Donna's, her music is arguably more timeless and groundbreaking than any of the aforementioned icons listed above, and for a prairie kid growing up in the 70's, what more could you have wanted?

2012 Q1: aka The Big Sleep

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2011: I can't believe it's all gone...

I can't believe we are saying goodbye to another year.  They keep coming and going faster all the time.  At least, that's my perception.  2011 was a difficult year for me personally.   There was lots of upheaval at home with selling and building/buying a new home and moving on the same day in April--I STILL haven't recovered!  I have to say that since I've now gone through the process of moving for the first time in ten years, I can totally understand why people are fed up with how things are now.  It took the better part of a year to sell, even though the previous sale happened within weeks and the sellers had us at their mercy.  This was completely the opposite, and the amount of paperwork needed to secure a bank loan in 2011 is seriously OUT OF CONTROL.  It's no wonder people don't want to move.  The move itself is stressful enough, but when you cannot get bank approval or have to sign hundreds of documents, the prospect of following through with it seems rather daunting.  Still, I love my new home, and hope I can at least spend some time in it before things ever get really bad.  2011 was one of the most beautiful Christmases at home I have ever had.  Now I just need to get moving on finishing some decorating touches and 2012 is the year I hopefully get a little more settled.

2011 was the year my 95-year old grandmother passed away.  It was very hard for me emotionally, especially since we were rather close.  With all my moving expenses, I couldn't really afford the $700 price tag needed to fly to her home town for a couple days for the funeral, but I was there in spirit.  I was almost more at peace remembering her how she was when she was vibrant and energetic.  There were also dramas in my wife's family which I will not get into here, but needless to say, there was a lot of change and worrying for 2011.  Less next year would be a good thing.

So, enough of the Auld-Lang-Syne-ing and here is my list of the top albums of 2011.  Sorry it wasn't up sooner:

1) SOUND OF ARROWS--Voyage

I've been championing this band for the three years I have known about them, and nothing could have made me happier this fall than seeing their first full length album finally come to fruition.  And what an album it is!  The songs!  There are so many great tracks--"Into the Clouds", "Wonders", "M.A.G.I.C.", "Ruins of Rome", "My Shadow", "Longest Ever Dream", "Nova", "Conquest"...it actually gets difficult choosing singles to release!  There is a smooth quality to the singing and music that echoes a Pet Shop Boys sensibility, yet the synths are completely epic in Vangelis/Giorgio Moroder style.  It is an album with 80's written all over it, yet it feels fresh and modern.  Of course, it won't get the attention it deserves, but for now, it's our little secret, and my favorite album of the year.  Favorite track: "Wonders" is amazing, and "Ruins of Rome" is bliss

2) DURAN DURAN--All You Need Is Now

Some may say this album is actually 2010, but since three tracks were held back from Christmas for the April physical release, the album felt short and incomplete.  The final album is a fantastic statement of what made Duran Duran special in the first place, and what they can still be.  Mark Ronson seems to have acted more as therapist than producer, getting the band back in touch with the sound that made them famous, and there are some incredible results.  "Girl Panic!" is "Girls on Film" with more intensity, "Leave a Light On" is "Save a Prayer" meets "Ordinary World", and "The Man Who Stole a Leopard" a quirky "The Chauffeur" inspiration.  Favorite track:  a tossup between "Runway Runaway" and "Too Bad You're So Beautiful"

3) FLORENCE & THE MACHINE--Ceremonials

While some critics have lashed back at Flo for making a big-sounding album with a more unified sound than her first, someone needs to tell me what's wrong with that?  After all, isn't that what artists usually strive to do?  Ceremonials has some stately gothic numbers ("Only if For a Night", "No Light No Light", "Seven Devils"), uplifting tracks ("Shake it Out", "All This and Heaven Too"), and even some R&B ("Lover to Lover").  This is a very mature and fully-fleshed out album by a young singer who likes to emote a lot, and while it might hit some as overkill, in a world of Adeles, Florence is staking her claim.  She might want a little more restraint next time, but that does not keep Ceremonials from being a stellar, consistent album, top to bottom.  Favorite track:  "Spectrum"

4) TOM WAITS--Bad as Me

Not what you might consider a typical choice of mine, I am actually a big Tom Waits fan, and this album was his best since at least 1999's Mule Variations.  Anyone interested in Tom's body of work could really start here, as it serves as a good entry point featuring many different types of sounds and voices in one cohesive and explosive album.  He is an original, and nobody else sings or writes songs like him.  One to treasure.  Favorite track:  For romance, "Kiss Me"; for anger, "Hell Broke Luce"


