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So, What's the ..... of the year?
by Sean Adams
Whilst the folks o' DiS are busy hanging holly and thinking about what THE .... of 2004, we'd like you, dear reader, to tell us what your:
- record(s)
- gig
- band / new band
- label
- festival
- mags
- radio
- websites
- places
- misc.
Pretty simple really. But justify why, anyone can make an open statement, use a bit of creative description or at least some reference points if it's stuff people haven't heard. Maybe even hyperlinks. Especially if you're making folks aware of things that might've slipped through the cracks. Things which didn't get the media attention they deserved, maybe. Things which truly were worth the hype, help defuse that hype. You know the drill...
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Words: Sean Adams
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So, What's the ..... of the year?
we suppossed to post it here? -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Lemme kick off...
- record(s)
1. thisGIRL 'UNO' - would say this cus I released it, but then, you don't release records because you think they're rubbish. Mental, graceful, creative wunderkids.
2. INTERPOL 'Antics' - the sound of rusting robots shaped like angels never sounded so poinant and uplifting.
- gig / festival
Iceland Airwaves, hands down, amazing. Especially The Shins and The Stills back to back.
- label
Can't decide between Saddle Creek and Wichita.
- mags
Loose Lips. For the Icarus Line feature alone. Looks beautiful, smells nice, finger on the pulse so hard babies are dieing.
- radio
Lamacqs always gonna be the winner.
- websites
Really like tinyvoices.co.uk - some nice writing going down.
Blah. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
quite a wide scope, so ill just choose festival.
my favourite festival is truck festival in oxford, run by truck records. why do i love it so? because there is a massive variety of bands and styles, and somehow, they all seem to be really good. you get bands like the brakes playing in what is basically a marquee, the kind that your parents used when they had a few friends round for a barbeque. you get 80's matchbox headlining on a stage made from a flat bed lorry. and youthmovie soundtrack strategies playing in a cow barn, with only some of the cow crap cleaned out.
plus there is a great community feeling, possibly steming from the fact that you dont feel ripped off when you go to get a burger, beer or a near legendary banana smoothie. and its only 25 quid for 2 days worth of bands.
its not impossible to get tickets for and it hardly ever rains. and its not sponsored by bloody carling. surely that makes it the best festival there is... -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record: Walkmen - Bows and Arrows
Gig: Arthur Lee at the Forum
New band: Bloc Party
Festival: Reading (only one I went to, but it was ace)
Label: Barsuk
Mags: Modern Toss
Radio: John Peel, Lamacq, Late Junction on R3's good too
Websites: theonion.com, tinymixtapes.com -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
Reuben's "Racecar is Racecar Backwards" - Tons of well made tunes, an album that I can listen to start to finish without skippage which is rare for me these days.
- gig
Evan Dando in Studio ... something ... in Edinburgh, he played with a two broken fingers and still came out for two encores.
- band / new band
I quite love this old classic sludgy sound from The Clams. Still to see em live but their singles are braw.
- festival
TMF in Essex. Simply outstanding. It beat T in the Park from 2003 hands down. Reuben, Engerica, Amplifier, 80s Matchbox...I hope it's this good next year too.
- radio
John Peel, respect to the late and great DJ.
- websites
www.rocktoons.com - Cos I'm still a kid at heart.
- misc.
Seeing my favourite bands loads of times, and travelling across the country in some instances just to see the band play again. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
The Thermals 'Fuckin A'/Q And Not U 'Power'/Graham Coxon 'Happiness In Magazines' (also Amusement Parks On Fire/Isis/Adem/Polyphonic Spree/The Features/The Shins) - I think this year has been really good for albums, I've bought stacks of them. Their are a load more, but these are the first three that come to mind because I keep going back to listen to them again and again.
- gig
Kaiser Chiefs @ The Barfly, Patrick Wolf @ Infinity, Art Brut/Special Needs @ The Barfly
- band / new band
Kaiser Chiefs
- label
Sub Pop. Back to its best.
- festival
Reading - as with the Colonel, it was the only one I went to but it was the best yet. Amazing weekend.
- mags
Don't really read any. Mayfair, if any.
- radio
XFM I suppose, esp. John Kennedy.
- websites
PopJustice.com. Funny as fuck.
- places
Reading at festival weekend
- misc.
Cider. Deserves some sort of mention, for being there when I needed it the most. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
The Once Over Twice - Special Moments To Detonate Themselves - it didn't hit me for the first few listens, but when it did, this album knocked me sideways. Frantic, urgent yet always with a sense of melody but never drivelling along a n d n ever go i n g anywhere, always with a point. They also put on a rather good live show.
Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell - Yeah yeah, came out last year, blah blah blah. I'm including it because it finally got the treatment it deserves this year, and because it's bloody outstanding. You can call it a little bit long, but frankly, calling a Ryan Adams album too long is a bit like complaining your cat can't bark. The title suggests a mopey, self-indulgent mess, but what you get are some perfect little nuggets of music, with some beautiful instrumentation.
Seafood - As The Cry Flows - Derided by many because, like, THEY DON'T MAKE LOTS OF NOISE ANYMORE AND ITS JUST RUBBISH AND AND AN- oh, do be quiet. Three years between albums is not what the band wanted, but when they can return with a collection of songs this stunning, I wouldn't complain too much. Not only some of their best written songs, but some of the best music they're written as well - check the instrumental passages in "I Dreamt We Ruled The Sun". Spine-tingling.
