2008: A Short History Of Nearly Nothing.

Since it’s roughly this time of year where people start spouting out their ‘Top Albums Of The Last Twelve Months’ then I will do the same. However, since I’m not really up on the current musical scene I will be telling you my top ten albums that I have bought in the past year. This list is not hugely current as one of these albums was released in 2001. So here we go.

10: Weezer - Weezer [The Green Album]
I have mentioned this one before. A great, straigh-ahead rock album with some amazing songs. I really like this one.
Stand out tracks: Hash Pipe, Simple Pages & O Girlfriend

9: Kate Nash - House Of Bricks
Yes, has a slightly annoying voice and a fixation with her own bum, but this is a really good album with some really catchy songs. After a while you don’t spot the voice as you realize that the voice is such an important part of the overall sound. This album will always remind me of the shopping center in Fribourg.
Stand out tracks: Mouthwash, Mariella & Merry Happy

8: Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Art-Rock, in a similar way to The Strokes, but better. I can’t really put my finger on what I like about this album, I just do. Great performances and songwriting.
Stand out tracks: Don’t Make Me A Target, You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb & The Underdog

7: The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes
This is a brilliant homage to 1950s/60s pop with a contemporary twist. The three singers are so good and can all carry a tune really well, it’s just a shame that they didn’t really get very far in the original format.
Stand out tracks: We Are The Pipettes, Pull Shapes & Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me

6: King Creosote - Bombshell
I completely missed this when it first came out as it was released on the same day as lovely Miss. Tunstall’s Drastic Fantastic, but Bombshell’s a belter. You can tell he’s Scottish the same way you can tell that The Proclaimers are Scottish, but he doesn’t use the twang on his voice as much as they do. It’s sort of a pop/folk/country CD, and it’s damn good.
Stand out tracks: You’ve No Clue Do You, Cowardly Custard & Nooks

5: Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
Rock. Odd time signatures. Brilliant.
Stand out tracks: Blackest Eyes, The Sound Of Muzak, Drown With Me

4: The Dresden Dolls - All of them (The Dresden Dolls, Yes, Virginia... & No, Virginia...)
This is kinda cheating I know, but I truly don’t know which to put on here. All albums are amazing, all songs are amazing all the performances are amazing. The Dresden Dolls are just... amazing.
Stand out tracks: Good Day, Sing & Night Reconnaissance

3: Hotel Lights - Hotel Lights
The lead singer in this band is Darren Jesse, formally the drummer in Ben Folds Five and the writer of one of my favorite BFF tunes; Magic. This album is really what I hoped for, more of the same stunning writing along with beautiful instrumentation and vocals.
Stand out tracks: You Come And I Go, Stumblin’ Home Winter Blues & Love To Try

2: Ben Folds - Way To Normal
As a massive Ben Folds fan it was really difficult not to put this at number one, but I haven’t. As usual, it’s the best Ben Folds album there is. There’s more variety, I think, than Song For Silverman and you can dance and jump up and down to it like you could with Rockin’ The Suburbs. I love this album.
Stand out tracks: Dr. Yang, Effington & Kylie From Connecticut

1: Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
I love this album more. This is really everything a CD should be. Amanda doesn’t really sing the songs as much as performs them giving every song a really individual feel, while tying them together as an album. I keep going back to this and I keep hearing more things that I haven’t heard, it’s amazingly stunning. There’s even a Rodgers & Hammerstien song on there.
Stand out tracks: Ampersand, Leeds United & The Point Of It All.



Oh, and Happy New Year.