Well that time of year is here again; the pavements are slippy, there is lights everywhere and town is full of crazy shoppers looking for anything and everything.
The year has gone by rather quick for me, it feels like I've all done is do coursework, go to V festival then do more coursework.
Music wise, the year must have been somewhat of a success? We've had some great albums come out (see a later post for top 5 albums, I'm sure I'll do one!), as well as some great events, both the Rolling Stones and the Stone Roses are back with a bang!
1) Rolling Stones - Doom And Gloom.
- I start off with a track from the band that has been around forever! Doom And Gloom was a song showing that not only that the Rolling Stones are still going but also, that they still have it! The track has it all, three well thought-out strong guitar pieces, great bass and a great drum beat. Mick Jaggers voice is also top notch again. The song reiterates everything that is great about the Rolling Stones, strong blues licks with a good, fun lyric. It's been difficult to pick out of this and the second track, but this has won because it just exudes class.
"All I hear, is doom. And gloom!"
2) Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine?
- As mentioned previously, it was really difficult to pick between this and the Rolling Stones effort. This Arctic Monkeys song shows what kind of direction the Death Ramps have been going during their b-sides (Little Illusion Machine, You and I, Evil Twin). It's a strong, heavy number, punctuated by an upper neck guitar riff by Alex and an exceptional rhythm piece by Jamie Cook. The lyrics are straight up, the drums are also awesome. Plus the video is excellent, YouTube it now.
"Are you mine tomorrow? Or just mine tonight?".
3) Jake Bugg - The Ballad Of Mr Jones.
- Although not a single, this song features on Bugg's debut number 1 album. It's got an ominous sound to it. It sort of sounds like a song sang in a place without gravity. It's a dark number, which also sounds incredible live. The guitar work is incredible, whether acoustic or electric the guitar suits the lyric and it suits Jake's voice. It's a a Bugg song, at it's very best.
"I'm sorry Mr Jones we did all we could".
4) Richard Hawley - She Brings The Light.
- Possibly the most underrated artist of the year and this song is incredible. It's the opening track of Hawley's most recent album 'Standing At The Sky's Edge'. This song is massive. It's a 6/7 minute long crafted piece of art. There is a sitar, there's some guitar work and there Hawley's voice. I love the sitar as an instrument, used well and it's awesome, and Hawley uses it perfectly. There's an awesome guitar solo which uses the wah-wah pedal which really takes the song to another level. Lastly, Hawley's voice rings out with the fun yet slow lyrics.
"She brings the sun. Light!".
5) Adele - Skyfall.
- This may come as somewhat of a surprise considering some of the efforts of musicians throughout the year. However, this song is a masterpiece. It's used as the most recent Bond film song and at first I had to admit that I didn't think Adele had it to pull it offs. Wow, was I wrong! The song not only fits the film perfectly but is also a top notch song. I like Adele but you wouldn't catch me listening to her on the 87 but Skyfall is a different beast. Coupled with the drama of the orchestra, the lyrics ring out as Adele gives it her all. An incredible song, with nothing much more to say about it.
"Let the Skyfall, when they crumble".
There we go, my 5 tracks of the year. I think these 5 summarise a great and fun year for music yet again.
Some honourable mentions go to Graham Coxon's 'Ooh Yeh Yeh' and Miles Kane's 'FIrst of My Kind'.
Like previously mentioned, I will try to get a top 5 album post done before the year is out.
Muchos love.
SJ.
