Albums of 2008

Following on from my run through of my favourite songs of 2008, here come the albums. Starting at number 71, of course:

71. Dubstep Allstars Vol.6: Mixed By Appleblim
70. Fuck Buttons – Street Horrrsing
69. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
68. Atlas Sound – Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel
67. Kelley Polar - I Need You To Hold On While The Sky Is Falling
66. DJ Rupture – Uproot
65. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
64. No Age - Nouns
63. Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line
62. Panic at the Disco – Pretty. Odd.
61. Marnie Stern - This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That
60. Deerhunter - Microcastle
59. Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster...
58. Ladytron - Velocifero
57. British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?
56. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
55. Vivian Girls – Vivian Girls
54. Bonnie Prince Billy – Lie Down In The Light
53. Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
52. Grace Jones - Hurricane
51. Amadou & Mariam – Welcome To Mali
50. Cyndi Lauper – Bring Ya To The Brink
49. Minilogue - Animals
48. Tilly and the Wall - O
47. The Walkmen – You & Me
46. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
45. Flying Lotus – Los Angeles
44. Jay Brannan – Goddamned
43. Windmill – Puddle City Racing Lights
42. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum end
41. Air France – No Way Down EP
40. HEALTH – HEALTH//DISCO
39. The Organ – Thieves EP
38. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
37. Laura Marling – Alas, I Cannot Swim
36. Santogold – Santogold
35. Lykke Li – Youth Novels
34. The Dodos – Visiter
33. Late Of The Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
32. The Bug – London Zoo
31. Final Fantasy – Plays To Please EP
30. Get Well Soon - Rest Now, Weary Head, You Will Get Well Soon
29. Beach House – Devotion
28. Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
27. Baby Dee – Safe Inside The Day
26. Mystery Jets – Twenty One
25. Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer
24. Final Fantasy – Spectrum, 14th Century EP
23. Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality
22. Girls Aloud – Out Of Control
21. Micah P. Hinson – Micah P. Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra
20. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
19. Antony and the Johnsons – Another World EP
18. Scarlett Johansson – Anywhere I Lay My Head
17. R.E.M. - Accelerate
16. Mr Oizo – Lamb’s Anger
15. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
14. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
13. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
12. Scott Matthew – Scott Matthew
11. She & Him – Volume One
10. Hercules and Love Affair – Hercules and Love Affair
9. Why? - Alopecia
8. Shearwater - Rook
7. Girl Talk – Feed The Animals
6. Parenthetical Girls - Entanglements
5. Portishead - Third
4. TV On The Radio – Dear Science,
3. The Magnetic Fields - Distortion
2. M83 – Saturdays =Youth
1. of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping

Congratulations to Of Montreal. You surely didn't expect it to be somebody else?

Songs of 2008

Farewell 2008. These were the songs that made my year.

51. The BPA feat. Emmy the Great – Seattle
The Brighton Port Authority is apparently Norman Cook’s latest guise, and this track featuring Emmy the Great is pure brilliance.

50. Fujiya & Miyagi – Knickerbocker
Super fun single from the Japanese sounding not Japanese at all Fujiya & Miyagi.

49. Panic at the Disco – Beneath The Sea
Foolish me for thinking Panic at the Disco were awful emo rubbish, when they are in fact folk heroes in disguise.

48. Cyndi Lauper – Same Ol’ Story
Good old Cyndi, who returned this year with a fabulous collection of disco classics. I sincerely hope this is blasted out every week at Poptastic for teh gayz. They’re probably still snorting poppers to ‘Santa Maria’ though.

47. British Sea Power – Waving Flags
Do You Like Rock Music might have been a bit of a disappointment, but 'Waving Flags' (along with 'No Lucifer') was anthemically brilliant.

46. Dark Star – Need You
With its incredible bassline, this is my dubstep single of the year, f’sure.

45. DJ Earworm – Reckoner Lockdown (Kanye West Vs Radiohead)
Both Radiohead and Kanye West offered singles to be remixed by fans and the like this year, and this clever dick sliced the two together. Amazing stuff.

44. The Dodos - Winter
This Magnetic Fields-esque ukulele led track was my highlight of The Dodos’ excellent Visiter.

43. Laura Marling - Failure
Laura Marling makes me feel terribly old and untalented, but when she writes as lovely songs as this I shall forgive her. Bitch.

42. Get Well Soon – If This Hat Is Missing I Have Gone Hunting
Some people don’t like the cheerleader’s chorus in this song. These people are fools, as it takes the track to all new levels of aceness.

41. Micah P. Hinson – Dyin’ Alone
The beautiful closing track from Micah P. Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra sounds like a lost Johnny Cash classic.

40. Annie – I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me
Quite why this wasn’t the biggest pop single of the year in the world ever I do not know. Stupid people.

39. Sigur Rós – Gobbledigook
Sigur Rós do happy, and end up sounding a bit Animal Collective. Excellent stuff though, and the video had naked people everywhere.

38. Ra Ra Riot – Dying Is Fine
This track features an absolutely killer chorus incorporating an EE Cummings poem.

37. Rubies – I Feel Electric
Electro goodness featuring Feist.

36. Heartsrevolution – Dance Till Dawn
Everyone banged on about Crystal Castles this year, but Heartsrevolution do a very similar thing and much better.