- gig
Without a doubt, Jetplane Landing on their May tour. I saw them three times in less than a week, after 25+ dates and as they drew towards the finishline, and you know what? They got better each gig. I'd have to single out the London, show, however, as being the finest. Killer setlist, typically mental performance, great support bill and a near packed venue, and basically the culmination of everything they've worked for over the last 2 years. Fan-fucking-tast-fucking-ic.
- band / new band
Mentions must be made for:
Bloc Party
Do Me Bad Things
Fickle Public
Distophia
Youthmove Soundtrack Strategies
Help She Can't Swim
- label
Smalltown America - their Public Service Broadcast compilations rule the roost.
- festival
Truck Festival - Like, a festival where the organisers give a shit about music, the security don't harass you and the food / drink don't bankrupt you [this just in - £7 for a 7" pizza at the CarlingNestleRobert Mugabe weekend this year - fuck right off]. Like, wow. Count me in next year. And the year after. And the year after that. Just to see if the barn ever smells any better, if nothing else. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record - Elliott Smith 'From a Basement on the Hill', narrowly edging out The Walkmen and Graham Coxon
Gig - Primal Scream, Spiritualized, Nick Cave, Steve Mason at Brixton Academy
Band - The Walkmen
New band - Bloc Party
Label - Domino
Festival - Summer Sundae, Leicester. Yeah, it's shit but it's the only one I went to this year and I had a good time.
Mag - Nuts!
Radio - Peel
Website - ProjectRockstar.com
Misplaced hype of the year - Razorlight. Shitter than Shed Seven -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Most unwelcome new trend of the year:
Lists. (See: Q magazine, NME and every other publication in sight)
Lists are the new award ceremonies. -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
...so I won't do a list, but no review of the year can go without a mention of Peel. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
rekkid: royal society - embld.
gwwwwweat especially the last three songs, industrial bang bang white noise and grungey oooohhing and dings and glitches and creepy gee-tar noises. mmm.
gig: british sea power at london garage a couple of weeks ago. don't want to talk about this though in the fear that i will get very embarressingly emo. special.
band: brakes.
truly original + unpretentious. best press release ever - something about them being scenester friendster hipsters who are so the bomb they shit out of their asses. brilliant. plus brakes contain members of electric soft parade yet fails to be total wank and twee. this is a massive achievement for which they must be congratulated.
mag: andrenalin.
so good at its job that it has single handedly convinced me that aged 16+ skating isnt just for laughable moronic private school baggy jeaned frosted tipped assholes afterall. infact some skaters seem like pretty gweat people. (fyi ive always liked aged 15- skaters. they are cute.) nice photography. stephanie zinone also endorses loose lips a lot.
label: trash aesthetics.
i like the word aesthetic almost as much as the word hiatus.
-
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
No, no, lists were so last year.
And the 50years before that. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
record(s) - reuben racecar is racecar backwards
- elliott smith from a basement on the hill
- mclusky the difference between you and me
gig - the evens
band - reuben (highly under-recognised)
new band - blocparty *or* the evens
festival - TMF in essex
mags - the fly
radio - john peel
websites - questionablecontent.net
worse hype - razorlight or the libertines
misc. - next year look out for the continued slow rise of reuben.....the gratitude album from jonah.....and biffy becoming recognised as a religion -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Album- ...Oh christ, i just can't decide - there's a shortlist of 3 that i just can't find anything to seperate them
Reuben -RIRB
Isis - Panopticon
Mastodon - Leviathan
Gig- This will sound cliched, but it was a couple of nights ago at the Machine Head Gig in Southampton - it had it all, the naff first band on (i won't mention their name 'cos i interviewed them and they seemed nice enough for Germans), the spinetinglingly impressive middle band (God Forbid - if they're not fucking massive this time next year, i'll eat my own poo), and then of course, the main event, which was simply peerless, apart from the rather amateur sound. Also having a great debate with a smelly old metalhead about why the hell anyone bought seating tickets - it's a goddam metal show, not the bloody opera
anyhoos, we move onwards,
Label- mmm, again, i'm not sure, it's between a couple of the American underground ones.
Festival - Only went to Glasto, so there's only one winner, despite the fucking Gallaghers
Mags- i'd have to say i've been most impresed with some of the big-boys (Metal Hammer and Rock Sound) - NME and Q are just descending further into farce
Radio - it's just gotta be Lamacq
Websites - www.sinradio.co.uk (face it, it was going to get a mention somewhere) -soon to be expanded - muchos excitement!!
Places - It's just gotta be the Joiners, you just can't hate it.
So there we go, another year almost at the end - uni almost over, time to look for a proper job (Hint, hint Sean!)
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
actually make best band the evens . . .
ian mckayes is on another planet compared to blocparty -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
Yay for lists. Mmmmk...here goes:
Records: I cannae choose between these four
- Salvation by Cult Of Luna
- Antics by Interpol
- Panopticon by Isis
- Miss Machine by Dillinger Escape Plan
Gig(s): Once again far too many:
- Explosions In The Sky/ Part Chimp/ Bikini Atoll at the ICA
- Sonic Youth at Brixton
- The Icarus Line at the Oxford Zodiac
- Pelican at Camden Underworld
- (I'd also anticipate that Dillinger/PTW tomorrow and ...Trail Of Dead next week would make this list).
