Okay so it’s been a while. In that time I’ve kept my ears happy with the following sounds. So not to procrastinate any further, here’s the Record Box…
Click any album artwork to listen in Spotify
Japandroids – Post Nothing (Polyvinyl; 2009)
I let out a big fat ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage “Ooooh Yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaah” when I first heard this record. Japandroids (bit of a crappy name but don’t be put off) are two lads from Vancouver, Canada. Their music is basic but brilliant. Think rip you a new rear guitar riffs covered with more fuzz than James’s giant peach, combined with tight as hell drumming. Get on it.
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Engineers – Three Fact Fader (The Echo Label; 2009)
Moving in a different direction, allowing the heart rate to return to a more sustainable pace is this shoegaingly splendid album from Engineers. FX-laden production, almost endlessly layered sound with a dreamy psychedelic feel. ‘What Pushed Us Together’ stands out in particular.
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The Dead Weather – Horehound (Columbia; 2009)
Part of me wishes Jack White would refrain from pissing about with side projects and release another White Stripes album and part of me loves this record. The Dead Weather are made up of Jack White, Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Dean Ferita (Queens Of The Stoneage) and Jack Lawrence of Whites other, other band The Raconteurs. They make southern-fried, swampy blues with signature crunchy JW drums that White actually plays on the album while Mosshart handles the vocals.
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Bombay Bicycle Club – I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose (Island; 2009)
‘I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Free’ is a mature record from the youthful North London four piece. Lead singer Jack Steadman has an eerily iconic voice. ‘Evening/Morning’ is one of my favorite songs of the moment, it floats through stark tempo changes with punchy drumming and Strokes like guitar riffs.
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Matt & Kim – Grand (Fader; 2009)
Exuberant, jaunty indie-pop driven by the drumming of Kim Schifino and Vocals/Keys of her partner Matt Johnson. The music world isn’t in desperate need of another boy/girl twosome but this is a good record so get on that ‘music world’.
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Lushlife – Cassette City (Rapster; 2009)
Philadelphia MC/Producer Lushlife combines classic Hip-Hop with experimental production and indie collaborations resulting in an outstanding long player. Lush life has been making waves in the Hip-Hop circle for a while with his mash up of Kanye West’s College Drop Out and The Beach Boys Pet Sounds. Cassette City features contributions from Ariel Pink, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig and Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier.
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Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens – What Have You Done, My Brother? (Daptone; 2009)
If you’re looking for soul music with authentic production, classic instrumentation and amazing vocals, you can’t go wrong with a Daptone production. Shelton has a set of lungs on her capable of blowing out in one go all of the candles on the Jolly Green Giant’s 100th Birthday cake. As the name of the group and the title suggests, there’s a distinct Gospel feel but it’s still soulful and funky as hell with records like ‘Am I Asking Too Much.’
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The Rumble Strips – Welcome To The Walk Alone (Island; 2009)
I’m a big fan of horns on pop records so I’ve always had a hankering for The Rumble Strips since their emergence back in 2007. When I herd that The Rumble Strips had been working with Mark Ronson on this record I was expecting it to be re-hashed 60′s melodies whitewashed with piping horns. Not so. The production is classy and understated. The lyrics are happy-go lucky, their quirky British indie style remains and the horn section appears throughout to complement and add a little soul to the mix.
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Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do (Cooperative/Downtown; 2009)
Major Lazer is made up of Switch & Diplo. As usual with Switch or Diplo productions you can expect innovative, fun big beats and bashy basslines. Admittedly I’m loving Major Lazers backing story as much as the music. He’s a crazy arse rogue Jamaican soldier/nightclub owner who tears around on his rocket-powered skateboard, scrapping with Vampires and Zombies and such. What a life.
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Let’s Wrestle – In The Court Of Wrestleing Let’s (Stolen Recordings; 2009)
This is a record that gets better and better with every listen. I can see it growing into a contender for my record of the year. It’s raw, unadulterated, happy go lucky lean makes it impossible not to like. If records were mates, this would be your best mate, the one who’s been at your side during both the most trivial times and the most life-defining moments. There isn’t a bad track, the album is blemish free. As for the music, the London trio produce stripped-down, lo-fi, melody laden tunes and when I say tunes I mean TUNES that you will sing along to until your throat is raw.
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