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Post by raliverpool on Dec 26, 2010 16:32:03 GMT 1
2 Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now1st Fave (Non Top 125 Y/E Single track): The Man Who Stole A Leopard www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u4Rg_9JsMw2nd Fave (Non Top 125 Y/E Single track): Girl Panic www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iWh4j5nksU3rd Fave (Non Top 125 Y/E Single track): Blame The Machines www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HgcFrp2W8gNow THIS is why i love music Part 1. Here is a band responsible for the first album I ever bought (Rio) with my own money; who've for 25/30 years have been recording more or less to ever decreasing returns in sales and quality. Come the end of 2008 Duran Duran find themselves dropped by Sony, already ditched by their former guitarist for the second time Andy Taylor; and without a major record label contract for the first time in their career ..... and then at this lowest of low points amazing things happen...... 1. Grammy winning producer and rabid Duran Duran fan Mark Ronson offers to produce and co finance the independent album (on their own label, the pun intended Tape Modern) in return for royalty and songwriting points. 2. They hire former Xenomania guitarist Dom Brown whom has recorded on 00s chart toppers by the likes of Girls Aloud, Sugababes & Take That to be part of the songwriting team. 3. For the first time since 1983's Seven & The Ragged Tiger they record an album that sounds like classic Duran Duran with right down to the slap bass, synthesizer arpeggios and tropical percussion, and not as if they are trying to be someone or something else. This their 13th album is (like their first three seminal albums) just 9 tracks long; and every track is nothing less than great. Against odds that Lazarus would not fancy DD2 have got their Mojo back big time. I honestly would say compare this album against the best 9 songs DD2 recorded between 1990-2007, and this album would be the better album hands down, that is how good it is. As for the songs the free worldwide download of the title track has a Depeche Mode channelling "Bad Romance" verse with a classic DD killer chorus; the wikileaks themed Being Followed sounds like a single from their debut album; Girl Panic & Runway Runaway sound like singles from "Rio" from a parallel universe; album closer Before The Rain and Leave A Light On sounds like classic Arcadia; Scissor Sister's Ana Mantronic does a great turn on Safe (In the Heat of the Moment); but that is trumped by the best song I've heard in 2010 The Man Who Stole A Leopard - lyrically is an epilogue to their iconic Hungry Like The Wolf, features a sensational turn from Kelis; and great bit of violin from Owen Pallett over an epic 6 minutes + track. But don't just take my word for it, look at the critics near universal rave reviews (on Metacritic.com it is scoring a sky high 84; compared to Pop Trash (52); Astronaut (52); Red Carpet Massacre (61)); and its outstanding performance on iTunes around the world in the last week.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 26, 2010 17:05:40 GMT 1
1 John Grant - Queen Of Denmark1st Fave (Non Top 125 Y/E Single track): Where Dreams Goes To Die www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2mumQ6wmKY2nd Fave (Non Top 125 Y/E Single track): I Wanna Go To Marz www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzWQSabtWLs3rd Fave (Non Top 125 Y/E Single track): Sigourney Weaver www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6iWtIFJ-og4th Fave (Non Top 125 Y/E Single track): Queen Of Denmark www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_oNylzsY7I5th Fave (Non Top 125 Y/E Single track): Chicken Bones www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsFWpbb_NqENow THIS is why I love music Part 2. Every now and then, I come across an album by someone I have never heard of before, that completely blows me away. Queen Of Denmark by John Grant was that album for me in June this year when I first heard it. This album may be 51 minutes long, but it does not outstay its welcome. Former Czars frontman, turned Flaming Lips session man John Grant has released a wonderful Dream Pop, folky alternative soft rock album backed by Midlake which recalls Rufus Wainwright at his most emotionally vulnerable yet lyrically flippant, glib, and bitchy, only with John's richer baritone that recalls Eddie Vedder, Tim Buckley, Jackson Browne and strangely Gilbert O'Sullivan. Overall, the sense of melancholy added to the lacerating lyrics and rich tone of his voice made this an album that resonated loudly with me back in June. But the elegantly miserable blend of acoustic folk, orchestral classicism and the occasional eerie synth still sounds as great today, as it did back then. I mean any album that features the lyrics: (Sigourney Weaver): "I feel just like Winona Ryder In that movie about vampires And she couldn't get that accent right Neither could that other guy" (Chicken Bones) "Some days just chicken bones You'd better f*** off now, you'd better leave me alone Cos I'm about to explode, just like a wonderbread bomb And I don't care what I know, because I can't be wrong" (Queen Of Denmark) "I wanted to change the world But I could not even change my underwear And when the sh*t got really really out of hand I had it all the way up to my hairline Which keeps receding like my self-confidence As if I ever had any of that stuff anyway" is a genius. ... In my view this deeply personal album about his past struggles with alcohol and drug addiction and coming to terms with being gay, chosen as Best Album of 2010 by Mojo magazine deserves the up most respect.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 27, 2010 15:38:58 GMT 1
