[Johnnyo]

[Johnnyo]

[dihansse]

An album I already own/know I listened to (there's nothing at the moment on my wishlist for this year):

Consolers Of The Lonely by The Raconteurs
I like Brendan Benson but I'm still not a big fan of Jack White who is the all-present force on this album. I really feel this album as very derivative especially in the opening tracks. The latter track are in my opinion better so this still an ok but not great album for my year chart and climbing from the 75th to the 53rd rank.

[dihansse]

Two albums of 2009 I listened to:

First an album I already own/know:

Fork In The Road by Neil Young
This is an ok not great album by Neil Young with Johnny Magic as the best track. And it goes from the 55th to the 63rd rank.

And an album from my wishlist:

Exploding Head by A Place To Bury Strangers
Again one of these albums where I wonder why I haven't heard before especially as the ending track, I Live My Life To Stand In The Shadow Of Your Heart, is already for some time one of my all-time favorites, not in the least because it ends in absolute chaos. I already know some albums of this great band but I think this may be at least one of their best. The comparison is often made with Loveless My Bloody Valentine and Psychocandy Jesus & Mary Chain but I think the latter is the more appropriate all of this added with a bit of goth and punk. This is a loud record but the fuzz isn't overwhelming enough to hide the great shoegaze melodies and the voice of Oliver Ackerman. The highlights are numerous but the best track remains the last one. Good for the 3rd rank of the year.

[dihansse]

Two (mellow) albums I listened to from 2010:

First an album I already know/own:

The Drums by The Drums
There's that one song to prove it: Let's go Surfing used to be sound fresh and uplifting while it now sounds boring and outdated. The really strange thing about this album is that the bass and the organ sound like Joy Division (or New Order if you wish) but that the sound couldn't be further away from that band. I doubted to keep this album in my year chart but finally decided to just degrade it from the 70th to the 78th rank of the year.

And an album from my wishlist:

Butterfly House by The Coral
This must be one of the more commercial albums by The Coral. The good thing is that the references to The Byrds, CSNY and other sixties bands are clear with the harmonies to go with it. The thing is just that the band has polished near all rough sides which were to be found on earlier albums which is a bit of a pity. But nevertheless a good album with tracks like the title track and North Parade to prove that which makes it enter at the 58th rank.