Not Many Experts

What started out as a poor year for music (bloggers salivating over The Magnetic Fields, British Sea Power and other average albums) 2008 has turned out alright!! Here are my picks so far:

Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

I really want to hate this band! They are so preppy and pretentious that I can’t understand how they’ve become the staple of every blog around. However, put that aside and the strength of songwriting pulls them through in style. Really different to anything else I’ve heard.

Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and all his Friends

How did they do it? Within the space of a few months of intelligent advertising (free single give-away and a great 7″ in the NME) they went from being the officially voted “band most likely to fall asleep to”, to absolutely dominating the UK and global charts. According to the “Global Track Chart” who monitor all album and singles sales, Coldplay top the Global Album chart for the 5th week in a row, outselling the next two albums put together.
It’s easy to see why; their tunes appeal to mothers shopping in Tescos, and yet their lyrics and song structures are irregular and interesting enough to keep music lovers happy. Simply put, they make good music for people who don’t like good music.
Every song is incredible, and if you don’t have it (which is unlikely) you really should get hold of a copy.

Mystery Jets – Twenty One

The Mystery Jet’s second album disappointed many fans, ditching it’s (frankly insane) quirks. But by growing up and writing proper songs, they have gained the recognition they deserved. The 5-minute epic of “Behind the Bunhouse” at the end of the album is reason enough to buy it. “Flakes” and “Veiled in Grey” are my other highlights, backed up by their roster of successful singles (“Young Love”, “Two Doors Down”). Feel-good album of the year!

Notable Mentions:

Hot Chip’s “Made in the Dark” is half full of fantastic songs, and half full of fantastic songs that they then messed up in the studio.

Foals’ “Antidotes” suffers from the emission of “Hummer” and “Mathletics”, and probably destroyed itself with the ridiculous amount of hype they endured. Given the build up, it could never really satisfy. “The French Open” is their saving grace, but the spaced out version of “Big Big Love” will disappoint many.

Flops:

The Kooks’ last album was my guilty pleasure, but on “Konk” they forgot to bring the tunes, and the lyrics actually make me physically cringe. “I need your soul because you’re always soulful”… Erm…OK boys.

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly sacrificed music to make a political point. Waste of talent.

Fleet Foxes (eponymous) is so slow, painfully American and dull that it makes me want to put my head in an oven. Give up!

Downloads:
Coldplay – Strawberry Swing
The most under-rated song on the album.

Mystery Jets – Behind The Bunhouse
Showcases Harrison’s amazing vocals. A bit of a slow burner (don’t expect it on the radio anytime soon) but it’s my favorite song on the album, not least because of the incredible bonus track at 7:40.

Mystery Jets – Veiled In Grey
Future Single?

Coldplay – Viva la Vida (Telemitry Remix)

Vampire Weekend – A-Punk

By the way: Not Many Experts (NME) is back!! (Thanks to Charl and Anna, mostly)