Righty, so here goes.
10. Battles- Gloss Drop.
At no point has the re-establishment into music as the steel drum been as pronounced as it was in this album... you can also check out a few Jamie XX remixes to hear it, but its definately been popping up in lots of the dubstep mixes, I wasn't sure how it would fit into math rock but it managed, and it didn't sound that bad. 'Ice Creams' was the track which found its way onto adverts but my love of the album 'The Pleasure Principle' leads me to link the collaboration they did with Gary Numan. with the video of the man falling down the escalator.
9. Magnetic Man- Magnetic Man
I've never been a dubstep afficionado, so I don't feel guilty about having this on the list but I'm sure that it will upset the dubstep police, three dubstep heroes having a crack at the mainstream is the sort of thing that will upset the chin strokers, but still, a well produced album which not only helped Katy B hit the big time but also re-introduced the world to Ms Dynamite.
8. TV on the Radio- 9 Types of Light
This band are fucking awesome, they straddle the line between punk, electronica and downright funkiness. As much Prince as they are Radiohead, this year they lost Gerard Smith to lung cancer, which is why I've bumped their album up to number 8 out of sympathy.
7. Wild Beasts- Smother
I listened to these guys loads which means I should really pop them in my top ten of the year, an improvement on their last album and something that reminds me of the first Hercules & the Love Affair album but less disco-y, perhaps the singer sounds a bit like Antony & the Johnsons man and thats why, but there is a bit of Boy George about him as well, and a wee bit of Kate Bush in the songwriting. Its quite dreamy and a teeny bit camp.
6. Chromeo- Business Casual
Several albums in and I still can't work out whether these guys are serious or not. Joke band or otherwise I love them like they are my brothers albeit from another mother one one from Israel and one from Palestine and both with keyboard stands resembling ladies pegs... I feel like I am inside an episode of Miami Vice whenever I hear them. Here they are in all their glory with a dance routine from some scantily clad ladies in police uniform to boot.
5. M83- Hurry up, we're dreaming
Another dreamy, synthy, gorgeous band which I think is just 1 person, but I'm not here to research these bands, I just want to tell you I liked their music, I could tell you that this album took years to make and was recorded in a bedroom in Crewe after he went to a Yazoo concert and wanted to come up with the best album since Duran Duran, by Duran Duran, but I'd be making it up, so just enjoy.
4. Radiohead- King of Limbs
Yes it was good, yes it was great, they can do what they want whether that be a collection of folky tracks or a collection of flying lotus-esque noise-tronica, it wasn't as successful an experiment as Kid-A or Amnesiac but any album with a track like this on it can't be overlooked...
3.Jamie XX vs Gil Scott Heron- We're New Here
Gil Scott Heron never reached his full potential, spent too much time fucked on crack and heroin, and spent too much time in jail. He was incredibly talented and it was really sad that he died this year not long after releasing an album which was as vital and as relevant as 'the revolution will not be televised' was in its day. People dismiss it as middle class music for the starbucks generation, but they are cynical fuckwits who should head back to ITV1 so they don't miss a second of the X factor final. Jamie XX recreated 'I'm New Here' and made it a totally different beast, this track in particular is a poignant swan song.
2. Cats Eyes- Cats Eyes
I really regret all the horrible things I ever said about Faris Badwan when he was going out with Peaches Geldoff, it turns out he was actually a genius and I just didn't get him, his Cat's eyes side project absolutely blew me away. It was as close to Phil Spector as it was to the Cramps as this moving tribute to Broadcasts Trish Keenan will atest
Horrors- Skying
Yeah, so Faris Badwan again, I really don't want to like him, I want to pretend I prefer the Klaxons but these guys are just so fucking good... they remixed a Lady Gaga track and turned it into a masterpiece, they have been hanging out with Andy Weatherall which means that eventually there will be remixes or even a collaboration, its got a certain U2 circa Achtung Baby sound but combined with the obvious My Bloody Valentine etc et al, I guess what I am trying to say is that it is probably the most solid example of what a classic rock album should sound like. Here to finish us off is an extended version of the highlight of the album... moving further away.
Amazing.
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