Political Highlights
Favourite Politcal
Memoir of the year which had the implicit aim of setting the story straight – Tony Blair –
A Journey
I can honestly say that I have never read a book like this,
part memoir, part case for the defence, A
Journey is Blair trying and failing to be utterly candid with events of the
past - and who can blame him, some of
these events aren’t that far in the past and Blair isn’t the person to pass
judgement on Blair . It a good and interesting read for the most part, until
Iraq. Forgetting the need for the reader to be entertained as well as informed
Blair sets about on a three chapter, 200 page explanation of every changing
fact and development from September 2001 to March 2003 leaving you praying for
a conclusion. Though it isn’t the worst book I read this year, I’m not sure how
much of a compliment that is.
Political Hero of the Yeatr - Barack Obama
2008 will always be the most historic year as far as Obama
is concerned but 2010 is when the real progress came. Despite the “shellacking”
that Obama received in the Midterms it was year when a huge amount was done;
health insurance for 47 million more people, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t
Tell, so now gay men and women can serve openly in the armed forces, and
Congress passed the new Start Treaty which is reducing the number of nuclear
warheads that Russia and the USA have by 30%. Not bad for a years work.
Political Villain-Pollly Toynbee
For failing a basic maths test. The Guardian columnist wasn’t
the only one begging for a re-alignment of the left, with Labour, Lib Dems, SNP
(If you could possibly call them left wing) the main parties of fantasy –land ‘rainbow
coalition’ after the general election result in May, but she was the one who couldn’t
let it go when everyone could see it was an unrealistic prospect; It was never going to happen. Move on.
Picture of the Century
Oh how the mighty have fallen. It seems the students no
longer agree with Nick Clegg. Fickle lot.
Cultural Highlights
Albums of the Year
These are the albums that I loved and the reasons why.
The Walkmen – Lisbon
A real 11th hour choice – as I only heard of it through
word of mouth - Lisbon is quite simply a barnstormer of an album. For me they
never seemed able to eclipse The Rat, four minutes of frenetic playing which
left you breathless and in awe. But with Lisbon, The Walkmen have produced an
album which sees them come of age. The album is just a consistently beautiful
of effort, with touching lyrics from the first to the last such as ‘you’re one
of us, or you’re one of them’ from album opener Juveniles, or ‘now the street
light, bright and pale, as we sip our ginger ale’ in Woe is Me, a song which 60’s
in rhythm but post modern in its execution, like so much of the album. For
those who love the faster side of The Walkmen there is Angela Surf City with a
drumbeat reminiscent of a heartbeat. The consistency of the album in setting a
mood and feel is really something to be admired, the guitars and synths with
timely reverb create a deliberately slower pace and hazy sound. But the biggest asset this band has is the
voice of Hamilton Leithauser and it is used here to perfection. A truly beautiful album.
Walkmen - Juveniles (KEXP) by flogase
Laura Marling – I Speak
Because I can
The follow up to ‘Alas I Can Not Swim’ – an album which was
a favourite of mine in 2008 – I Speak Becase I Can saw the maturing of the
young folk singer into a crafted storyteller able to pull at the heart strings
in a variety of ways; with songs about relationships with lovers (Devils Spoke),
but also relationships with family (Hope In the Air) and relationships with the
environment around. The last point is done most convincingly with the song
Goodbye England (Covered in Snow), a song that makes me miss a land I inhabit. The
album is thoughtful and thought provoking and has sees Marling developing a
character.
Laura Marling - Blackberry Stone by wereofftherails
Talons - Hollow Realm
Debut album from this experimental and instrumental six
piece - the group has violin players. Hollow Realm from first to last is an explosion of post rock sounds, in a guise that I have heard before, but never
with such energy and unrelenting pace. The stand out track for me has to be
Impala – the last two minutes of which never fails to have me jumping up and
down.
Despite the fact of having a been a big fan I wasn’t
expecting too much, perceiving that they would be one of those bands who would
take a few turns to get it just right. But with Hollow Realm they have really
hit the ground running.
Talons - Impala by bsmrocks
Foals – Total Life
Forever
Antidotes, the debut album from the Oxford five piece, saw these
guys become the poster boys of math /post rock. What next, then? Hole yourself
away in a Swedish recording studio constantly repeating the mantra, less is
more. Result? Total Life Forever, a stunning low fi, high impact album which seems to tick all the boxes for a follow – up.
It’s a piece of music which has a truly affecting nature as displayed by
Spanish Sahara, a gutsy pop song if there ever was one. Blue Blood, the album opener, is by a country
mile my favourite song of the year. Funk in the bassline, poignancy in the
lyrics, beautiful simplicity in the guitars and drums, all pared down to create
a fantastic harmonious sound. These are recurring themes in all their songs but
it works best here. Black Gold is
another triumph of simple music being very effective and wins the award for
best ‘drop’ in a song.
All the Radiohead comparisons are a little unnecessary are
these are two completely different bands. But it just goes to show if that if
you are being talked about in that breadth then you’re definitely here to stay.
Foals - Black Gold by yodudeblog
Gold Panda –Lucky Shiner
Catchy, chilled, crazy – infectious, these are all words I’m
sure I have used in every day conversation to describe this album and even if I
haven’t I should have because this album is all those things and more. Caribou
and Four Tet may take the plaudits for introducing indie kids to dance, but
Gold Panda, for me, achieves a far more eclectic mix of guitar and synth with
Lucky Shiner. The oriental feel mixed with modern technology gives this album a
very cultured feel. Same Dream China and India Lately are the obvious manifestations
of this, but Marriage, with its odd, echoed string also has a strong oriental
feel. This isn’t dance music to dance to – it’s for contemplation and meditation.
Namaste.
Gold Panda - You by subraw
Strong commendations
Two Door Cinema Club –
Tourist History
The album that proved power pop isn’t dead. Tourist History
also had the fun-est lyric of the year; ‘to the basement people, to the
basement, many surprises await you’.
Vampire Weekend – Contra
Deciding to tone down the Soweto sounds for the follow up,
Vampire Weekend delivered a masterclass in metropolitan lyrics mixed with an expanded
sound and solid ,staple rhythms. The sort of rock music you could show to
mother.
Efterklang – Magic Chairs
Less experimental than previous efforts such as Parades and
Tripper, Magic Chairs saw Efterklang delivering solid pop hooks with charming
vocals and off-beat drums. Works a treat on tunes such as Modern Drift or
Raincoats.
Favourite play
Daniel Kitson’s, It’s Always Right Now, Until It’s Later,
isn’t quite a play and it isn’t quite a stand-up routine. Over one hour-twenty
minutes Kitson covers over 80 years, two love stories and countless innocuous incidents.
The result is a hilarious exploration of life which is itself heartening and
life and affirming, and frankly every humanist dream. I have cried before, but
I’ve never cried at a show and then spent the rest of the day smiling every
time I think of it. A classic.
Favourite Film
Inception Post-modernism
meets Hollywood - was very, very refreshing to see a completely new action film
plot, rather than a re-hash or a sequel.
Video of the Year
No contest. till later...
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