Below are my top 10 albums of the year. To be honest, for some reason, I usually tend to avoid current releases and hype of the new best thing.. Maybe for that reason my opinion isn't valid! Either way, I hope I can put you onto something you might not have tried before.
1. The Breeders - Mountain Battles: Probably most under rated album of the year?!? I've browsed through a few crappy best of lists and cant find this anywhere! Listening to this album brings the claustrophobic comfort of being smothered by my two adopted mothers - Kim & Kelly.
2. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie: Amazing. Like always their albums of sweet, sincere, honest and demented songs provoke a reaction to hug the person next to you and invite the postman in for tea and crumpets. Pity on those who think this band doesn't have anything new to add. Also worth noting that them filling the long vacant second guitarist post has yet again added to the live performance and another dimension to their genius
3. Why? - Alopecia:On first c ouple of listens I actually hated this but it's probably the album that has grown on me the most. After watching them live a couple of times (and missing Devo because I was so drawn by their intimate performance at Primavera) my appreciation for the the band and the album exploded like, well, an explosion.
4. Portishead - Third: As much as I love to go against the masses this is genuinely a great album. Dark, depressing and hauntingly beautiful
5. The Bug - London Zoo: Just because I love the sex appeal of the Warrior Queen and I think Poison Dart is my favourite song of the year. Just be yourself and don't forget to dance!
6. Mayors of Miyazaki - Buffalo!: After listening to them on the Organ show on Resonance FM, I went down to watch them at the Millers Bar. They literally only played to me and other members of the other bands playing on the night. Very impressed. Being unemployed at the time I could only afford to download this album for free from their website and have religiously listened to it at least twice a week ever since.
7. Black Sun - Paralyser: Not sure if this can be classified as an album. However personally one of my highlights at Supersonic festival this year. Devastating, brutal, world ending. Reminiscence of wanting to dislocate my neck when I first heard Locust Star by Neurosis.
8. Pale Horse - Habitual Linestepper: Heavy sludgey noise that is as honest as the members themselves. Saw them live 3 times this year and all were amazing small gigs.
9. Flying Lotus - Los Angeles: You can only get bludgeoned in the head so many times. This is a nice little piece of intricate work I find myself playing in the background during days of rest. Glitch-hop forever!
10. Buddy Peace - Wolf Diesel Mountain: Not even sure if this was released this year. It's a mashed up mix tape sampling the likes of Shellac, Liars and MF Doom; almost like a 60 minute reference to some decent artists out there. Quite an easy listen that provided a temporary remedy from the nausea of hearing Lil' Wayne singing about killing our grandmas
Agree with Miguel? Mourning the absence of Girls Aloud? What's your top 10? Let us know!
Posted In Features, Dec 31 2008.
Words - Miguel