Top Albums of 2010

It’s been a mixed year for music in my world. Amongst the multitude of fantastic albums and live shows there has been sadness, with the deaths of Ronnie James Dio and Paul Gray, both huge influences within the metal world. Then there’s been drama. Hero Mike Portnoy’s joining Avenged Sevenfold, leaving Dream Theater and ending the year in neither. The Big Four played together for the first time at Sonisphere Festivals across Eastern Europe, and have now announced they will play at Knebworth in 2011 (cue me exploding). Overall, it’s been a very exciting year.

But now it’s nearly over. And as is the norm, it’s time for the top 20 albums of the year! As faithful followers of the wigwam will know, I did a top 5 half way through the year. If you read that, well, forget it. Things have changed. If you didn’t, then you’re in luck, you won’t be confused. Here goes:

22...

Oh yeah, it’s a top 22. Couldn’t decide which to get rid of. ANYWAY...

22. Chromeo – Business Casual

It’s business as usual for the world’s most successful Arab/ Jewish collaboration. An accessible slice of funky electro, this is what Chromeo do best. Maybe not as good as the critically acclaimed ‘Fancy Footwork’, but it’s certainly an excellent follow-up.

21. Bullet For My Valentine – Fever

Not wanting to tire out the old Marmite analogy, but there is a lot of love and a lot of hate for this band. The album is a solid piece of melodic metal, and it deserves at least a mention for the fervour they create.

20. Parkway Drive – Deep Drive

Parkway have been hailed as the best metalcore band around right now, with this album being the epitome of the genre right now. They aren’t and it isn’t. It is, however, a great album (though it did take a while to grow on me) and it’s certainly up there with this year’s exemplary offerings, hence its placement here.

19. Rolo Tomassi – Cosmology

This band is baffling. Not just their spasmodic sound, but that with it they’ve managed to grace the pages of NME (the more cynical of us will come up with various reasons why). Cosmology is hectic, frenzied, experimental, but it isn’t just a random mashing of buttons that some bands seem to ply their trade in.

18. Manic Street Preachers – Postcards From A Young Man

Nicky Wire described this album as various things before it’s release. Heavy Metal meets Motown was an early prediction, and he compared to Aerosmith’s ‘Pump’. Neither is particularly accurate. ‘Postcards...’ is more a mix of the early and middle parts of the band’s history. You can hear the influence of the angry and political ‘Generation Terrorists’ tracks with the mellower, poppy material from ‘This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours’. It’s commercial, and it works.

17. The Melvins – The Bride Screamed Murder

Sludge Metal wasn’t even on my radar until this year. But if you’re going to start listening to it, The Melvins are a good way to go. The latest is as good an album as any of theirs to introduce you to a legendary band.

16. The Hold Steady – Heaven Is Whenever

A modern Bruce Springsteen in band form. This is a good enough way to describe The Hold Steady, and indeed this album. The tracks are great pop songs, and lyrically it’s almost as good as ‘Girls and Boys in America’. And that’s saying a lot.

15. Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory

There is no way you can’t enjoy this album. OK, they’re essentially an AC/DC cover band with delusions of grandeur, but that’s why they’re such fun. Fantastic live, fantastic on record, they are a full package. Cheers guys!

14. Royksopp – Senior

Kings of relaxing electronic music, the Norwegian duo returned with the followed to last years aptly named ‘Junior’. Although arguably a much weaker release, it’s still a well produced, well written chill-out album.

13. Torche – Songs For Singles

Another sludge metal band who only really registered for me this year. And another album which, although not as good as its predecessor, is a perfect next step. Thanks to their more poppy style, it’s a more accessible affair, and one which will hopefully push them more into the mainstream.

12. All That Remains – For We Are Many

A band that keeps getting better, and this album doesn’t break the trend. All That Remains are one of the more distinctive metalcore bands, thanks to the frontman Phil Labonte’s powerful voice. They’re band that often gets forgotten, but they certainly deserve more.