35. Los Campesinos! – Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks
I sincerely hope this will be Los Campesinos! set closer whenever they play live for the rest of their career.

34. HEALTH – Crimewave (Crystal Castles Vs HEALTH)
The remix album of HEALTH’s self-titled debut was a real treat, and Crystal Castles take on ‘Crimewave’ is fantastically removed from the original material.

33. Late Of The Pier – The Bears Are Coming
I fully expected to hate Late Of The Pier by now, but how could I with songs this good?

32. She & Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
Zooey Deschanel teamed up with M.Ward marvellously as She & Him, and proves that she should probably stop making rubbish films and continue with the singing.

31. Scarlett Johansson – Anywhere I Lay My Head
Scarlett Johansson releasing an album of Tom Waits covers was one of the real surprises of 2008. That it was actually really good was an even bigger one.

30. Why? – Good Friday
“If you grew up with white boys who only look at black and Puerto Rican porno, cos they want something that their dad don’t got” has got to be my favourite intro lyric to a song this year.

29. Shearwater – Rooks
Jonathan Meiburg broke away from Okkervil River completely this year to concentrate solely on Shearwater, whose latest album Rook was one of the finest these ears heard.

28. PNAU feat. Ladyhawke – Embrace
Ladyhawke makes her first appearance of my list, collaborating with PNAU on this ace dancefloor filler.

27. Mystery Jets – Young Love (Shoes Mix)
Few bands released as many great singles as Mystery Jets this year, and this remix gives the wonderful ‘Young Love’ an extra boost.

26. R.E.M. – Living Well Is The Best Revenge
Following the rather damp Around The Sun R.E.M. returned with an album of classic R.E.M. rock songs, harking back to the glory IRS years. As the album’s opener this serves as a fantastic statement of intent and could easily fit on to Life’s Rich Pagaent. With the era of Bush coming to a close lines like ‘The future’s ours and you don’t even read the footnote’ are gloriously triumphant.

25. Aeroplane feat. Kathy Diamond – Whispers
Aeroplane made some of the year’s finest remixes, but their own track was a real treat. I expect things for 2009.

24. Final Fantasy – The Butcher
With a new LP almost ready Owen Pallett found the time to release two EPs in 2008, including one recorded in sessions with Beirut from where the fantastic ‘The Butcher’ comes.

23. Mr Oizo feat Carmen Castr – Two Takes It
I had no idea that Mr Oizo had more to him than that Flat Eric song from years ago. Apparently he does.

22. TV On The Radio – Dancing Choose
Dear Science, was one of my albums of the year, and this is a good example of why.

21. Lykke Li – Dance Dance Dance
Lots of love for Lykke this year, and her lovely lo-fi Scandanavian indie pop.

20. Girls Aloud – The Promise
Probably not my favourite track on the album, but I’ve picked ‘The Promise’ as it’s a brilliant first single, and shows that the girls can do pretty much anything (jumping on the 60s bandwagon here). When Sarah wails “Here I am, a walking primrose” it’s yet another bullet point to add under ‘Reasons why Girls Aloud are the finest pop act of the 00s’.

19. The Magnetic Fields – Please Stop Dancing
Possibly my favourite track off the Stephin Merritt does Jesus and the Mary Chain that was Distortion, and the only track to feature Stephin and Claudia singing together as they politely list the reasons for you to please stop dancing.

18. Ladyhawke – Dusk Till Dawn
Ladyhawke released a whole album of potential singles, ‘Dusk Till Dawn’ being my favourite.

17. Britney Spears – Womanizer
Britney made a triumphant return this year with one of her finest singles to date. Furthermore, the sight of her stomping around the X Factor stage miming along was undoubtedly one of my funniest and most cringeworthy TV moments of the year.

16. Bon Ivor – Skinny Love
Bon Ivor was a PR wet dream with tales of how he recorded For Emma, Forever Ago, but it remains a beautiful album and ‘Skinny Love’ is just gorgeous.

15. Antony and the Johnsons – Another World
With The Crying Light about to land in January, Antony released his first new material since I Am A Bird Now, with this devastatingly beautiful ode to suicide.

14. Tilly and the Wall – Beat Control
I’ve adored Tilly and the Wall for years so it was a delight to see them finally make a dent on the mainstream with the wonderful electro pop of ‘Beat Control’. If you want a real treat go and find them performing their ABC song on Sesame Street.

13. Hot Chip – Ready For The Floor
It feels like this song came out absolutely years ago, with its instant dancefloor classic status. It still sounds just as fresh and utterly brilliant now though.

12. Friendly Fires feat. Au Revoir Simone – Paris (Aeroplane remix)
Aeroplane crop up again here, with their take on Friendly Fires’ ‘Paris’, which hands the lead vocals over to Au Revoir Simone.

11. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus Dig!!!
Fresh from the rejuvenating work as Grinderman, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds returned with this stomping first single, fantastically updating the Biblical tale of Lazarus.

10. MGMT – Kids (Soulwax Nite Version)
The album might have been a major disappointment (seriously, wtf NME?) but MGMT did release some fantastic singles. I’ve gone for Kids as I included Time To Pretend in my list last year, and in particular this amazing remix by Soulwax.

9. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
I originally had Santogold down as a bit of a M.I.A. wannabe following the use of ‘Creator’ on those hair gel adverts, that is until I heard this.

8. Sébastien Tellier – Divine
After writing the most beautiful song of all time (La Ritournelle) Sébastien Tellier got all filthy on his latest album (appropriately titled Sexuality). He also managed to write a perfect pop song, and take it to Eurovision. That firmly cements his status as coolest French man in existence in my book.

7. Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Fleet Foxes seem to have divided opinion more than most this year, but there can surely be no denial that ‘White Winter Hymnal’ is just gorgeous.

6. Of Montreal – Id Engager
At first it seemed like a bizarre first choice of single, that was until Skeletal Lamping arrived and it turned out Id Engager was pretty much the most straightforward track on the album. By anyone else’s standards however it is anything but the conventional pop song.

5. Portishead – The Rip
Woah, I did not see this one coming. Portishead returned this year with the utterly fantastic Third, and this stunningly beautiful track literally took my breath away. So good even Radiohead covered it.

4. Cut Copy – Lights and Music
Few tracks have made me dance around my bedroom as much as ‘Lights and Music’. Features the best build up to a chorus I’ve probably ever heard.

3. Hercules and Love Affair - Blind
Another track that seems like it has been out forever, so much so I’m almost bored of dancing to it. But not quite. The combination of classic disco and Antony’s incredible voice make this truly irresistible.

2. M83 – Graveyard Girl
Anthony Gonzalez went into 80s nostalgia overload with Saturdays = Youth, none better than on the wonderful tale of high school years that is ‘Graveyard Girl’. When the female voice whispers “I'm 15 years old and I feel it's already too late to live. Don't you?" it surely speaks to the miserable teenager in us all.

1. Mystery Jets – Two Doors Down
My favourite song of the year goes to Mystery Jets, with their marvellously 80s inspired tale of a teenage crush on the girl two doors down (or is it next door?). I can never tire listening to this perfect slice of indie pop, and by the time the saxophone kicks in I’m still left with a massive grin on my face.

Spotlight On Christmas

I love Christmas. Well this year anyway. I started getting festive in about November, as we all know Christmas begins with the passing of my birthday and the first airing of Mariah Carey. This all culminated with the mini Christmas celebration of last weekend, in which I decorated the flat with cheap tat and a not so cheap little Christmas tree, drank mulled apple juice, ate Christmas nibbles and watched How The Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon) and the finest Christmas film of all, Elf. It was, rather predictably, twenty times more fun than the real Christmas Day could ever be.

I have also spent the last month listening to a fabulous mix of Christmas songs, and there will be no Wizard, Slade or Shakin' around here thank you very much. Well, maybe that last one. Instead, here are my favourite Christmas songs to bring you Yuletide joy, and quite possibly a dash of misery for good measure.

The Knife - Christmas Reindeer

Quite possibly the least likely act to ever record a Christmas song, nonetheless Sweden's finest electronic masters gave this away as a free download a couple of years ago, and it is thoroughly marvellous.

Nathan Fake - Silent Night

Continuing the electronic theme, the wonderful Nathan Fake turns this Christmas classic into a beautifully icy piece of minimal joy.

Rufus Wainwright - Spotlight On Christmas

Pretty much the only thing camper than Christmas itself, it seems only right that Rufus would have his Christmas song.

Mew - She Came Home For Christmas

God I used to love Mew, and every so often I remember just how marvellous they are/were (are they still together?). This is one of the standout tracks from Frengers, although I think you have to wait until the last line to get a mention of Christmas. It's worth the wait though.

The Magnetic Fields - Mr Mistletoe

If there's one person guaranteed to put a bit of a dampner on things it will always be Stephin Merritt. This miserable little number from this year's Distortion finds him in no sort of festive spirit at all as he bemoans, "Oh, Mr. Mistletoe wither and die, you useless weed for no one have I".

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Cold White Christmas

Saying that, if there is one person likely to be even more miserable than Mr Merritt this festive season it is probably Owen Ashworth, aka Casiotone For The Painfully Alone. This sublime tale of misery is from the simply wonderful Etiquette, quite possibly one of my favouritest albums in the whole world.

Low - Just Like Christmas and Little Drummer Boy

Low's Christmas album is absolutely essential at this time of the year, especially if you are feeling slightly suicidal. Their morose take on 'Little Drummer Boy' in particular should extinquish any warm memories you have of David Bowie and Bing Crosby's Christmas love in.

Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas

Just about everyone ever has recorded a version of this most maudlin of Christmassy hits, but the ever lovely Connor Oberst's is probably my favourite. That or Low's, but I've already spoilt you with them.

Belle and Sebastian - Little Town O Bethlehem

This is a recording everybody's favourite Scottish twee-sters did for John Peel many moons ago. Swoon as I do at Stuart Murdoch's dreamy Scottish accent.

Radiohead - Winter Wonderland

Here's a wonderful little recording from one of Radiohead's, aka The Smurf's, Christmas webcasts a few years ago. There's something glorious about the world's most critically acclaimed and respected band messing about like this.

Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone - Baby It's Cold Outside

I'm slightly totally in love with Zooey Deschanel, and she has a dreamy singing voice (her album with M.Ward under the She & Him guise is one of my favourites of the year for sure). This is from the aforementioned Elf, and features frankly bizarre vocals from Leon Redbone.

