MMX
Another year nearly over and yet another best of list. Personally this year was more eventful than the last; I started my Bachelor of Communications maj. in Journalism and realised how much I hate studying, although at least I don't have to travel for hours. I did yet another internship but this time at Acclaim Magazine. Check out my articles in the Japan, Friends & Renegade issues. Started blogging with the gorgeous Mayoress women and over at Skeleton Soup with the lovely Tony from the US. Continued writing for the lovely kids at SoundProof Magazine and The Dwarf. I also started working at the Softbelly Bar! It has all been ruddy-go. (Had to throw in an IT Crowd quote)...
Other than that I've had some great nights out with friends, met some wonderful people, had a few trips; one to see my sister get married in Hobart and a quick trip up to Sydney to reignite my love for Melbourne. Now I've babbled, here is my best of list in no particular numerical preference.
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1. Male Bonding - Year's Not Long: Some more Sub-Pop kids hailing from London. I admit I hadn't heard about them until I had to interview them (here), but after a few listens I do love their low-fi post punk. I'll never be this cool.
2. Boy & Bear - Fall At Your Feet: Usually covers sound horrible and nowhere near the quality of the original but I really do like this cover of a Crowded House classic. It keeps the structure but the simplification in some areas makes the track feel more haunting than the original.
3. Last Dinosaurs - Honolulu: As usual I'm drawn to fun and catchy songs like this one. I also saw them play a great set at Rats while I danced around like a drunk, sloshing my drink everywhere and squinting out of one eye. I'm all class.
4. Gorillaz - Stylo {Ft. Bobby Womack and Mos Def}: It's the Gorillaz AND Mos Def; how can you resist? Plus the video clip adds my old man heart throb, Bruce Willis in the equation and you've instantly won me over.
5. Girl Talk - All Day: The whole fucking album. End of story.
6. Born Ruffians - What To Say: While I haven't gotten into the new album as much as Red, Yellow & Blue but I still love the music these adorable Canadians bring to the table. This track delivers more thoughtful lyrics and purposely under produced recordings. I had the pleasure of interviewing Luke Lalonde for The Dwarf (here) and after I finished up hyperventilating, he turned out to be a very sweet man which only enhanced my love for the band.
7. Cee Lo Green - Fuck You!: This has all the elements for the perfect party track; upbeat, catchy and has you can curse at the top of your lungs. While Cee Le Green is constantly bringing that unique je ne sais quoi to the music industry, every time I see him I still think of the episode of My Super Sweet 16 which featured his snot-nosed daughter.
8. The Drums - Saddest Summer & Let's Go Surfing: I was a bit slow to hop on the Drums bandwagon but I finally got the album and liked what I heard, especially these tracks. Upbeat with a sort of 60's beach vibe. If it happens to get hot this summer, I'm sure these will be a good soundtrack to my alcohol abuse.
9. Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks: If I had a band or musical talent, I'd want it to sound like this song but then cross it with Talking Heads and Nirvana....this is why I don't have a band. My musical taste is schizophrenic.
10. M.I.A - Born Free: Definitely a contender for one of my favourite video clips of the year, maybe all time. This sound sounds more like a song off a soundtrack than an actual album release. Kind of like the energetic/frantic equivalent of Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
11. Darwin Deez - Radar Detector: I played this track to death. I even played it at my sisters wedding where only a handful of us knew what it was. The video clip is full of hipster stereotypes; skinny indie kid bordering on anorexic, sexual predator moustache, quirky Asian girlfriend, epileptic dancing and nostalgic props. Most importantly, I'm not sick of this song yet.
12. Damian Marley & Nas - Count Your Blessings & As We Enter: One of my favourite collaborations of this year. Count Your Blessings is upbeat but the music saves it from being sickeningly sweet and As We Enter is just a solid rap/reggae track. Pick up the album!
13. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs: I feel like I've heard this before, but I still enjoy it immensely.
14. Tokyo Police Club - Wait Up (Boots Of Danger): More Canadian indie-pop goodness. This was one of my favourites off the album; "with a nonsensical but sweet, child like chorus consisting of do do’s and thankfully no woah-oh’s (never thought I’d reference Kisschasy in anything I wrote), its up-tempo cheerfulness will win you over". Check out my full review (here).
15. Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun: Another memorable film clip, this time Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas, RZA and Lil' Wayne take on that red headed girl they like using in their other video clips. I saw the guitarist do a DJ set this year and we exchanged some words, although I admit I was a little more starstruck when Ezra was standing right near me. This track is just a small example of how good their sophomore album is, I'm looking forward to seeing what else they can come up with.
Dishonorable mentions:
Megan Washington (Everything): I want to cut her bangs and tape her mouth shut.
Angus & Julia Stone (Everything Julia Stone sings): Her voice sounds like a wounded toddler.
Sleepy Jackson (Better Be Home Soon): Aural Holocaust.
Duck Sauce (Barbra Streisand): Ear rape and it must stop being played at clubs.
Robyn (Everything): Eurotrash, and not the fun kitschy kind where England ends up losing.
Ke$ha (Everything): Remember that photo that came out where she had a load shot all over her chest? Well I feel like I've been given a facial every time I hear her music.