5) GAVIN FRIDAY--Catholic

An artist who has been recording for nearly 30 years but known very little, Friday was a member of an early-80's underground group, the Virgin Prunes, and left in the later part of the decade for a solo career which has led him into much more satisfying avenues of musical expression.  His sound is sometimes reminiscent of a mix between the late Billy Mackenzie of the Associates and Bryan Ferry, and Friday is good friends with Bono and other U2 cast members.  He stopped making albums in the late 90's when soundtrack work came calling, but now after the death of his father and a divorce, Friday returned with some of his most important work after a 17-year hiatus.  Catholic is meant as a loose dedication to Irish culture, but is much more of an examination of life as we grow older and put mistakes in the past.  Darkly comic and simultaneously touching, Catholic deserves its place on this list.  (If you seek out the U2 Achtung Baby tribute by Q Magazine, Friday's take on "The Fly" is one of the best.)  Favorite track:  "A Song That Hurts"


6) FRIENDLY FIRES--Pala

An immense step up from their first record, I so wish Pala had sold better.  I am afraid many of their fans accused them of selling out and trying to sound like a mix of Vampire Weekend and Wham!, but whatever the reason, Pala is an amazing pop record, and deserved to be just as praised and respected as that Foster the People album famous from a song about killing kids.  Plus Ed MacFarlane is the best dancer in pop now (eat that Lady Gaga).  Favorite track:  "Hurting"


7) WILD BEASTS--Smother

Critically acclaimed but little heard, Wild Beasts suffer from having a lead singer with a quirky voice, but oh, what a voice!  Smother saw Wild Beasts begin to grow into their skins a little bit more, and become comfortable with who and what they are.  Mark my words, this is one band to watch, as they continue to grow and mutate into an ever stronger proposition.  The word is sex...don't be scared.  Favorite track:  "Bed of Nails"


8) THE HORRORS--Skying

Another UK band that just keeps getting better and better.  When the Horrors started as a shriek-y goth-punk band, I had zero interest.  When their second album was produced not only by Geoff Barrow (Portishead), but also Chris Cunningham (video director for Aphex Twin and Bjork), I took notice at their slackening of the noise but the increased tension that ran throughout their music.  Now they've gone all psychedelic-shoegaze with a bit of goth and glam remaining.  The last time I remembered a band improving so much over the course of their first three albums, their name was Radiohead.  While the Horrors don't sell in those kind of numbers, maybe they should.  Favorite track:  the epic "Moving Further Away"


9) DESTROYER--Kaputt

This came out quite early in the year, and maybe got forgotten by some, but it really stuck with me.  Dan Bejar softened some of his musical edges with keyboards piped in from Prefab Sprout-era pillowy 80's records, yet the lyrics remained just a sharp as ever.  I think Bejar has come up with something truly special, and cannot wait to see what he does next.  Another artist more should know about.  Favorite track:  the title song, "Kaputt"


10) LADY GAGA--Born This Way

Of course, it had to make the list.  It is not a token gesture.  While BTW may not be as immediately likeable as The Fame Monster was, it is a lot longer for one thing, and manages to synthesize all the things that make Gaga who she is in a mostly appealing way.  While some of the lyrics may be a tad over-reaching at times ("Born This Way" and "Judas"...I'm looking at you), there are some real winners present (I actually like parts of both of those songs too).  It's a shame "Marry the Night" wasn't released earlier, as it stands as one of Gaga's most iconic lyrics.  The album also features a Def Leppard homage and Clarence Clemons' last recorded performance.  So there.  Favorite track:  either "The Edge of Glory" or the Madonna-esque "Bad Kids"

And the rest:

