The Best of 2010 - My Top Ten

Best of lists are always a hard thing to think about. You've almost always got your top one or two, but when you're thinking of more it gets a bit complex. And that was without a doubt the case, with my mind going from a top 5, to a top 8, but I finally have my Top Ten albums of 2010. And I'm not saying these are the best 10 albums of the last 12 months or so, I'm saying that these are my favourites. Feel free to agree or disagree.

10. Eminem - Recovery/Vampire Weekend - Contra

I thought a top eleven would just be silly so at number 10 is both the true return of a rap legend and the second release of an American indie foursome. Eminem was back on form in 2010 with 'Recovery', after the questionable 'Relapse', and rightly won back many fans with a top record. Pushing Marshall Mathers back to the top of the charts, 'Recovery' spawned the monster hits 'Not Afraid' and 'Love The Way You Lie', meaning his more hip-hop direction stands up well to his previous work. On the other end of the spectrum, Vampire Weekend boosted their budding reputation with the happy-go-lucky 'Contra'. Like the Beach Boys meeting skinny jeans, the songs 'Horchata', 'Giving Up The Gun' and 'Cousins' are the best of a good bunch from the Manhattan group.

KEY TRACKS: Love The Way You Lie/Cousins

9. Weezer - Hurley

For those who aren't fans of Weezer, just breeze past this. But for those who aren't decided or are fans, 'Hurley' is well worth a listen. Like this blog once said, they won't write world-changing songs, and this effort doesn't quite live up to their seminal work 'Weezer', but it is still a fantastic collection of fine geek rock anthems. From the Jackass-backed 'Memories' to the wistfully sentimental 'Time Flies', 'Hurley' is the funnest album of the year and reminds us of Rivers Cuomo's talents. And for the perfect summation of the band, look no further than one of my favourite tracks of the year, 'Where's My Sex?'

KEY TRACK: Where's My Sex?

8. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Anyone who has looked at an end of year best album list would more than likely have found this fine effort near the top - and it's unlucky not to be nearer the summit in mine. Arcade Fire shook off the difficult second album tag and asserted themselves as one of the bands of the year, with the diverse and thoughtful 'The Suburbs'. In a great year for the Yanks, this epic record has to be listened to as a whole - a journey that the seven-piece band have magnificently and carefully put together. Thought-provoking and heartfelt.

KEY TRACK: Rococo

7. My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

The kings of emo are back - but they've lost the make-up in their boldest effort yet. Gerard Way and Co. have well and truly dropped 'The Black Parade' for this fast-paced rock album that puts them up towards the world's best. The concept is California 2019, the band are outlaws and they are having more fun than ever. MCR have never sounded better and their talent is on show here for all to see. Now with the opportunity to win over more people than ever with the lack of mascara, Way powers through the likes of 'Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na), 'Sing' and 'The Only Hope For Me Is You' which set themselves up there with anything guitar-related in recent years. The best rock album of the year.

KEY TRACK: S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W

6. Plan B - The Defamation of Strickland Banks

Ben Drew is an impressive man. Not only did he release one of the best albums of the year, but to go alongside it is a film he directs and stars in. 'The Defamation of Strickland Banks' is the tale of rape, imprisonment, solitude and sacrifice, but it's not as gloomy as you think. Plan B's fantastic vocals make it more like a Motown-inspired soul record, with dashes of rap, R'n'B and Hip-Hop. Along with it came the massive hits 'She Said', 'Stay Too Long' and 'Prayin'', but again the real pleasure comes in the album as a whole. One talented guy and one hugely entertaining album.

KEY TRACK: Welcome To Hell

5. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

The clue is in the title. Again one of the biggest albums of the year, Kanye West was on top form and this could very well be his masterpiece; combining the best parts of his releases so far to make this titan of a hip-hop record - for once validating his status as one of the biggest artists on the planet. Extremely personal, honest, self-indulgent and seemingly endless (at over an hour long) and with some of the biggest names thrown in (Jay-Z, Bon Iver, Rihanna, Beyonce to name a few) it's epic in every sense of the word. 'POWER', 'Monster' and 'So Appalled' are top tracks, while 'Runaway' deserves it billing as the song of the year. A dark twisted fantasy indeed.

