Exactly what the name dictates; no ‘best of’ albums, no
compilations and no TV or film soundtracks/scores are allowed. 100 words or
less on each album. I know, not exactly about film and TV... Now to start.
Honourable Mentions;
- Turn on the Bright Lights,
- The Glow pt. 2,
- Crystal Castles,
- All Godspeed you Black Emperor albums
10. Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene
BSS’s best album may have just missed the cut off having
appeared in 2010 (Forgiveness Rock
Record), but this is still a stunning piece of work. Drew and Canning’s
lyrics are delightfully complex, occasionally dark and profound, but also witty
and humourous at times. Perhaps the album which defines their ‘sound’ most; the
reverberated guitar and melancholic voices reeks of Sonic Youth, but there is
something wonderfully eccentric and inspirational about their music, as opposed
to Sonic’s less enthusiastic (to say the least) attitude. Swimmers and Fire Eye’d Boy
are personal favourites. Very underrated, both the band, and the album.
9. For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver
A more predictable choice, but really quite an inevitable one.
Skinny Love is rightfully hailed as
one of the finest love songs of the decade, but Flume and RE: Stacks are
equally superb, and, in fact, Lump Sum might
just be my favourite of the bunch. The guitar and lyrics are just superb; ‘In
my arbour till my ardour trumped every inner inertia,’ is an inspired line.
Although not technically a flaw, I did find it quite short and perhaps the album
never reaches the dizzying heights of some further up the list, but it’s consistently
excellent and thoroughly engaging.
8. Kingdom
of Rust – Doves
I’ve always found it difficult to label The Doves. Equally alternative,
prog-rock and punk, they certainly defy genre. What is definite is their status
as one of the most brilliant rock bands of our generation. And this might well
be their masterpiece. The epic, yet haunting, title track is an
acknowledged classic, as are the likes of Winter
Hill and Jetstream. I love The Outsiders though. The rhythm guitar,
bass and percussion are sensational, and it’s one of their ‘punkier’ offerings.
A band with plenty of variety, and plenty of quality.
7. The XX- The XX
The finest ‘easy listening’ album of the decade. The
interplay between the instruments and the voices of Smith and Madley Croft is seamless
and perfectly substantiates each other. Every song is relaxing and soothing,
but retaining poignancy and originality in the process. They’re hardly vacuous.
To describe it as beautifully moving would be a dangerous understatement; the
romantic, yet angsty, lyrics, almost exclusively about sex and love, are
heartbreakingly honest. Crystallised,
Shelter and Islands rightfully have
their plaudits, but Stars is their
finest song. So very simple, quiet almost, yet so very, very powerful.
6. Funeral – Arcade Fire
Very probably my favourite ever ‘indie’ album. Arcade Fire
are the voice of the generation in-between ‘Generation X’ and the Ipad
generation; a group of people caught up in the clash of post-modernism and
post post-modernism, screaming out in misunderstanding and anger. Win Butler
may not be the best singer, but the passionate range of emotions evident in
his voice is awe-inspiring. A work stripping the artificial pointlessness of
modern society to the core. Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies), Neighbourhood 3 (Power on) and In
the Backseat are particularly fantastic. They’re amazing live too.
5. Boxer – The National
The modern masters of alternative rock, they use piano and violins
as main instruments, along with the more traditional choices, rather than using
them as gimmicks in some half-hearted attempt at originality. Much like Doves,
The National can do almost anything. Ranging from the slower, more touching and
contemplative tracks (Fake Empire, Start a War)
to percussion and guitar heavy anthems (Apartment
Story, Squalor Victoria). Boxer is
an incredibly clever and varied album. The song, Slow Show, also has my favourite ever lyric; ‘You know I dreamed
about you; for 29 years before I saw you.’
4. Kid A – Radiohead
The first of 2 Radiohead albums on the list. (it was
inevitable) Kid A was the album in which Radiohead showed that their
mind-blowing genius was not limited to rock. They dabbled in electronica, and
it paid off. Extremely original at the time, it still had the unique ‘Head
feel, best displayed in their outstandingly odd lyrics. The National Anthem is possibly the most badass song ever written, Idioteque, the most disturbing, and Motion Picture Soundtrack, the most
heartbreaking. Radiohead are commonly criticised as being pretentious. You are
only pretentious when you don’t match your own hype. Radiohead exceed it.
3. Ghosts of the Great Highway – Sun Kil Moon
I’m going to go out on a limb here; Mark Kozalek’s ambitious
project, Sun Kil Moon, is the most underappreciated band since The Smashing
Pumpkins, maybe of all-time. He is certainly the best folk singer-songwriter I’ve
heard and this is his best album. The weird thing is; neither his lyrics, nor his
music, are all that ground-breaking. They do, however, work perfectly. Every song is just so atmospheric, dark and
intense, yet also extremely thought-provoking, and somehow, even beautiful. Carry me Ohio is one of my favourite songs,
and Gentle Moon nearly had me in
tears. Masterpiece.
2. ...Is a Real Boy – Say Anything
I’m not a fan of grunge/college rock. I hate bands like
Blink 182, Green Day and Sum 41. Say Anything are different though. There is a
wonderfully angsty, hate-filled quality to them, as if they despise everything
ever other grunge band pretends to stand for. Not as much as they hate hipsters
though; one must listen to Admit it! to fully realise this. Incredible song. Max Bemis is my favourite lyricist. I
can’t even articulate why, just listen to the words he aggressively spews into
the microphone, then you’ll understand. Also, Alive with the Glory of Love.
1. In Rainbows – Radiohead
All 10 individual songs are great in their own right, but
together, as a single piece of work, it’s staggeringly good. Bodysnatchers has the best transition I’ve
heard in any song, is just brilliantly insane anyways, and All I Need is maybe Radiohead’s greatest love song. Videotape is the best song ever written
about death and the afterlife, while Jigsaw
Falling into Place is also excellent. The highlight, however, is Reckoner. The best song I’ve ever heard;
it’s ridiculously ambitious, yet completely flawless. The guitar and percussion
defy hyperbole. Genius. No other term can suitably describe it.
