Tom4784
30-12-2009, 12:58 PM
Yes this IS a rip off of Gary's thread but imitation is the highest form of flattery so deal with it.
10. Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
I'm not a big fan of the girl but I did love the Fame Monster. One problem I had with her original album is that despite her eccentric-ness her original album was kind of bland, it had some good fun songs don't get me wrong but the music didn't match her. With the 8 new tracks though we can see that she's grown as an artist considerably, the songs aren't generic or bland and are packed with a lot more personality and flair then any from her first album. She's easily one of the best pop acts of the year.
9. Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream
I adore this album, the sound of the album is both very 80's but modern at the same time. There's instantly likable tracks and then there's the hidden gems that really grab you on the 2nd and third listens. In parts it reminded me a lot of David Bowie, especially on the track 'Without You' this isn't a bad thing you as they do it brilliantly. In the end it's a fun, bizarre and ultimately amazing album.
8. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
Admittedly I'm not familiar with much of Strokes' work But I checked out this album and I didn't regret it. It's a short album but it grabs you from the first song and just refuses to let go, one thing i like about the album as well is that Julian tries things you wouldn't expect like a synth-y/ electronic track which works quite well. It's a tiny Gem of an album.
7. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
It's a weird album Humbug is, It's not as listenable as the previous two albums but I still find myself listening to the odd track every so often, It's a hell of a grower but I do love the nostalgic style of the album and that the Arctics have taken risks with their sound. Months after it's release 'Crying Lightning' is still as brilliant as when I first listened to it and tracks like 'Dance little liar' 'My Propeller' and the Shadow Puppet's-esque 'Cornerstone' keep me coming back for more. Worst Arctics album? Possibly. Brilliant album? Definately.
6. Little Boots - Hands
I played the hell out of this album for around 2 weeks when I first got it and then I didn't listen to it for a few months. I was pretty sure I overestimated Little Boots but then I started to listen to it again and then I realised that it was more brilliant then I realised. Lady Gaga dominated pop this year but Little Boots deserved it a lot more. 'Stuck on Repeat' I think is one of the best pop songs of the year and tracks like 'Remedy', 'Earthquakes' and 'Mathematics' are definate contenders. She's underated as hell in comparision to the other female artists of 2009 but she's easily one of the best Pop artists of 2009.
5. One eskimO - Self titled
I doubt many of you have heard of this band but I love them, I've followed their progress for around a year and a half and couldn't wait for the album. Their sound is very laid back and relaxed as well as catchy and just generally...happy? It's uplifting. Like the Gorrilaz, OE use animated characters in their videos which compliments the music perfectly. Unlike the Gorillaz though OE's album is as visual as it is Audible, Each song's video slots together to tell a story (similar to Daft Punk's 'Discovery' Album) which compliments the album perfectly. It's cute, enchanting and incredibly endearing.
5. Florence and the Machine - Lungs
Like with One eskimO I've followed Florence for a long time, playing the hell out of her pre-release covers and nuggets of music. When her album was finally released, it didn't dissapoint. the lead single 'Rabbit Heart' remains one of my favourite songs of the year and I'm still not bored of it. The more I listen to the album the more I grow fond of it. It reveals a lot of it's charm over time. The styles are quite varied in this album, there's folk-esque songs (Cosmic Love, Rabbit Heart) Indie sounds (Kiss with a Fist) pop-y songs (You've got the Love) Blues-yness (Girl with One Eye). She's my favourite new artist of 2010 and I can't wait for more.
4. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
The album came out earlier this year and I STILL listen to it on a regular basis. I was a massive fan of the first album and this was a great follow-up. It's different to the first album as it loses some of it's folk-y edge but gains in the higher production values. It's spacey it's dreamy and it's delightful. Like the first album and most albums on this list it's a grower and even at it's worst it's still amazing. It's a difficult album to explain but I adore it.
3. Muse - The Resistance
I bet a lot of people thought I'd place this first? I love Muse entirely and I think this is an interesting and great album. It's quite experimental in parts, containing things such as a 3 part orchestral symphony and even an R'n'B-esque track. It's got quite a classical edge to it due to the afforementioned symphony (entitled the 'Exogenesis Symphony' and the use of Chopin on 'United States of Eurasia'). It's a daring album which succeeds in most parts but is bogged down by some of it's failures (namely 'I Belong to You' which is easily the worst Muse track EVER). Although it's mostly hits, the misses impact the album greatly. On it's own it's definately a great album but like with 'Humbug' it can't compare to previous albums. Even with that Dark Mark upon it though it's still one of my favourites of the year.
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
YYY's third album is quite a departure from their first two albums. it's not an indie/punk album but instead it's an indie infused dance/pop album. You'd expect it to be awful but it's brilliant. The two lead singles ('Zero' and 'Heads Will Roll') remain stomping and brilliant months after release and the slower ballads are great in their own right. Although I prefer their previous sound , props to them for trying something new and succeeding with it.
1. Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry, They Washed Away
I never knew of this band before this album but since I got this album I've become a huge fan and have brought the rest of their albums. This album remains my favourite though, It's extremely bizarre and weird in places but over time it's brilliance is revealed. Each song is packed with hidden meaning (and some even have hidden songs WITHIN the songs). It's deep and challenging but when it clicks you'll listen to it frequently. My favourite track is 'Cartoons and Macreme Wounds' Which is quite a haunting epic track as well as the opener 'New Terrain' (which when you play it backwards it becomes a new song). It's difficult to explain it but It's easily my favourite album of the year.
10. Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
I'm not a big fan of the girl but I did love the Fame Monster. One problem I had with her original album is that despite her eccentric-ness her original album was kind of bland, it had some good fun songs don't get me wrong but the music didn't match her. With the 8 new tracks though we can see that she's grown as an artist considerably, the songs aren't generic or bland and are packed with a lot more personality and flair then any from her first album. She's easily one of the best pop acts of the year.
9. Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream
I adore this album, the sound of the album is both very 80's but modern at the same time. There's instantly likable tracks and then there's the hidden gems that really grab you on the 2nd and third listens. In parts it reminded me a lot of David Bowie, especially on the track 'Without You' this isn't a bad thing you as they do it brilliantly. In the end it's a fun, bizarre and ultimately amazing album.
8. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
Admittedly I'm not familiar with much of Strokes' work But I checked out this album and I didn't regret it. It's a short album but it grabs you from the first song and just refuses to let go, one thing i like about the album as well is that Julian tries things you wouldn't expect like a synth-y/ electronic track which works quite well. It's a tiny Gem of an album.
7. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
It's a weird album Humbug is, It's not as listenable as the previous two albums but I still find myself listening to the odd track every so often, It's a hell of a grower but I do love the nostalgic style of the album and that the Arctics have taken risks with their sound. Months after it's release 'Crying Lightning' is still as brilliant as when I first listened to it and tracks like 'Dance little liar' 'My Propeller' and the Shadow Puppet's-esque 'Cornerstone' keep me coming back for more. Worst Arctics album? Possibly. Brilliant album? Definately.
6. Little Boots - Hands
I played the hell out of this album for around 2 weeks when I first got it and then I didn't listen to it for a few months. I was pretty sure I overestimated Little Boots but then I started to listen to it again and then I realised that it was more brilliant then I realised. Lady Gaga dominated pop this year but Little Boots deserved it a lot more. 'Stuck on Repeat' I think is one of the best pop songs of the year and tracks like 'Remedy', 'Earthquakes' and 'Mathematics' are definate contenders. She's underated as hell in comparision to the other female artists of 2009 but she's easily one of the best Pop artists of 2009.
5. One eskimO - Self titled
I doubt many of you have heard of this band but I love them, I've followed their progress for around a year and a half and couldn't wait for the album. Their sound is very laid back and relaxed as well as catchy and just generally...happy? It's uplifting. Like the Gorrilaz, OE use animated characters in their videos which compliments the music perfectly. Unlike the Gorillaz though OE's album is as visual as it is Audible, Each song's video slots together to tell a story (similar to Daft Punk's 'Discovery' Album) which compliments the album perfectly. It's cute, enchanting and incredibly endearing.
5. Florence and the Machine - Lungs
Like with One eskimO I've followed Florence for a long time, playing the hell out of her pre-release covers and nuggets of music. When her album was finally released, it didn't dissapoint. the lead single 'Rabbit Heart' remains one of my favourite songs of the year and I'm still not bored of it. The more I listen to the album the more I grow fond of it. It reveals a lot of it's charm over time. The styles are quite varied in this album, there's folk-esque songs (Cosmic Love, Rabbit Heart) Indie sounds (Kiss with a Fist) pop-y songs (You've got the Love) Blues-yness (Girl with One Eye). She's my favourite new artist of 2010 and I can't wait for more.
4. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
The album came out earlier this year and I STILL listen to it on a regular basis. I was a massive fan of the first album and this was a great follow-up. It's different to the first album as it loses some of it's folk-y edge but gains in the higher production values. It's spacey it's dreamy and it's delightful. Like the first album and most albums on this list it's a grower and even at it's worst it's still amazing. It's a difficult album to explain but I adore it.
3. Muse - The Resistance
I bet a lot of people thought I'd place this first? I love Muse entirely and I think this is an interesting and great album. It's quite experimental in parts, containing things such as a 3 part orchestral symphony and even an R'n'B-esque track. It's got quite a classical edge to it due to the afforementioned symphony (entitled the 'Exogenesis Symphony' and the use of Chopin on 'United States of Eurasia'). It's a daring album which succeeds in most parts but is bogged down by some of it's failures (namely 'I Belong to You' which is easily the worst Muse track EVER). Although it's mostly hits, the misses impact the album greatly. On it's own it's definately a great album but like with 'Humbug' it can't compare to previous albums. Even with that Dark Mark upon it though it's still one of my favourites of the year.
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
YYY's third album is quite a departure from their first two albums. it's not an indie/punk album but instead it's an indie infused dance/pop album. You'd expect it to be awful but it's brilliant. The two lead singles ('Zero' and 'Heads Will Roll') remain stomping and brilliant months after release and the slower ballads are great in their own right. Although I prefer their previous sound , props to them for trying something new and succeeding with it.
1. Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry, They Washed Away
I never knew of this band before this album but since I got this album I've become a huge fan and have brought the rest of their albums. This album remains my favourite though, It's extremely bizarre and weird in places but over time it's brilliance is revealed. Each song is packed with hidden meaning (and some even have hidden songs WITHIN the songs). It's deep and challenging but when it clicks you'll listen to it frequently. My favourite track is 'Cartoons and Macreme Wounds' Which is quite a haunting epic track as well as the opener 'New Terrain' (which when you play it backwards it becomes a new song). It's difficult to explain it but It's easily my favourite album of the year.