KEY TRACK: Runaway/Monster

4. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Damon was at it again and he was on top form as Gorillaz returned with the fantastic 'Plastic Beach'. Dipping into the worlds of hip-hop, electronica, pop, rap and jazz, the only way to class this properly is under 'alternative'. And Damon doesn't disappoint with his friends; Snoop Dogg leading the way in an album containing cameos from Mos Def, Lou Reed, Little Dragon and De La Soul among others. The animated pop group are sounding better than ever; more confident and more innovative and experimental than before; 'Plastic Beach' was a fine effort. Highlights are found throughout, but come mainly from 'Stylo', 'Empire Ants', 'On Melancholy Hill' and the Snoop-inspired 'Welcome To The World of the Plastic Beach'.

KEY TRACK: On Melancholy Hill

3. Brandon Flowers - Flamingo

Us Killers fans got treated to a Killers album this year - in the form of lead singer Brandon's debut solo release. It's hard to see where the others fit in with this pop sensation, with all the confidence, skill and synths you would expect from his bandmates. At his balladry best, Flowers shows off his undoubted skill in the pop highlight of the year. The first five songs come straight from a Killers release; 'Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas' a wonderous opener, followed brilliantly by 'Only The Young', 'Hard Enough' and fifth song 'Playing With Fire'. Also make sure you check out country-fied 'The Clock Was Tickin'', 'On The Floor' and 'Right Behind You'. But it is in 'Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts' where Flowers is at his best; a soaring anthem. Brilliant album.

KEY TRACK: Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts

2. Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love

My biggest surprise was at how good this album actually was. I'd heard of the Glasgow band before, and that they were an indie outfit, but not much more until I reviewed 'Write About Love'. I gave it praise then, but ever since it has grown and grown with each listen and now I can say it was the second best album of the year. It's a combination of indie angst, lyrical honesty and musical ingenuity. But it's instantly likeable and catchy from the word go with 'I Didn't See It Coming'. It's another one that needs to be listened to as a whole, but while there's a couple of average tracks, the record is more than saved by the highlights. 'I Want The World To Stop', the title track, 'Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John' sung with Norah Jones and 'Read The Blessed Pages' all fine works. With 'I Can See Your Future' being gloriously uplifting, it caps a simply beautiful album. It's barely made a mark on the best of lists around, but it's more than merited second in this list.

KEY TRACK: I Can See Your Future

1. Bombay Bicycle Club - Flaws

And at the most-coveted spot at the top, it's Bombay Bicycle Club with their fantastic acoustic album 'Flaws'. After the fine debut work 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Loose', the up-and-coming indie band from London released this and I class it as a masterpiece. Some were disappointed to see them move away from their electric side, but for a side project this is a marvellous effort. Each song is a gem in its own way; 'Rinse Me Down' and 'Ivy & Gold' wonderful country-fied toe-tappers, down to the melancholic and sorrowful 'Leaving Blues' and 'Jewel'. The distinctively soft drone of Jack Steadman has picked up many fans so far, and will pick up more. So many of these young guitar bands are built up by the musical press and fail to live up to the billing, but BBC have already shown their talents from two vastly different but equally impressive releases. 2011 is expected to see a return to their amped-up debut style, but 2010 was well and truly won over by their touchingly soulful 'Flaws'.

KEY TRACK: Flaws

Well done to Bombay Bicycle Club, well deserved winners of this most coveted award, and here's my favourite track 'Flaws' for your enjoyment. Thank you 2010, it's been a pleasure.

NWR

John Lennon: The Legend

There's been an awful lot written about John Lennon. From his rebellious early days, to his entrapment in The Beatles' early days, to the drug-hazy Sergeant Pepper, to the peace-protesting house husband, he is a vastly interesting character and one of the legends of the last century. But I'm not going to write about the man himself. There are legions of books out there about the man, both before, during and after his Beatles' career, and recently the musical press has been inundated with accounts of Lennon's life. All of which will be much more in-depth than I could write. So it's why I shall write about what I do know: Lennon's music.

