Challengers

My love for this song is becoming obsessive. Fortunately Neko Case’s new album is getting near. I can’t wait – in spite of its very questionable artwork!

Favourite Songs 2008

Now that I’ve calmed down from the stress of compiling my favourite albums I’ve moved on to look at individual tracks that have impressed me over the last twelve months. It’s a very different list from the favourite albums one although the 80’s flair continues somewhat at times. In my opinion it was a truly wonderful year for pop. The songwriter finally rising in importance again after the shameful dominance of the pretty-looking record label puppets of the past decade. In fact, pop largely dominates this list. Santogold, Ladyhawke and The Ting Tings all producing quality pop singles that any self-respecting music lover could loudly and proudly play. 

My number 1 is so placed for many reasons. Firstly I think it  is a wonderful pop track with the perfect coupling of Estelle and Kanye West raising it far about other similar sounding tracks. I first heard it in March when I was in New York and it has followed me about ever since. I have requested it more than any other track in my life on nights out and danced to it more times than one would ever think possible. And it has a Wok Wobbler in it for heaven’s sake! Above all, and this is a very personal reason it has made me feel so incredibly happy, so often, that I couldn’t not award it with the number 1 spot. Plus I love it when Conorland and the real music world collide – popular enough for clubs to play and good enough for me to want to hear it.

Numbers 2 and 3 share a similar vision in their grand musical dramatic swell. Dying is fine is like a lost Smiths’ anthem while The Age of the Understatement leans more towards Scott Walker. I loved both from the very first time I heard them. Incredible songs.

One other notable point about 2008 and music for me is that I have had the incredible good fortune to have a great friend (My occasionally Dutch teaching friend) who, not only has a wonderful taste in music, but who regularly introduces me to new songs and artists. His recommendations are, without fail, top quality and pretty much always end up in my favourites folder. Almost half of the songs on this list I discovered through him. It would have been a much poorer year for me music-wise had it not been for him.

So here they are from 20 to 1. It’s time to swap that wok wobbler for a glass of something bubbly to celebrate.

20. That’s Not My Name – The Ting Tings

19. Heartbeat – Late of the Pier

18. Get over it – Guillemots

17. In this City – Iglu & Hartly

16. Everyday I work on the road – Voicst

15. Time to Pretend – MGMT

14. Lights and Music – Cut Copy

13. Hallelujah – The Helio Sequence

12. The Great Beyond – Aimee Mann

11. Sabali – Amadou & Mariam

10. Oh No – Andrew Bird

9. One Day Like This – Elbow

8. Kriss Kross – Guillemots

7. Paper Planes – M.I.A.

6. Paris is Burning – Ladyhawke

5. Great DJ – The Ting Tings

4. L.E.S. Artistes – Santogold

3. Dying is Fine – Ra Ra Riot

2. The Age of the understatement – Last Shadow Puppets

1. American Boy – Estelle ft Kanye West

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Previous Winners:

2007 – Andrew Bird – Imitosis

2006 – BellX1 – Rocky took a lover

2005 – Patty Griffin – Top of the World

2004 – The Postal Service – Such Great Heights

2003 – Autamata – Out of This

Album of the month August

The Heart Strings - Try Fly Blue Sky

There were three contenders for album of the month this time round. All three caught my interest when I was least expecting it. As the weeks went on though The Heart Strings won the war. I couldn’t stop myself putting this CD on again and again. I found myself needing my Heart Strings fix otherwise the day just wasn’t complete.  On the first few listens this album is deceptively sweet and simple sounding. After a while though you realise that this is in fact one of its strengths. The songs are stronger for the honesty with which they are presented. Definitely Beatles inspired and then slightly more Paul than John. It was while listening to Pedalo that I began to realise just how great this group are. It’s a gorgeously charming song about travelling across the sea in a yellow pedalo. As you can imagine this proved a very tiring venture so he took a break aboard a ship which was all great until he found out they were actually whalers after which he felt he had to peddle his merry way again on his aqua bike. Nina and her very long hair is another highlight. The playful title probably gives a lot away about the music already – a simple story about teenage unrequited love and the awkwardness of that age. Kids begins with the words Bang, Crash, K’blam, Smash all sang in the sweetest way possible. The album just continues to weave a spell on the listener and provides the sunny days that summer just didn’t manage on its own. Using piano, trumpets, harp, gentle tones and a warm light they have made of the best albums of the year so far. And it somehow manages to do all this without ever getting too sweet – these are talented musicians and songwriters for sure.

Purchase it here

The Heart Strings- Pedalo

Album of the month June

Santogold – Santogold

What a lot of hype there has been this summer for new releases. I’m beginning to think this is simply orchestrated to distract us from what is normally a quiet time for new releases. Usually the big surge happens just after festival season, getting ready for Christmas. Bon Iver for example appears to be the Second Coming if you believe the music press. Sadly, till now after many repeated listens it still doesn’t do anything for me. I can’t get past his voice (and perhaps the story of him locking himself away in a cabin and killing a deer and eating it!). The latest hype to the max is the Hold Steady’s new album – again after about five listens I still find it disappointingly average.

