If you are staying with the programme, then you’ll know that 2010 is going to be an amazing year. Amongst the many shooting stars this year will be some brand new ones in the music industry, I’ve picked out 5 artistes that I’m convinced will be massive this year.
Here’s a quick Spotify playlist with the key tunes, and here are those all important five:
- Ellie Goulding – Welsh singer-songwriter who supported Little Boots on her recent tour, poppy, danceable and tons of fun.
- Erik Hassle – Swedish singer-songwriter, this years Mr Hudson maybe?
- Lissie – supported Ray LaMontagne, similar accessible country style.
- Chase and Status – Drum and Bass prodigies, already worked with Jay-Z & Rhianna
- Eliza Doolittle – like a laidback Lily Allen, bubble gum with sharp edge my favourite of this pack.
Who are you keeping an eye on in 2010?
I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day – Frank Sinatra
Today is the one day you can forget any guilt about getting into your cups whilst celebrating the arrival of the New Year – hope you had good quality booze (mines a Vodka), and enjoy, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
With Sinatra singing us in – I have a feeling its going to be a very good year.
Back at the beginning of 2009, I picked out some stuff I was looking forward to – I had about 10 albums that I thought would be exciting. Looking back, I think I was about 50/50…
(each link takes you to the Spotify album page for a listen before you buy)
- Antony and the Johnsons – Crying Light, as beautiful as expected – amazing vocals, heartrending songs. HIT
- Kings of Convenience – Quiet is the New Loud, ended up being renamed ‘Declaration of Dependance’, here’s what I thought of it when it got released. HIT
- Morrissey – Years of Refusal, not his finest moment, but a poor Morrissey album is still something to behold. MISS
- The Decemberists – Hazards of Love, more of the same from Colin Meloy but still a lovely album. HIT
- Depeche Mode – Sounds of the Universe, still absolutely 100% essential, did not disappoint. HIT
- Lily Allen – It’s not me, it’s you, everywhere, all the time, Ms Allen still delivers the goods. HIT
- Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion, slightly disappointing for me - I may have been slightly jaded by all the psychadelia (MGMT etc). MISS
- U2 – No line on the Horizon, a couple of decent tunes but way too much of everything else, especially Bono. MISS
- Starsailor – All the Plans, not straying much from a well trodden line, pleasant enough – but they really need to up their game. MISS
- Imogen Heap – Ellipse, some interesting promotion for this one, another fine album. HIT.
- Placebo – Battle for the Sun, with a new drummer still sounding as spiky and vibrant as ever. HIT.
So, all-in-all, my reasons to be cheerful panned out OK for 2009 – tomorrow, I’ll list some of my early music hopes for 2010!
Who do you think will be massive in 2010?
Well, everyone is doing it – so I have to join in – I’m finishing the decade with 10 top ten lists – today, I’m reminiscing on the best gigs I saw during the decade:
(in no particular order)
What were your favourite gigs of the decade?
The third in my occasional series of recommendations for building your music library – not the new shiny releases in the press, but the older stuff that you need to get a good rounded collection on the go. If you are just buying your MP3 player, these are the artists you need to look into for a great selection of tuneage!
Don’t take my word for it, click the links and see what downloads are available on Amazon.
- Serge Gainsbourg – The original Mister Lover Lover, a legendary caner and writer of some of the coolest music ever to waft across the channel. It doesn’t matter if you don’t speak French – the loucheness of ‘L’histoire de Melody Nelson’ was the sound that launched Portishead and more. Serge was the real deal, controversial and cool, fully capable of scandal AND sophistication. Everybody needs some Gainsbourg in their collection.
- Depeche Mode – First discovered in my schools day, still loved as I grow middle aged and uncool. The Basildon boys have turned out album after album of high quality electronica – getting darker and darker as they age, with brilliant song writing from Martin Gore. My favourite albums: Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion and Some Great Reward – a truly marvellous British band. If you have any interest in british electronica of the last 30 years, you need some Depeche Mode in your collection.
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Paul Weller – From The Jam to The Style Council to solo material, Paul Weller has been one of the most influential artists of recent years. Starting out as the arch-mod, with angry, spiky tunes and developing a more laid back and jazzy sound with the Style Council in the mid eighties. For me –
Stanley Road is an absolute treat of an album, and
Sound Affects from the Jam is the soundtrack of my early schooldays. Paul Weller is a true national treasure, brilliant in every way.
What other artists would you include in your perfect music collection?