I first heard Lennon, like so many before me, through the Beatles. It was through The Beatles One album I heard the likes of 'Help!', 'All You Need Is Love' and 'Come Together', and was immediately entrapped. Lennon's lyrical talent is something that shines through all of his records, his nonsensical metaphors a delight to listen to. 'Glass Onion' and the brilliant 'I Am The Walrus' are perfect examples of this, who else would have written 'Semolina pilchard, climbing up the Eiffel tower' and 'Elementary penguin singing Hari Krishna'. No-one really, is the answer to that. Well, maybe now after Lennon.

It was in reading more about The Beatles and Lennon that you come to appreciate his music more. George Harrison is a great character, while Paul McCartney has written some of the best songs of all-time. But Lennon's songs are so brilliantly personal, every one reflects a little part of himself in a way songwriters rarely do. The moody 'You Can't Do That' is a bitter warning to a lover, 'No Reply' an accusing finger-pointing and 'Yes It Is' a swooping story of love covering the depths of Lennon's early insecurities around women.

'Help!' is literally a cry for just that, surviving 'Beatles' treatment through Lennon's emotional delivery, while the ploddingly epic 'In My Life' shows him for the first time in a truly autobiographical sense that would later dominate his output. See 'Nowhere Man', 'She Said She Said', 'Yer Blues', 'Julia', 'Don't Let Me Down' and 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' for his journey while part of the Fab Four. Also, have a listen to 'Tomorrow Never Knows', 'Rain' and 'Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite' to hear the guy's experimentalism and ingenuity.

Strawberry Fields Forever' however is his crowning glory. Hallucinogenic, twisting and turning, seductive; it is one of the most interesting and fantastically-made songs of all time. Here, Lennon trumps McCartney's 'Penny Lane' and writes his name in history as one of the most supremely-talented musicians ever to come from these shores.

His post-Beatles output is arguably more interesting. Songs like 'God' and 'Mother' are great listens as they are the most personal songs ever heard; it's Lennon airing his most personal hurts for all to hear. 'Imagine' and 'Give Peace A Chance' rightfully go down in history as immense songs which have earned their place in history.

John Lennon is a genius. Pure and simple. His death 30 years ago this year was a tragedy, something on the scale that has only been met a few times this century, and his loss is still being felt and paid for today. However, his music is as vibrantly inspired today as it was when it was written, and that is why Lennon will outlive us all within his songs.

And to finish off, here's my five favourite John Lennon songs you may not know:

The Beatles/With The Beatles - It Won't Be Long - A raucous toe-tapper that stands as one of the best Beatles album openers

The Beatles/ Revolver - I'm Only Sleeping - A drowsily inspired tale of Lennon's legendary laziness

The Beatles/ The Beatles (The White Album) - Happiness Is A Warm Gun - Theatrical rock at its best; from mellow piano to fuzzy mood rock to anthemic release

The Beatles/ Yellow Submarine - Hey Bulldog - Dark piano rock that betters Lady Madonna

John Lennon/ Plastic Ono Band - God - The most honest pop record of all time - '‘I don’t believe in Beatles, I just believe in me’, ‘I was the walrus, but now I’m John’

And just for good measure, here's another great Lennon track - 'You Can't Do That' - with footage from The Beatles.

NWR

Beady Eye - Bring The Light

As a huge Oasis fan, I'm with the others in anticipating the return of the Gallagher brothers in their separate forms. And while Noel is taking a long break from the business, Liam is back already with new band Beady Eye. Here's what I thought of their first release:

The music world is an odd place in this post-millennium world. Dance, R'n'B and pop music has taken over the charts thanks to Simon Cowell, Lady Gaga, Will.i.am and Co., while a lot of indie/guitar bands are left to fight their way through from the underworld of sweaty venues, demo tracks and Facebook pages. It seems like an age since we had a genuine rock star in our midst. Alex Turner is extremely talented yet too quiet to truly be a rock star, Matt Bellamy is in the same boat and don't even get me started on Pete Doherty. It seems Tom Meighan of Kasabian is the closest we have nowadays, as he is the lead singer of one of the biggest bands we have. And who's mantle is that taking? Why, that would be Oasis.

