We’re nearly at the end of the year then and, in general and in spite of everyone moaning (as they always do) that music’s, you know, just shit at the moment, its not been a bad year for releases.  Obviously to go through all of it would take far too much of our time, so in the spirit of swiftness I’m going to just touch on the major stuff. Bear in mind this is purely personal, and by no means a Gobshout opinion


Albums Of The Year


The big one.  Tough one this. I haven’t fallen for Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear which seem to be popping up everywhere else, and certainly not The Horrors (who topped the NME list).  Before summer it was Fanfarlo, during summer it was Jack Penate, Marmaduke Duke and Kill it Kid, and coming very much up the rear in the latter part of the year have been Arctic Monkeys, The xx and Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, the latter of which have made a truly stunning album.  Add to that the various merits of Florence, Broken Records, Passion Pit, Metric, Miike Snow and The Big Pink, and what was a normal rational man has been transformed into a procrastinating, gibbering mess, unable to make a choice and weeping at his sheer lack of decisional backbone.  However, after much to’ing and fro’ing a decision has been made, and by jove its a tie for the top spot!  Top Five as follows:

1- Fanfarlo- Reservoir/ Kill it Kid- Kill it Kid
2: Yeah Yeah Yeah’s- It’s Blitz!
3: Arctic Monkeys- Humbug
4-The xx- The xx
5- Broken Records- Until The Earth Begins To Part

Yes, it is a cop-out to choose two at the top, but it was impossible to slip the most buttery of knives between them.  Both Fanfarlo and Kill it Kid have made soaring albums, full of big tunes and bigger heart and are the unsung heroes of the ‘Big Folk’ movement that has spread quicker than swine flu this year, reaching its commercial apex with Mumford and Sons (who’s Sigh No More is not far off the list) . If there wasn’t a such a degree of personal affection towards these two acts, Karen O and pals would saunter to the top spot with It’s Blitz!, which is nigh on perfect from start to finish and told the world, if they didn’t already know after ‘Maps’, that The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s can do emotion better than almost anyone. 


Surprisingly Good Album Of The Year


Kasabian- West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum


Never quite convinced by Kasabian as anything other than an alright live band, especially after the dreary posturing of Empire, this extravagantly titled effort from the Leicester lads was something of a revelation.  The early Stones of ‘Fire’ contrasted rather nicely with the Kinks whimsy of ‘Thick As Thieves’, with everything in between showing them growing and developing their sound further than before.  Plus they very nearly upstaged Oasis at Wembley. Which leads us nicely to...



Gig Of The Year


Yes, we know everyone who was there will say Blur at Glasto (he cried for chrissakes), but those of us that missed it have had to scrabble around elsewhere.  Fortunately this year saw some unexpected and unprecedented delights.

1- Oasis @Wembley
2- Blur@ Hyde Park
3- Bruce Springsteen@ Hyde Park
4- The Twilight Sad @ICA
5- Kill it Kid@ Fly


The top three all took place in the reverse of the order on their list, all within a glorious 2 weeks in June and July.  The brothers Gallagher put on a genuinely incredible show at Wembley, only enhanced by the driving rain that started coming down half through. Yes there was a lot of twats there, yes you get hit by cups of piss, but 70,000 people in raptures to stunning renditions of 'Rock N’ Roll Star', 'Champagne Supernova' and a forever remembered 'Slide Away', not to mention a chatty Liam showing unforeseen levels of humility towards the crowd, equals something rather special; especially when you consider they were to break up barely 6 weeks later.  R.I.P, and please do not call your new band ‘Oasis 2.0’ Liam.



Worst Gig Of The Year


MGMT @ Bestival

If ever proof was needed that MGMT are just a singles band it was this. A tedious set full of plodding cod pyschadelica and moody posing distinctly underwhelmed the crowd that had embraced the Brooklyites in 2008.  Their saving grace was finishing on ‘Kids’ which was as joyful a live experience you could possibly hope for.  Other than that...meh. 


Year Of The E.P


2009 saw something of a revival of this paired down format, with a wealth of exciting releasing top quality E.P’s that had the world at large slobbering all over them, not least Passion Pit who’s Chunk Of Change was one of the best releases of the year, and not just because it had ‘Sleepyhead’ on it.  If only the album had been as good. Sigh....

Other than them Swanton Bombs, First Aid Kit, Marina And The Diamonds and Sparrow and the Workshop all brought out cracking collections and should now break through in 2010.


Huh? Award


Speech Debelle


Despite being tipped for the Mercury Music Prize by yours truly on the Gobshout forums (ahem), there was a collective scratching of heads when young Speech came out ahead of Florence, Glasvegas and Friendly Fires in the annual award. One suspects her victory was more to do with the Mercury panel wanting a leftfield  choice after two years of populist winners  (Klaxons and Elbow) than anything else, but unfortunately people’s lack of awareness of her mean she was the recipient of some bad vibes , which is a shame as her album of jazzy hip-hop is actually pretty good (though it definitely isn’t the best album of the year).  Did a storming set at Bestival.


Guilty Pleasure Of The Year


La Roux- 'In For The Kill'


Yes, the album all sounds the same and isn’t that good but the lead single is a perfect pop moment that it is folly to ignore.  Listen to it in the morning and you will still be humming it on the way home from work.


Quote Of The Year

Liam (About Noel)- ‘Good luck mate – see you in the next world. Don't be late!’

What does this really mean?  Does he know what it really means?  Beautiful nonsense.

Posted In Features, Dec 18 2009. Words - David