After a great deal of painful deliberation, here is my prestigious top-20-albums-of-2010. Now that it’s up here in cyber-space it’s concrete, definitive, done… but, truth-be-told, the top three albums on this list were so good that they are pretty much interchangeable, and the same goes for the following seventeen records. Also, 20 is such a small number that all the shoe-horning in the world wouldn’t have allowed me to fit all the albums I wanted to onto this list. Consequentially, fantastic LPs by The National, LCD Soundsystem, Nottingham’s own Tindersticks, The Hold Steady, This is Hell, Arcade Fire, Gil Scott Heron, Best Coast, Tigers Jaw, Fang Island and countless others did not make the cut. Also, sorry to any artists who are due to release albums in the remaining weeks of 2010, I’m certain R Kelly would’ve been top 5 if I’d only waited… but nevermind, eh.
1. Laura Marling- I Speak Because I Can
With Alas, I cannot Swim, the teenaged Laura showed a precocious talent, and was often, and unfairly, lumped in with the Nash-es and the Allens that inhabited the charts at that time. Now, at the ripe old age of 20, she has released an astonishingly accomplished album of beautiful pastoral observations, sparkling acoustic flourishes and sweeping moments of orchestral gravity. Quintessentially English, without any of the jingoistic nationalism that sometimes goes with it; Laura Marling has blown the ridiculous genre of “nu-folk” apart and now has her sights set on a place in the “true-folk” canon.
2. The Wonder Years- The Upsides
Regardless of whether you think pop-punk was invented by Descendents in ’82, Green Day in ’94 or New Found Glory in 2000; the fact is, The Wonder Years perfected it in 2010. The Upsides is the Philadelphia band’s second full length and chronicles TWY principle songwriter, Dan Campbell’s battle with depression. Often poignant but never gloomy, The Upsides is 12 tracks of fist-in-the-air positivity and galloping melody that can’t help but sweep you along. Cuts like Logan Circle and the gang chant anthemia of Washington Square Park make this the most life-affirming record you will hear all year.
3. Tokyo Police Club- Champ!
Following the unrestrained, scratchy brilliance of their debut EP, and 2008’s more sedate Elephant Shell record, comes… well, a mixture of the two. Tokyo Police Club were finding the balance in 2010, and the product was this remarkable record, which showed they are equally at ease sound-tracking a quirky Michael Cera movie as Match of the Day 2. Champ is a far more diverse affair than TPC’s previous outings, with Graham Wright’s programmed beats and bleeps taking centre stage on a couple of tunes, and bodes well for their future releases.
4. Kele- The Boxer
Kele Okereke famously beefed up his bod for The Boxer’s cover shoot, and apparently beefed up his sound as well. The electro-rave influence of East London has been bleeding into Bloc Party’s work for some time now, but it took a break from the traditional group dynamic for Kele to truly unleash his vision on the world. Muscular synth beats meet Kele’s familiar lyrical introspections, making the Boxer sometimes ecstatic, sometimes fragile and always jaw-dropping.
5. Caribou- Swim
For many, Dan Snaith’s ethereal third album under the name Caribou went head to head with Four Tet’s latest offering, There is Good In You, for album of the year. For me, Swim was simply far better and, with Odessa, boasts a contender for “opening track of the year”. Listening to the spellbinding Found Out, the album’s forth track, you wouldn’t believe it was created a human being.
6. Tallest Man on Earth- The Wild Hunt
The cover of Kristian Matsson’s latest album says it all; a beautifully desolate prairie with nothing on the horizon, perfect for the mournful, acoustic ballads contained within. The Wild Hunt casts Matsson as the wandering troubadour out in the void, possibly on some sort of quixotic quest to be the new Bob Dylan.
7. Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest
The ever reliable Deerhunter return with an album of production drenched, almost aquatic sounding recordings. Frontman, Bradford Cox’s songwriting sparkles through the malaise as he creates some of his most traditional sounding indie-pop ditties to date… and then distorts the hell out of them.
8. Sufjan Stevens- The Age of Adz
Sounding like a more lyrical Animal Collective, Stevens has come a long way from the understated acoustic balladry of his early albums. At times it feels as if he is pulling out all the stops on his mad electrical flourishes and bizarre changes of pace, but it always works. The Age of Adz might not quite reach the heights of Illinoise, but vintage Sufjan is evident on classic cuts like I Want to Be Well and Too Much.
9. Magnetic Man- Magnetic Man
When dubstep heavyweights Skream and Benga got together the results were always going to be special. The overplaying of singles I Need Air and Perfect Stranger may have momentarily diluted their brilliance, but you’ll be skanking away in clubs to them in five years time, I promise. Tunes like the brilliantly unhinged The Bug and the curveball of Flying into Tokyo make this a modern classic.
10. Ceremony- Rohnert Park L.P
Kicking off with Into the Wayside Part I: Sick is Ceremony’s way of telling you that this is no ordinary hardcore record. Like a stateside version of Fucked Up!, Ceremony are just as venomous, just as dangerous and just as brutal as the rest of the hardcore community, but with too much intelligence to be pigeon-holed. Black Flag for the 21st Century.