Band: Explosions In The Sky
New band: These Arms Are Snakes (though I was really impressed by Bloc Party on Later...)
Label: Matador/ Hydrahead
Festival: None consistently good enough to mention
Mags: Rock Sound for its general coverage of fantastic bands that no one else seems willing to touch, Loose Lips Sink Ships for looking very cool.
Radio: Peel Show (R.I.P.)
Websites: DiS (aww...), Buddyhead, Pitchfork
Places: Reading. Hahahahahaha....sorry...I shouldn't laugh at my own jokes. London cos, well it's cool. And Oxford cos it's not full of pikes and is home to the Zodiac, the venue of the gods. No matter who's playing it never, ever sells out and it gets some fucking awesome bands playing there.
Misc: Any year that witnesses the reformation of Slint can hardly be a bad one. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s) Biffy Clyro-Infinity Land. Really twisted and odd but still beautiful. Converge-You Fail Me, or the new Joan of Arc.
- gig: Pixies on the thursday at Brixton!! Best gig ever.
- new band-Bloc party-Love 'em to bits.
- label-Jade Tree
- festival- Leeds. Had great fun, saw Morrisey.
- mags- Rock Sound
- radio- John Peel. Will be missed forever.
- places- Barfly and Probe Records in Liverpool. These places have eaten my student loan. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
aaargh. Quick correction. Best Record was actually Penance Sioree by the Icarus Line. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
record - banquet
gig - bloc party/ymss/ship's a going down at buffalo bar - opened my eyes and ears and is the reason i'm on the vaunted fable of a site
band - ymss, jason & the astronauts
ex band - the agenda
label - trash aesthetics - for making my vinyl more valuable than ozzy's jewelery (not that i'll sell)
fest - nuther one that only went to reading - stereolab were my highlight - does that make me really old?
mag - i only read books - honest
radio - peelie
place - dacre arms - best pub in the world -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
that should have been THIS vaunted blah blah blah -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record - q and not u - power
- gig: Part Chimp/You Judas - Bar XV Burton
- band - biffy clyro
- new band- that fucking tank
- label- jealous records
- festival- T in the Park
- radio- xfm -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record : cistm confliqt - The Mad Capsule Markets
Gig: Muse, Glasto.
Band: Muse, for Glasto.
New band: I'm going for Selfish Cunt, just to annoy everyone else.
Label: Planet Mu
Festival: Glasto. Didn't see that one coming, did you?
Radio: 1. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
hmmm. cambridge has christmas lights up now (including a pretty shoddy looking tree). i'm sure it's bad luck or something...
records: magnetic fields, sufjan stevens, annie, go! team, stereolab, wilco, julie doiron, the go betweens reissues, the low box set, devendra banhart, cocorosie and some others...
gig: the shins at somerset house, mercury rev at the cambridge junction, magnetic fields at the cambridge corn exchange
band: the shins, predictably enough
new band: bloc party/the research
label: domino/sub pop
radio: john peel. not listening to rob da bank on account of him having a stupid name. next year this category will be left blank
places: the king street run in cambridge. good jukebox
website: popmatters.com, pitchforkmedia.com, onion.com... the usual
resolution for 2005: to quit uni and therefore actually have some time to write for DiS -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies
Dangermouse - The Grey Album
The Go! Team
- gig
Squarepusher, Jamie Lidell & the London Sinfonietta Orchestra - really interesting night of music and Jamie Lidell was just wow
- band / new band
Lyca Sleep - always stunning live and their single is the best of the year I'd say.
- label
Warp - Still doing great things and they've signed Maximo Park too which is nice.
- festival
Only went to Reading this year. It was pish.
- radio
Breezeblock - best show on the radio by a country mile. Lamacq is shite. PMS is also great, just a wide swathe of great music.
- places
Liverpool. So many great bands and great nights. Ladytron are doing the biz with their night. Big up to Zombina too, Useless is still rocking my world. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
Annie - Anniemal (Bittersweet disco/house/pop revival. Richard X proves himself again on 'Chewing Gum'. 'My Heartbeat' is song of the year. I expect it to get much more attention when it gets wider release next year)
Blood Brothers - Crimes
Junior Boys - Last Exit , Ghostface - Pretty Toney, Enslaved - Isa
- gig
Tom Waits/Hammersmith, Dizzee Rascal/ATP
- band / new band
The Departure, Home Video, Lil' Jon
- label
Areal
- festival
All Tommorow's Parties 2, 2004.
- mags
Pass...
- radio
Peely
- websites
www.freakytrigger.com, www.ilxor.com, www.ultrasecretwebsite.com, www.bidpip.com (rip?)
- places
Exeter Cavarn
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
Best of the year (so far) Aereogramme - Seclusion
runners up
Interpol - Antics
Shins - Cutes too Narrow
Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
Oceansize - Music For Nurses
Rueben - Racecar is Racecar Backwards
- gig / festival
Shins (twice at the Academy 2 Birmingham)
Rufus Wainwright @ Warwick arts centre -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
Sufjan Stevens' Michigan was so touching, feeling positive about America became harder than ever this year and yet Sufjan still made visions of rural America seem idyllic.
- gig
Explosions in the Sky at the free butt and Conor Oberst's solo show at the ULU were both pretty life changing, eits for their devestating power and conor for being conor.
- band / new band
Bright Eyes are still the best band in the world.
- label
Saddle Creek.
