Here are my top 20 albums of another very good year in music. This is just the opinions of one person who listens to a fair amount of music, it won't interest most people but I hope a few might enjoy reading it and maybe listen to something they don’t know well. I'd also love it if people could recommend something I might have missed.
There were a number of other records that nearly made it, Widowspeak and The National being the closest; I also really enjoyed Foals and British Sea Power more than I anticipated and am looking forward to listening to more Matthew E.White, Serafina Steer and Parquet Courts in 2014.
There were some offerings from acts I like that I was less impressed with though: the Franz Ferdinand album sounded dated and the Nick Cave one never got going for me. And did you hear the new one by The Strokes? If you didn't hear it you could surely smell it - that band define diminishing returns. Anyroad, here's the top 20, with a Spotify playlist of some of the best songs too:
1. John Grant: Pale Green Ghosts
John Grant's music was introduced to me by a work colleague, around the time Grant’s first solo record 'Queen of Denmark' was released, giving me the rare sense of smug satisfaction I used to feel when younger as bands I love crossed over to the mainstream. On first listen to 'Pale Green Ghosts’ (both the album and the track) I was ready to move to the logical next step of the smug music snob and claim to have preferred his early stuff: the bitter-sweet lush ballads of 'Queen of Denmark' seemed to have been replaced with stark electronica and deadpan delivery. I was wrong on a grand scale of course, once the gloriously sweary and beautifully melodic GMF got into my head the rest of the record made sense and I appreciated what must be regarded as both a tremendous work of art but also a record that could be played at dinner parties (so long as the salty language won't make your guests choke on their ox cheek doughnuts). My friend, the proper journalist Jude Rogers puts it better than me:
2. These New Puritans: Fields of Reed
The band I love who I know the least about. This is by no means the most immediate record on the list. Indeed, when I played this record to friends, Daniel, who has a reputation for embracing the obtuse, rightly suggested he would be mocked mercilessly had he put this record on. Amongst the impressive honking and plonking are some beautiful songs and inspired moments. They mix jazz, pop and classical and manage to make it all tremendous fun. That this record only reached number 90 on the album chart and that the Mercury music prize judges seemed to think Jake Bugg was a superior option is a national scandal and we should be taking to the streets in protest.
3. Suede: Bloodsports
I was nervous about this. My favourite band coming back after a long period in the wilderness followed two below par records (Head Music and A New Morning). Their live shows were great but the best I hoped for from a record in 2013 was solid mid-table respectability. Wrong! (Again). Bloodsports stands up to Suede's best work, with glam rock stompers like 'It Starts and Ends with You' contrasting with slow reflective tracks like 'Sometimes I feel I'll float away', and two songs ('Sabotage' and 'For The Strangers') amongst the best things they have ever done. The lyrics are really good as well, Brett Anderson has been lampooned for some daft phrases in the past; the Telegraph thought it had found one, but ended up looking as stupid as a mouse themselves (it's a cause rather than a cog without a martyr).
4. White Denim: Corsicana Lemonade
White Denim have a reputation for being an incredible live band: their shows are said to dwarf their records. I've never seen them play but given how much I enjoy White Denim's bluesy/prog thrashings I must rectify this in 2014. Their style may vary from track to track but the quality rarely does: the record starts with three belters that variously evoke Led Zeppelin, Prince, the White Stripes and Blur then builds to a climax from there, closing on the soulful tender 'A Place to Start'. White Denim put the soul ... in your rock and roll!
5. Jon Hopkins: Immunity
This year I enjoyed the feeling of liberation of that comes with admitting that I'm a little more conservative in my music taste than I'd previously dared say. I enjoy innovation, noise and experimentation but it's more like admiration compared with the love I have for more traditional songs. These New Puritans and Jon Hopkins were the exceptions, and what magnificent exceptions they are. Hopkins manages to make electronic music as warm as a good folk band in a cosy pub in winter. Like the others in the top 5 this could easily have been number one this year.
6. Adam Green and Binki Shapiro: Adam Green and Binki Shapiro
Adam Green, former Moldy Peach, and Binki Shapiro who has worked with Beck and others, teamed up to produce the sweetest offering this year. On the surface this is just a well executed Lee and Nancy pastiche but there is more depth to it than that, it's lyrically impressive and has musical depth and their voices complement each other beautifully. For me though it was the record I most enjoyed waltzing around the lounge to with my children, Juno and Euan.