My Albums of The Year (note: not necessarily what I would regard as my favourite now):
2010 John Grant - Queen Of Denmark 2009 Lady GaGa - Fame Monster 2008 Portishead - Third 2007 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible 2006 Nerina Pallot - Fires 2005 Arcade Fire - Funeral 2004 Keane - Hopes and Fears 2003 Rufus Wainwright - Want One 2002 Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head 2001 Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor 2000 Aimee Mann - Magnolia ost. / Bachelor No.2 1999 Travis - The Man Who 1998 Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of 1997 Radiohead - OK Computer 1996 Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go 1995 Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill 1994 Suede - Dog Man Star 1993 Crowded House - Together Alone 1992 REM - Automatic For The People 1991 Primal Scream - Screamadelica 1990 Depeche Mode - Violator 1989 Madonna - Like A Prayer 1988 Pixies - Surfer Rosa 1987 U2 - Joshua Tree 1986 Smiths - The Queen Is Dead 1985 Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love 1984 Prince - Purple Rain
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Post by Earl Purple on Dec 27, 2010 16:02:35 GMT 1
We have the same favourite album of the year in one year: 1986.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 27, 2010 18:36:58 GMT 1
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Post by Earl Purple on Dec 27, 2010 19:09:42 GMT 1
I'm not sure what your source is for singles. Pearl & The Puppets - Make Me Smile was a #1 in my chart. Debbie Gibson had 5 #1s in my chart but the last of those was in 1989 and she hasn't had a solo hit since. I didn't know of any single by her this year, in which she turned 40.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 27, 2010 19:13:22 GMT 1
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 27, 2010 19:21:41 GMT 1
I'm not sure what your source is for singles. Pearl & The Puppets - Make Me Smile was a #1 in my chart. Debbie Gibson had 5 #1s in my chart but the last of those was in 1989 and she hasn't had a solo hit since. I didn't know of any single by her this year, in which she turned 40. Firstly, I don't just limit releases to the UK only. Hence why 2009 hits by Owl City & Glee - DSB made my Y/E 2009 chart when they were big hits in the USA & elsewhere; and did not feature in 2010 when they otherwise could have if I just limited my chart to UK releases. Debbie Gibson released a new album in Japan (when she was touring with fellow late 1980s veteran Rick Astley) in October (Ms Vocalist) from which the lead single reached #1 in the Japanese international (i.e. non Japanese language) chart in November.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 27, 2010 20:28:03 GMT 1
95 Pipettes - Our Love Was Saved By Spacemen (6wks 13-3-2-13-23-31) www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrAoTW_7QXA94 MGMT - Flash Delirium (8wks 29-21-11-6-4-9-17-28) www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWs72lvZoGM93 Adam Deacon & Bashy Ft Paloma Faith - Keep Moving (4-3-2-1 Go) (5wks 17-13-13-20-33) www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qVETMnpnCY92 Clare MaGuire - Ain't Nobody (5wks 22-7-14-24-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSfWOT5JaRY91 Timbaland ft Katy Perry - If We Ever Meet Again (8wks 25-17-11-8-7-9-25-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDKva-s_khYThis batch provides the first of 3 Pipettes entries; the first of two MGMT entries; a modern reworking of an old Susanna Vega track that I'm still mystified flopped hard, especially considering how well the truly rank reworking of Just Be Good To Me did in the charts by Professor Green ft Lily Allen; an artist I hope goes onto greater things in 2011; and a monster global hit single.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 27, 2010 20:39:52 GMT 1
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 27, 2010 20:57:02 GMT 1
