Gaz Coombes, Paul Weller, Deftones & More Included In Stereoboard's Top 10 Albums Of 2012 (Feature)
Friday, 21 December 2012
Written by James Ball
There have been some true revolutions in music the past year. Despite the decline in sales of the guitar band, bands across the globe are still penning some truly remarkable music using a cacophony of different styles, techniques and influences to evolve and refine their sound. Some of the acts featured here have been around for a small eternity, but still managed to release a record in the last twelve months that could, quite possibly, change your life. Some of them have hit the charts running. Some of them you may never have heard of. But I promise you, if you have interest in music, real music, you should go out and obtain a copy of all of these because not doing so means you miss out.
Now, I’ve had to condense this list down to ten awe-inspiring records, but it wouldn’t be complete without some honourable mentions that also deserve a spin, given the chance. These are in no particular order: Bob Dylan – 'Tempest', The Maccabees – 'Given to the Wild', Smashing Pumpkins – 'Oceania', The Gaslight Anthem – 'Handwritten', Lynyrd Skynyrd – 'Last of a Dying Breed', Godspeed You! Black Emperor! – 'Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend', Jimmy Cliff – 'Rebirth', Future of the Left – 'The Plot Against Common Sense', Graham Coxon – 'A&E' and Bruce Springsteen – 'Wrecking Ball'.
With that done, it’s time to reveal the Top Ten:
10. DEFTONES – 'Koi No Yokan'
Once the arena darlings of grungy metal, Deftones have slipped back into the shadows a bit over the past five years or so. It wasn’t that long ago the likes of Back to School or Minerva were all over MTV 2, but now they exist below the surface, breaking out a gem or two every now and then, and this long-play is a true gem made of loads of little gems. Chino Moreno blasts out every track here like his life depends on it, and delivers a trademark Deftones record that, as you would expect, doesn’t sound like any other. They’ve evolved their sound, keeping the heavy, sludgy traits that made them the kings they should be today, but have managed to tweak new influences into their sound to bring in a whole new edge to their release. This album is not to go unnoticed.
9. ROLO TOMASSI – 'Astraea'
Rolo Tomassi, almost by definition these days, is not the world’s most accessible band. Sometimes how heavy their tracks can get can leave the listener with blood dribbling down one ear and in a state of neurosis, but it’s not how accessible it is, it’s how good they are at what they do, and despite some delays and line-up changes, they’ve “done” good. Despite the female front woman, she can scream with the best of them, and has been doing so for years, but where Astraea fits in above other albums is that yes they scream, yes they play finger-blisteringly fast and heavy riffs, but they have also written some of the most beautiful melodic masterpieces ever created. The original review states that this album is easier to listen to than previous efforts, and that’s only half right. Parts of it are more “radio-friendly” than others, but the parts that aren’t still keep all the raw, unabridged power this group are known for, and the rest only adds to a well-rounded, well-constructed piece of destruction. I haven’t heard an album as heavy as this, that’s as enjoyable as this, since System of a Down last released a record, and that was a very long time ago.
8. MUMFORD & SONS – 'Babel'
Folk-rock has never been so angry. Only two albums in and this band have already been confirmed as major festival headliners following the recent T in the Park announcement, and who’s to begrudge them that? This is an absolute instant classic that manages to draw you in at an emotional level and strangle you until you can sign no more. You listen to “Babel” or “Broken Crown” and tell me you can’t hear the frustration, the emotion and the raw passion behind the music made. This album is a true taste of great music translating into great sales and sell-out arena shows, and they deserve every second of this. As long as it doesn’t mean they start writing more whimsical happy tunes that just lose the listener, because, in a slightly sadistic turn, I enjoy this band when everything sounds like it’s going wrong, and long may that continue.
7. MUSE – 'The 2nd Law'
If you read the Stereoboard review of this record, you will see it’s been written by a long-time fan. There’s nothing worse than having a fan review your work because it will either be the greatest album of all time, or a complete pile of crap. There are no in-betweens, which is just as well because regardless of what the review said, I have independently listened to this record and discovered an absolute masterpiece of music ranging a whole spectrum of differing influences, styles and, more important, bloody good songs. Muse have been around for a long time and know how to write a masterpiece. This isn’t as good or as instantly classic as the likes of Origin of Symmetry, but just you try to listen to “The 2nd Law – Unsustainable” after being told the whole thing was made with analogue instruments, or to Panic Station and not tapping your foot, or to “Survival” and not remembering the greatest summer of sport this country has ever seen. Yes parts of it sound like Queen, but Queen are arguably the greatest band of all time, so creating an album that emulates that energy and is actually GOOD is nothing more than a good thing, right?