7. Arctic Monkeys: AM
This is a mightily impressive record, the Arctic Monkeys have managed to merge their major influences (R&B and hip hop, indie and hard rock) into a coherent sound which has put them back to their rightful position as the UK's biggest guitar band. Perhaps it’s the professional sheen that means I love this record a little less than some of their other less polished offerings (Suck It and See is my favourite). It's still great though, with the gentle songs in the mould of Cornerstone that I enjoy the most, particularly Mad Sounds and Number One Party Anthem. It might be the Artics record to play to my wife, Hyun Sook, to convince her to come and see them with me next year.
8. Caitlin Rose: The Stand In
This was another slow burner for me. I was first aware of Caitlin Rose when she covered two Arctic Monkey's songs (Piledriver Waltz and Love is a Lazerquest) for a Record Store Day release, countrifying these indie ballads to magical effect. I had high hopes but initially thought The Stand In too tasteful and over produced. In the end though, the quality of the songs and Caitlin Rose's voice won through. The more traditional country songs like Waitin' and are her greatest strength but others, such as the show tune album closer Old Numbers, are fun as well.
9. David Bowie: The Next Day
So much has been talked about this record and for older fans of alternative music the two most emotional events of the music year were the death of Lou Reed and the return of Bowie. I enjoyed The Next Day very much and it was good to have him back. It also reminds me of one of my favourite moments at work: smuggling references to The Dame in a presentation to members of the Colombian foreign office, I managed 5 songs talking to one slide alone. Another good memory was when listening to The Stars (Are Out Tonight) in Seoul where my daughter invented the concept of 'Hegel Music' after spotting the photo of Bowie on the record sleeve: hegel is Korean for skeleton. Most of the records on this list could be described as Hegel Music, perhaps only PSB and Adam Green and Binki Shapiro would be categorised as Juno's other genre, Butterfly Music.
10. Anna Calvi: One Breath
After the hype of Anna Calvi's first album this one seems to have crept out without the fanfare or acclaim it deserves. This is a shame as it's easily as good as the first record with its big bombastic songs showcasing Calvi's powerful voice and subtler moments providing elegant contrast.
11. Laura Mvula: Sing to the Moon
This is probably the most modern sounding record on the list. Laura Mvula is a remarkably talented and inventive artist and this record sounds like just the start of something very exciting. The singles sound brilliant on the radio, and it was on 6 Music where I first heard her infectious songs. She's the kind of pop star we need at the moment, she shines bright amongst British singers.
12. Villagers: Awayland
Of the indie folk doing the rounds at the moment Villagers are the only ones who really do it for me. Conor O'Brien is a fine vocalist, his voice and intimate style suiting the often dark stories that inhabit Villagers' songs. This record is more experimental than the last and rewards repeated listens.
13. Laura Marling: Once I Was an Eagle
Not too many laughs on this break up album but Laura Marling is on excellent form on her fourth record. At the risk of sounding like an old man it's incredible how much she has achieved, how good she is, at the age of 23.Some of the best songs, such as Where Can I Go remind me of Joni Mitchell (yep, she could be that good).
14. Yo La Tengo: Fade
Yo La Tengo are a band that are always there in the background for me, I've always enjoyed everything I've heard but never explored much more. This is only the second album of theirs I've owned and it should really inspire me to get off my sweet ass and listen to some of the others. It's a pretty quiet and restrained and resonant of Lambchop in its folkier moments. Whether or not this is positive is debatable but I found it a good record to keep me going when working from home late at night.
15. Leisure Society: Alone Aboard the Ark
As Travis put it, I'm tied to the nineties (huh) and this cracking collection of sweet indie pop songs reminds me of some of my favourite bands of that era, with bits of Blur, the Boo Radleys, Divine Comedy and Teenage Fanclub making it irresistible for me. Like all the best bands they use their influences wisely and come up with their own sound. Some great song writing too.