It’s that horrible becalmed time when record companies don’t release much so they can clear the decks for the Christmas rush – all diverting their marketing dollars to the x-factor and novelty nonsense – so new releases are a struggle. Never fear though, I’m here, sifting through the releases and making sure you get the best new tunes for your music collection. Don’t take my word for it though – hit up the links and have listen before spending your hard earned cash.
- Miike Snow by Miike Snow – reminding me a little bit of the recent Friendly Fires album, an intelligent mix of electronica and pure pop from a group that includes production duo Avant and Bloodshy (Britney and Madonna). With a pedigree like that, you know this is going to be top drawer quality. Includes the singles Animal and Black & Blue.
- Asleep at the Back by Elbow (Reissue) – as all the furore around Seldom Seen Kid dies down, I’ve found myself drawn again and again to this album, the debut from Elbow. In my opinion, it’s their strongest album – with Powder Blue and Newborn amongst my favourite tracks of all time. This reissue has extra tracks from the Newborn EP and some unreleased demo’s which are all a good listen.
- Live at Reading by Nirvana – it’s easy to forget just how powerful Nirvana were at their height – but this romp through their 1992 set at the Reading festival shows just how exciting it would have been to see them at the time. It’s a patchy affair, with some rough sound and terrible weather affecting the overall quality of the set – but its undeniable how ferocious some of the tunes were – well worth a listen if you enjoyed Nirvanas brand of grungey-pop.
What new music are you listening to at the moment?
Still with me on this? Another Monday rolls round and I have a bunch of great music that really demands your attention, but don’t take my word for it – click the links to listen to clips on Amazon before you make a purchase of these fine albums to expand your music collection.
- Strict Joy by The Swell Season – there are few sounds as compelling to listen to as Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – the stars of the lovely film ‘Once’ and now (seemingly) a proper duo on this their third album. A little more upbeat than their previous but still hauntingly beautiful. Miss this wonderful album at your peril.
- Nightbook by Ludivico Einaudi – the follow up to Devenire, contemporary classical music at its finest. This album adds a little bit more electronic soundscape to the mixture. Gentle, ethereal and slightly melancholy – this is beautiful music to relax to, and a great accompaniment to work.
- Swords by Morrissey – at the time of writing, Morrissey has been taken ill during a concert – so I hope he recovered quickly. This isn’t new material – but a collection of b-sides from his solo career. Contains one of my personal favourites ‘Don’t make Fun of Daddy’s Voice’.
What are you listening to? What should I be checking out to build my collection?
The second in an occasional series – some suggestions to build up your music collection, but not the new shiny stuff. These suggestions focus on the outskirts, building up your back catalogue to find some gems. Don’t take my word for it – click the links to get to the Amazon pages for these artistes.
- New Order – one of the most influential groups of the last 30 years, I can’t remember a time of enjoying electronic music without New Order being a part of it. From the mammoth Blue Monday through to my personal favourite Technique, New Order have never failed to deliver.
- Frank Sinatra – Every man needs a little Sinatra in their collection – over 50 years in the business gave us some of the most iconic songs by arguably one of the best voices of the 20th century. I love the loucheness of Sinatra at the Sands, and Songs for Swinging Lovers is one my all time favourite albums.
- Stevie Wonder – Long before becoming an American institution Stevie Wonder was tearing up the charts with Motown hits, but leaving the Detroit label allowed him to produce two of the most essential albums of all time – Innervisions and Sons in the Key of Life, both massive albums of the 70’s and demanding a place in your collection.
What classics have you discovered for your collection?
Not much great new music this week, but these are worth checking out – don’t take my word for it – click the link for the Amazon page for each of these albums.
What are you listening to? What should I be listening to?
Despite having two Zunes at home (a new HD and a 30), we still have three iPods on the go, and despite loads of changes – I am still not a fan of iTunes. Here are three alternatives the bloated Apple client.
- DoubleTwist – available for both the PC and the Mac, DoubleTwist is a full featured client that allows music to be downloaded to a number of devices including the iPod. The current release allows the Amazon MP3 store to be used to replicate the iTunes experience, as well as allowing video to be converted and loaded to your device.
- Anapod Explorer – from Red Chair software allows you to load music directly from Windows Explorer to your iPod and has a number of companion tools for backing up and recovering your precious shiny MP3 player.
- DOPISP – daft name, useful software that integrates your iPod with Windows Media Player, works with Windows 7 and is a lovely integration. I’ve used this for a while, and it has never let me down.
What other tools are you using to escape the Apple hegemony?
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