- festival
Glastonbury, my first time, the best thing ever. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- band/new band
erm, bloc party! (check how cool I am!)
- record(s)
Interpol: Antics
Even though it's not as good as their first album, it's probably the 'coolest' album that's out this year.... hang on, is it still ok to like the libertines? cos they also released an album this year.... oh bugger!! erm... this is so hard! Need. To. Appear. Cool. Why haven't bloc party released an album yet!?
- radio
Zane Lowe! erm, shit, no erm.... blad guy, dead, wossisname... erm,. PEEL! that's it, this year's cool answer is JOHN PEEL! or possibly that little guy who looks a bit like Todd Carty from The Bill, formerly known as "Mark off eastenders". -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
The Streets
The Futureheads
Scissor Sistes
- gig
Scissor Sisters
- band / new band
Rhe Futureheads/ Kaiser Chiefs & Maximo Park
- label
Purr Records
Kistchen Records
- festival
Leeds
Beached
- mags
Word
- radio
John Peel, Andy Kershaw, Steve Lamacq, Mark Radcliffe, Marc Riley
- websites
thisisfakediy.co.uk (though down for maintenance at the moment)
- places
Stonehenge.....or is that not what you meant ;)
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
The Stills - Logic Will Break Your Heart
The Radio Dept. - Lesser Matters
- gig/festival
Death Cab For Cutie/Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies, Oxford Zodiac.
!!!, Reading.
- band / new band
Bloc Party
- label
Saddle Creek -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Here's my top 10 records, if anyone should care:
1) Dears - no cities left
2) HOTS - the lost riots
3) futureheads
4) dev banhart - rejoicing in the hands
5) Modest Mouse - Good news
6) Willy Mason - where the humans eat
7) Iron & wine - our endless numbered days
8) Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
9) The Streets - a grand
10) real tuesday weld - i, lucifer
making lists is much more fun than doing assignments -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record: Tv on the Radio - Desperate.... The only completely unique and very enjoyable album i've heard this year (so far) and New Health Rock indicates theres more to come in the future.
Other Contenders: Futureheads: Just very fun
Arcade Fire - Funeral Took a few a listens to get into it but cant get enough now
gig: Herman Dune/Kimya Dawson - first gig of the year and also the best, wish it could have gone on all night
new band: Bloc party: cant think of anyone else and they're pretty damned good
Label: Superglider www.superglider.com Go download the mp3's now
Website: www.theplasticashtray.tk Best music forum on the net that i know of.
Radio - John Peel: No one else will ever come close
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record: Tv on the Radio - Desperate.... The only completely unique and very enjoyable album i've heard this year (so far) and New Health Rock indicates theres more to come in the future.
Other Contenders: Futureheads: Just very fun
Arcade Fire - Funeral Took a few a listens to get into it but cant get enough now
gig: Herman Dune/Kimya Dawson - first gig of the year and also the best, wish it could have gone on all night
new band: Bloc party: cant think of anyone else and they're pretty damned good
Label: Superglider www.superglider.com Go download the mp3's now
Website: www.theplasticashtray.tk Best music forum on the net that i know of.
Radio - John Peel: No one else will ever come close
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
-record(s): Midlake.Bamnan and Slivercork -why no DIS coverage? Worthy mentions for the Shins, Hope of the States, Adem, Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire.
- gig: Adem @ Bar36 Sunderland.
- band / new band: Midlake
- label: Captains of Industry ;)
-
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
record(s)
1. The Disconnection - Carina Round (released on Interscope this year, so its eligible!)
2.Hot Fuss - The Killers (fucking good fun!)
3.Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins (ace!)
- gig
Ray Lamontagne @ The Waterats
- band / new band
The Killers (band I most want to see live at the mo - they'd better not dissapoint as others have suggested)
- festival
Glasto
- mags
no thanks
- radio
XFM
- websites
c'mon, don't make me say it. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s) - The Futureheads debut album, The Shins album Chutes Too Narrow
- gig - My friend's band Alloy's first gig at a posh public school. http://www.alloyband.co.uk- "GET DA PLUG IN!"
- band / new band - Bloc Party, most definitely. The Stills as well I guess, I hadn't heard of them before 2004.
- label - Dunno, don't keep track of the labels.
- festival - Didn't go to any for some reason.
- mags - Bizarre, Zoo for copying FHM but being cheaper.
- radio - 6 Music, XFM
- websites - http://www.videojuegos.com - Spanish games website, a great way to spend a free period at college.
- places - The inner sanctum of my mind.
- misc.- Well the tributes paid to El Peel were great, everyone forgot their little spats for the moment and celebrated the life of a legend. Of course the flip side to that was that he died in the first place. Oh and that toasted cheese sandwich with the face of the virgin Mary on it. Brilliant, shows how wonderfully absurd this whole life shabang is. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Gig - Interpol (will be on december 13th in sunny belgium...i know itll be the best of the year)
Or Libs (minus pete)
Band - Kaiser Chiefs
New Band - Les Incompetants!
Label - Rough Trade
Festival - Glasto sounded rather good...
Record(s) - Hope Of TheStates, The Streets...
Radio - Peel (RIP), The Lock Up
Website - www.nm.......www.drownedinsound.com!
The Rotonde, at the Botanique, in Brussels having seen the likes of Killers, Franz etc..alongside only 249 others (not much better than that) -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s) - ben kweller: on my way, goldrush: ozona EP (listen on www.goldrush.mu if u havent heard it), dunno if cosmic rough riders: too close to see far came out this year or not but its nice. the walkmen. the black keys.