Antony and George - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

To finish my festive feast comes the dream combo of Antony and Boy George (pre tying up rent boys), who lend their glorious voices to the John Lennon plea for peace and all that shit

Merry Christmas everyone...

Helen Of Troy

Some of my favourite nights out this year have been at the truly fabulous celebration of the best female artists around that is Helen of Troy Does Countertop Dancing. Imagine then my delight and surprise when these wonderful ladies asked me to come and play some of my favourite songs at this past Friday night. It was a marvellous evening, and Charlies was almost swelling it was so busy. I imagine there was a queue to get in right around the block, but frankly I was too busy dancing to notice.

I played:

Friendly Fires feat. Au Revoir Simone - Paris (Aeroplane Remix)
Mr Oizo feat. Carmen Castr - Two Takes It
Heartsrevolution - Dance Till Dawn
Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance (Dada Life Guerilla Fart #4 remix)
Ladyhawke - Dusk Till Dawn
Tilly and the Wall - Beat Control
The Knife - Pass This On
M.I.A. - $10
Lil' Mama - Lipgloss
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
The Magnetic Fields - 100,000 Fireflies
The Ronnettes - Be My Baby
Sonny & Cher - Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
Cyndi Lauper - She Bop
Stacey Q - Two Of Hearts
Kim Wilde - Kids In America
Groove Armada feat. Mutya Beuna - Song 4 Mutya
Britney Spears - Womanizer (Tommie Sunshine Re-Rub)
Girls Aloud - Something Kinda Ooooh
Robyn - With Every Heartbeat
The Knife - Heartbeats (by request)
The Source feat. Candi Staton - You've Got The Love

This was sadly the last Helen of Troy for a while (I hope I didn't run it into the ground) but it shall return in the New Year in some form or other. In the meantime, read their blog for the latest thoughts, reviews and tips on the finest ladies around, and if anyone needs a DJ I'm available for weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.

Thom Loves...Little Boots

It's been a long time since I've sat and watched Later With Jools Holland and actually been impressed by a new act. Thank goodness then for our BT Vision box which lets me record it without scrambling through the blank videos and fast forward through the dirge. No African funk jazz, latest popular indie shite or the amateur ramblings of Jools for me. Last week's show was the usual mix of boringness, with The Killers still bemusing me as to why they are so popular (although Brandon Flower's feathers did inspire us to add feathers of our own to the sequin monstrosities we later created - the less said about which the better), Damon Albarn's Monkey is all a bit silly, Fleet Foxes were disappointingly dull and Pendulum are surely the worst band to have ever appeared on the program.

However, then along came Blackpool's Little Boots, aka Victoria Hesketh, and literally blew me away. Alone, sat at a piano with only a tenorion (I want one!), a stylophone (I've got one!) and hand claps for company she performed upcoming single 'Meddle' and it was utterly wonderful. Enjoy:

So there I was thinking she was the new Bat For Lashes, until I delved a little further to discover on record, produced by Hot Chip's Joe Goddard, she's an electro disco queen. Here's the same song again, which should be played on every dancefloor in the land for months to come.



I thoroughly recommend you also seek out 'Stuck On Repeat' and 'Mathematics', and watch this space. Catch her on her upcoming mini-tour, including an appearance at the Deaf Institute on the 26th November. Someone come with me please...

I Wouldn't Normally Do This Sort Of Thing

I don't generally bother with albums by bona fide pop acts. No matter how great their singles are, and I love a good pop song as much as the next gay, surely the albums are just the songs you already know and love and then a ton of filler not worthy of release? Well, not when it comes to Girls Aloud, undoubtedly the finest pop act in the country if not world. It has long been 'cool' even amongst indie circles to hail Girls Aloud as the acceptable face of pop and make wild claims that they've produced some of the finest songs of recent memory. But, it really is true. They are utterly fabulous.

New album Out Of Control is the girls' fifth since their TV creation many moons ago, and it's hard to believe now that they were brought to life on a talent show. Oh how One True Voice must cry themselves to sleep at night that they weren't given a song as good as 'Sound Of The Underground'. Out Of Control is as about as perfect as a pop album can get, thanks in no part to their incredible team of writers and producers, but the material in any lesser hands just would not work as well. Shame about the horrible cover art, which I frankly could have done a better job of on Photoshop (what is with that font?), but in this download age in which we live it matters very little.

The album opens with first single 'The Promise', which is surely one of the year's very finest. It's pure 60s girl group joy, and not at all representative of the rest of the album. Following hot on its high heels is the Neil Tennant penned 'The Loving Kind', which is an unsurprising slab of melancholic electronic beauty and works perfectly as a follow up to 'Call The Shots', although doesn't quite hit the pop perfection of that track. Completing the album's opening trio is the delightful 'Rolling Back The Rivers In Time', and I dare you to find a better opening to an album this year. Elsewhere its the electro tracks that are the real highlights, as Xenomania's quality production really shines. 'Turn To Stone', 'Untouchable' and 'Love Is Pain' could all be singles, and show just how far ahead of the pack Girls Aloud are. 'Miss You Bow Wow' will remain in your head long after you've finished dancing around your bedroom and even the attempted raps on 'Revolution In Your Head' work when they really have no right to.