Say what you want about the Gallaghers, but there has been nothing like them to hit the music scene in the 20 years since 'Definitely Maybe' came out. Don't get me wrong, there have been good bands and there is some quality music out there from many different sources; The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Coldplay to name but a few examples, but none quite had the same impact as Oasis did. And it was Liam Gallagher at the forefront of that boom. Armed with the anthems Noel wrote, Liam combined the best parts of Mick Jagger, John Lydon and John Lennon to write himself into the history of British music. And with Beady Eye, he's back. And it's as if he hasn't been away.

Exploding in with Jerry Lee Lewis piano, 'Bring The Light' is a raucous rocker that already makes Beady Eye one of the most eagerly anticipated bands of 2011. It may be on the simple side, Liam's lyrical talent has developed more but not yet fully, but the 3 and a half minutes are full of pace, power and attitude that we have come to expect from a Gallagher. Complete with an infectiously pounding beat, luscious soul backing vocals and a Beatle-borrowed guitar solo, Liam snarling in his instantly recognisable way 'Baby, come on, Baby, come on' is up there with anything in the charts at the moment. Add in a 'Hindu Times'-esque video, it's a nice little package for Gallagher, Archer, Bell and Sharrock to return with.

It's only a small snippet of 'Different Gear, Still Speading', but if the rush to get the 'Bring The Light' as a free download from the Beady Eye website is anything to go by, they're not short of early fans. Many, myself included, descend from Oasis and are not disappointed with this first taste of Gallagher Part Two. Again, like many, I eagerly await what Noel has to offer but Liam has got their first; bursting back onto the scene with this rocker along the lines of his Oasis songs 'Better Man', 'Meaning Of Soul' and 'Ain't Got Nothin'', with a little extra quality thrown in there.

Beady Eye's first release was always going to battle between my heart and my head. Liam is a talented man, but any brother to Noel Gallagher is going to be slightly in their shadow, so this has given Gallagher Junior the chance to strut his solo stuff. My heart yearns for it to be good, for it to rewrite the history books of British rock with some legendary anthems. My head just wants it to not be humiliating, for someone who relies so much on ego to release an awful album would take a huge chunk out of the bravado, the reputation the frontman brings. Luckily, 'Bring The Light' falls somewhere in the middle.

It's a good little song. A bit of a toe-tapper, gets stuck in your head and has a decent swagger about it. It hasn't uprooted any trees, re-set the record books but it is just what Beady Eye needed; to break out in their own right. It's just different enough from Oasis, but it's still well worth a listen, and sets a good precedent for the upcoming album. And that will do just fine for now. It's good to have you back Liam.

And coming very soon is what I think of their second song, 'Four Letter Word'. But for now, here's Beady Eye with 'Bring The Light'.

NWR

Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run

Admittedly it's late, but here is the review of Sir Paul McCartney's re-released solo album 'Band On The Run', which made a reappearance earlier this year.

The Beatles were huge. It's a statement that is no longer personal opinion or general consensus, but now fact; the Fab Four were massive. Their legacy is still being felt today, no other band could quite create the stir that the Beatles did in the past couple of years with the release of their own RockBand game, the remastering and releasing of their albums and the availability of their music on iTunes. Huge. But it's odd to think that they were only really in the public eye as a group for nine years. So what did they do after that?

John Lennon was famously involved in protests, house-husbanding and visited music only in self-confessional pieces of genius, such as 'Imagine', 'God' and 'Mother'. George Harrison also stayed in the music business, with his personal masterpiece coming in the form of triple-album 'All Things Must Pass'. Even Ringo had success in the music world, releasing numerous albums and travelling in 'Ringo's All-Starr Band' to worldwide joviality. But for someone who was blamed for the breakup of The Beatles, the departure hit home more than with the others.

Sir Paul McCartney, as has been written thousands of time, took the breakup of the Fab Four harder than others, disguising the grief he felt from the tearing of the Lennon-McCartney partnership by rush-releasing 'McCartney', just days after The Beatles confirmed they were no more. And in his depressive faze, he released many questionable records that shook his once unshakeable reputation, the cheeky sweet-faced Beatle image straining under the weight of failing productions. But in 1973, his luck changed.