16. Pet Shop Boys: Electric
A return to the kind of joyous dance pop that the Pet Shop Boys do best. Only they would write a song title cheque so magnificent as Love is a Bourgeois concept and be able to cash it with such aplomb. Like Suede, PSB seem happiest and are most successful sticking to what made them a force in the first place, actually. My wife likes them too so extra points for that.
17. Billy Bragg: Tooth and Nail
We're in danger of taking Billy Bragg for granted. Here is another warm, country tinged collection of love and protest songs that I returned to over and over again this year.
18. Kurt Vile: Wakin on a pretty Daze
A record that I kept returning to by Kurt Vile, who I guess we can still describe as a slacker: he looks like a slacker, he sings like a slacker, he quacks like a slacker so a slacker he be. This collection made me think of the Lemonheads and Pavement and we should think of the Lemonheads and Pavement every day.
19. Mazzy Star: Seasons of Your Day:
A late entry into the list (sorry The National but I'm sure you can cope). Mazzy Star's first album since 1996 has got under my skin pretty quickly having first listened earlier this month. If there's nothing as incredible as Fade Into You the overall impact of these simple and atmospheric songs is just as powerful. And Hope Sandoval is still an amazing vocalist.
20. My Bloody Valentine: m.b.v.
Another band it's so great to have back. This didn't quite justify all of the adulation poured on it after its surprise release but it's still a very good record. My fogeyish side is delighted to be able to make out some of the lyrics and the teenager in me loved the weirdness of the final two tracks.
12. Villagers: Awayland
Of the indie folk doing the rounds at the moment Villagers are the only ones who really do it for me. Conor O'Brien is a fine vocalist, his voice and intimate style suiting the often dark stories that inhabit Villagers' songs. This record is more experimental than the last and rewards repeated listens.
13. Laura Marling: Once I Was an Eagle
Not too many laughs on this break up album but Laura Marling is on excellent form on her fourth record. At the risk of sounding like an old man it's incredible how much she has achieved, how good she is, at the age of 23.Some of the best songs, such as Where Can I Go remind me of Joni Mitchell (yep, she could be that good).
14. Yo La Tengo: Fade
Yo La Tengo are a band that are always there in the background for me, I've always enjoyed everything I've heard but never explored much more. This is only the second album of theirs I've owned and it should really inspire me to get off my sweet ass and listen to some of the others. It's a pretty quiet and restrained and resonant of Lambchop in its folkier moments. Whether or not this is positive is debatable but I found it a good record to keep me going when working from home late at night.
15. Leisure Society: Alone Aboard the Ark
As Travis put it, I'm tied to the nineties (huh) and this cracking collection of sweet indie pop songs reminds me of some of my favourite bands of that era, with bits of Blur, the Boo Radleys, Divine Comedy and Teenage Fanclub making it irresistible for me. Like all the best bands they use their influences wisely and come up with their own sound. Some great song writing too.
16. Pet Shop Boys: Electric
A return to the kind of joyous dance pop that the Pet Shop Boys do best. Only they would write a song title cheque so magnificent as Love is a Bourgeois concept and be able to cash it with such aplomb. Like Suede, PSB seem happiest and are most successful sticking to what made them a force in the first place, actually. My wife likes them too so extra points for that.
17. Billy Bragg: Tooth and Nail
We're in danger of taking Billy Bragg for granted. Here is another warm, country tinged collection of love and protest songs that I returned to over and over again this year.
18. Kurt Vile: Wakin on a pretty Daze
A record that I kept returning to by Kurt Vile, who I guess we can still describe as a slacker: he looks like a slacker, he sings like a slacker, he quacks like a slacker so a slacker he be. This collection made me think of the Lemonheads and Pavement and we should think of the Lemonheads and Pavement every day.
19. Mazzy Star: Seasons of Your Day:
A late entry into the list (sorry The National but I'm sure you can cope). Mazzy Star's first album since 1996 has got under my skin pretty quickly having first listened earlier this month. If there's nothing as incredible as Fade Into You the overall impact of these simple and atmospheric songs is just as powerful. And Hope Sandoval is still an amazing vocalist.
20. My Bloody Valentine: m.b.v.
Another band it's so great to have back. This didn't quite justify all of the adulation poured on it after its surprise release but it's still a very good record. My fogeyish side is delighted to be able to make out some of the lyrics and the teenager in me loved the weirdness of the final two tracks.