11) COLDPLAY--Mylo Xyloto (their best since Rush of Blood...)
12) LAURA MARLING--A Creature I Don't Know (it really grew on me)
13) PATRICK WOLF--Lupercalia (I waited all year to buy this domestically and finally gave up for the import--he's never sounded so buoyant)
14) CUT COPY--Zonoscope (formerly #1 on this list a couple years back--this was still excellent)
15) JENS LEKMAN--An Argument With Myself (a great EP that could have been higher as an album)
16) DARREN HAYES--Secret Codes & Battleships (excellent consolidation of his talents, and very accessible)
17) SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR--Make a Scene (the album that finally saw the light of day--I wonder if it would have done better had it been released earlier)
18) KATE BUSH--50 Words for Snow (sex with a snowman--need I say more?)
19) LYKKE LI--Wounded Rhymes (excellent goth-girl group harmonies)
20) YOUNG GALAXY--Shapeshifting (shivering electro-pop rework of the original record--more please!)
21) PJ HARVEY--Let England Shake (excellent lyrics and D-A-R-K)
22) MIRRORS--Lights & Offerings (Ultravox meets OMD in 2011 for this collaboration--not really)
23) TORI AMOS--Night of Hunters (she's better without all that 70's MOR baggage from the last couple records--her 10 year old daughter is alarmingly good)
24) ORIGINAL 7EVEN (aka the Band Formerly Known as the Time)--Condensate (Morris Day's still got it)
25) HOLY GHOST!--Holy Ghost! (why this never got a domestic US CD release is beyond me)
26) PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART--Belong (the ghost of John Hughes called and wants his soundtrack back)
27) DUM DUM GIRLS--Only in Dreams (Chrissie Hynde is reborn as a retro girl-group songstress--FAB!)
28) M83--Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (John Hughes meets Giorgio Moroder in France, 1982...)
29) BETH DITTO--Beth Ditto EP (this should have been an album--AMAZINGLY good)
30) BRITNEY SPEARS--Femme Fatale (one of her best albums ever--up there with Blackout)
31) PENGUIN PRISON--Penguin Prison (great debut, and mostly done all on his own--impressive)
32) RAVEONETTES--Raven in the Grave (an especially gothy effort from the Danish duo, yet there were some light moments)
33) ERASURE--Tomorrow's World (the Frankmusik collab sounded better on paper than it actually did, leaving Andy Bell sounding a bit shrill.  Still, there were some sparkly moments...)
34) PETER GABRIEL--New Blood (now about that new album, Peter...it's been 11 years again...)
35) JUSTICE--Audio. Video. Disco.  (this was good--I just wish there were more Justice-y bits)
36) HUMAN LEAGUE--Credo (I actually really liked this record.  It's not at all commercial, granted...)
37) JESSICA 6--See the Light (not only did they feature Hercules & Love Affair's former lead singer, they stole their guest singer Antony Hegarty as well)
38) LIGHTS--Siberia (twee pop gets an edge)
39) WILL YOUNG--Echoes (there were many very good moments here, I just wish he'd get a little more excited--a bit too smooth at times)
40) GIRLS--Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (retro rock done right and not simply derivative)

other notables:
Adele, Miles Kane, Arctic Monkeys, Metronomy, Elbow, White Lies, the Vaccines, Cold Cave, Washed Out, the Drums, St. Vincent, Hard-Fi, S.C.U.M., Brett Anderson, Kasabian, Thomas Dolby, Nikki Jean, Foster the People, Diego Garcia, Feist, Active Child, Brendan Perry, the Rapture, Sarah Nixey, Florrie.

Up in 2012:
Lana del Rey, Ladyhawke, the Presets, Saint Etienne, Pet Shop Boys, School of Seven Bells, Marina & the Diamonds, Little Boots, Santigold, La Roux, Dragonette, Bat for Lashes, Robbie Williams, Empire of the Sun, the Big Pink, Sleigh Bells, Metric, Phoenix, Air, Morrissey, No Doubt, the Killers, Garbage--a BUSY 2012 awaits!

I realize that I am nearly a month late again (sorry for that).  I guess this quarter I was still trying to catch up from the previous, and although there was a lot of music for me to digest, it didn't all strike the heights that some earlier did this year, save for a few select items.  Let's get to it then:

1)HORRORS--Skying

Without a doubt, the Horrors have risen from their lowly and dubious beginnings to one of the best modern rock bands around in the course of three albums.  Skying sees the band going widescreen, and songs like "Still Life" find them rejoicing in some of the most melodic things they've recorded.  Coming straight of Faris Badwan's Cat's Eyes project earlier this year, I would venture to say that the man has quite a future ahead of him (his brother's S.C.U.M. project is good as well).  A song like "Moving Further Away" finds the perfect balance between psychedelic and college rock, between Kraftwerk and Echo & the Bunnymen.  There are shades of many great bands here--the Cure, Suede, etc.--but the Horrors continually find ways to be original.  They are ones to watch.