- gig - black keys in manchester, rufus wainwright in sheffield, thisGIRL on oxford was good too
- band / new band - Muse for glasto, goldrush cos theyr great
- festival - didnt go to any cos was in france. prob truck and glasto tho.
- mags - the fly
- radio - 6 music
- websites - this one. ryan-adams.com is usually strange -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
record(s)
Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins
Ghosts of the Great Highway - Sun Kil Moon
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone - The Unicorns
Aw C'mon/No You C'mon - Lambchop
Abbatoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Interpol - Antics
gig
Pixies at the Move festival
The Shins at Liverpool Academy
band / new band
The Shins / Futureheads
festival
Leeds (esp. Moz, Shins, Stereolab)
label
Sub Pop - home of The Shins
radio
Peel
websites
pitchforkmedia.com
shittest band in the world ever
The Others, this year and every other year. Closely followed by Razorlight.
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s): The Fiery Furnaces' "Blueberry Boat"; maybe Interpol's "Antics" or the Walkmen's, "Bows + Arrows"
- gig: Nothing I've seen around here could be called the gig of the year :(
- band / new band: I really like the Arcade Fire. Their record is one of the best, too
- label: Err. It's been a nice month or so for Saddle Creek :)
- festival: Coachella
- mags: Err. I got a nice issue of "Magnet" once
- radio: Station? I've been listening to Sirius' Left of Center, it's choices are a little obvious but it's all good
- websites: Err. I go to a ton
- places: Places? I dunno?
- misc.: Nope.
That wasn't helpful, but oh well. Listing is the best. -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
Best record - Interpol: Antics
Best live performance - Babyshambles@Norwich waterfornt (In your face DiS)
Best band / new band - Departure and 10,000 things
Best festival - V festival (just for the Strokes)
Mags - Play magazine for Norwich
Radio - xfm
Websites - Fantasyfootballpremiership@com
-
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
Best Album: Elliott Smith - From a Basement on the Hill
Best Gig: Ryan Adams @ Bristol Academy
Best Band: Hell i don't know...... New Rhodes.
Best New Band: My Chemical Romance
Best Mags: Uncut (for the in-depth writing) Big Cheese (Even though i dislike much of the music covered. i feel that they have a good attitude to discovering new music + they have built themselves up from being a Fanzine)
Best radio: excepting Mr peel (RIP) the radio still sucks.
Best Website: You're reading it. -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s) - loads, but I have a mental block and can only remeber The Stills album. And anything Bloc Party released this year...
- gig Jetplane Landing at the Islington Academy - inspirational!
- band / new band _ Death Cab, because I only found out about them this year, and they're wonderful
- label - Fierce Panda for giving me the above band in this country
- festival - Reading (only one i went to)
- mags - you know, it's just too close to call between Zoo and Nuts :)
- radio - LBC - they interviewed my band!
- websites - www.explodingdog.com
- places - Exeter - I miss it for some reason
- misc. Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Putney -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record: Converge - You Fail Me. Emotion, just emotion spilled out onto a record. Goregeous.
Gig: Green Day, Ambassador Theatre, Dublin. Tiny venue for such a big band. Requests. Old songs. New songs before the album was released. Special for me, i'll never forget it.
Band: Biffy Clyro. For being rocking motherfuckers for another year and releasing another defining album. Tremendous.
New band: Amusement Parks On Fire. Stunning debut and much much more fun for the future.
EP: Oceansize - Music For Nurses. I dare you to find a better one this year.
Label: Smalltown America. For pinning together a credible underground scene and replying to my e-mails.
Website: This place of course. Honourable mention to the (sometimes dreadful but usually great) Biffy Board.
thats all i really have to say. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
record:
-The streets - a grand don't come for free
-The Crimea - Tragedy Rocks (Don't know if it was released or anything, i live far from....London)
gig:
-brian Wilson, PJ harvey and Primal Scream, Tim Festival
band/newb band:
-Bloc Party (common place)
-The radio Dept.
label:
-Wichita
Festival:
-Tim Festival, brazil...the only one i saw.
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record
dizzee rascal - showtime
especially the 'happy talkin' cover
- gig
sonic youth - brixton academy
especially the extended feedback/guitar dangling/accordian banging etc. and the new album's great. gig was horribly packed though
- band / new band
65 days of static
more bands should be like this
- label
barry's bootlegs
purveyors of cassetteboy and dj rubbish
- festival
glastonbury
especially the rainbow that appeared at about 5am on the saturday, right before the weather turned bad. although to be honest the line-up was a bit crap this year. orbital, basement jaxx, belle and sebastian and morrissey were all great, missed everything else i wanted to see. although we weren't there for the bands, were we? oh no, we were there for the drugs
- mags
i wish select was still going. i'll go for viz, followed by sfx
- radio
peel, obviously. and the end of mark and lard on radio one, particularly the dead air at the end of the last record
- websites
www.mrandmrswheatley.co.uk
seeing as log from www.disappointment.com seems to have given up on updates recently
- places
tesco at 6 o' clock on friday morning, near the bread
- misc.
www.projektako.co.uk
urusei yatsura live on, sort of. why did no one tell me sooner? -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record(s)
Oceansize - Music for Nurses
Aereogramme - Seclusion
Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
Sucioperro - The Hidden Perils of Dancing
Gig
Oceansize/People in Planes at King Tuts
Jetplane Landing at the Cathouse (too drunk to remember the Barfly)
Festival - T in the Park but it wasn't that good music-wise except for the Pixies. And De Grassi. And Ash.
