My Top 40 of 2010

eflecting, like I said yesterday, but there isn't too much to be said. pretty boring, yeah, life goes on. I'll regret this decision when I'm feeling particularly nostalgic later tonight, or tomorrow. but oh well.

the rest of the fam are watching a movie in the other room. .today was really really cool, though not a lot happened. had dinner, played a game, relaxed. just savoring the days until this beautiful time of year must be over. Wow I love the holidays.

yes, I am doing a Top 40 of 2010 because I'm an obsessive organising freak. also a music freak. there go, end of year top 40 Singles lists are perfect for my slightly odd brain. it's also good, because these say a lot about my year without me having to go off on endless rambles about things. so here we go.

40. All These Things - Darron Hanlon
Put simply, this song is adorable. it's cutesy boy-girl folksy stuff in one of the best forms I've yet to find. plus aussie accents and some pretty creative, interesting lyrics. also, ukuleles and horns. reminds me of the blogging world. always good.

39. Hannah - Freelance Whales
I can understand why a lot of people would dislike Freelance Whales, but I myself am quite the fan! Yes, the follow an overused formula; multi-instrumental folktronica, nostalgia coming out of the band members' ears. however, the music in this song provokes a very vibrant, topsy-turvy colorful world, and a nice little story of meetings on spiral staircases, to an addictive melody with gentle electronic vocal affects. very nice!

38. Skinny Genes - Eliza Doolittle
Eliza's been is the newest addition to the ever-expanding Kooky British Female Singers clan, and good for her. her sound isn't all uninteresting, as you perhaps might expect. on top of being unabashedly summery, the production in Skinny Genes is minimalistic, yet creative and lovely. also, the slightly risque lyrics clash with Doolittle's sugar sweet voice.

37. Wonderful Life - Hurts
Another new band for 2010! And yes, Eurotrash they may be, but an interesting group to watch they still are. this is a pretty basic pop song in form, however they create a very sleek sound, and some catchy melodies. like taking the best of the 80s and the worst of today and throwing them together. then randomly becoming huge in all of mainland Europe in six months and getting a seven foot opera singer to perform with you live.

36. Upside Down - Paloma Faith
the production on this is one of the best on Paloma's debut; shiny, shimmering, bright, and abundant in steel pans and Paloma's frankly, quite fantastic voice. it'll make you want to sing along. and dance. and lose all sense of reality. in other words, perfect pop.

35. Memories - Weezer
when the rest of the world was least expecting it, Weezer's charm returned. in the form of a traditionally simple chord change, uninteresting lyrics, super catchy melody, and nerdy joy. and painfully nostalgic lyrics. also, is that a harmonica in there somewhere?

34. Starry Eyed - Ellie Goulding
Hey, another newcomer. Weird. This is one of my favorites from Ellie's album. the melody, format, and lyrics of the song are worth attention. plus, the production values are endless, and the layout of the song really stands out from most pop/electronica combination music at the moment. really good!

33. Resistance - Muse
it is physically impossible for Muse to not appear somewhere on these lists whenever possible. for one thing, this is Muse. classic muse. muse all over. need I explain? Must I explain? It's just the perfect guitar song for the Masses, a la Muse.

32. Hollywood - Marina and the Diamonds
gosh, female pop singers, they never stop. personally, I do believe Marina to be one of the best of the group this year. on top of having a stunning voice and being a really cool person(who wears cool clothes...), the quality of the music is most definitely there. the melody and the chords flow really well, and an interesting choice of synths were used.

31. Talamak - Toro Y Moi
Because basically, every one in a while, there is an actual hipstertronica band with talent. this band is basically a song for late August, early September--must see the music video. something about it is very haunting, though it is not in the least a depressing song. it's pretty catchy, and the sounds are interesting.

30. Cosmic Love - Florence and the Machine
I'm a Florence fan yes. And I do like basically all of the songs on her album, though this finds itself near the top of that list. Florence's gorgeous voice coupled with some gorgeous music and really vivid lyrics and a nice melody proves for some really, really interesting music. Florence has just generally been a good thing for the last couple years.

29. Ambling Amp - Yasayer
trust Yaesayer to create one of the most catchy, danceable singles of the year, right? plus, the sounds they used were interesting, and very ear-catching. caught a lot of attention when it first came out.

28. Ghetto Stars - Tricky
I love Tricky. as far as pure musical and lyrics talent, I believe him to be one of the best at the moment for both. this is classic for him--and by classic, of course I mean very, very good indeed--but somehow doesn't fail to spark interest in the listened. didn't catch as much attention as it should have, which is a shame, for he is amazing.

27. Zorbing - Stornoway
pfft, Mumford and Songs? Those idiots? No, I am most definitely Team Stornoway. for one thing, folk in 2010 never sounded so unique. it's very lofi, though never fails to impress, and the layout of the song is different from most of it's contemporaries. plus, his voice is amazing. plus, they hate Mumford too(good!).

26. Born Free - M.I.A.
Now we're done with the recent M.I.A. backlash, I can say this, right? Good. It's not Paper Planes and it's not lyrical gold, but it's good. really good. somehow, M.I.A never fails to catch my attention, even when shooting ginger kids or threatening to murder my eardrums with its boundless energy. regardless, she's good.

25. Drunk Girls - LCD Soundsystem
Again, I love LCD Soundsystem, I think they're great, in their light weight, almost satirical, summery kind of way. this is very much the height of this band's ability. it'll make you want to sing along, every single time. and dance, of course. and watch the video, you must. it's all fun fun fun.

24. Flash Delirium - MGMT
as far as pretentious art-physcadelica-electronica-whatthefucishness goes, you can never, of course, forget about MGMT. personally, I do believe this song is in the leagues of Kids and Time To Pretend. it's just as melodic and easy to sing along to(trust me) yet the layers of the music are more interesting, and ever more weird. pan pipes? cool!

