A Derogatory Term

This was the first real good album I got my hands on this year and it was such a relief. I luckily did not have to wait as long between albums as other fans as I really only started listening to The Whitest Boy Alive consistently half way through last year and then again at the end of the year in anticipation for their Never Ever Land show. The smiles continue to flow from memories of that fateful day in December at Riverstage as the band delivered such a perfect set to start such a perfect day. Their new album really wakes up where Dreams left off with a very similar progression into their second album. Each song from the new album could fit on their last but that is not at all a bad thing. Track after track proves to be a timeless reminder that simple yet melodic sounds arranged together can always trump a bag full of distortion and a punch of synth across the face.

I am sure most of you have come across at least one of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new songs by now. I did not hear much hype about this album at all even from their heads at Modular however what they have produced is something which you will not hear the end of this year. I have found it difficult to really enjoy a front women in an indie style band. I believe that consistently females do the more melodic slower spacey songs so well and some of my favourites from last year were the female vocal arrangements on Goldfrapp, The Cinematic Orchastra and M83. When chicks are able to get the indie thing right it can be so good and I have not really enjoyed an album of this description since The Sounds. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have had absolutely no trouble in making it work. Fused with stabbing synths and guitars this should be one of the larger albums of the year. .

Gang Gang Dance have been the talk of many of the elite this year and their album is one which for most will need several listens to not only enjoy but also to understand. Their only true pop song is House Jam but that does not mean your little sister will like it. The album starts out brilliantly with an intro fit for the entrance into a 70’s LSD den which is then mixed into their second track and the first taste of the shivery vocals which will discomfort yet intrigue you throughout. Just to make things a little stranger the song Princes features a UK rapper which brings things close to grime. The album contains layers and layers of scapes which after each listen will become a little more familiar and interesting as they take you on a journey into psychedelic disco dance.

I think this must be the first ever time I have posted about a remix album but BTWS Reanimations are in a completely different league to anything I have ever heard before. If you were to go through all my prior playlist you would probably find half the tracks scattered over my blog over time so I will try to post the best of what I have not already posted in the past. Along with some remixes which you probably either missed or never knew about there is a continuous mix done by Erol himself which is substantially more interesting then any DJ mix I have heard in the last couple of years. I have not posted the mix as I think that is cheating but make sure you grab yourself a copy of it as soon as you can as it is something you can listen to anywhere at anytime.

I know I was just talking about how the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are the first indie type band I have heard in a long time which has made a female vocalise work but now I have another one and this time they’re Aussies! Howling Bells have produced an extremely tight and engaging album highlighted by the reaching vocals which are wrapped around your head by catchy chords and powerful chorus’. I am really looking forward to catching these guys live which I am sure will happen in the next few months.