Websites - here and the onion.
Label - Smalltown America and Beggars (Biffy AND Oceansize!)
Places - Solid Rock West before it's demise. King Tuts.
New Band - Sucio
Happiest Return - My Vitriol to the studio and the web...
Worst Bands - Libertines, Razorlight, Twofold. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
records:
the bees - free the bees
the shins - chutes too narrow
gig:
pixies @ brixton academy
shins @ leeds fest
fest:
glasto
websites:
here
leedsunited.co.uk
imdb.co.uk
bbc.co.uk
allmusic.com
label:
matador
new band:
kaiser chiefs
band of the year:
the shins/the bees
places:
louisiana - bristol
watershed & cube cinemas - bristol
Leeds!
radio:
bbc 6music generally - absolutely top radio station
misc:
aphex twin - coz he's the daddy
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
my top 10 records of the year
1) Modest mouse- Good news...
2) Eighties Matchbox - Royal society
3) The Futureheads - The Futureheads
4) NERD - Fly or die
5) Kings of leon - Aha shake heartbrake
6) The Cribs - The cribs (i think that was this year)
7) Hope of the states - The lost riots
8) The radio dept. - Lesser matters
9) Ed Harcourt - Strangers
10) 22-20's - 22-20's
Song - Has to be helicopter by Bloc party or killamangiro
Gig - Without a doubt, bloc party and mystery jets at the wedgewood rooms. what a gig! -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
In no particular order:-
Razorlight - Up All Night
The Libertines - The Libertines
The Killers - Hot Fuss
Morrissey - You Are The Quarry
Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself
Kings of Leon - A Ha Shake Heartbreak
Interpol - Antics
Super Furry Animals - Songbook
The Zutons - Who Killed The Zutons
Kasabian - Kasabian -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
D'acre arms in Lee/Lewisham?
Blimey...
xg -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Albums:
Richmond Fontaine - Post to Wire
Jim White - Drill A Hole...
Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar
Gigs:
The National, 93 Feet East
Pixies, Brixton Academy
Song:
Static On The Radio - Jim White
Wings - Josh Ritter
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s):
My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge
Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want To Be
I Can Make A Mess Like Nobodies Business
- song: Bright Eyes - Lua / Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
- gig: The Killers @ Nottingham Rescue Rooms June '04
- band: The Libertines
- new band: Bloc Party
- label: Drive Thru Records
- festival: Leeds
- mags: NME
Rock Sound
Kerrang
- radio: Radio 1
- websites: www.drivethrurecords.com
www.drownedinsound.com
www.purevolume.com
- places: Sheffield and Leeds
- misc: Emo -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
records:
Hot Snakes: Audit in progress
Joanna Newsom: Milk-eyed mender
Pinback: summer in abbadon
Walkmen : bows and arrows
Ratatat: s/t
Go Team : Thunderlightning strike
Bloc Party : Ep
gig:
pixies @ everywhere
Mclusky @ pukkelpop
Twilight Singers @ pukkelpop
fest:
Pukkelpop (my only one this year)
websites:
Pitchfork
Indieto...
DIS
label:
Swammi
new band:
Bloc Party
band of the year:
Pixies
places:
Home
radio:
Lenoir
misc:
My band (2 rehearsals so far) -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
yup - like having a big bar in your front room - loads of local "characters" to chat to
no music, but you can imagine some sort of old joanna set up of the kind that certain scag fiends claim to have been immersed in as soon as their muvva drooped'em -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
records: Ray LaMontagne, Piney Gir, Arco, Peace Burial At Sea, Trademark, Empathy, Emma McGlynn.
gig: Mooney Suzuki @ Colchester Arts Centre or Piney Gir @ Chelmsford Bassment
band: Piney Gir
new band: Emma McGlynn
label: Truck
festival: Truck and TMF. Both were great fun albeit for different reasons. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s) : Biffy Clyro - Infinity Land
Love Ends DIsaster! - Stories For the Dislocated (although it ain't out yet)
Felix Da House cat - Devin Dazzle
- gig: Ummmmmmmmm.....oh er.......I can't think.....Liars, Rescue Rooms Notts
- band / new band: Bloc Party.
- label: Denial records, of course.
- festival: oh they are so uncool these days. That Book thingy that the Guardian do somewhere in wales.
- mags: WIRE
- radio: Radio 4
- websites: www.pineapster.co.uk
genius collective yes yes -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
record(s)
TEAM - Penalyn,
- gig
Red Jetson
- band / new band
Red Jetson / The Kaiser Chiefs
- label
enraptured
- festival
none.
- mags
the fly?
- radio
kerrang (birmingham)
- websites
www.pineapster.co.uk
- places
bishops itchington
- misc.
cheers -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record - Baptism, Lenny Kravitz. There that should make people get all angry and shouty. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s) – The Shins – Chutes too Narrow / The Projects - Let's Get Static / The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free / The Delgados - Universal Audio
- gig - Duran Duran, Wembley Arena / The Shins, Highbury Garage / Belle and Sebastian, Somerset House / Lloyd Cole and the Commotions , Apollo / Delgados, Bimbo's (San Francisco)
- band / new band – The Shins (both)
- label – Track and Field
- radio – John Peel
- websites – Bowlie, DiS -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Best record so far- You are the Quarry (deluxxe edition)
Finally a decent Morrissey record.