2)LAURA MARLING--A Creature I Don't Know

Strangely, this album didn't hit me the first time the way her previous record did, but I was willing to give the young singer the benefit of the doubt.  After all, I Speak Because I Can only came out a year ago, with Alas I Cannot Swim merely a year before, so any 21-year old with three albums in three years has gotta be running out of steam at some point, right?  Man, was I wrong.  A Creature I Don't Know is every bit as strong as Marling's other efforts, it's just a bit more oblique and takes a little getting used to.  Things are jazzy on first track "The Muse", while "Sophia" has some of the strongest melodies she's penned.  There are moments that recall Joni Mitchell in her prime, not a bad place to be.  Do not miss this!

3)JENS LEKMAN--An Argument With Myself

Yes, this 5-track EP is ranked high on my list, and it would probably be number one if it were a full album.  Lekman's four-year absence has left the world at a great loss for humorous Swedish pop, and he's back (a little) to fill the void.  The title track is one of the most fun guilty-pleasure songs of the year, while "Waiting for Kiersten" (Dunst) is a scenario only Lekman could come up with, and the other songs add to the feeling of exhuberance and tenderness from this master songwriter.  One of my favorite things about Lekman is his way of describing things happening currently, as opposed to writing about the past or future.  This tends to strip away a lot of the unnecessary stuff other writers would layer on.  He also has unique views on love and relationships that few express in song.  Hopefully this EP is just a taste of more to come soon, as Lekman is just now hitting his stride.

4)TORI AMOS--Night of Hunters

What can be said about this album that hasn't been said before by reporters and bloggers?  It features a kooky story about a disintegrating romantic relationship featuring a shapeshifting animal (played by Tori's mature 10-year old daughter, Natashya), a fire spirit (played by her 19-year old niece), and includes interpolations of famous classical pieces taking odd detours with new (and somewhat indecipherable) lyrics ("Cactus Practice" anyone?).  The long and short though, is that Night of Hunters features some of Tori's best singing and piano playing in ten years, even with the absence of drums, guitars, or any other rock fodder.  It's heady stuff, rather long (maybe a bit too long, pushing over an hour), but these are things we now come to expect from Tori Amos releases.  We don't really expect them on the Deutsche Grammaphon label, but she sounds very "at home" here.  How about a more conventional orchestral-pop album without a big concept lasting around 45 minutes next time?

5)GIRLS--Father, Son, Holy Ghost

This may seem like a rather odd choice for me, but I really responded to this album from San Francisco's Girls when I heard it.  For one thing, it sounds like it came from the 70's, but at the same time, it doesn't sound determined to be retro, or like anything other than the new Girls album.  Sure, there are some Beach Boys references here, Led Zep there, etc., but the way Girls fit them together is totally unique.  I certainly hope this album does well, as it should not be overlooked as a smashing sophomore effort.

6)KASABIAN--Velociraptor!
Great album from UK superstars.  What's it gonna take to make them bigger here?  Should they work with Brian Eno? 

7)PENGUIN PRISON--Self-titled
This is a great debut album, and while it may be a bit 80's, it isn't so overloaded in references that it cannot stand up to other contemporary pop music.  A winner!

8)BUTCHER BOY--Helping Hands
Great second album from a band reminiscent of a more wistful Belle & Sebastian.  The title track and "Bluebells" are particularly wonderful songs.

9)DIRTY VEGAS--Electric Love
You may be surprised to see this on the list, but this was actually a great, concise pop album from a band who used to prefer meandering epics.  There may still be a small sense of corporate entitlement lurking,  but the fact of the matter is that Dirty Vegas' mega-selling "Days Go By" is several years old, and that U2 direction just didn't work, so it was back to the drawing board with an indie label and a rethink.  Good choice.

10)HARD-FI--Killer Sounds
This has been a weird year for some bands who had a normal sort of distribution to all of a sudden being put off for long periods of time or being told they could only release their album several months later in America.  The Hard-Fi album is yet to be released in the US, but it follows on from the other two Hard-Fi records by upping the dance factor slightly, as well as the melodies.  A very sharp album once you actually get time to sit and spend time with it.

