Every year I buy my last album of the year just before Christmas Day, a tradition that dates back to 1995 when I bought Grand Prix by Teenage Fanclub on Christmas Eve and fell in love with it.
I have a few rules; it must be something from the year in question and it must be by an artist I've not heard before. Good choices include Death In Vegas' first album in 1996. Bad choices include Matafix in 2005 (straight back to Virgin in Boxing Day).
So help me out; recommend me something you think I might not have.
Thus far I'm quite fancying Empirical's debut; I'd like to be able to pick it up in an actual record shop in Exeter though, so nothing that I'm gonna have to mail order. It's a tradition!
My faves from this year include;
1. Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position 2. Electrelane – No Shouts No Calls 3. Caribou – Andorra 4. Battles – Mirrored 5. Acoustic Ladyland – Skinny Grin 6. 65daysofstatic – The Destruction Of Small Ideas 7. LCD Soundsystem – The Sound Of Silver 8. Stars Of The Lid – And The Refinement Of Their Decline 9. Studio – West Coast 10. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga 11. Beirut – The Flying Club Cup 12. !!! – Myth Takes 13. Six.By Seven – If Symptoms Persist Kill Your Dr 14. Working For A Nuclear Free City – Businessmen And Ghosts 15. Two Lone Swordsmen – Wrong Meeting 2 16. Panda Bear – Person Pitch 17. Bjork – Volta 18. Apparat – Walls 19. The Field – From Here We Go Sublime 20. Menomena – Friend And Foe 21. PJ Harvey – White Chalk 22. The Tuss – Rushup Edge 23. Von Sudenfed – Tromatic Reflexxions 24. Ulrich Schnauss – Goodbye 25. The Clientele – God Save The Clientele 26. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky 27. L’imparfait Des Langues – Louis Sclavis 28. Do Make Say Think – You, You’re A History In Rust 29. Two Lone Swordsmen – Wrong Meeting 30. Ash – Twilight Of The Innocents 31. Strategy – Future Rock 32. The Twilight Sad – Fourteen Autumns And Fifteen Winters 33. Miracle Fortress – Five Roses 34. Super Furry Animals – Hey Venus! 35. Pharoahe Monch – Desire 36. Matthew Dear – Asa Breed 37. Fraud – Fraud 38. Floratone – Floratone 39. Siobhan Donaghy – Ghosts 40. Queens Of The Stone Age – Era Vulgaris 41. Radiohead – In Rainbows 42. Grinderman – Grinderman 43. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible 44. Basquiat Strings – Basquiat Strings 45. Kanye West – Graduation 46. Rufus Wainwright – Release The Stars 47. Bill Callahan – Woke On A Whaleheart 48. The National – Boxer 49. Phosphorescent – Pride 50. The Good The Bad & The Queen – The Good The Bad & The Queen
― Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 09:38 (seventeen years ago)
Anyone?
― Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:21 (seventeen years ago)
I recommend Rachel Unthank & the Winterset's The Bairns. Sparse Northumbrian folk with a contemporary sensibility, a pronounced dark undertow, and an excellent cover of Robert Wyatt's "Sea Song".
Alternatively, Kevin Ayers' The Unfairground is bright and colourful and tuneful, revealing its wry depths over time, but also instantly likeable in a way that should sit well over a "festive" season.
― mike t-diva, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:27 (seventeen years ago)
I would say the Super Furries.
The Radiohead one isn't properly released until 31. December.
― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:30 (seventeen years ago)
buy the kubichek album. it's my top album of 2007, and i will certainly be listening to it on christmas day.
― electricsound, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:31 (seventeen years ago)
I was considering getting the Billy Childish christmas album.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:32 (seventeen years ago)
Super Furry's I have, as I have all their records.
― Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:36 (seventeen years ago)
Of course you do.
And you have the "Voice of the Seven Woods" album already too, right?
― Mark G, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:43 (seventeen years ago)
Nope.
― Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:43 (seventeen years ago)
get that and my suggestion. awesome double header
― electricsound, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:52 (seventeen years ago)
Yeah, I got VOTSW and the SuperFurries the same day, played the former first, ended up playing it seven times before getting to the Furries.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 10:55 (seventeen years ago)
Any more for any more?
― Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 14:55 (seventeen years ago)
fennesz-sakamoto - cendre
― r1o natsume, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 14:57 (seventeen years ago)
Having just looked up VOTSW that looks very interesting.
― Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 14:58 (seventeen years ago)
Caribou
― Jazzbo, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 15:05 (seventeen years ago)
of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, are you the Destroyer?
― Nathan, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 15:10 (seventeen years ago)
can't imagine you haven't heard these, but:
Arthur & Yu - In Camera Dri - Smoke Rings Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum
― henry s, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 15:19 (seventeen years ago)
Future of the Left
― nate woolls, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 15:28 (seventeen years ago)
Or how about the Holy Fuck album? I've been enjoying that a lot.
― mike t-diva, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 15:49 (seventeen years ago)
Nick, have you heard Charalambides? An excellent psychedelic duo on Kranky, mostly guitar and vocals with occasional other instruments, very sparse and haunting, sort of reminded me of a more psychedelic Low on first listen, and their production is usually fantastic. the album this year, Likeness, is beautiful in their usual way of doing so, and the lyrics are taken mostly from traditional, public domain sources, a couple protest songs too i think, which gives the album a unique feel in their catalog.
plus, they hail from Austin/Houston, and since you've liked Spoon (from Austin) so much this year, and since I'm from Austin, then I figure I ought to plug another great Texas artist for you.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411bRj8ufYL._AA240_.jpg
it's a beautiful album that i wish more people had heard this year.
― stephen, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 16:43 (seventeen years ago)
one more thing i ought to mention, on listening to it again: it's a perfect album for December, it's very wintry. should you need further evidence of its greatness, the always-reliable Mr Raggett does it justice here: http://www.ocweekly.com/music/music/cd-review/28047/
― stephen, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 17:02 (seventeen years ago)
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.voiceprint.co.uk/image_server.php%3Fimg%3Dimages/over118vpcd.jpg%3Bsx,393&imgrefurl=http://www.voiceprint.co.uk/web/Release/OVER118VPCD/&h=385&w=393&sz=18&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=kTzbkTqiwGmxZM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvic%2Bgodard%2B1978%2Bnow%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff
― Dr.C, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago)
http://img06.shop-pro.jp/PA01022/947/product/5280126.jpg
― Dr.C, Tuesday, 11 December 2007 17:16 (seventeen years ago)
Bump.
Although I must say that I'm probably going to buy either a circular polarising filter for the camera, for a Family Guy season on DVD instead.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 23 December 2008 11:03 (sixteen years ago)
i've already told you: thomas white - i dream of blackfailing that, volcano volcano volcano
― country matters, Tuesday, 23 December 2008 11:07 (sixteen years ago)
or you can go buy tv on the radio like everyone else
― country matters, Tuesday, 23 December 2008 11:08 (sixteen years ago)
jesus christ we get it, you don't care about music any more
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 23 December 2008 11:28 (sixteen years ago)
i mean i could recommend some A+ stuff but you don't actually care so...what's the point?
Revive my joie de vivre, Lex, view it as a challenge.
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 23 December 2008 11:36 (sixteen years ago)
Is country matters Louis?
no u should just embrace what you've become nick, it's ok not to care - i gather this happens to all old people - and u shouldn't force yourself into it at all. just stop going on about it (and worse, blaming the music you have heard)!
though i have to say if i checked music out based on the nme list (jesus god man, why??) i would be pretty fucking disillusioned too.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 23 December 2008 11:42 (sixteen years ago)
I would say they def. share the same taste. Couldn't get on with that Volcano thing myself though, that guy must have ears of steel.
― Yehudi Menudo (NickB), Tuesday, 23 December 2008 11:49 (sixteen years ago)
Or tin perhaps.
only one person has already recommended you that album mr southall
"that Volcano" is really really listenable and groovy given a slightly open mind, something which ILM almost totally lacks
― country matters, Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:04 (sixteen years ago)
if you really do want a recommendation though, erykah badu's new amerykah part one (4th world war) is a pinnacle of human achievement which everyone should hear.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:06 (sixteen years ago)
Have no problem with the music, but aiiieeee, that dude's voice gives me the hives - x-post
― Yehudi Menudo (NickB), Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:09 (sixteen years ago)
i think he speak/sings in a really thrilling, naturally dramatic way, plus the lyrics are *genuinely* brilliant
just my taste tho obv
― country matters, Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:13 (sixteen years ago)
get the erykah badu
― t_g, Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:22 (sixteen years ago)
Get the Vines
― John Harris buying a toaster (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:23 (sixteen years ago)
I'm not sure I've been "going on about it" all that much, and pretty sure I've not blamed it on the music I have heard - I've enjoyed most of that.