23. New York - Paloma Faith
as far as British Top 40 goes, this is honestly one of my absolute favorite songs of the year. like I said before, I love Paloma's voice, and the power that I seem to find in this song with every single listen. plus, I genuinely thought the storytelling in this song was really interesting. really a level above a lot of people around at the moment.

22. Blah Blah Blah - Kesha
Kesha is on this list. just so you know, Lady GaGa isn't--I like her, but not always her music. I apologise! I must be soooo stupid, right? well, good, because that's part of the reason I wound up actually liking this girl. because everyone else thought it was moronic to do so, and did their best to make this clear whenever possible. if this wasn't by Kesha, this song wouldn't be half as good. oh, you noticed padlocks don't zip, feel so smart now, do you? Gonna call her a whore now on no basis, are you? well, this song is a blatant fuck you to all of that and to the entirety of pop music in general. plus, it's super catchy.

21. Love The Way You Lie - Eminem
Eminem's lyrics are decidedly simpler to what we're used to, but regardless it still holds all of the power and the aggression and the emotion we've come to expect. the verses till an important, complicated tale and is both dark and fiery. the choruses, featuring Rihanna, provide an interesting contrast in their lightness, yet somehow, it works. really, really good.

20. Only the Young - Brandon Flowers
so basically this is the vastly underrated sibling over the overrated Crossfire, which I'm sure you're all familiar with. the musical and lyrical ability of the two songs are similar, though that synth line in this song...wow, it just kinda pops. very Day And Age. good work, Brandon.

19. Vlad The Impaler - Kasabian
Genuinely one of the finest songs from one of the best albums I own. like every other song on this record, their sound is completely unique, very catchy, and musically, required a serious amount of talent to create. it is my belief that everyone should own this record. just saying.

18. Hammock - Howls
this really is an interesting balance between light and colour in a way I'd never really seen before. their sound is really nice, as I said, the production values are good, and the melodies and singing in here are very, very good indeed. shame they're not more popular, but they're a new band, what are you gonna do?

17. High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive - Pulled Apart By Horses
to some it may just be uselesss noise or the typical Jo Whiley hyped-up band. but to me, this is one of the best songs in the 'alternative rock' genre of the year, if not the best, simply for the fact that it just doesn't care. at all. it's the perfect balance between loud and quiet, rock and pop, catchiness and screaming, incoherent lyrics and hipster-ness. I love it.

16. Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
Chances are you hate this, think it's really boring, and one of the most trite, overrated songs of the year. right? However, I disagree with you on every single point. the song really builds, is somehow very sweet, the lyrics are stylized and cool and while this band may just be a hippie freeforall most of the time, this song is very nice and I love it nonetheless.

15. Echoes - Klaxons
Finally, Klaxons return--and they don't disappoint. I've heard this album is amazing, and if this song is anything to go by, it must be. the sound and production on this is just fantastic, and is lacking in all the random horns that made up the last Klaxons album. somehow, it's kinda spacey too, but very pop. very very good indeed.

14. Celastica - Crystal Castles
a return for another spectacular band. again, this is just what I expect from Crystal Castles, especially them being one if the finest electronic bands around, if not the absolute best. alice's haunting voice is everywhere on this, on top of bubbly, synth lines that build and beats from a more dub step background. plus, it positively oozes gothicness at every corner.

13. Bloodbuzz Ohio - the National
Best song of High Violet? Absolutely! like always, the music is there, in all its dark glory. the lyrics are there--absolute nonsense, since we all expect nothing else. and as always, Matt Berninger sounds like he's drunk to the point of collapsing. plus, it just sounds...good.

12. You - Gold Panda
finally, some good, and I mean really good, chill tronica/chillwave. this song is like nothing I heard this year. desperately catchy, very melodic, endlessly fun, and extremely unique. another randomly good hipster. hoorah!

11. Animal Arithmetic - Jonsi
I was kinda obsessed with this song for about a week. something about it. it's so lightweight and yet it manages to be a really interesting sound. and oh, the drums! those drums! it has percussion to kill! plus, its lyrics are very nostalgic. and there's Icelandic in there, too, which one can never get too much of.

10. Clay Bodies - Zola Jesus
Perhaps the best new female artist of the year! It's like synth rock, synth pop, again with fabulous percussion, a wonderful voice, and gothy artsy darkness absolutely everywhere. unlike anyone else around right now, and definitely someone to watch.

9. Walking Far From Home - Iron and Wine
finally, the random return of Iron And Wine, and it is absolutely incredible. it sounds like winter, in a very cold yet magical, beautiful kind of way with some of the most intrinsically poetic lyrics of the year. plus, what sound continued throughout the song, I haven't a clue--but I love it. a lot.

8. Go Do - Jonsi.
a journalist once said that if Sigur Ros were the sound of glaciers, Jonsi solo would be the sound of snowflakes. and the moment I heard that I had a sort of "whoa, that's exactly correct" moment. this song is so, so beautiful, so much so than almost any music I've heard in my life. it's very delicate, very graceful. the production is gorgeous and the instrumental choices are wonderful. it's so wintery. I love it.

7. Zebra - Beach House
my favorite new band of 2010 by quite a ling way. in contrast to a lot of their other material, this is very springlike, very bright, and somehow very spooky at the same time. the music is great and they have a ton of really interesting influences. part chillwave part lofi part alternative rock, part I don't know what. regardless, it's so good.

6. Friend - Cheyenne Marie Mize
part bluesgrass, part folk, kooky, nice voice, pretty, interesting lyrics--what more could you want, right? and yet it's remarkable how almost no one is familiar with this girl--oh well, people will find her, eventually. you heard it here first.

5. Sylvia - the Antlers.
The Antlers. put simply, I love them. Hospice is the absolute favorite of all the records I own. it's powerful beyond belief, with some genius lyrics along the way that will, seriously change you forever. this song is none of my favorites. Perhaps one of the most pop songs on the album, and still some of the most amazing lyrics and music on the whole record. brilliant.