Come back toCamden must rate as one of the finest misery tunes ever.
Edges Explosions in the sky by a whisker, despite crap cover presentation.
Best single so far- The Rat by The Walkman
Pisses on all others, and is dancefloor dynamite.
Best festival - Glastonbury.
Makes other festivals seem very weak, year in year out.
May have lost a bit of the hippie spirit but generally full of things to see and do which beats waiting for the next band to come on, the only other option at Reading & V.
Best gig - Stills/Walkmen at the Garage, although Conor Oberst at ULU came close.
Best double header of the year by a country mile.
Best new band - The Stills, if they still count as new.
The next album will make or break them, but this one
had a legion of aural delights, and they put on a fine show.
Best DJ - John Peel.
Best label - The 'indie' 679 has the best lineup, but Matador still has the best records.
Best British label is still Seriously Groovy.
Worst band - Razorshite. Did a very bad cover of 'Boys don't cry' at Icon. A heresy!
Best websites - This one, pitchforkmedia, tinymixtapes
(which I was turned on to by this list).
Magazine I feel cheated by every time I buy it - NME.
Minimum of 3 pages of adverts to every page of reviews.
New years resolution is to stop buying the poxy rag. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Best record-
Isis - Panopticon. The best thing by far. I was a bit disappointed at first but now rate it higher than Oceniac. Also Antics by Interpol and Venice by Fennesz.
Best single - ?
Best festival - ATP
You actually get to see lots of good bands which is nice and even some you might not have heard.
Best gig - Hot Snakes at the Underworld. Just brilliant. Also Isis at ATP despite the technical problems.
Best band - Isis. Yes I do like Isis.
Best DJ - Dont really listen to the radio but John Peel for the past.
Best label - Matador
Worst band - Where to start. All those shit "London" trend bands. All those punk-funk bollocks bands who still fail to get close to the old stuff. Embarrassing.
Best websites - This one, pitchfork, aquariusrecords.org for a music store who actually care about original music.
Magazine - Terrorizer. The most intelligent music magazine along with the Wire. They actually have a passion for music and arent just a tasteless cynical fashion rag. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Oh shit I forgot TV on the Radio. Amazing album (if a bit patchy) and great live too. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
And I forgot to single out Kasabian for extra scorn. Just unbelievably shit and embarrassing. Who buys that crap? -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
record(s): Skinnyman 'Council Estate of Mind'
gig: Hot Snakes @ The Camden Underworld
band / new band: Hot Snakes
label: Swami
festival: All Tomorrows Parties (both weekends back in april march and most likely next weekend too!!!)
mags: Kerrang.....long shot, don't really read magazines
radio: John Peel R.I.P
websites: Friendster
places: Barcelona
misc: Tennesee Fried Chicken, Camden Town -
Re: So, What's the ..... of the year?
Blimey! I'm a regular in that pub, its my local. We've probably met, I spend enough bloody time in the place. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
record(s)
single: Walkmen's The Rat or Bloc Party's Little Thoughts
album: to tight to call between Franz Ferdinand, TV On The Radio's, and Stellastarr (was that this year? i bought it when My Coco came out so i dunno). actually, add My Coco to the singles.
- gig: jeez, can't remember all the gigs i've been to this year. Mclusky's pre-Reading 'warm up' was amazing, and Jarcrew's support set were the best i've ever seen them. can't wait till i see the 'crew on the 11th.
- band/new band: hmm, it's been such a good year, i can't really pick one. honorable mentions to Bloc Party and i really like Sons And Daughters.
- label: Domino. Franz, Sons And Daughters, Adem. All great. One question tho: 'why the Blueskins?'
- festival: Reading was good, getting to see some of the bands we don't really get to see outside the bigger city's. Truck was also lovely, and it was a nice change not to feel ripped off at every stage of the festival.
- mags: don't really read many mags.
- radio: didn't really listen to peel that often, but it's sad that he's gone. I do like Lamaq's shows on radio 1 and 6Music, Zane Lowe is a bit of a twit but his heart's in the right place, and he did turn me on to the Go! Team so he can't be all that bad...
- websites: The Onion
- places: Ramon's in Cardiff (Salisbury Rd), the greasiest spoons ever. £3 for a monster breakfast, fantastic.
- misc. David Blunkett and any Pro Hunt protester are joint winners of Twat Of The Year. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s) - sufjan stevens, seven swans. iron and wine, endless numbered days and secret machines, futureheads
- gig - brian wilson at benicassim. the JOY!!!!
- band / new band - Futureheads?
- label - DOMINO obviously!?!
- festival Benicassim festival, Spain. Last night beach party, loads of hot boys, wicked line up, beer by the litre. SXSW Austin, Texas. Thousands of bands, hot boys and lots of ribs, not to mention free daytime gigs with free food AND free beer!!! In Britain the best festival was Tapestry Goes West, held in a wild west town in Cornwall. When the bands end, everyone ends up around one of the assorted bonfires smashed out of their skulls, dancing to a bluegrass band. Genius. also ATP2 was HILARIOUS!
- mags - Word
- radio - Ha ha ha! You're kidding right? Maybe radio 4 in the morning?