There are of course a few tracks that don't quite hit these dizzy heights. The awful verses of 'Love Is The Key' are saved only by a catchy chorus just when it seems like this could be the one instance in history when a Charlatans cover would actually have been preferable. The lyrics really are ghastly ('I'm mocha choco latte, I'm more expresso shot, the live and soul of the party, it's safe to say you're not' - no no no). The Prodigy-esque drum n bass intro to 'Live In The Country' is another inadvisable move, whilst the apparent cheap pop at emos in 'We Wanna Party' seems entirely unnecessary given their position. Having said that, it is always entirely listenable and the ratio of hits to misses is not bad at all.

Girls Aloud have proved once again that they are well and truly the finest girl group/pop act in the country, and are an untouchable distance ahead of their rivals (soz Sugababes but you ain't done anything good since the sublime 'Push The Button'. I'm not sure there is anything that quite matches up to some of their finest singles ('Call The Shots', 'Something Kinda Oooh' 'Biology') and it will be interesting to see which songs they release next. I just hope this isn't the last release we see from them, as I'm not sure any of them are quite good enough to pull of a solo career. Cheryl's recent promotion to national treasure status could throw their future into doubt, and she has certainly come a long way since the racist beatings and marrying a gay footballer. It's entirely deserved though, not that I would condone racist beatings nor marrying a gay footballer. One thing is for sure, the sad day when Girls Aloud do call it a day I shall declare pop well and truly dead.

Rating: 8.1

This week's listening (w/e 09/11/08)

Bumper 2 week edition!

1. of Montreal (139 listens)
2. Girls Aloud (103)
3. Joanna Newsom (88)
4. Ladyhawke (38)
5. She & Him (37)
6. Neutral Milk Hotel (34)
7. Final Fantasy (33)
8. Shearwater (31)
9. Scott Matthew (28)
10. Belle and Sebastian (26)
11. Antony and the Johnsons (25)
12. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone (24)
12. Cat Power (24)
14. Kate Bush (23)
14. The Magnetic Fields (23)
16. Sigur Rós (22)
16. M. Ward (22)
18. Andrew Bird (21)
19. Parenthetical Girls (18)
20. The Smiths (17)

Things I learnt:

• of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping could well be my album of the year. Time will tell...
• Girls Aloud's new album is utterly fabulous.
• God I love Joanna Newsom. I hadn't listened to her for a while so this has been a pleasant reminder. Ys really is a modern masterpiece.
• Ditto Neutral Milk Hotel and In The Aeroplane Over The Sea.
• I adore She & Him and I'm completely in love with Zooey Deschanel.
• Shearwater's album Rook is another of this year's very finest. Beautiful, haunting and epic stuff.
• I'm finally, properly getting into the wonder that is Kate Bush and it's about bloody time.

Fright Night

It's that time of year again, and I sadly won't be celebrating Halloween properly this year as I've got a road trip to Coventry scheduled tomorrow evening so no reprise of last year's goth or the infamous gay Hitler. However, here is some devilish frightening tracks to get you in the mood (although some are very loosely linked to Halloween, I'll admit). We shall begin with a trio of Stephin Merritt penned ditties, which seems like a good place to start.

The Magnetic Fields - Zombie Boy

From this year's fabulous Distortion comes this eerie delight, that contains such fabulous couplets as 'You look pretty pure for so long in the ground/You smell like a sewer but you don't make a sound'.



Future Bible Heroes - I'm A Vampire

Merritt's disco side project sees Claudia Gonson take lead vocals on this fantastic little number, and she gleefully gets to declare 'I have all the love I need, it is your blood I crave/I am a bitch goddess from beyond your grave'. How I enjoyed dancing like a whore to this when we managed to get it played at Smile once. It mattered not that there was only the two of us on the dancefloor.



The Gothic Archies - The World Is A Very Scary Place

From the brilliantly gothic The Tragic Treasury: Songs From A Series Of Unfortunate Events comes my final Merritt offering, although frankly I could have picked any song from that album.



The Birthday Party - Release The Bats

My first song from Nick Cave and from his original guise as the Birthday Party. Pure goth punk joy.



TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me

Werewolves and Halloween go hand in hand, so why not enjoy one of my favourite dancing songs ever courtesty of the astonishingly brilliant TV On The Radio.



Patrick Wolf - Bloodbeat

Talking of wolves, here's Patrick before he went all shiny and glittery and happy. Lycanthropy is probably my favourite album of his actually, and 'Bloodbeat' is a total stand out track.



Get Well Soon - Witches! Witches! Rest Now In The Fire

Ok, the Halloween links are getting a bit vague now but he mentions witches geddit? Regardless, this slab of Jens Lekman-esque indie pop is utterly wonderful.



Tilly and the Wall - Nights of the Living Dead

Sharing its name with the original zombie flick comes this joyous track from Omaha's finest tap dancing lovelies.



Morrissey - Satan Rejected My Soul

I can't actually listen to this song now without picturing Reece Shearsmith's magnificently psychotic turn in Catterick



Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Carny

Right, on to songs that are just generally quite scary. This little number from the dark prince of rock always freaks me right out.