One who has survived through the hype for me though is Santogold. In fact I read one negative review who criticises her for having too many styles on her album. This is precisely what excites me. She manages to bring to mind M.I.A (Shove it), Throwing Muses (lights Out) and Amy Winehouse (Say Aha) at various times while still holding the album together as a strong piece. And she manages to appeal to me far more than M.I.A. or Amy ever did (two more hype balls that I struggle to appreciate).

Put simply Santogold’s album is packed with terrific songs. It’s a pop rap funky blend and they sound fresh and alive! They effortlessly provide a summer feeling which god knows the weather has failed to do. L.E.S. Artistes might just be a contender for song of the year. The introduction alone, turned up nice and loud gets me going like no other track for many a month. My personal favourite though is Lights Out. Its gentle melody so understated after the big pop anthems just gone ahead.

My only problem with the album is the popular track Creator. It’s just a personal gripe – It makes me uncomfortable for the same reasons I dislike a lot of M.I.A.’s work. But that’s a sign of a good album – one where everyone has different favourites, you can dislike a song or two and still love the album. Santogold is definitely one of the most exciting artists this year.

Pick it up here for €8.50

Favourite Songs #4 – The Emporer’s New Clothes

Continuing the theme of honesty I know of no other artist that is quite as honest as Sinead O’Connor. It is what I admire most about her. Well that and her incredible voice. Combined you have probably the best artist Ireland has ever produced.

 
She has had to put up with an incredible amount of aggression from the media and public alike as a result of this. She says what she thinks and doesn’t care. The attention she gets is somewhat strange as she isn’t and has never been a pop star. The media however seem desperate for her to be just that. This is why they are delighted every time she opens her mouth because, chances are, you won’t be hearing some sanitised syrup that pop stars spew to ensure a happy audience. Far from it. Sinead, like anyone of interest, has opinions and when asked she’ll happily tell you them. However she is also not afraid to change her mind and say so proudly. Likewise she will freely apologise should she think she was wrong. On top of this she is capable of self-criticism which is very important for the sane mind. All this and more are to be found in this lady’s lyrics and if you listen and hear what she is saying it is astounding. And refreshing and oh so seldom found in singers today. People are often frightened of strong women who dare to speak their mind. They are punished by being mocked or made to seem crazy.

They laugh cause they know they’re untouchable not because what I said was wrong

I feel I can identify with some of the problems Sinead faces.  I am a very passionate person and will easily find myself in heated debates because I care about many different things and if I have an opinion I will not sit on the fence to avoid the issue. This is never easy to do and I admire anyone who has beliefs and expresses them. It is not the easy option and it takes a lot of energy. It will often leave you feeling battered and bruised too. I can’t imagine how someone could do this in the public eye and remain healthy.

But back to the song. The lyrics here are about as personal as they come. In that aspect it reminds me of Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes album. It was released in 1990 but the text is as apt today. For me it is the quintessential Sinead song. I have always loved how she can sound so vulnerable and sweet when she sings so softly, almost in a whisper, and then she can change completely and sing with such passion and power that never fails to effect me. This is one of the louder rockier tracks and I love it for that.

For me an artist is someone who tries to make sense of the world around them in their own way. They do not conform and they dare to be different. Sinead does that in spades and I admire her incredibly for it. God bless her

Whatever it may bring
I will live by my own policies
I will sleep with a clear conscience
I will sleep in peace

The Emperors New Clothes

Buy the album here for next to nothing!

Album of the month May

Aimee Mann – @#%&*! Smilers

Mojo deemed this album an instant classic and it’s not hard to see why really. It’s classic Aimee. Nothing new whatsoever, just straight out gloriously simple Aimee tunes. The very best of tunes. Whereas her last couple of albums have had three or so excellent tracks among fillers this is pretty much a constantly great album. What a wonderful relief that is.

It also has one of the most apt songs I’ll ever hear. Apt for a particular time in my life – I’m referring to 31 today which I first heard two weeks before I hit the same number. It was like she had written it for me, and while I might not be quite as miserable as the lady in the song the sentiments aren’t a million miles from home either. But that is the theme of this album – people who aren’t having the best time of their lives for one reason or other.

Her songs here continue her strengths in song writing – clever lyrics and strong Beatles-influenced melodies – always a delicious mix – especially when bound by Aimee’s distinctive voice. Mojo weren’t wrong, one of the strongest albums of the year so far.

31 Today – Aimee Mann

Buy the Album here

Album of the Month April

Sara and Tegan – The Con

This is a perfect Conortje album. One I liked upon first listen and one that I can’t stop listening to ever since. It just gets better and better with each play. The Con has the perfect blend of quirky, rocky, funky, dirty and poppy. If I had ordered a sound to make me happy this is what would have come out. In fact I would go as far as saying it’s one of the best albums I have heard in years.  With The Con they’ve mastered the perfect packet. The production is 100% perfect – not a beat too much or a harmony too little. It’s a total joy to listen to something this good.

If I was pushed to describe them I’d say they were like a rockier CocoRosie and yet much more melodic and consistent that those particular siblings. What these two groups share (apart from both being a set of sisters) is a slightly bonkers element of fun.

But at the end of the day it just comes down to good songs and The Con is bursting with them. Relief Next To me, Are you Ten Years Ago, Back in your Head and Like O like H being my current favs.

You can buy the album here. Hurry, hurry!

When Dutch music and the 80s met. Yikes!