- websites -pitchfork, friendster, livejournal
- places - tapestry under st aloysius church. best monthly night, great people
- misc - hot boys -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
seeing as a lot of people are adding their worst of's i'd thought i'd join in the fun -
Worst moment of the Year - that day that no-one will forget EVER - so sad i was physically sick
Album - there's again, about three - Franz.. no, just can't bring myself to say their name. Kings Of Leon - there's a reason why all middle-amercians are inbred- they're all talentless gimps - and Maroon -fucking 5 - the first single was quite good, but then they got all loungey and i lost the will to live.
Single - Razorlight - Rip It Up - don't get me wrong, i quite enjoy 'Golden Touch', it's just painfull listening to them trying to 'rock'
Band - no doubt - The Libertines - somebody just kill them now, save me the hassle and the jail term
Mag - NME - i've hated them ever since they bought out Melody Maker - Cunts.
Venue - anywhere in Portsmouth - It's the not the venues per se - it's the diabolical transport - getting there's fine, but the last train's at 11.30 - thus meaning you have to leave halfway through the headline set to chase the train down the platform. Plus the place is a shit-hole full of Burberry-clad pikeys *shudder*
Misc -
A few lighter ones after the deluge of scorn -
-Band everyone should secretly love - McFly - not sure what it is, but they've got an eye for a tune, which is a rare thing for mainstream pop today.
-Album you want to buy, but don't have the balls to hand over in HMV - Britney Spears Greatest Hits (The demo was pinched from the station, which pissed me off, cos some of her stuffs not bad -pus the DVD should have been a could larff/ arrousing) -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
Record-
Aha Shake Heartbrake - KOL
SMiLE - Brian Wilson (doesn't really count for this year)
Sonic Nurse - Sonic Youth
Killers - Hot Fuss (annoyingly enjoyable)
New Band-
Unoriginal as it is, Bloc party have to win this as they are set apart from all new bands I've heard this year.
Band-
Hope of The States (not quite good enough to be an album of the year but fucking great live)
Festival-
T in the Park (the only one I went to this year)
Truck is a top festival, great community spirit.
Website-
Dis obviously
Magazine-
I could say something cool and indie but the only one I regularly read is the NME, as much as I hate it.
Radio-
Do I even need to say the name
Funniest Band of the Year-
Goldie Lookin' Chain
-
So, What's the ..... of the year?
(Best Of's)
Records:
Isis - Panopticon
Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez - A Manual Dexterity Volume 1
Blood Brothers - Crimes
Franz Ferdinand - FF
Gig:
Pelican - London Underworld
Isis - ULU
Explosions in the Sky - Electric Ballroom
New Band:
These Arms Are Snakes
Band:
Isis
The Mars Volta
Festival:
ATP
Website:
DiS, The Comatorium, LiveJournal, Stylus Mag, Pitchfork
Magazine:
Difficult one... maybe Rock Sound or Terrorizer
Radio:
What can I say? John Peel R.I.P
Venue:
Highbury Garage/ULU/Barfly@Monarch -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
i'll just chuck in my usual tuppennyworth about mystery jets being better than sliced bread, and truck being, as always, wonderful. -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
record(s) shins (was that really this year?) stereolab
- gig arthur lee and love, manc academy
- band / new band - the longcut
- mags - plan b
- websites - www.therams.co.uk, www.slsknet.org
- places - lover's island, anglesey
- misc. - neil young -
So, What's the ..... of the year?
- record(s)
- Jeniferever - Iris - brilliant band, played with them at the Acklam in Middlesborough in June and was fantastic. This EP is also fantastic, really well-structured songs.
- Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse - A continuation of return to form for SY, this can sometimes be more mellow and more dramatic simultaneously than their older stuff, still ace.
- Elliott Smith - From A Basement... - The final, last beautiful album. It's not a masterpiece, but it was never intended to be. This record illustrates Elliott in a way none of his previous records did. Whilst there is no "Needle In The Hay" or "Pitseleh", most of the songs are personal, and some are delightfully awkward, RIP SPS.
- Stories And Comets - Time To Write You Out - Post-hardcore may be a decreasingly popular genre, but this record is excellent at times. The layers are fantastic and in songs such as "A Pox, A Plague..." the songs feel like they are telling a story, and, despite the album being less than 40 minutes long, the songs seem to have an epic feel to them. Shame they split.
- The Futureheads - The Futureheads - Ace songs. That's all really, they really know how to craft the perfect 2 minute pop song. Also probably the most fun record of the year.
- gig
I'm unsure of this. Stories And Comet's last ever show at the Arena in Middlesborough was fantastic, i've never seen such passion on stage. Hope Of The States in Newcastle was also great, real positivity within the crowd and intense music onstage. The ones that were probably the most fun were one's I was playing at. But then again anyone would say that haha.
- band
I'm going to say Interpol, because they are continuously good good good.
- new band
Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies really struck out to me on first hearing them, their songs are epic and really excellently executed. "Spooks the Horse..." is a particular favourite, lots of potential there.
Also Written From Negative I really enjoyed.
- label
Undergroove had some good stuff this year...
- festival
Didn't go to one, but Leeds was good apparantly.
- mags
Rock Sound cos, although they review and promote a lot of crap, about 20% is dedicated to thoroughly good music.
- radio
Nor.
- websites
www.haxed.co.uk
www.drownedinsound.com
www.pitchforkmedia.com
www.sweetadeline.net -
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