4. Na Na Na - My Chemical Romance.
One of the biggest moments in music this year was when MCR randomly become trendy. yes, it was an odd experience for us all, when they ditched the knee-length jackets and eyeliner for red hair and space outfits, but it's all good when they had this hyper, electric, uber energetic music to match, pop rock that was just unabashedly fun and yet anarchic in its own special way at the same time, which is just great.

3. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire
yes, I am a victim too...I mean, I tried to resist. I wanted to hate Win Butler, I really did, but The Suburbs, wow, it just pulled me in. and now I'm stuck. these fucking hipsters are musical genuises. songs of nostalgia and teenage years, very autumnal, with a really nice chord change. very unique. very good.

2. Norway - Beach House
this song is absolutely phenomenal. it's very wintery and chilling, and yet it just bursts into imaginary colorful...things. anyway, the music in this, as chill wave as it is, is unlike anything else I've heard this year, honestly. it's nothing short of beautiful and you must, must listen to it if you haven't yet.

1. Fuck You - Cee Lo Green
Internet phenomenon gone wild. song screamed in my school's auditorium, despite everyone's best efforts to censor it. I guess, at the end of the day, that is the core of this song. Try as you might to censor it, it will never, ever work. especially when you're mixing a really cool voice, fantastic lyrics, mo town, jazz, blues, pop, and rock all into one massive pot and throwing it out to the universe which will hungrily obsess over it given half a chance. which is amazing. and as all singles go, it did its job; it's loud, it's proud, and it got the work out there. a perfect pop song, through and through, and one we'll remember for a very long time coming.

thank you.

music that I got yesterday

Infinity Land - Biffy Clyro
Mean Everything To Nothing - Manchester Orchestra
Germfree Adolescents - X-Ray Spex
Teen Dream - Beach House
Two Suns - Bat For Lashes
Cast Of Thousands - Elbow
Kid A - Radiohead
An End Has A Start - Editors
Boxer - The National
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
Kings And Queens - Jamie T

quite a collection, me thinks. Thanks, family!

My Sort of Beauty in Late December.

Those pictures don't work that well together.


Christmas countdown; one week. Tree is up. Red lights and sappy songs. Vibrato. Piano. That pine tree smell. Christmas decorations. I bought a new one that looks like it's covered in frost. Tinsel in pieces on the floor of the hall. Baking. Eating. Begging for snow. Family. Movies. Freedom. Reading. Counting down the seconds. The vague sound I'm hearing of my sister trying to play Carol of the Bells(in our house it is known as 'Ding Fries Are Done'). Getting my camera out at every opportunity. Young again, if only for a week. Art. Beauty. Knowledge. Love.

Love love love. Love's love and more.

I discovered today almost all Christmas songs are written in G--you learn something new every day.

And these.











The more I wonder, the more I love.

And a merry early christmas to you, too.

Stuck Between London, Weezer, and Christmas today.

Due to the quite significant time spent doing a science project this week, I have been experiencing a quite substantial lack of new music. nonetheless, the weekend is here, and weekend means half hearted music posts! Naturally.

I'm basically obsessed with Sweeney Todd. My whole day has revolved around it. I don't know really know why. I mean yeah, Tim Burton + Johnny Depp + Victorian London + fake blood + urban mythology + melodrama + gothicness + mourning + super wonderful music. so yes, I do know why I like it. I'm not one for music theater, but the songs are my great. My favorite being Johanna Reprised.




Plus, it goes without saying that the combination of shyness + acting skills + singing skills + hotness is kinda lethal. obsession.

I'm seeing Weezer on Tuesday. There's no snow(which is kinda sad) so hopefully there will be no random bus crash this time. yay! So excited! You all know this, but I don't care, I'm posting anyway.



Lastly, yes, the Christmas vibes are here! I'm already learning some stuff on piano but it isn't enough. I love Christmas, absolutely adore it. No time of year can even compare. I've already made cookies and we have our light up reindeer things on outside. It's so warm and so friendly and lovely. It can't help but be adored.

my absolute favorite Christmas song is Walking in The Air. I realised this yesterday. Silent Night comes close, but isn't quite Walking in The Air. There's something about this song which is almost...painfully nostalgic for me. also, it's possibly the most beautiful kids films I've ever seen, so that must mean something too.




If this doesn't touch you, you're crazy.

Heart it all.

Brandon Flowers

Here I am, Here He Comes, Past My Locker, Don't Act Dumb

Hey, I love stereotyped vintage American high schools. I like them in the quirky 60 pop form, too.




I love this song. There are probably things of this variety riddled across the Internet, but I'm not cool enough to know them. I wanna milk this sorta 'vibe'.

I've Been Going A Little Bit 70's Lately

This and Pot Noodle, of course.

Gotta Stuff In Those Last Autumn 'Vibes'

I don't celebrate Thanksgiving but I live in the States. It's a very interesting time of year, I find Interesting watching from the outside. It kinda meets the end of autumn in some ways--yes, yes, hipsters, it's terrible I know. I've loved this autumn. I've felt super alive and creative and happy. Plus, recently, I've just been really enjoying...music. Like, I feel closer to music and am enjoying it more than I have in some time. 'tis really, really good stuff.

Anyway. here's some autumnal choons for you.













It's not much, but enjoy.

Blue-Blooded Murder Of The English Tongue

I can't stop listening to this. All week. I looooooove Jamie T. Him and Hurts and the Prodigy were basically my entire summer.

I'll be honest and say I don't think a whole hell of a lot about British rap in its current form(and, yeah, in basically any of its forms) but this guy's cool. His sound's rather weird, I'm not sure how to describe it, but anything weird is good, right? AND, the lyrics to this are a serious bonus.

"Oh when my love, my darling, you've left me here alone, Ill walk the streets of London, which once seemed all our own".

Nice, Jamie, nice. This album, Christmas list material? I believe so.

Awwww!