Dead Can Dance - The Host of Seraphim

I've only recently come across Dead Can Dance, an experimental duo who incorporate goth rock with ancient musical styles. This track is epic, beautiful and thoroughly haunting. It's made me really want to watch The Mist which I'm told uses it to incredible effect.



Danny Elfman - This Is Halloween

It couldn't be Halloween without a bit of The Nightmare Before Christmas, which has surely one of the finest musical scores ever. I do love this song.



Feel free to tell me off for all the ghoulish wonders I've omitted. And don't have nightmares kids...

Half In Love with the Mystery Jets

This past Sunday night I actually managed to head out further than a crisp refuelment as I was offered a ticket to go and see one of my bands of the year, the Mystery Jets. Their album Twenty One is one of the year's finest pop albums, and it has produced some of the very best singles in recent memory ('Young Love' and the ever fabulous 'Two Doors Down').

I braced the outside world, got on a bus for the first time in months (still as grim as I remembered) and met up with lovely Ryan, Kate and Pete. The gig had originally supposed to be at Club Academy I believe but unfortunately had been upgraded to Academy 2, a venue I've never really liked. You could kind of see why, as it as completely rammed. Mostly by 12 year olds. Actually, it was a really odd crowd which surprised me a little, made up of everything from scenesters to children to the old men who should really know better. The band took to the stage kit out in a dazzling array of sequined tops, which made me think more bands should really make the effort with glittery clothes. Ryan duly noted that spina bifida has never been so sexy. They got things off to a cracking start with Twenty One opener 'Hideaway' and recent single 'Half In Love With Elizabeth', but there something just didn't seem to click. I think the venue was possibly a bit big for them, eradicating any hope of intimacy between band and audience, whilst I didn't find myself desperately warming to any of the tracks from the first album. Still, tracks such as 'Flakes', 'Veiled In Grey' and main set closer 'Behind The Bunhouse' shone. Of course, it was the two big singles that proved the real highlight of the night. I wonder if I'll ever tire of 'Two Doors Down', and I sincerely doubt it.

Major disappointment that didn't play their incredible cover of 'Bleeding Love', and we did come away a little unfulfilled. Still, they are ace on record and for the moment I think that's where they should remain.

'Two Doors Down':

From Sweden With Love

As long term readers should be fully aware I do have a fondness for all things Swedish, especially when it comes to music. Sorry IKEA, but you are relegated to a close second. Here's some Swedish things that I am currently loving:

Lo-Fi-Fnk are back with a new song, and rather brilliant it is too. 2006's Boylife is one of my favourite super happy gay boy electro pop albums (something a niche sub-genre I'll admit), and although I can't find out any information on when the follow up will be released, 'Want U' is in the meantime quite an unexpected treat.



One of my favourite Swedish bands, Love Is All, are soon to release the follow up to the brilliant Nine Times That Same Song so why not have a gandy at their new single. Here's the video for 'Wishing Well' and fact fans may be interested to know that lead singer Josephine Olausson is wearing a plaster on her nose because she hit her head on a wall the night before. Good one love.

It seems like forever since The Knife released the seminal Silent Shout, and I'm afraid I've got no news on a follow up for you. However, Karin Dreijer (the female half of the duo) is soon to return with a solo project. She is calling herself Fever Ray, and a song can be heard on her Myspaz. An album is expected in early 2009 so keep a look out.

We likey Lykke Li a lot, so here is the ever so cute indie pop starlet charmingly singing 'Dance Dance Dance' along with Bon Ivor and his band. Lykke plays Manchester Academy (3?) on the 27th November and I'm totally there.

As previously mentioned, I recently realised that Robyn's 'With Every Heartbeat' is pretty much the most perfect pop song (Girls Aloud aside) released in the last few years. This performance, alongside a full orchestra no less, is quite brilliant.

I couldn't post a blog about Swedish music without mentioning lovely Jens Lekman, so why not watch this cool little clip of him playing his signature tune, 'Black Cab', in a black cab on a kalimba. Marvellous.



If watching lots of cool people play in black cabs is your thing then I would probably head over here and watch some more.

Films, films, films

I think I have managed to watch more films in the last month than I had in my previous 23 years and 10 months on this unruly planet. This is probably what you get if you are seeing a PhD student with approximately £2 to his name though. Going out, drinking, dancing and people are well and truly a thing of the past. This isn't such a bad thing though: films, crisps and Jelly Tot cakes are the new going out didn't you know. Here's a round up of what I've been watching.

I absolutely adored Wonder Boys, and could not recommend it enough. It came out in 2000 I think but has previously slipped completely under my radar. It tells the quirky tale of a 50 year old pot smoking professor (Michael Douglas) who is still working on the follow up to his acclaimed novel seven years prior, and the misadventures he has in a weekend that features a dead dog, Marilyn Monroe's jacket, a transvestite and a budding friendship with his young student (the delightful Tobey Maguire). The performances are all top notch, with Robert Downey Jr almost stealing the show if it wasn't for how incredible Douglas is at his career best, the dialogue is sublime and the humour just spot on. If you haven' seen it then you really should.