And on that happy note, have a great Christmas/NYE break. See you all in the new year!
2. Boy & Bear - Fall At Your Feet: Usually covers sound horrible and nowhere near the quality of the original but I really do like this cover of a Crowded House classic. It keeps the structure but the simplification in some areas makes the track feel more haunting than the original.
3. Last Dinosaurs - Honolulu: As usual I'm drawn to fun and catchy songs like this one. I also saw them play a great set at Rats while I danced around like a drunk, sloshing my drink everywhere and squinting out of one eye. I'm all class.
4. Gorillaz - Stylo {Ft. Bobby Womack and Mos Def}: It's the Gorillaz AND Mos Def; how can you resist? Plus the video clip adds my old man heart throb, Bruce Willis in the equation and you've instantly won me over.
5. Girl Talk - All Day: The whole fucking album. End of story.
6. Born Ruffians - What To Say: While I haven't gotten into the new album as much as Red, Yellow & Blue but I still love the music these adorable Canadians bring to the table. This track delivers more thoughtful lyrics and purposely under produced recordings. I had the pleasure of interviewing Luke Lalonde for The Dwarf (here) and after I finished up hyperventilating, he turned out to be a very sweet man which only enhanced my love for the band.
7. Cee Lo Green - Fuck You!: This has all the elements for the perfect party track; upbeat, catchy and has you can curse at the top of your lungs. While Cee Le Green is constantly bringing that unique je ne sais quoi to the music industry, every time I see him I still think of the episode of My Super Sweet 16 which featured his snot-nosed daughter.
8. The Drums - Saddest Summer & Let's Go Surfing: I was a bit slow to hop on the Drums bandwagon but I finally got the album and liked what I heard, especially these tracks. Upbeat with a sort of 60's beach vibe. If it happens to get hot this summer, I'm sure these will be a good soundtrack to my alcohol abuse.
9. Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks: If I had a band or musical talent, I'd want it to sound like this song but then cross it with Talking Heads and Nirvana....this is why I don't have a band. My musical taste is schizophrenic.
10. M.I.A - Born Free: Definitely a contender for one of my favourite video clips of the year, maybe all time. This sound sounds more like a song off a soundtrack than an actual album release. Kind of like the energetic/frantic equivalent of Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
11. Darwin Deez - Radar Detector: I played this track to death. I even played it at my sisters wedding where only a handful of us knew what it was. The video clip is full of hipster stereotypes; skinny indie kid bordering on anorexic, sexual predator moustache, quirky Asian girlfriend, epileptic dancing and nostalgic props. Most importantly, I'm not sick of this song yet.
12. Damian Marley & Nas - Count Your Blessings & As We Enter: One of my favourite collaborations of this year. Count Your Blessings is upbeat but the music saves it from being sickeningly sweet and As We Enter is just a solid rap/reggae track. Pick up the album!
13. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs: I feel like I've heard this before, but I still enjoy it immensely.
14. Tokyo Police Club - Wait Up (Boots Of Danger): More Canadian indie-pop goodness. This was one of my favourites off the album; "with a nonsensical but sweet, child like chorus consisting of do do’s and thankfully no woah-oh’s (never thought I’d reference Kisschasy in anything I wrote), its up-tempo cheerfulness will win you over". Check out my full review (here).
15. Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun: Another memorable film clip, this time Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas, RZA and Lil' Wayne take on that red headed girl they like using in their other video clips. I saw the guitarist do a DJ set this year and we exchanged some words, although I admit I was a little more starstruck when Ezra was standing right near me. This track is just a small example of how good their sophomore album is, I'm looking forward to seeing what else they can come up with.
Dishonorable mentions:
Megan Washington (Everything): I want to cut her bangs and tape her mouth shut.
Angus & Julia Stone (Everything Julia Stone sings): Her voice sounds like a wounded toddler.
Sleepy Jackson (Better Be Home Soon): Aural Holocaust.
Duck Sauce (Barbra Streisand): Ear rape and it must stop being played at clubs.
Robyn (Everything): Eurotrash, and not the fun kitschy kind where England ends up losing.
Ke$ha (Everything): Remember that photo that came out where she had a load shot all over her chest? Well I feel like I've been given a facial every time I hear her music.
And on that happy note, have a great Christmas/NYE break. See you all in the new year!
5 comments:
Usually I'm not against those cover albums, you can sometimes find a track or two where you think "oww ok, it's not the original but it's a nice interpretation"
im not even a diehard finn fan, so i'm not overly protective of people covering their work
however there is absolutely nothing good about that Neil & Tim Finn songs cd... it is fucking horrible!
hang on i just went back and had a listen to that boy and bear one, it's not as horrific... but its like going to a facial burn victims meeting and calling yourself the hottest person in the group
Hahaha! Are you angry that I slagged off Ke$ha and you named her in your top tracks last year? :P
oww hardly... she isn't even a useful sperm dumpster. i still like the novelty of tik tok but what gets me is that she isn't attractive on any level, the more i see of her the more i realise she's a wannabe cocktease.
if i want someone to get stuck in my dreams ill stick with katy perry lol
Hi, i just want to say hello to the community
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