In the dangerous and hectic surroundings of Nigeria, McCartney had just recorded his latest albums with his new band 'Wings' and it was to change his fortunes. Despite losing half of the original recordings and narrowly missing being attacked in the street, Nigeria saw Macca produce his own personal masterpiece; the album that became his solo calling-card and is still playing the majority of to this day.

Kicking off with title-track 'Band On The Run', McCartney exhibits the musical expertise and lyrical talent that people had come to doubt. From the lounging breeze of guitar licks, to the gloomy cry of entrapment, and blossoming into the cacophony of customary McCartney balladry, the first song sets the tone for a record that spawns classics so effortlessly. 'Jet' is a fuzzy rocker with a pumping beat, while 'Mrs Vandebilt' is a head-bobbing, toe-tapping tune built for rampant stadium crowds.

And with McCartney's large-scale anthemic tunes, of which the belting 'Let Me Roll It'; with its stunted guitars, bellowing chorus and simmering beat; sits up alongside his best, he brings his delicate melodic genius. 'Bluebird' is a touc

hing, jazz-tinged tune that floats along with his best vocals on show, while 'Picasso's Last Words' drifts in a similar mood; relaxing to the tip and with the heartfelt touch only Macca can truly give it and develop it into a great song. Even the dewy 'Mamunia' and the slowly-twisting 'No Words', which aren't fantastic songs, make what is an exceptional album.

The album's highlight however is it's finale. In the moody piano-rocker 'Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five', McCartney hits his best since Abbey Road. With a thumping beat, constantly-moving keys and a tortured Macca vocal, it acts to round off what is a truly brilliant effort from someone who's talent should never has been questioned. It still today stands up as the best solo album from a Beatle, although others' efforts are not to be ignored.

Save for 'Maybe I'm Amazed', 'Live And Let Die' and 'My Love', 'Band On The Run' is the compilation of McCartney's best work as a solo artist and should be an essential part of any music-lovers' collection. It's what is good about the big man; huge balladry, well-built luxurious records and grabbingly addictive chorsuses. The exact opposite to Lennon's solo work in terms of feel and style, but it shows what each of them bought to the greatest song-writing partnership of all-time.

And although it has the questionnable motive of releasing it to coincide with the remastering of Lennon's solo works, it does help us to remember the two beyond the Fab Four. The Beatles formed what music is today, but John Lennon and Paul McCartney should be remembered for what they did throughout their careers. And it doesn't get much better than 'Band On The Run'.

Great album, must-own for most music fans, whether you like McCartney or not, and here's my favourite song 'Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five' for your enjoyment.

NWR

Guess Who's Back ...

Sorry for the big gap since the last post guys, University lived up to its promise by taking over my life for the last two months or so, and strictly speaking it is still going to take up large portions of my time over the next month or so, but as I'm sure you will all be glad to hear I am back in blog-writing mode. Boom.

So not alot's happened since I left you ay? Just some small skuffles in the capital over poor old students paying more money, snow once again grounding poor old England, the England cricket team still struggling to beat 'the worst Oz side ever' in the Ashes. And this is without mentioning the biggest news of all; Liam Gallagher is back with Beady Eye. Boom.

Well over the coming weeks I shall be putting up promised reviews of Sir Paul McCartney's reissued Band On The Run album, a piece of John Lennon as we pass through the 30th anniversary of the great man's death and of course, my views on 'Bring The Light' from Beady Eye. Also, watch out for my highlights of 2010 and my favourite albums from the past 12 months.

To look forward to next year, well there is of course a return to the weekly supply of album and single reviews, with the occassional gig thrown in there. Big highlight at the moment will be the Isle of Wight Festival, for which I am attending for the fourth year in a row, and with Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Pulp, Kasabian and Beady Eye confirmed already it promises to be a cracker. Stay tuned.

Where it may be until mid-January that I return to regular posting, I will do my best to keep up over this busy Christmas, New Year and Uni deadline period. For now though, here is the legend himself John Lennon, with one of the greatest Crimbo tunes of all time, 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over) to a superbly seasonal background.

It's good to be back people.

NWR