Other good efforts:
WILCO--The Whole Love (not really my thing, but a very good album)
WILL YOUNG--Echoes (while his plaintive voice may never replace George Michael's, this is quite good pop balladry and dancefloor heat)
INNERPARTYSYSTEM--Never Be Content (listed as an ep, but longer than the Erasure album, this was a definite step up for the band, helped by Richard X who produced the Will Young.  The band broke up two months after its release.)
THE RAPTURE--In the Grace of Your Love (highly regarded indie dudes back to make you forget LCD Soundsystem existed.  Good luck)
LADYTRON--Gravity the Seducer (About a B+...the songs are great, but I could do without a couple of the instrumental interludes).
IVY--All Hours (Great pop album from a band I rarely hear about anymore.)
DRUMS--Portamento (Very good sophomore effort--very quickly released too)
BLACK LIPS--Arabia Mountain (good racket-y fun!)
KOOKS--Junk of the Heart (this is a rather enjoyable piece of British pop.)
METRONOMY--English Riviera (unique and satifyingly summery pop)

General letdowns:
FRANKMUSIK--Do It in the AM (this album wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.  I think he can do so. much. better.)
BJORK--Biophilia (I'm not against this record, but not completely sold yet either.  I think the technology is beginning to take over where there were some fabulous and passionate moments in the past.)

Actually, there weren't too many letdowns either.  This whole quarter was heavily and seemingly loaded up with things people liked but didn't go gaga over.  It will be interesting to see how all the things in Q4 stack up against what's already been this year, as there have been a lot of good records, but supposedly there are many more to come.  Here are some things I'm looking forward to in the Q4 list:

FLORENCE & THE MACHINE
ERASURE
THOMAS DOLBY
KATE BUSH
TOM WAITS
PETER GABRIEL
SOUND OF ARROWS
NOEL GALLAGHER
CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG
SAINT ETIENNE (early 2012)
GARBAGE (early 2012)

Keep your ears open!

2011 Q2...a bit late then...

You know what they say about the best laid plans. Anymore, life just seems to get in the way of me posting my favorite lists in any sort of timely manner. I guess the two of you that read this blog will be lucky if I get my year end list of favorites up on time. Until then, I struggle along to get these things up and keep with the times.

It has been a very strange year so far. The biggest event in my life was moving into a new home that was built from scratch. It has been a wonderful home for the past couple months, but the stress leading up to it was unlike anything I have ever experienced before, nor do I ever want to again. There have been passings too--my wonderful grandmother at 95 last month, for one. There was a famous acquaintance of mine who died a mile from my job back in June and the whole town came to a halt (hint: he was a real jackass).

Another person who died in the past year was a good friend of mine from work. He was older (60) and also a great lover of music, and since his passing, his wife has put his record collection up for sale at my store. I have been lucky to acquire a handful of great records in pristine condition that are considered classics, some of which I never heard before, so that has been an education for me through his legacy.

Possibly the strangest of all involves an acquaintance from my job who suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth one day in late February, and I have not seen nor heard from this person in the five months since. This is somebody who used to call me at least three times a week and visit my workplace once or twice a week as well. He was experiencing many transitions in his personal life, but also had underlying ailments, the likes of which seem to have caught up with him. The reason I am spending time talking about this person is that he was a great lover of music, and had recently been exposing me to loads of older things that I missed or never would have given the time to otherwise.

I have listened to more "old" music this year than ever before, and have fallen in love with lots of different artists: Joe Jackson, Talking Heads, John Cale, Nico, Lou Reed, and Velvet Underground, Brian Eno, Stevie Wonder (70s), early Pretenders, early Pointer Sisters, Mike Oldfield, Renaissance, Laura Nyro, Kim Wilde, Kid Creole, Tom Tom Club, Teardrop Explodes, Joni Mitchell, Genesis (old), Squeeze, House of Love, the Clash, the Church, the Cars, Carpenters, the Slits, the Time, early Simple Minds, Roberta Flack, Aztec Camera, etc., etc. These are just some of the bands whose albums either escaped me the first time, or I couldn't afford to buy them to hear them.

With that being said, I am going to spend less time talking about the new music I love in this following post, but let it be said where I think something needs to be. Here they are:

1)WILD BEASTS--Smother

An utterly fantastic and unique postmodern album mixing the best of 80's lush pop (Blue Nile, Talk Talk, Kate Bush) with sensitive modern rock like Elbow. Hayden and Tom's voices bounce off each other in very special ways, and there is an economy of writing and texture that is the antithesis of excess. There is also a dark sensuality at work underneath the surface here, and I defy you to find a more beautiful expression of catharsis than "Burning". Breathless.

2) GAVIN FRIDAY-Catholic

Gavin got busy with life and other projects in the ensuing 16 years since his last album, Shag Tobacco, in 1995. Formerly of 80's obscurities the Virgin Prunes, Friday has gone on to make some of the best suave pop of the past two decades, incorporating elements of Bryan Ferry, Billy MacKenzie, and Bono all into one. Catholic is somewhat of a distillation of recent life experiences and emotions in Friday's world, especially in tracks like "Able", "It's All Ahead of You", and "Lord, I'm Coming". Breathtaking.

