Category Archives: Music

Best Songs of 2016

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My choices for the best songs of the year have been handily compiled into this Spotify playlist. They’re not in any real order but they’re somewhat themed by genre so that the playlist flows. I’ve decided to include only one song per artist, no matter how transcendent their 2016 output. Full disclaimer: I haven’t properly listened to either album by the Knowles sisters (don’t kill me).

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Ryley Walker – The Halfwit In Me

Kendrick Lamar – untitled 05 09.21.2014

Kanye West – Famous

Frank Ocean – Solo

Anderson .Paak – The Dreamer

Maxwell – Lake By The Ocean

Tkay Maidza – Carry On

Chance The Rapper – All Night

Santigold – Banshee

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Montaigne – In The Dark

The Avalanches – Subways

Japanese Breakfast – Everybody Wants To Love You

Mitski – My Best American Girl

Frankie Cosmos – If I Had A Dog

Weaves – Tick

PJ Harvey – Ministry Of Defence

Big Scary – Organism

Middle Kids – Edge Of Town

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Angel Olsen – Sister

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Mr. Beat

Japandroids – Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

Car Seat Headrest – Vincent

Radiohead – Burn The Witch

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Girl In Amber

Sturgill Simpson – Welcome To Earth (Pollywog)

Top 25 Albums of 2015

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Let’s face it, 2014 was a pretty awful year in music. 2015 may have been a top-heavy affair but there were gems sprinkled throughout. This list is mostly an update of my half yearly list with some new additions and rearrangements.

25-11 (in alphabetical order)

Beach House – Depression Cherry

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The first of 2 albums Beach House released this year, Depression Cherry sneaks ahead mostly for the unexpected and welcome shredding on single ‘Sparks’.

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Top 20 albums of 2015 (so far)

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It’s that time of year again where I claim that albums I listened to for the first time last week are destined to become future classics and where I very quickly run out of adjectives to describe simple musical terms.

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Best Albums of 2014

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#30-11 in alphabetical order

  Alvvays – alvvays

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 Fun indie pop 60s throwback album. 'Marry Me Archie' is definitely
 one of the year's catchiest tunes.

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Music Playlist #6: Rainy Day Playlist

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What defines a good rainy day song? Should it be a ray of sunshine cutting through the dreariness? Should it allow you to appreciate the violent dispassion of a storm, the quiet beauty of summer rain or the moody gloom of winter drizzle? Should it be a warm hug of noise getting you through the cold and blustery winter? Should it do a little of each? Does this playlist do any of these things?

 

Probably not but here it is anyway (Playlist on YouTube)

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List ‘O the Week: Best Songs of 2014 (so far)

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St Vincent

I don’t often post album reviews here mostly because I believe albums take time to endear themselves to me. So instead of posting a ‘best albums’ list for records that have only been out for a few months, here are my favourite songs from the first half of 2014. As with my list last year, I’m limiting myself to one track per album/EP/single in order to increase diversity.

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Music Playlist #5: Grrrrrrrllll

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Chairlift's Caroline Polachek

Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek

2013 certainly has been a fantastic year for female artists (and bands with female vocalists). This year has seen albums which range from very good to fantastic from the likes of: Camera Obscura, Chvrches, Eleanor Friedberger, Haim, Janelle Monae, Julia Holter, Julianna Barwick, Laura Marling, Lorde, Marnie Stern, Neko Case, Savages, She & Him, Waxahatchee, Young Galaxy and many others that I’ve been too lazy to track down.

This playlist celebrates songs by female artists from the 3 previous years (2010-2012). To see my favourite female authored/sung tracks of 2013, click here.

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List O’ the Week: Top 10 albums of 2013 by female artists

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Here are my favourite albums of 2013 (so far) by female artists/bands with a female lead.

Also check out this list’s companion music playlist.

10. Laura Marling – Once I Was An Eagle

9.  Eleanor Friedberger – Personal Record

8. She & Him – Vol. 3

7. Waxahatchee – Cerulean Salt

6. Camera Obscura – Desire Lines

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Music Playlist #4: S is for Spring (Part 2)

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Part 2 covers songs starting with the letter ‘S’ from artists starting with letters from ‘N to Z’. Why? Cos it’s spring……..see Part. 1 for songs by artists from the beginning of the alphabet.

All the songs are individually linked but I’ve compiled a YouTube Playlist for your benefit.

1. Son Of A Gun – The Vaselines

2. Shadow – Wild Nothing

3. Silly Crimes – The Tough Alliance

4. So Begins Our Alabee – Of Montreal

5. Sing Me Spanish Techno – The New Pornographers

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Music Playlist #3: S is for Spring (Part 1)

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Yes! Spring has sprung (for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere or SoHem). Now what does this playlist have to do with spring? Nothing. It’s just a bunch a songs starting with ‘S’. I assure you this will not be my worst conceit for a playlist by a long shot. There are far too many great songs starting with S, so I’ve split this conceit into two playlists. Part 1 covers songs from artists starting with letters between A and M. Enjoy…..

See Part 2 here

All the songs are individually linked but I’ve compiled a YouTube Playlist for all the songs

1. Slow Motion – The Flaming Lips

2. Setting Sun – Howling Bells

3. Scandinavian Love – Efterklang

4. Secretarial – A.C. Newman

5. Sandy – Caribou

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