85 The Like - Wishing He Was Dead (6wks 9-9-10-14-22-33) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifAU55G92FE84 Orianthi - According To You (7wks 18-13-10-12-18-26-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu1aQvm5MrU83 Lissie - When I'm Alone (8wks 29-16-8-7-11-16-27-39) www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i7jNwv_3oc82 Kylie Minogue - Better Than Today (7wks 10-9-6-8-15-23-34) www.youtube.com/watch?v=vypAgJWiifA81 Brandon Flowers - Crossfire (10wks 17-12-10-15-23-15-13-15-22-34) www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AhU12zC8fcNext we have a four-piece group who play their own instruments produced by Mark Ronson performing a retro 1960s style indie pop song; the Australian female guitarist hired by the late Michael Jackson for his This Is It tour performing a top song even if it is squarely in Kelly Clarkson/Avril Lavigne territory; the second of four tracks by a US singer/songwriter championed by Radio 2, whom has supported Robert Plant on tour; my favourite track from Aphrodite - this time written by Nerina Pallot but disappointingly slowed down and not as good as her US tour version suggested it was going to be; and the debut solo single from the lead singer of the Killers - and certainly not the last to feature a major TV/movie star in the video.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 27, 2010 21:15:17 GMT 1
80 Example - Last Ones Standing (6wks 9-7-6-7-17-30) www.youtube.com/watch?v=qklFpvW7IME79 Jamiroquai - Blue Skies (7wks 28-13-7-5-4-16-25) www.youtube.com/watch?v=afnPQCEE16o78 Kanye West - Coldest Winter (2010 3D Remix) (5wks 11-6-13-15-26) www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6rjQ9VVLDI77 Temper Trap - Love Lost (7wks 11-6-5-8-13-21-32) www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLTPKKt-pMs76 Rox - My Baby Left Me (9wks 19-15-13-6-6-13-17-22-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXlBAadicBIThis time: the best Example single released to date which despite a very funny video performed poorly compared to the previous two singles; a lovely ballad from a returning Jay Kay; the fantastically eerie Massive Attack remix of the 808s & Heartbreak album track with a stunning Kanye-less video; Melbourne's finest indie alternative rock band with another great video; and an artist who failed to take off as expected in 2010.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 28, 2010 12:55:58 GMT 1
75 Sheryl Crow - Summer Day (8wks 27-21-13-6-4-7-16-27) www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcezoElKwc074 Lady GaGa ft Beyonce - Telephone (7wks 40-11-2-6-8-13-22) www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVBsypHzF3U73 Monarchy - Love Get Out Of My Way (6wks 13-6-6-7-15-31) www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6CfPlPHtaU72 Tone Damli - Butterflies (7wks 24-7-5-3-10-19-33) www.youtube.com/watch?v=k048m3-ntxc71 Marina & The Diamonds - Shampain (7wks 12-6-3-12-21-28-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vHi83LTQjULance Armstrong's ex moving in a summery soulful direction; the best video of 2010; a synthpop duo (why are Neon Gold so good at signing great acts, and so useless at marketing them) who ploughed the same new wave 1980s synth-pop furrow but failed to get the hype the most overrated duo of 2010 who thankfully quickly fell out of the album chart despite a major label (BMG) large media campaign got them off to a good start; a Norwegian beauty with a charming song; and the second of three Marina tracks.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 28, 2010 13:07:45 GMT 1
70 Lucky Soul - White Russian Doll (8wks 9-5-4-5-10-16-26-37) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukq8xcwKUPU69 Ben Montague - Haunted (9wks 24-8-5-9-9-12-16-23-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=50JJ9bNbEFk68 Leddra Chapman - Summer Song (8wks 13-8-6-6-10-14-19-30) www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd7rJJb6-B467 Mark Ronson & The Business Intl ft Boy George - Somebody To Love Me (8wks 17-13-10-5-7-10-18-18*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3ipLQJ_ZYI66 Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee (9wks 10-7-7-8-11-16-19-25-34) www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6UuoS7kd-gAn indie retro soul act think of St Etieene meets the Pipettes with a great catchy tune; a great singer/songwriter who released a very haunting tune; the first of two entries by the young English folk/pop singer/songwriter; the first of two Mark Ronson tracks this one featuring the Culture Club frontman; the delightful first single in five years by Scotland's veteran jangle pop legends.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 28, 2010 13:26:11 GMT 1
65 Susanna Kay - Off The Hook (7wks 6-3-3-7-12-19-33) www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqaha5bHAK864 Beach House - 10 Mile Stereo (7wks 10-5-5-5-10-20-34) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITOAtVwF5Wc63 Kanye West - Power (8wks 14-11-9-8-13-22-26-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwfYKA8pbkw62 Eliza Doolittle - Skinny Genes (7wks 5-4-4-5-11-19-30) www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb-SzA3i2fo61 Spark - Revolving (7wks 17-2-3-6-13-22-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfCd5eomm2UA Dutch popstar with a very catchy track in the vein of Lady GaGa-lite; the first of three tracks from the Baltimore Dream-pop duo; the highest placed Kanye track in my Y/E countdown but Monster may appear in my 2011 Y/E countdown; a track I much preferred to the bigger follow up hit Pack Up; Neon Gold/679's 2011 quirky singer/songwriter 18 year old act (think of Kate Nash meets Adele meets Toyah) who supported Marina & The Diamonds on tour this year.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 28, 2010 13:41:20 GMT 1