Ooooh, This Is Nice

Oh, That Band Again...

Yes, it's them again. But I don't care.

Funny folksy intro quickly becoming a dark, catchy dance song. With vaguely Spanish-sounding accents. Make of it what you will.

What I don't understand is, are they actually Spanish or not? I'm getting conflicting information on that point. Whether they are or they aren't, however, this song certainly caught my attention first time I heard it, and I;m sure we'll be hearing more and more of them in the music world as time goes on.

- Naomi

PS; secretly, I just can't stop listening to Love The Way You Lie. I'm way late to pop songs, as this shows. But it's a cool song, ain't it? Electronic items in my house are dropping like flies lately so iTunes is dead. My God it is kiiiiiiiillliiiiiiing me. I need to listen to this song so many times I grow to hate it. Because that is when you know you have found a spectacular pop song.

Anyway. Bye

And I've Never Been Smart With Love

Sleek, sexy, catchy, dark, fun, gorgeous. How on Earth does Robyn do it?

Strangeness and Charm

I saw Florence on Sunday! There aren't really any details to go into, given you A.) Hate her or B.) Love her and have seen her live or have heard that she is AMAZING live.

When I say I don't have details, I would happily tell you a million times over that yes, she rocks live. I didn't have the best seats in the world and I was sort of tired since I'd been trick or treating earlier that day, but the whole thing was electrifying. Florence, get me that second album. also, I wish I was on that mosh pit jumping up and down endlessly to Dog Days Are Over. How that would have made my life.

Also, as you may or may not know, she's been playing this new song. Strangeness and Charm.



Opinions? I'm not really sure. I loved Lungs, but I very much fear her next album will be sounding more or less the same. This song kinda proves it. It's cool, but not overly impressive in my opinion.

but it was trapped between two lungs

Hello.

I'm 14 and therefore I like to watch TV and wait to learn vocab words for a Spanish quiz the night before. I apologize. It makes reading music blogs and listening to stuff a kind of difficult thing to fit into my (admittedly, rather empty) schedule.

I'm seeing Florence on Sunday. Thought you should know. Yes, Halloween. I don't know how that will turn out. But I'm excited. It's my first time seeing Florence and I haven't been to a live show in over two months.

Currently listening to; Zachary Lucky - Town To Town. Is quite alright. Wait, no. Now I'm bored. I'm sorry Zachary. Put that acoustic guitar away.

Basically for the last few days I've just been listening to Courtney Love, Lykke Li, The Libertines, Muse, and Bo Burnham. Fascinating stuff I know. I just haven't had time.

I'm sorry. Until then. Here's a guy with a gorgeous voice since I'm sure you'll forgive me for whatever.

If I Could Write A Love Song

This Is The Most Adorable Song You Will Ever Hear.

Biffy Clyro in America

so. Biffy Clyro.

Once again, my beloved Biffy Clyro.

It's interesting being a Biffy fan in America. a.) My foreign accent and a nonsense band name make for some funny "Biffy the who?! conversations(as pointed out by the band on several occasions). B.)there's nothing more satisfying than the rare, oh so rare, moments when your favorite band are mentioned. and c.) One observes an enormous cultural difference.

It is a cultural chasm of a cultural difference, my friends.

simply put; America in general do not like Biffy Clyro.

Crazy talk, isn't it? But yes; it's true.

By Biffy Clyro, I mean all eras Biffy Clyro. From 57 to There's No Such thing as A Jaggy Snake to God And Satan and back. Admittedly, the debates of which era of Biffy is best have gotten a little heated and out of hand but most people can find something to their tastes in their catalogue, right? they're at the height of their game! And yet, here, Blackened Sky isn't quite Foo Fighters enough, Vertigo of Bliss is too weird, Infinity Land is too dark, Puzzle is too creative, Only Revolutions isn't catchy enough.

At the moment, I'm an Infinity Land kind of person. That perfect balance between alterna-pop, pop rock, and metal is just blissfully unique. But I'm a big fan, and I like all of them.

Biffy are--or were--pretty post-grunge, there's no getting around that. and you know, that's totally okay within reason. My biggest problem with music in this country is without a shadow of doubt, post-grunge, however. It's a big problem and it's more than I'm gonna discuss here, but Biffy are a prime example of it. Not post-grunge? Not gonna get big.

So they're not Dave Grohl. Simon Neil is trying his best! But he just can't be. there's also no straightening that hair or getting rid of those muscles. So they make good, accessible guitar music and he's not Nickelback southern-drawl rock and he's not whiny 16-year-old emo angst...they must, be, like, unique, right? They must be praised! Supported!

And yet, like so many other guitar bands from different countries, they are not. by the looks, of it, they never will be. I'm sorry america, I don't especially care anymore about your Keshas or Kings of Leon or Jay Z's. Do what you like. It sells, doesn't it? It's not all half bad, too. My problem is your guitar music. Shut up. I'm not saying you have to love Biffy Clyro like I do. But their label are pushing them and they're just not being given a chance. you've shut yourselves off. You've forgotten what anything else sounds like. And you will suffer.

If you carry this way, in 2060 you will stay be singing three-chord songs about fucking some bitch in your gritty, gruesome baritone. you'll grow your hair and never stop talking about Nirvana. You'll be on all the stations and you'll get sucked up and you'll forget what it was like when music breathed.

It's sucks that you just don't care anymore.

all 33 are rescued

Hello.

I give you this title because I've been watching this on BBC America and thought it was worth mentioning...because it's not like you definitely know that, right?

In celebration?

Norway - Beach House
A Day Of - Biffy Clyro
Comes And Goes(In Waves) - Greg Laswell
Tom Tom - The Hundred In The Hands
Headlock - Imogen Heap
Fire - Kasabian
Teardrop - Massive Attack
Folds In Your Hands - Passion Pit
My Medicine - The Pretty Reckless
Breathe Me - Sia
Mountaineer - White Sea
Kaleidoscope - Kate Havnevik
Only The Young - Brandon Flowers

Yes. I really have such little time.