I finally got around to watching Brothers Of The Head, which I bought ages ago when I fell completely and utterly in love with Harry and Luke Treadaway (Cape Wrath and Clapham Junction respectively). It's a fictional documentary on the troubled life of conjoined twins who were picked out to front a boy band, but soon get caught up in the early days of punk. Featuring the likes of Ken Russell talking about the twins, it wildly reinvents the rock documentary genre. It is often quite a difficult watch, and really wasn't what I was expected, but I thoroughly enjoyed it all the same. I've read people say it is the most accurate portrayal of punk rock put to screen, so I won't argue with that. Plus Harry and Luke Treadaway but in spellbinding performances. They should both be huge actors for years to come.

As I previously mentioned, I also watched Juno, which everybody has raved on about since it was released but I've inexplicably never got round to watching. I really am rubbish with films. It really is wonderful and justifies all of its praise. Ellen Page is just stunning in the lead role, and it's helped along by possibly the finest soundtrack to a film in the last few years (Shortbus aside). Kimya Dawson, Belle and Sebastian, Cat Power, The Moldy Peaches, Sonic Youth: it really is an indie boy/girl's dream film.

Last Saturday I found myself in the miserable position of being home alone on a Saturday night. Stupid boy actually having something to do and leaving me all alone. After the X-Factor and defrosting the freezer there was frankly no alternative but Disney-ing it up with Enchanted. I'd heard good things but thoroughly expected to hate it. I loved it. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a more upbeat, happy film. You really can't help but end up grinning from ear to ear, no matter how much you try. The updated fairy tale is funny, heartwarming and completely ridiculous. Honestly, what more could you ask for? Amy Adams is perfect as Princess Giselle, the guy from Grey's Anatomy is suitably dashing, whilst Sarah Sarandon is magnificently wicked. The songs are also incredible, it's a real testament to the film that I am still singing 'That's How You Know' to myself at 2am every bloody sleepless morning. Honestly, it's probably the best song ever:

I really am sorry for inflicting that on you.

I even went to the cinema for the first time in about 3 years last week, although I'm not exactly sure why we bothered. We went to see City of Ember (mainly because Harry Treadaway was in it), which was frankly a bit rubbish. It has some nice touches for sure, but overall it all seemed a bit pointless. Harry Treadaway was very good despite his accent frequently slipping from American to English, and the underground world was well realised (although it's all been done better before). There just wasn't any threat, danger or suspense and it relied on coincidence and luck far too much for my liking. Its biggest crime though was that it just didn't say anything about anything. There was no allegory here, which you really need for a film like this to work as anything more than a simple adventure story. Even as that, there was very little adventure or excitement. We should have gone to see The House Bunny looking back.

This weekend meant more films, films, films starting with The Witches which I still adore even if Roald Dahl hated it. Sure, the ending is a total cop out but Anjelica Huston is just supremely fabulous as the Grand High Witch, the effects just about hold up, and most importantly it still creeps me out. Maybe it's time for a remake. Come on Tim Burton, make up for the horror that was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory please. On second thoughts, don't bother.

The clocks went back in the early hours of Sunday morning which of course meant more time for films. We started the evening with Bridge To Teribithia, which was easily the most intelligent and thought provoking family film I have seen for a long time. It is just wonderful, and had us both weeping like little girls. Honestly, it was like 'My Girl' all over again. Next up was The Squid and the Whale, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Jeff Daniels is magnificent and puts in a thoroughly dislikable performace as the pretentious father (another failing writer no less) in a family going through divorce. Just about every character is completely repellent, but it just works so well. Plus it perfectly portrays the kind of literary pretension that I despise so much. It's got to be said though, the show is stolen by the semen smearing, alcoholic 12 year old of the family, which probably can't be said about many films. The extra hour meant we could just squeeze in a viewing of Art School Confidential, which I am not completely sure where my thoughts lie. I think it might be half a brilliant film, but the ending just left me unsatisfied. On the plus side, it does have John Malkovich and the fabulous Sophia Myles.

I think it's fair to say that I am all film-ed out. We certainly would have watched more films I fear if we hadn't spent the majority of Friday night endlessly watching clips from The Liam Show, with these probably being the funniest things I have ever seen, betch.

When I'm not humming songs from Enchanted it's pretty fair to say I am singing along to 'I Love Shoes' or 'Let Me Borrow That Top'.

This week's listening (w/e 26/10/08)

I have been super lazy of late on the blogging front, but I'm going to do my best to put this to rights this week. In the mean time here is the weekly snapshot of my listening world:

1 of Montreal (66 listens)
2 Baby Dee (33)
3 Doveman (22)
4 Final Fantasy (20)
5 Ladyhawke (16)
6 Cat Power (14)
6 Antony and the Johnsons (14)
8 Parenthetical Girls (13)
8 Ra Ra Riot (13)
8 Kimya Dawson (13)
11 Girls Aloud (11)
12 Tilly and the Wall (10)
13 Les Mouches (9)
14 Mystery Jets (6)
14 Joanna Newsom (6)

Things I learnt this week:

• The new of Montreal album, Skeletal Lamping, is every bit as brilliant, mad, silly, inventive and original as I had anticipated. More on this another time...
• The kind postman brought me the other new Final Fantasy EP, Spectrum, 14th Century, which is very different to Plays To Please and leaves me most looking forward to the new album proper next year. No clues as to what it will sound like though.
• I really like the Ladyhawke album.
• Ra Ra Riot's album The Rhumb Line is pretty good.
• Juno reminded me how much I love Kimya Dawson.
• In the same package as Final Fantasy came the album from Les Mouches, the band Owen was in before he went solo and started writing arrangements for everyone. I'm not completely convinced I love it yet, but I'm glad I've got it.
• Finally, Joanna Newsom really is just amazing isn't she? She would certainly be higher up the chart if her songs weren't so darn long.