11. Jenny and Johnny- I’m Having Fun Now
A harmonious relationship doesn’t always make for the best art, but these lovebirds are the exception to the rule. Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and The Postal Service fame and solo-artist Johnathan Rice have collaborated before, but this, their first full length together, is a masterful tour through the whisky soaked barrooms and open roads of Bonnie and Clyde Americana
12. Nicki Minaj- Pink Friday
You might get tired of Minaj telling you she’s richer – and generally better – than you, but it’s undeniable that she has one of the freshest sounding deliveries around. A guilty pleasure maybe, but Nikki’s idiosyncratic style and bags of attitude make Pink Friday a solid choice for the top-20.
13. Broken Bells- Broken Bells
Another dream team in the top-20; the delicious production of Danger Mouse and lyrical skill of The Shins’ James Mercer can’t fail but make this a winner. Any doubts about the quality of the project were surely dispelled after one listen to opener, and lead single, The High Road.
14. Terror- Keepers of the Faith
A career best effort from Scott Vogel’s LA hardcore crew, who yet again prove themselves to be one of the most adrenalized bands on the planet. Positive lyrics themes of integrity, honesty and friendship abound on this record, and their old-school ethos of constant touring has made them one of the best live bands on the planet.
15. Phosphorescent- Here’s to Taking it Easy
In contrast to Terror who couldn’t take it easy if they tried, American folkie Matthew Houck’s latest offering is a paean to life in the slow lane. Here’s to Taking it Easy is a sumptuous record; softer and more filled-out than his earlier recordings, it even manages to make an AOR, saxophone driven intro sound fantastic. This man makes gorgeous music and I pray that one day he gets the widespread recognition he deserves.
16. Paul Baribeau- Unbearable
Unbearable is as stripped down as they come; most tracks are simply one man and a battered old acoustic, singing away like his life depended on it – and judging by the way Baribeau’s fragile voice falters on How Could That be True? you would think that it did. The result is a brilliant document of human love at its most pure and non-judgemental.
17. Lightspeed Champion- Life is Sweet, Nice to Meet You
Much has been made of Dev Hynes’ “musical OCD” and the well trodden urban legend of a Domino records representative turning up on his doorstep and asking for the masters for the latest album, only to be given five albums worth of material. How much of this is true is debateable, but what is true is Hynes is a fantastic songsmith, which this admirably ambitious record attests to. Marlene and Sweetheart are two of the tunes of 2010.
18. Bombay Bicycle Club- Flaws
Similarly to Laura Marling way up at number one, BBC showed a helluva lot of promise at a young age, although I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose was arguably better than Marling’s debut. The North London quartet followed up their 2009 debut with a massive change in direction, going from fuzzy indie scamps to composed folk-popsters. Contrary to its title, you’d find it hard to pick a fault with Flaws.
19. She & Him- Volume 2
Indie music’s – and cinema’s – most photogenic chanteuse returns with partner in crime M.Ward on another volume of sugar-coated reminiscence. Don’t let the arbitrary description of the band’s name and record title fool you, Volume 2 is captivating stuff.
20. Titus Andronicus- The Monitor
Any album that opens with a quote from Abraham Lincoln’s Lyceum Address is going to make it into my top-20 no problem. However, The Monitor would have made it even without this boost. As rough and ready as the Civil War battleship it’s named after, this sprawling barroom opus is laced with just the right amounts of aggressive swagger and Springsteen-esque melancholy to make it a winner. Just like its name sake, the albums blaze of glory is the epic The Battle of Hampton Roads.
Thursday 16 December 2010
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Mansfield Town Have Ground Repossessed
Managerless Mansfield Town have been thrown into chaos after having their ground re-possessed by a former owner.
Keith Haslam sold the Nottinghamshire club to local businessmen Andy Saunders, Steve Middleton and Andy Perry in 2008, before the trio sold the club on, to millionaire John Radford, earlier this year.
However, Haslam retained ownership of the club’s Field Mill home and leased the ground to the new owners. This lease has now been terminated amid allegations of unpaid rent and fees.
Bailiffs from Burlington Enforcement, acting on behalf of Haslam’s company, Stags Ltd, attached a notice to the gates of Field Mill on Wednesday night, warning people not to enter.
The notice stated that “any attempt to enter these premises without the express consent of the Landlords named above will render those responsible liable to civil and/or criminal proceedings being brought against them”. It also instructed that any communication regarding the action be made via Burlington Enforcement.
This development comes as the Stags prepare to announce the successor David Holdsworth, who departed Mansfield Town by mutual consent on November 18th. The club were also struggling to be ready for a pitch inspection on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s clash with Barrow, which now looks unlikely to go ahead.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, Burlington Enforcement said:
“An initial meeting was held with Mr Radford prior to which payment of the outstanding rent owed by the club was promised. The rent was, however, not paid thereby necessitating the action taken today. Stags Ltd remain willing to engage in a constructive dialogue with the club regarding the future of the stadium”.
Mr Radford was unavailable for comment.
Keith Haslam sold the Nottinghamshire club to local businessmen Andy Saunders, Steve Middleton and Andy Perry in 2008, before the trio sold the club on, to millionaire John Radford, earlier this year.