6. ALT–J - 'An Awesome Wave'
When a record wins the Mercury Music award, then you should take not and listen. While some stinkers have won that awards (M People, anyone?) it’s the one prize that the music industry really seem to sit up and take notice of in this country above all others. Rarely is it ever wrong. Alt-J have come from absolutely nowhere and created a dynamic record that if Thom Yorke had lead vocals, we’d be calling it another classic Radiohead record. Stunning.
5. PATTI SMITH – 'Banga'
Ms Smith has been around for a very long time. She has been an influence for more or less anybody who is anybody in the world of music from R.E.M to Madonna to Sonic Youth. An absolute legend who has stayed in the eye of keen music followers around the world without ever over-exposing herself. Eleven albums into her career, and at 66 years of age, she’s not starting to miss a beat as yet as this seminal LP proves. This album is out there for anyone who wants to know how to write an impossibly clever, definitive, diverse work without sounding well and truly stuck up. You want some prog rock? She’s got it. You want some blood, sweat and tears-style guitars, you got it? You want some gentle massage in lyric form? You got that too. There’s not a person in the world that won’t find something to relate to in at least one song on this album and with the world and it’s very different tastes, that’s quite some statement to make.
4. ALABAMA SHAKES – 'Boys & Girls'
If you can count Rock legend Jack White among your biggest advocates, you’re doing something right. Alabama Shakes have had a meteoric rise over the course of the year, starting it out playing pubs, and ending it by having one of the key releases of the year, sending music journos into spasms and leaving crowds across the world wondering where they’ve been all their lives. Dirty Southern rock with a garage twist has never sounded more appealing, and it’s clear these guys are in it for the long haul, which can only be good news for the rest of us.
3. NORAH JONES – 'Little Broken Hearts'
Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi’s 2011 soundtrack to a film that didn’t exist “Rome” was arguably my favourite album of last year. It was a phenomenally clever piece of art that, if it were a painting, would have sold for millions at Sotheby’s. Singer-songwriting Queen-in-waiting Norah Jones was on hand for vocal duties for three of the tracks featured there and the Danger Mouse/Norah Jones partnership was born. And boy it’s an unconventional yet beautiful coming together. The beautiful layered strings, the synths, the brutal honesty and the punch-in-the-face impact of the subject matter makes this a very different, but oh so unmissable experience. You make sure you find this in a shop or on a legal download service and pay for this as very little will take you in the way this does. And then buy “Rome” as well.
2. PAUL WELLER – 'Sonik Kicks'
Paul Weller has come a long, long way since his Jam days. He’s been kicking around for quite some time releasing a string of good, but never utterly essential records until this behemoth dropped. With the old Mod style taking a distinct back seat to more electric almost dance-influenced sounds in places, this album should just not work, and that’s what makes it so special. To take something as bold and as clever as this, put it onto record and sell bucket loads of it is a feat into itself and that should not be sniffed at. He and Patti Smith are the elder couple of this list, but they are emphatic proof that the elder states people still know how to make important, vital music
1. GAZ COOMBES - 'Here Come the Bombs'
So you’ve just seen your Britpop band split up after more than a decade together. You’re famous for writing songs that lager louts could shout along to at festivals but you’re never really mentioned in the same breath as Oasis and Blur. What do you do? You always had the talent and often had the songs to make a huge impact upon a listener. You go solo, invite Nigel Godrich to produce your album and then blow everyone away.
Heavy, melodic, frantic and innovative all in equal measure, this record deserves to be in your collection. When it all boils down you can argue that maybe some albums are more technologically advanced, some albums may have catchier songs, and there’s a lot more that sold more units, but what’s important here is that this album is a complete collection. This album is designed to be listened to and enjoyed as a whole. Fragmented pieces on an iPod playlist will not suffice as what Coombes has done here is create an absolute masterpiece from start to finish.
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10. DEFTONES – 'Koi No Yokan'
9. ROLO TOMASSI – 'Astraea'
8. MUMFORD & SONS – 'Babel'
7. MUSE – 'The 2nd Law'
6. ALT–J - 'An Awesome Wave'
5. PATTI SMITH – 'Banga'
4. ALABAMA SHAKES – 'Boys & Girls'
3. NORAH JONES – 'Little Broken Hearts'
2. PAUL WELLER – 'Sonik Kicks'
1. GAZ COOMBES - 'Here Come the Bombs'