3) LADY GAGA--Born This Way

So, it's not number one. It's also not absent from the list. I loved the Fame Monster (NOT the generally poor The Fame), so much so that it was number one on my 2009 list. Expectations here were high, and while I think the hype may have overshadowed the actual album (along with Amazon's fucking 99-cent sale--what the hell was that?), I do think it is generally a very good album. It may be a bit full on, firing on all cylinders most of the time. There may not be a "Bad Romance" or "Alejandro", but any album that has the driving "Edge of Glory", electro-hoedown "You and I", urgent "Marry the Night", Madonna-esque "Bad Kids", Marc Almond-in-flamenco mode "Americano", and gothic "Bloody Mary" can't be all bad. Maybe it's a bit overlong and could lose a track or two, but all in all, it's generally a success. Too bad about the videos though. Maybe a little less talking about how great the album is beforehand would help next time.

4) SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR--Make a Scene

Can you believe it finally came out? I was beginning to lose hope. And guess what? It was better than I ever expected it to be. Not only were all the previously released singles positioned well, but the new entries were sparkling. "Magic", "Synchronized", and "Starlight" are all great songs, in addition to "Bittersweet" and "Not Giving Up On Love", which I had purposefully held off on listening to until the album dropped. "Homewrecker" is funny, "Make a Scene" is kooky, and "Cut Straight to the Heart" jawdropping. Possibly the best pure pop album of the year right here. She deserves respect NOW.

5) FRIENDLY FIRES--Pala

I am at a loss as to whether I should namecheck the band or their producer, Paul Epworth, as he has worked similar magic to what he worked with Annie on her last album. Full, lush textures set to amazing island beats are the flavor for this indie band who suddenly go widescreen with the sound of this album, and while some may think their writing has suffered in the process, I disagree and say their writing has just become more focused in service of the music they are creating. I can't think of many indie bands to make such a quantum leap from debut to sophomore record. Radiohead? Goldfrapp? Dead or Alive?

6) SARAH NIXEY--Brave Tin Soldiers

Shows just how much she contributed to Black Box Recorder.

7) ARCTIC MONKEYS--Suck It and See

A return to form with a very melodic album combining all the best elements of the Monkeys.

8) MILES KANE--Colour of the Trap

Other half of Arctic Monkey Alex Turner's Last Shadow Puppets. Maybe the better half? Great debut.

9) JESSICA 6--See the Light

Former contributors to Hercules & Love Affair make early Madonna referencing debut. Golden.

10) HOLY GHOST!--Holy Ghost!

DFA dance duo come up with the goods on a CD still not released in the US (import only). I usually hate on albums that are iTunes exclusives, but you can get this for under $20. Fun!

Other good efforts:

FOSTER THE PEOPLE--Torches (catchy debut)

DIEGO GARCIA--Laura (tunes AND growth)

COLD CAVE--Cherish the Light Years (best goth-inspired record of the season)

WASHED OUT--Within and Without (best electro-dreampop record of the season)

CAT'S EYES--Cat's Eyes (these guys are almost as good as the Horrors!)

HANDSOME FURS--Sound Kapital (major growth but still fiercely indie)

MARC ALMOND & MICHAEL CASHMORE--Feasting With Panthers (some parts are quite lovely)

JOSEPH ARTHUR--Graduation Ceremony (his best album in nearly 10 years)

VACCINES--What Did You Expect From the Vaccines (great debut, if a little derivative)

D:REAM--In Memory Of... (not all great, but certain spots shine. Welcome back)

BRENDAN PERRY--Ark (10 years since this Dead Can Dance vet released an album. Almost worth the wait)

FLORRIE--Experiments EP (make it physical now--it's that good)

DANGER MOUSE & DANIELE LUPPI--Rome (a bit Broken Bells, but very enjoyable)

WOMBATS--Modern Glitch (following in the footsteps of rock bands like Hoosiers going pop. Not better than last time, but not exactly worse either)

General letdowns:

GLASVEGAS--Euphoria///Heartbreak (bombastic and overblown, it could have been so much more)

KATE BUSH--Director's Cut (who could listen to this and honestly believe these versions were better than the originals???)

KEREN ANN--101 (not bad really, but leadoff single and cover art foreshadowed so much more)

MOBY--Destroyed (he keeps making the same album over and over)

I know, I know...I need to write more often...