So much good music was released in 2011 that it was quite difficult to narrow down my 20 favourite albums of the year. As such, I’ve also included some Honourable Mentions. I didn’t have the chance to write a quick blurb for each album, so you’ll have to take my word that these are definitely the 20 albums that I personally enjoyed the most in 2011. Each album entry is hyperlinked to a YouTube video of my favorite song from said album. Enjoy/criticize/laugh/agree: continue reading...
“The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala” has vaulted to the number one spot in my list of favorite songs from this excellent new album from the Arctic Monkeys. That’s not to say that it will change at some point, Suck It And See is rammed with good songs… but the combination of the dueling guitar and bass lines, Alex Turner’s stunning lyrics and delivery and a coda that blows the song into something even bigger makes this one the favorite of the moment. And guess what, there’s a brand new video that’s just been released. It’s basically the band looking cool in the way that cool bands do. Amazing song: continue reading...
If the first taste of the Arctic Monkeys‘ 4th LP Suck It And See was a bit underwhelming with the song “Brick By Brick”, you should be completely satisfied with the first official single from the album called, “Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair”. This song is a nice extension of the darker, more mature sound first explored on Humbug, but still has a sledgehammer of a riff and some super catchy “oooohs” and “yeahs”. Check out the video for the song below. Can’t wait for this album! continue reading...
Alex Turner’s regular gig is frontman of the ever-interesting Arctic Monkeys, but he’s carving out quite a nice side project/solo artist career as well. This is his first effort at creating music under his own name (his first non-AM effort was The Last Shadow Puppets collaboration with Miles Kane) and the songs were written for an independant British film called Submarine. My first taste is this lovely tune called “Stuck On The Puzzle”, which is exactly what I’d hoped for in a Turner penned ballad. I’m continually impressed by the growth Turner displays in his songwriting abilities and I can’t wait to hear more songs from this effort. Enjoy: continue reading...
Not much has been heard from the Arctic Monkeys since they wrapped up touring for 2009’s Humbug, but “Brick By Brick” is a brand new song from the band who are apparently hard at work in LA on a new album. The song is interesting. Upon first listen it definitely sounds like the Monkey’s, but I can’t tell if it’s a step forwards or backwards from the last batch of tunes. We shall see… I’m gonna go listen to it 4 more times to get a better feel. Enjoy: continue reading...
With the excellent news that the Arctic Monkeys will be releasing a new album in the Spring of 2011, I thought it would be appropriate to feature a classic performance by the band back before the long hair, dark themes and tight jeans. This performance harkens back to the time when there was an incredible amount of buzz built up around the band that was based on nothing more than a rabid internet fan base, which then obviously transitioned into the gong show that is the UK hype machine. Luckily the band had an answer for the hype and have consistently put out great music 3 records in a row. This 2005 Liverpool performance shows why the hype was justified in the first place. continue reading...
Once again I’ll throw my favorite 20 albums of 2009 into the mix of the 9 billion year end lists out there. Remember that these are NOT necessarily the 20 “best” albums of the year, but the 20 albums that I personally enjoyed the most. There’s also a great chance I’ve missed a few albums that I sincerely loved around 10 months ago, but the list is finished and I don’t give a shit! continue reading...
From NME.com: continue reading...
This has to be one of the best new videos I’ve seen in a while. Its pure insanity right off the bat and does not let up until the very end of the song. The song “Fluorescent Adolescent” is one of the bouncier and more cheerful sounding songs the Monkeys have ever released and yet the video is violent, chaotic, funny and more than a bit disturbing. Well what do you expect when you have wild eyed clowns hellbent on revenge?? Thats right, revenge clowns. The worst kind of clowns.
Somehow this all fits… the song, the video, the insanity. Check it out: continue reading...