However, Haslam retained ownership of the club’s Field Mill home and leased the ground to the new owners. This lease has now been terminated amid allegations of unpaid rent and fees.
Bailiffs from Burlington Enforcement, acting on behalf of Haslam’s company, Stags Ltd, attached a notice to the gates of Field Mill on Wednesday night, warning people not to enter.
The notice stated that “any attempt to enter these premises without the express consent of the Landlords named above will render those responsible liable to civil and/or criminal proceedings being brought against them”. It also instructed that any communication regarding the action be made via Burlington Enforcement.
This development comes as the Stags prepare to announce the successor David Holdsworth, who departed Mansfield Town by mutual consent on November 18th. The club were also struggling to be ready for a pitch inspection on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s clash with Barrow, which now looks unlikely to go ahead.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, Burlington Enforcement said:
“An initial meeting was held with Mr Radford prior to which payment of the outstanding rent owed by the club was promised. The rent was, however, not paid thereby necessitating the action taken today. Stags Ltd remain willing to engage in a constructive dialogue with the club regarding the future of the stadium”.
Mr Radford was unavailable for comment.
Nottingham Gun Crime Decrease
This article was recently published on suite101.com.
Nottinghamshire Police have revealed a substantial fall in firearms offences over the past year.
55 incidents of gun crime were reported in the first 9 months of 2010, representing a 43% decrease from the same period of last year. Police say that only a 17 of these incidents involved a gun being fired.
Chief Superintendent Dave Walker is head of policing in Nottingham; he described the decrease as a “testament” to the police’s approach to gun crime, and to their imroved relationship with the local people.
“While enforcement is a crucial deterrent, it cannot be seen as the only solution to the problem.” He said.
“Arresting and convicting people will demonstrate the consequences of carrying a firearm, but it will be a combination of raising awareness, educating young people and working closely with the communities affected by gun crime that will have the real impact.”
Nottingham’s reputation as a city gripped by gun crime came to a head in 2003 when there were four deaths from shootings in the city, as well as 23 injuries. In response to this, the decision was taken to align police city divisions and city council boundaries, with a joint focus on decreasing crime. This change of approach from police, and their increased work with community groups such as the No Gun Organisation, caused overall crime rates to decrease by half.
Peter Moyes, executive director of Nottingham CDP, remains hopeful that this decrease will continue, despite the threat of Government cuts.
“The target is ambitious but not impossible”. He said. “It is incumbent upon us all to drive as hard as we possibly can to deliver the expectations of local people.
Mr Moyes went on to praise the ‘unique’ structure of policing operations within Nottinghamshire, as well as the close relationship between the police, the city council and its community protection directorate, highlighting how city council parking attendants joined in the combined efforts to trace the two children who went missing in Bulwell recently.
The figures have been well received, however, Councillor Jon Collins, Chairman of the Nottinghamshire Police Authority, warned against a complacent attitude following their release.
He said; “While this downward trend is welcomed, there are still too many people involved in criminal activity who go around carrying guns or knives. We need to ensure that those people are caught and we need to educate young people on the dangers, to themselves and others, associated with weapons of this kind.”
Nottinghamshire Police have revealed a substantial fall in firearms offences over the past year.
55 incidents of gun crime were reported in the first 9 months of 2010, representing a 43% decrease from the same period of last year. Police say that only a 17 of these incidents involved a gun being fired.
Chief Superintendent Dave Walker is head of policing in Nottingham; he described the decrease as a “testament” to the police’s approach to gun crime, and to their imroved relationship with the local people.
“While enforcement is a crucial deterrent, it cannot be seen as the only solution to the problem.” He said.
“Arresting and convicting people will demonstrate the consequences of carrying a firearm, but it will be a combination of raising awareness, educating young people and working closely with the communities affected by gun crime that will have the real impact.”
Nottingham’s reputation as a city gripped by gun crime came to a head in 2003 when there were four deaths from shootings in the city, as well as 23 injuries. In response to this, the decision was taken to align police city divisions and city council boundaries, with a joint focus on decreasing crime. This change of approach from police, and their increased work with community groups such as the No Gun Organisation, caused overall crime rates to decrease by half.
Peter Moyes, executive director of Nottingham CDP, remains hopeful that this decrease will continue, despite the threat of Government cuts.
“The target is ambitious but not impossible”. He said. “It is incumbent upon us all to drive as hard as we possibly can to deliver the expectations of local people.
Mr Moyes went on to praise the ‘unique’ structure of policing operations within Nottinghamshire, as well as the close relationship between the police, the city council and its community protection directorate, highlighting how city council parking attendants joined in the combined efforts to trace the two children who went missing in Bulwell recently.
The figures have been well received, however, Councillor Jon Collins, Chairman of the Nottinghamshire Police Authority, warned against a complacent attitude following their release.
He said; “While this downward trend is welcomed, there are still too many people involved in criminal activity who go around carrying guns or knives. We need to ensure that those people are caught and we need to educate young people on the dangers, to themselves and others, associated with weapons of this kind.”
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