And the NME list thing is just something I do every year, one way or another...
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 23 December 2008 13:10 (sixteen years ago)
SIN ROPAS - TRICKBOXES
― ❤ⓛⓞⓥⓔ❤ (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 23 December 2008 18:05 (sixteen years ago)
Skeletons - Money
― arular (unregistered), Tuesday, 23 December 2008 18:21 (sixteen years ago)
Nick, the most overlooked album of the year:
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/1834357.jpg
Get it. Be blown away. And then enjoy it.
― ilxor, Wednesday, 24 December 2008 03:56 (sixteen years ago)
(Barring that, Erykah would be a great choice.)
― ilxor, Wednesday, 24 December 2008 03:57 (sixteen years ago)
Not seeing an image there I'm afraid...
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 24 December 2008 08:12 (sixteen years ago)
that's how to overlook an album...
― Mark G, Wednesday, 24 December 2008 08:23 (sixteen years ago)
Skeletons you've probably heard. If not ---> that's your album.
― Owen Pallett, Wednesday, 24 December 2008 09:18 (sixteen years ago)
Although, when I clicked on this thread, I thought this was about helping you pick a "Christmas album".
― Owen Pallett, Wednesday, 24 December 2008 09:21 (sixteen years ago)
Unlikely to find Skeletons in an Exeter shop... (they've not even got LotP anywhere in stock).
(I already own the Vince Guaraldi, Low and Phil Spektor ones - what more do you need? Although admittedly the Low one is, bar two songs, the most fucking miserable anti-fun thing I've ever fucking heard in my entire fucking life.)
― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 24 December 2008 09:25 (sixteen years ago)
You may or may not like the Lau Nau album. Quiet, spectral, cabin-in-the-woods stuff, but not in a corny way. Got a magical, intimate feel to it, like listening to a baby's heart beating or hearing the bed springs creaking in the middle of the night when your wife gets up to take a pee in a rusty bucket. Christmas-y video too:
― Yehudi Menudo (NickB), Wednesday, 24 December 2008 10:11 (sixteen years ago)
No other suggestions. Probably too late anyway. I would advise you to pick up the Hanson christmas album, it is the best of its genre.
― Owen Pallett, Thursday, 25 December 2008 01:30 (sixteen years ago)
Oops, it was working for a few minutes there.
I was suggesting the Tim Hecker and Aidan Baker collaborative record on Alien8, believe it's titled Fantasma Parastasie, great fucking album... but of course, it's pretty much Christmas by this point so what's the use?
― ilxor, Thursday, 25 December 2008 08:54 (sixteen years ago)
VOTSW was a great choice in 2007. Can't remember what I got in 2008 or 2009 (though I did get the polariser and Family Guy DVD in 2008, so I suspect nothing). Deerhunter this year is a winner. Wish i could remember all of them.
― Captain Ostensible (Scik Mouthy), Sunday, 19 December 2010 18:21 (fourteen years ago)
I tried to figure out all my choices over the years. http://sickmouthy.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/117/
― Captain Ostensible (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 20 December 2010 10:58 (fourteen years ago)
should've bought the erykah
― cozen, Monday, 20 December 2010 11:22 (fourteen years ago)
Which year was that? 2008? I was pretty damn disenfranchised, it's fair to say.
― Captain Ostensible (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 20 December 2010 11:35 (fourteen years ago)
lol @ me upthread waxing poetic re: charalambides
hope you've heard em btw!
― i genuinely thought when i first joined that he was the admin (ilxor), Monday, 20 December 2010 21:50 (fourteen years ago)
I was pretty damn disenfranchised, it's fair to say.
you were deprived of the ability to buy erykah badu albums?
― lex diamonds (lex pretend), Tuesday, 21 December 2010 10:04 (fourteen years ago)
They weren't on the NME list so they might as well not have existed.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 21 December 2010 10:09 (fourteen years ago)
I think I'd pretty much given up on the NME list by about 2003.
Dunno what it was but I just didn't fancvy the Eryka album. Didn't fancy much in 2008. Miserable year.
― Captain Ostensible (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 21 December 2010 11:36 (fourteen years ago)