Imogen Heap.

Hide and seeks
Trains and sewing machines
Oh, you won't catch me around here
Blood and tears
They were here first.

So...The Suburbs...

Ask me what the most overrated band in the world is, and for the past year or so, my answer would have been pretty straightforward.

Arcade Fire.

Okay, okay. If you don't agree then don't read this, simple as that. I do not think Arcade Fire's popularity makes sense based on, y'know, their music. But to be honest I also don't think Radiohead are amazing, joy Division can get boribng after a while, and would never call Paul Well a godlike genius. So I'm obviously just a poor, confused representitive of my generation's lack of taste in anything, right? When most of the music indsutry feels so strongly against what I nelueve, I must be the one who'se got it wrong, right?

So. My little plastic thing that carries around CDs is now the proud owner of The Suburbs. Right inbetween The Kooks and Biffy Clyro.

Yeah, I know I'm late to both Arcade Fire blog posts and The Suburbs. A.)For the past nine months I would on the pouint of screaming because this band were mentioned sdo often. And B.)Um, Arcade Fire, Aughust is not the time to release your folksy-art rock. That is what October is for. I'm not the one who's getting payed millions of dollars for nwriting music and acting like I'm so obscure and broke, yeah, you've mastered that. But I'm just saying.

First impressions? About what I expected. It's only had a few listens so far. the only song I've really gotten into so far is The Suburbs and it's more or less a lovehate relationshop in its current form. Part of me throws it away as your typical circa-2010 multi-instrumental rubbish. And then I go "huh. nice chords. kinda neat". It grows on you.

My interest in music kinda comes and goes over the year. When I get back from summer, where I visit England because I used to live there, I'm all hyped on Reading and Leeds, Radio 1, music mags, great stuff. The summer spirit. Once the upbeat dance music goes to bed for another year and the leaves turn red, atmospheric melodic beautiful melodies played in ukeles and harps come out. it is the time of Joanna Newsom, Freelance Whales, and Sigur Ros. This year, if this record grows on me, I could maybe fight my stubborness and add a new addition to the October gang.

- Naomi

Songs of September

I am starting to sense your location
in an alternate dimension
in the countryside of England
spirits trapped inside the linens.
And you're feeling quite at home there
also feeling somewhat lonely
no one sees you in your pixelated fishnets
and your black and orange berets - Freelance Whales

1. Trophy Wife - Partyline
2. Shark In The Water - V V Brown
3. Invaders Must Die - The Prodigy
4. Celastica - Crystal Castles
5. She Said - Plan B
6. I Like - The Divine Comedy
7. Can't Stand Me Now - The Libertines
8. Bloodbuzz Ohio - the National
9. You - Gold Panda
10. Coffee Shop Soundtrack - All Time Low
11. Location - Freelance Whales
12. Golden Skans - Klaxons
13. Flash A Hungry Smile - Mystery Jets
14. Closer - Kings of Leon
15. Chaka Demus - Jamie T
16. Born Free - M.I.A.
17. Lewis Takes Off His Shirt - Owen Pallett
18. Since you're Gone - The Pretty Reckless
19. Learning - Perfume Genius
20. Pope Song - Tim Minchin
21. Let Me Down Easy - The Candles
22. Wrapped in Piano Strings - Radical Face
22. Shark's Tooth - Archie Bronson Outfit
23. Gitana - Shakira
24. Wakka Wakka - Shakira
25. Thick As Thieves - Kasabian
26. Mountaineer - White Sea
27. A Day of - Biffy Clyro
28. Because Of You - Skunk Anansie
29. Zorbing - Stornoway
30. Poem - Tricky

October here we come!

- Naomi

All Time Low Et Cetera.

Hello.





Sorry for the lack of posting in seven days. Seven days is quite a long time for me, I'm afraid. But anyway, on with the show.





Like I mentioned last time, I did end up getting Brandon Flowers' new album, although I've only given it one or two full listens so far. Sounds...alright. Like, sounds like I thought it would. I was expecting very little. He really needs his band to back him up.





That being said, since I love TK so much, or at least I did, I feel I owe him a certain loyalty. Thus, I am going to see him in concert in November. It should be good, he's certainly pretty good live. He was on TV a few nights back. I just saw a clip, and he was supposed to do this old-timey Americana thing, but it looked more villagey old fashioned Scandinavian thing. A little bit weird, but no matter. Hopefully he won't dress like such a dick live(although this is Brandon, so no promises). November 26th-looking forward. November's gonna be an enormous month. it seems it is always an enormous month. Oh, I did wanna see The Antlers, too, but another 18+. Grrr, so not fair.





Who else is touring his year? I mean, yes, a lot of people obviously, but I'm trying to think out of the people I like. Florence's hype will eventually die out, somehow. Elbow are writing or recording something, I think, but that'll tale a while. Foals are doing there thing. Biffy will stop toruing at some point. Muse are about to start their tour of the rest of the solar system(probably, knowing Muse), and um, that's about it, right? Sad, sad times.





Why isn't the new Klaxons on the American iTunes? Silly, stupid iTunes. You don't have half of anything I need. Like, Echoes is an amazing song. You're stupid, America.





Last night I got around to listening to Mystery Jets. I'd heard about them before obviously, but just kinda threw them on the landfill indie pile and was kinda irritated by the whole SEXSEXSEX attitude of the guys when I saw interviews and things. Actually a bad mistake. Their video that's supposed to be vintage that I can't remember the name of is good, and Flash A Hungry Smile is my favorite. Ahh, gorgeous. Catchiness can be an amazing thing, and Mystery Jets prove that so well. Plus...."have you heard the birds and bees have all caught STDs". I can pretty much obsess over anyone who writes those lyrics. Mystery Jets, you have been warned.