That is all.

Bandstand Busking

Sometimes I think I should just go the full hog and make this an official Of Montreal blog. I'm sorry, they are just my favourite band in the world right now. And they recently took part in Backstage Busking, playing a handful of their wierd and wonderful songs in Regent Park.

First up, recent single 'Id Engager'. Hell, I've posted it in every other available format known to man so why not enjoy an acoustic version in the park.

Also, Hissing Fauna favourite 'Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse'. On deck chairs:

When I have managed to compile some thoughts on the completely insane Skeletal Lamping I'll let you know.

This week's listening (w/e 19/10/08)

This past week I listened to:

1. Final Fantasy (68 listens)
2. Panic at the Disco (23)
3. Pnau (20)
4. Girls Aloud (18)
5. Parenthetical Girls (14)
5. Jacob (14)
7. Doveman (13)
8. Baby Dee (12)
8. Cat Power (12)
10. Brazilian Girls (11)
10. Scarlett Johansson (11)
12. Scott Matthew (10)
13. Robyn (9)
13. Prince (9)
13. DJ Earworm (9)

Things I learnt:

• The new Final Fantasy EP is rather wonderful.
• I'm totally horrified to admit this but I really like the latest Panic at the Disco album. I know! I saw them on MTV2 playing some songs off it and it was actually dead good, so I went ahead and did the download. Don't judge me please.
• The new Girls Aloud single is completely and utterly brilliant. Aren't they just a class above?
• After a few listens I've decided that the latest Parenthetical Girls album is one of the year's most wonderful, silly and audacious records.
• PNAU are dead good and make me dance around my bedroom like a spazwhore.
• I fell in love with two ex-Johnsons - Doveman and Baby Dee. More on them another day I suspect.
• After finally watching Juno (two hundred years after the rest of the world and yes, it is as wonderful as everyone says) I decided Cat Power's cover of 'Sea Of Love' is the most beautiful thing ever recorded. I also went on a total Kimya Dawson binge which I'm sure will be reflected next week.
• Last but not least, I realised that Robyn's 'With Every Heartbeat' is just unbelievably good. I never warmed to Robyn, but it looks like I might have been wrong the whole time. I won't mention the fact that it took a horrible version of this sung on The X Factor to make me see the light.

That is all.

The Giveaway

Tis almost the season of good will (and Christmas officially starts as soon as Manchester's Christmas market opens) and as a result I am feeling super generous and offer to you lots of goodies in the form of mp3s. These are the songs that are currently rocking my world.

MGMT - Kids (Soulwax Nite Version)

Although the MGMT album turned out to be a bit meh and failed to live up to the brilliance of last year's 'Time To Pretend' it did produce 'Kids', which is surely one of this year's most enduringly brilliant songs. I still can't get enough of it, and this Soulwax remix is all kinds of aceness. If there's one thing you can be sure of in this life it's that Soulwax will get hold of a song, any song, and make it even better. It starts with a drum beat seemingly stolen directly from The Magnetic Fields' 'Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits' and from there twists and turns into a pure dancefloor filler. Love it.



Brazilian Girls - Losing Myself


Brazilian Girls have just released their rather fabulous third album New York City. Their sound is a quirky mix of electronica, reggae, jazz and god knows what else. Despite their name they are not from Brazil, and only one of them is actually a girl. They may be liars, but they are also brilliant. The fabulous ladies at Helen Of Troy write about them here, and I encourage you to listen to this track.



PNAU - Baby


I've been meaning to listen to PNAU for ages, and then I did, and I loved them. Like Cut Copy, this dance duo hail from Australia and are pretty darn amazing. Their song 'Embrace' with Ladyhawke is well worth seeking out, but I present to you the marvellous 'Baby'.



DJ Earworm - Reckoner Lockdown

I mentioned a while ago that Radiohead had let fans remix 'Reckoner' as they did with 'Nude' before it. Well now ladies and gentlemen I present to you the definitive remix, and so good is it that I think it deserves its own release. Some clever swine has mixed the it with Kanye West's latest (and brilliant) track 'Lockdown', which has been released in a similar manner. Seriously, it is amazing.



Antony and the Johnsons - Shake That Devil

Finally I give to you my favourite track from Another World. If you haven't got it yet, I strongly recommend.



You want more? Fine. Still not convinced that Of Montreal's 'Id Engager' is the year's most bizarre and brilliant single? Then watch the video. Kevin Barnes came on to the stage in New York the other day on a horse. On a horse for the love of god...

Also my copy of Final Fantasy's Plays To Please EP was kindly delivered to my door the other day way before I ever expected it. I'll probably write about it sometime, perhaps once I've got my grubby little mitts on Spectrum, 14th Century as well, but in the mean time why not enjoy this incredible performance of lovely Owen covering Celine Dion covering Jennifer Rush. If this isn't the ultimate power ballad then I don't know what is.