This year took a while to get going. The first really great album I got was Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, and as with every Kasabian album, it took a long time to become great. They're all massive growers. In a way though, i'm not sure it was that great, because I still expected more from it, and it never quite delivered what it promised. Still the first album worth mentioning for me in 2009 though.
Then, in about September/October, things came alive, and there were three all at once.
First one was Jamie T - Kings & Queens. This, as opposed to Kasabian, certainly delivered on its promises and more. As ever with Mr Treays its witty, catchy and brilliant, some of the lyrics are inspired, and some of the stories are compelling. Its not quite an album where i'll listen to every single track, but there's only a couple I tend not to bother with, and tracks like Chaka Demus & Spider's Web are damn near my most played songs of the year.
Only a few weeks later and I got hold of Ian Brown's new album, My Way. Its typical Brown, pompous, self-righteous and cocky, but also exceptionally tuneful. Again there's one of two not worth bothering with, but there's a few brilliant tracks too. Stellify, the title track is the most striking song i've heard in years, with its piano-led tune, which turns into a brass section later. Tracks like Always Remember Me & For The Glory really stand out too. Lyricism isn't really Ian Brown's strong point these days at times though, with some crackers like "I've got my own brain, and anagram of my own name" and "marathon man, catch me if you can" finding their way in, but he still pulls it off without looking stupid!
Finally, Brand New released their new effort this year, and for some reason decided to solely focus their promotion of it in the UK, an odd move for a US band, but obviously they believe over here is where their following is strongest these days. It was always going to take a lot for this album to beat 'The Devil and God...', which is one of my favourite albums of all-time, but it does come close. The fragility and emotion that makes 'The Devil and God...' such a powerful album isn't quite as prevalent in 'Daisy' (the new album) but its still a strong theme. Its a more powerful and heavy album than anything i've heard from them before, but still very emotive. They can range from the fragile 'Noro' and 'Daisy', which both echo 'Devil and God' at the start, to the powerful, almost screamo at times of 'Sink' 'Vices' and 'Gasoline', going via the more poppy moment of 'At The Bottom' and the sheer distortion of 'Be Gone' along the way. This album also has some monstrous percussion at times, which sounds amazing, especially in 'Noro' and some brilliantly effective bass as well in 'Daisy'.
I'd say my favourite of those is probably Jamie T's, but they're all exceptionally close.
Kasabian - Underdog
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5up8kJoCsJM[/youtube]
Jamie T - Spider's Web
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM665mu6Opc[/youtube]
Ian Brown - Stellify
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsct546pCBE[/youtube]
Brand New - Daisy
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjw5UmL8w9c[/youtube]
Would love to listen to all of the new Muse album, but just haven't found the time yet...