Also, Born Free by M.I.A is nothing short of amazing. A bit late on that one, I know. But she's so great. I really need one of her CDs, pretty much now, because I love it so much and think it's so amazing. I was boooooooooorn free.



And Gold Panda, still, of course. man I'm lovin' chillwave generally. Dammit, Naomi, you stupid, stupid, hopelessly spineless hipster. Oh but the music is so lovely.



Lastly, and brace yourselves, All Time Low. Okay, shut up. I like All Time Low. I will complain about all the other emo bands in the world, EXCEPT All Time Low and Paramore. Especially All Time Low. When I was buying Brandon's album over the weekend, I couldn't resist just browsing through the other CDs, as you do. The only ATL song I knew was Jasey Rae. And that Dear Maria song, but you know, that is a seriously seriously bad song. I caught All Time Low doing an acoustic set on one of the music channels I watch one day. I caught Jasey Rae while I
was eating breakfast. I was actually fairly impressed. The guy has a way with words, somehow, and it's catchy and stuff. And it's not even the sort of thing that applies well non acoustic. The...I don't know, arrangement is a bit funny on Jasey Rae, which is of course a good thing. I wouldn't go as far to say it sounds discordant, but certainly, a little bit off kilter for popular pop-punk. The recorded version just grows and grows, and sounds great, frankly. And I'm really impressed with them at the moment. So I couldn't resist it, I bought Put Up or Shut Up. It sounds great. The first two songs sound great, his voice works, he has some clever lyrics, and overall it just sounds less fake and more fun than most of the stuff filling up the airwaves at the moment. I would actually recommend it! haha, yes! Except The Girl's A Downright Hustler. That is one overrated song, my friends. Coffee Shop Soundtrack all the way, my friends. Or just in general. Sound of September? I actually think so.



See you blog.



- Naomi

Teehee. Karma.

Hello world.

On a very usual Sunday-or-was-it-Monday night, I was at home. Doing homework, probably, because that's a pretty safe bet at the moment, or possibly watching Peep Show or lurking around Facebook or eating a yogurt or probably all of the above, when I came across something online. Then Iprobably put down my yogurt, stopped listening to Mark Corrigan's babbling, or forgot all about stem-changing verbs, because as it turns out, The Biff were having Visa issues.

Oh yeah. That band. Ha. I'm not sure if it's okay to say I almost completely forgotten about them...but I was nearly there. I hadn't completely, honestly, I was still pretty pissed but I was trying to forget the whole thing. My beloved were in the state, which is a rare thing because a lot of this country literally cannot understand the Biff, and I couldn't fucking go because I was born four years too late. But oh...visa issues. I can safely say that that beats Babyshambles last-minute ODs and that Kings of Leon pigeon-crap incident we've all heard way to much about, in terms of gig issues. Visas. Jesus! How great is that? It had never crossed my mind that such a thing could happen to a band. I mean, these people have people for all that stuff, right? But no. The impossibly baffling world of immigration, travelling, and visas strikes again. Two third of Biffy Clyro were not allowed inside the country for a Boston show. Instead, just Simon(minus the Reading and Leeds white hair and beard, I should add) came armed with an acoustic guitar.

I didn't see it, as I mentioned. Wasn't allowed. But the great thing is, not only do Visas strike again, but karma strikes again...you heard that, the Biffy management team? You fuck me over, I somehow subconsciously infiltrate the American Embassy and stop most of you from entering the country subsequently creating a free gig. Yeah. You do not mess with me.

In other music news, B-Flo's album came out a few days ago. Brandon Flowers. I'm getting it tomorrow if I can find it somewhere. Two years ago, I was a Killers hardcore fan. Like, scarily hardcore. I'm not saying I don't like them anymore, it's just that shirtless Scottish people(et cetera) have sort of gotten in the way. They write good pop songs. But I will tell you now, when I hear Crossfire on the radio, I am not loving what I hear. In fact, I'm not even sure I'm liking it at all. It's so bland, so boring, so cliched, it's frankly almost unlistenable. Yeah, I have a bad taste in music and stuff, okay? There seems to be this indie idea that Brandon's so uncool that he's now cool to like. Oh indie music. You're so pathetically transparent. But who knows, I'll get Flamingo tomorrow, maybe it'll be worthy of a 7/10 or something. You never know.

Have you guys heard Gold Panda? Looooove some of their stuff. I don't know the first thing about chillwave, but apparently this is it, and honestly, it's kinda good. It's crackly and calm. The title is fitting. But also a bit weird, and danceable and stuff. It's a very colorful band, I wouldn't say trippy, but you know. Colorfully vibrant. I love music like that.

From colorfully vibrant to black-and-white melancholy acoustic loveliness; Villagers. Have known about them for like a year now and just got properly around to listening to Becoming A Jackal. Un. Bel. Ievable. Every single song is incredibl, soothing, astonishing. Not only with Becoming A Jakcal, but ship of promises, Meaning of the Ritual, all the rest. It's getting better and better. Plus, Connor's voice is reminiscent of Peter Silberman from The Antlers. There isn't exactly a yawning chasm between The Antlers and Villagers I'd say, and The Antlers' Hospice is possibly my all time favorite record, so it's all good. If you wanna go folk and go folk well, Villagers are a must-cite influence.

My Spanish teacher's young and energetic and makes us do stupid things like sing songs, even though we're moving at too fast a pace for that. Spain and South America aren't necessarily famous for their music, so we're basically being force-fed Shakira every other day until the end of January. But we finally got round to Gitana...and...I really like that song, okay? Like, I find Shakira boring for the most part, and this so isn't. it feels both musically very rich and very organic, and her voice sounds great, especially en Espanol. the instrumentation is wonderful, too! Oh, it is just lovely.

So, um, that's more or less it, bar a bit of All Time Low and Jonsi and Freelance Whales. I promise, give me another week or two and school will straighten out, and I might stop complaining about it and actually write something, okay? Oh, not that you care. But I care. Writing's so fun.

Soo. Adios blog.