60 Lisa Mitchell - Oh Hark (7wks 3-3-5-7-16-24-31) www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hW2JKFvdms59 Belle & Sebastian ft Carey Mulligan - Write About Love (6wks 6-4-4-8-15-35) www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDTUAgMu6VU58 She & Him - Thieves (9wks 27-14-8-7-7-10-20-28-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeAgLIaHj0M57 Lady GaGa - Alejandro (11wks 25-22-19-17-12-11-7-10-16-24-32) www.youtube.com/watch?v=niqrrmev4mA56 KT Tunstall – (Still A) Weirdo (9wks 7-5-5-6-8-13-18-29-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqADjtAPi1YAn Australian singer/songwriter who supplemented her usual folky sound with a Rolling Stones type riff on this track; Scotland's finest adding an Oscar nominated actress on vocals; the second single from the second album by a US duo featuring Hollywood starlet Zooey Deschanel on vocals; for me the dark Russian themed Dr Zhivago; Joan Of Arc; Cabaret video featuring a load of Madonna & Bowieisms complimented this Ace of Base meets late Abba sounding song more effectively than the previous GaGa single; a delightful lead single from a mediocre third album by the Scottish singer/songwriter.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 28, 2010 13:50:39 GMT 1
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 28, 2010 16:34:47 GMT 1
50 Paul Weller - No Tears To Cry (10wks 21-28-25-29-29-21-21-25-13-24) www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPaoGccYfAE49 Lissie - Everywhere I Go (6wks 40-19-12-8-5-5*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyJqqgNjSbI48 Arcade Fire - Ready To Start (8wks 15-5-3-6-8-12-18-32) www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oI27uSzxNQ47 Laura Marling - Devil's Spoke (9wks 11-8-7-6-8-10-24-32-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDJPRRUH07k46 Coco Sumner & Fyfe Dangerfield - Only Love Can Break Your Heart (7wks 6-2-3-8-14-25-37) www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vz5BeSeZcIOne of Britain's greatest singer/songwriter's attempt at retro soul; the final of 4 entries by the tuneful US folk/rocker; the first of three tracks from Montreal's finest; a brilliant piece of British folk; and Sting's daughter with the Guillemots lead singer recording a wonderful cover of the Neil Young standard that badly lacked a John Lewis advert placement to make this a deserved hit it never was.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 28, 2010 16:47:05 GMT 1
45 Miike Snow - Silvia (7wks 9-4-2-5-14-22-34) www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZO1nMuZSnI44 Beach House - Norway (8wks 16-11-6-4-8-16-20-29) www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHbtR8uO81M43 Robyn – Indestructable (10wks 33-17-12-5-2-3-4-6-15-15*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxY5GQTveLw42 Safura - Drip Drop (10wks 20-9-6-6-6-5-4-10-21-37) www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU1O65r6z-g41 Katy Perry ft Snoop Dogg - California Gurls (12wks 26-17-14-11-9-5-5-1-4-9-17-29) www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-ICZlm5v6ASweden's production duo Bloodshy & Avant, and lead singer Andrew Wyatt third single from their self titled album; the second consecutive Swedish act with the second of her three entries; for me the best track from the 2010 European Song Contest the Azerbaijan entry, far better than the German winning song that was like a 4th rate Lily Allen impersonator doing an inferior rewrite of Kate Nash' Do-Wah-Doo; and my lowest placed 2010 Personal Chart topping single.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 28, 2010 17:04:56 GMT 1
40 Arcade Fire - We Used To Wait (10wks 5-2-3-7-10-15-21-31-32-35) www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLjrQ3cwzJ439 The Human League – Night People (7wks 19-3-2-2-3-7-7*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcii6HcBWKA38 Rumer – Aretha (9wks 7-2-3-3-4-6-13-22-30) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERzNIzrEnLg37 Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame (8wks 10-3-2-2-2-10-19-30) www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv49bC5xGVY36 Leddra Chapman - Story (7wks 6-2-3-6-12-17-25) www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UjJIZUOJ4AThe best band in the world today make their second of three appearances on my countdown; Sheffield's veteran synthpop act release a tune that had it been the new single by La Roux Radio 1 would have played it to death, and it would have been a guaranteed Top 3 hit here; a delightful song about listening to the Queen Of Soul championed by Radio 2 and on Later With Jools Holland; "Bob & Ken's" brokeback mountain, The White album rip-off reunion song; and a track written and recorded by a 21 year old female English folk/pop singer from Essex championed by Radio 2, but again is something Radio 1 would avoid with a bargepoll as they are too busy playing the latest Justin Bieber-esque Disney-fied autotuned chavvy sh*t from America to appreciate good new music from young British talent.
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