- Naomi

Woohoo, Yeah Biffy Clyro

Hello.



I was thinking earlier today what my top ten favorite songs ever are. Ever. A lot of people will tell you they 'have too many to decide' which in my opinion is a bit snobbish. Most of them are like 'oh, look at me and the four hundred songs on my ipod'. Silly people. If we weren't like three posts into this blog, I'd list them. But one of those songs would definitely be I Could Feel A Hot One.



It's a song by Manchester Orchestra. I went to see them in March, mostly because I was really into Biffy Clyro, one of the openers. I remember thinking them okay, but not being overly impressed. It was a kinda nice, fuzzy country-rock-ballad thing for an hour or so. I was tired then. There were four bands there and I'd wanted to be within Simon Neil's perspiration range(not quite, but nearly) so I'd stayed there the whole time. The Biff were arguably the best band I've ever seen live. And I've seen, like, Muse and the Prodigy and stuff. It was surreal. Being British, to me they're this enormous stadium-filler of a band, but in a small-ish place in Boston they were like nothing. I was the only person in that room who was in awe. How the hell can I be less than five feet away from Simon Neil? How is that even possible? It was amazing. They were great. I don't know why, but I really connected that day. I was destroyed when they ended, a mere half hour of shirtless soft rock later. That terrible post-concert feeling lasted for an almost unbelievably long amount of time. April kinda sucked because I couldn't stop thinking about how great the whole thing was. It was rainy that night, really really rainy, and I backed out and leaned on a wall and was just really...well, really sad, frankly, the band I(at the time) absolutely adored had just left and probably wouldn't return for a long time. Manchester Orchestra were on by that point. They were playing that song. With MA, their set seemed to merge into one--except that song, that one song. In all its simplicity, its sadness, its crushing lyrics, its hope. It was poignant. it was terrifying and heartbreaking and astonishing and beautiful. Perhaps a moment I will never forget. That's why it's one of my favorite songs.

Um, I guess in that way it's one of my favorite songs because of another band, if you get me. Weird.

In slightly related news, I'm 14. I live in Boston. Monday, Biffy were supposed to play in Boston tomorrow. that is, if you're over 18. Not. Fair. This was my first experience with the Over 18s Only curse and it's bloody annoying. I was due in for a moody, whiny blog posy about how sad I was gonna be. And oh, was I gonna be sad. My life has no worth, I love music, I've nothing to live for, all of that nice stuff. the slightly weird thing is, the Biff had Visa Issues and aren't coming. Huh. Weird, huh? And kinda funny too. Yeah, screw you too, you only get a Simon Neil acoustic version, you don't get the twins. I win, in the most pointless way possible. Wait. Simon bleached his hair for Reading and Leeds, right? Shit. I loved his hair--le'ts face it, he was gorgeous before--but now...no. But somehow I wouldn't have given anything to see that.

Speaking of R&L briefly, I need to get back with the Libertines. I mean, this is an enormous time for a really great band, a hugely significant band, so it's a hugely significant time for music, just 'cause of them. I have barely watched the vids yet. Only a press conference. Peter's so witty and you can laugh at them when he's high--it's funny either way. I think Peter's great. Oh, the great Doherty + Barat songwriting duo, you gotta love it.

In case you can't tell, musically, I'm still a bit busy at the moment, but I will get back to it soon. I'm still listening to the ten songs from last post, and a lot more of the National. High Violet gets better and better every day, it's incredible. still, my freelance Whales CD, which is incredible. And I've been into Kol(yeah, I don't care what you think). it took me forever to 'get' Only by the Night but now it's like, wow, this is amazing. I'm listening to Kurran and the Wolfnotes--I'm liking what I hear. And Robyn covering Bjork(thanks, NME). Also, Imogen Heap, a bit, I really need a CD of hers. Jonsi. I finally decided I did like Mark Ronson's Bang Bang Bang--I wasn't sure for a long time. It's a catchy song, but please, can everyone STOP singing in French? Seriously. like, stop. Now. Please? You sound really stupid. Also, just a little bit of Gold Panda, and Radical Face. I <3 id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error">the Radical Face bandwagon.

I'm seriously convinced that interested no one but me...but hey, it's something, right?

- Naomi

I Still Owe Money To The Money To The Money I Owe

I never thought of love when I thought of home. The National.





Hello.



Hey, when you're in 8th grade like I was like last year, you know how you hear all the highschoolers talk about how much homework they have and you know what to expect but don't really think about it or mentally prepare? Yeah.

I did that. And the amount of homework I had today was enormous, inconceivable, unhealthy, miserable. and I had study hall. Basically, high school is okay for everything except the homework. I'm sick of the homework. Like, I've barely had time to look up new music this week. For me, this is pretty pathetic because it was a thing I used to do most nights. Finding indie music is actually pretty time consuming so the fact I've no time to consume is proving a problem. Also the fact that I have created a music blog in the time that I might actually have no time to look for new music is a problem.



Until I get such a problem worked out, I thought today I'd just kinda make a list of the Top Ten things I've been listening to at the moment. so far nothing is actually recycled. So it works--and is quick.



1. Headlock - Imogen Heap. So, Imogen...I kinda started getting into her music in the past few months. There are so many singer-songwriter types around, she just kinda blurred into the background, you know? But a blur-into-the-background musician she most definitely is not. I know she's very interested in the 'breathing life into electronic music' thing, which is something I'm always up for. I'm not a huge electro fan. For me, much of its music is just that, dead, boring, lifeless, soulless. It can never replace pianos and guitars for me. That is, except when played by Imogen--there is just so much beauty, wonder, tweeness, ambiguity, and complexity in Imogen's music that me and virtually everyone else finds irresistible. While nothing while defeat that oh-so-catchy Chasing Cars or that absolute beaut of a song, Hide And seek, Headlock is a catchy, deep, complicated, unique, brilliant song. Just listen to the synthesizers. Oh, you love it, don't you?



2. I Won't Lie To You - Let's Wrestle I literally discovered this about ten minutes ago but it's going here because it rocks. Let's Wrestle make this brilliant lo-fi, seemingly-drunken guitar pop-rock that in many ways sounds like unpolished crap, but in many respects is some of the most lovely, energetic, fun music of the year. This is most definitely a song for one-man dance parties in your bedroom.



3. Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National. I saw the National in June when I saw The Antlers. I like 'em. Hardly a super fan but after Mistaken For Strangers got its billionth play in on my iPod, I finally put High Violet on. It's very much an album that will take a long time to get into,but I'm liking what I'm hearing at the moment. This is the one track that stands out for me at the moment--oh, that border between the catchy and the dark. My my, they have done it will here, haven't they? It's something still troubling and brooding despite being totally accessible and probably having a million views on YouTube. I love it! Also, on a side note, like, could this guy's voice get any more attractive?



4. I Like - The Divine Comedy. One of my V '10 highlights, no question. Like everyone else, I'm a sucker for witty piano-pop(Ben Folds, Tim Minchin, et cetera) and Neil Hannon is no exception A lightweight, summery song with the most wonderful lyrics..."I like your mild political stances, I like your wild spontaneous dances". Oh, so brilliant. We love you, Neil.



5. She Said - Plan B. Because, if you live in the UK, you definitely haven't heard this a billion times, right? Both me and my mum are hooked. And summer=falsettos and catchy, cheap sell-out soul-rap at the moment, apparently, so this is good as it gets.



6. Celastica - Crystal Castles. HYPED HIPSTER CRAP, HYPED HIPSTER CRAP ALERT. But seriously, this is certainly above your usual hyped rave stuff. Crystal Castles are somehow moody, melodic, emo, dark, hyped, dance-ish, and brilliant. How weird is that? This song is great...at night or on your own or anything that requires a thumping beat and buzzy, swishy electronics. Somebody could explain it to you better, definitely. But oh, I love it.

Generator 2nd Floor - Freelance Whales. Oh, Freelance Whales. Gorgeous, gorgeous, hyped, cutesy Freelance Whales. If you do not like music of the cutesy type, then you are possibly not welcome here. Because I looooove Freelance Whales. This is possibly my favorite song on the album, Weathervanes, which I got this weekend. The lyrics + synthesizers _ banjo's. It is indie 2010, baby. This twee nonsense is what it's all about.

8. Spitfire - The Prodigy. I'm so into the Prodigy right now, after V, I really need some memorabilia. This is probably my favorite of their stuff. First, because it isn't stupidly repetitive dance sampling music. B, because it has a (probably bs) aura of danger and energy. And C, because that beat...that synthesizer...it's catchy to an extreme. Wow wow wow, this, Prodigy or not, is something else entirely. if I was in World War Two they'd call me Spitfire!

9. Shark In the Water - V V Brown. This is one of the songs they run on Nick. I know, because while I can assure you I do not watch Nick, my younger sister keeps it on in the background. Naturally one should be wary of the things they run on Nick so I didn't pay this much attention. But at some point I put down my book and my brain clicked into action and I was like "wow. This is really great". And indeed, it really, really is. Even if it wasn't one of the best produced pop songs I've heard in a long time, and it so is, like, it's so jolly and upbeat and happy, and she has a belter of a voice, and if this doesn't make you want to sing along on a beach chair in the sun...well, something isn't right.

10. Trophy Wifey - Partyline. My views on Riot Grrrl are extremely mixed and perhaps if I have the time and energy and will power, I might discuss them here. but today is not today. And I suppose this isn't even technically riot grrl, is it? Post-riot grrl, maybe? But anyway,this definitely has some elements of the movement in it, and I really like it. It partially agrees with my ideas, and also it's raw and addictive and just sounds so powerful and cool. I could listen to this all day and still have an undeserved sense of edginess--that's how great it is.

Ten songs in and miraculously, I have time to watch Peep Show before I sleep. I hope you got some enjoyment out of that, maybe. Well, I got enjoyment out of writing. next time I will try to do something moire substantial, better written, and more informative up, as long as homework cooperates. So, bye for now, blog.

- Naomi

Hello World.

Hi there.

There isn't much to be said about this blog. My name's Naomi. I'm fourteen years old and like the vast majority of 14-year-olds, I love music. I keep my own blog to talk about other pointless little things, but I figured my music obsessions needed their own place to be talked about. So here it is! Welcome to my Kingdom For One Last Dance! First things first, the title is from Lantern On The Lake's Myspace. Not mine. But it sounds pretty great, right? Second off, chances are if you're actually part of the music blogosphere, you are not going to like the things I'll say on this blog here. Chances are I won't mention Arcade Fire every post or rave about Radiohead like that's a new thing to do. Sure, you'll probably get the odd dose of folktronica, dance, art rock, indie pop, and all the rest. But you'll also get a lot of pure pop, post-punk, electropop, that sort of thing. Frankly I'm bored of the indie world. Here, you will be informed with the latest from the Kooks and get rants about Dubstep just to alienate my blog from everywhere else. And obviously you'll get adolescent rambles about my favorites, including Arctic Monkeys, the Biff, The Libertines, Joanna Newsom, Peter Doherty, Muse, Editors, Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Florence, etcetera. Sounds fun? Well, I hope so, 'cause that's happening!

Basically, from the next now until whatever, I'm documenting what I'm listening to, my thoughts, any big moments in music history, and how my taste changes as time goes by. This will include talking about 'new' bands, pictures from live shows, album reviews, opinions on new singles and music videos, lists, playlists, and ranting. So perhaps if you're sick of a world full of NME Pricks and just want a silly, naive, lightweight blog of my childish views on music...then, well, this is your place I suppose!

And if this is your place and you choose tostay, thank you and welcome. to my kingdom for one last dance of my favorite song.

- Your Fellow Pretentious Hipster, Naomi