11. Haste The Day – Attack Of The Wolf King

When they came to the UK in April, very few people went to their barfly show. Those that didn’t missed out. It was incredible, and now sadly it will never happen again. But we can still enjoy their most accessible offering to date, including a genius cover of Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Meet Me Half Way’. It wobbles a bit on tracks such as ‘Dog Like Vultures’, but it makes up for it elsewhere with some of the best stuff they’ve written.

And that’s it for part 1. Part 2 comes probably tomorrow. Or maybe later. I have time to waste.

The red mist descends... a quick rant.

There are various, wide ranging issues in our world which make me really angry. Be it our inability to sort out the financial crisis because everyone is in it for themselves and cannot work together even when we're in the mire, the transport systems in our country that favour the car and in some cases airplane over the much more environmentally friendly train (thank you David Mitchell - http://tinyurl.com/2brb3b9), or even something much smaller like the way Vista now puts my minimised windows in the bottom right-hand corner and makes them incredibly small. Vista, you are shit.

But there have been a couple things over the past few days that have really made me think - Why? Why do we even bother with anything if we have people in the world who care only about themselves and their own interests? I think I'm a good person, I may be tooting my own horn a bit there but that's how I see myself. I think of other people. Of course, I make some incredibly selfish choices, who doesn't, but I like to think that I only do it on small scale things, not something that, I don't know, affects hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of people? So I can't fathom how people can leave their conscience's at the door, and go about life as if they are more important than anyone else. I, of course, come prepared with examples.

Naomi Campbell. We're all going to get bored hearing rants about her over the next few days so I'm getting in early. For those who are unaware, she gave testimony at the trial of Charles Taylor, former president of Liberia and warlord accused of trading weapons to the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone, in exchange for uncut diamonds, which were then sold on for huge profit. It's very likely that you only heard of this trial now because Campbell has become involved (but that is another rant about the media and our celebrity-obsessed society for another time), but it has been going on since 2007. She was there because she had attended a charity dinner at Nelson Mandela's house, sat on a table with Taylor and was later aroused from sleep to be given a gift of what she described as "dirty looking stones," which turned out to be conflict diamonds.

So, of course Naomi Campbell was ready to help put away a man who murdered many and allegedly participated in an illegal weapons trade? Of course she wasn't. Before the trial started, she stated to the judge: "I want to get this over an done with. It's a big inconvenience."

Oh we are all so sorry madam, we thought that maybe you'd be able to take your head out of your own arse for two seconds and realise that your giving evidence could, you know, bring about some justice in the world. But no, you don't care, do you? You say you don't want to be involved with this man, even storming off a TV set proclaiming so. Well unfortunately, you are involved, you had dinner with him, then some diamonds appeared, and considering his reputation, it is likely they were from him. So you are involved, and you should care that you may help to put him in prison to pay for his atrocious crimes. I don't even care that you didn't know anything about him before hand, I'd assumed you were a vacuous bimbo from many of your other activities, but you sure as hell do now! I also knew you were a self-centred, egotistical fuckhead, but I REALLY didn't think you could be this selfish.

And that's just for starters. Over the pond in that brave land of the free we call the United States of America, congress has been debating a bill that would give healthcare to the first responders to the 9/11 attacks. These are the people, nay, HEROES (and I'm not normally one for such sensationalist language), fire-fighters, paramedics, whatever, who crawled through the rubble and wreckage of the twin towers to pull out survivors and recover bodies. These people have suffered monumental health problems from their courageous acts, and this bill would assure them the care and attention they desperately need but may not be able to afford. Easy. Everyone would agree with that, right? Of course not. Despite receiving a good majority in the vote, the bill didn't attract the 2/3 majority needed in this case to pass.

So why did this bill not fly through? Well, there's one word. Republicans. Despite all their rhetoric about how these true American heroes battled to save the lives of other decent Americans in the face of cold-blooded terrorism, they cared more about the fact that, to pay for the bill, the government would have to raise tax. So even for these exulted and heroic people, they refuse to pay a little more to help out. And it isn't even them who has to pay. The bill would have been covered by the closure of a loophole which allowed foreign-multinationals to avoid paying tax to the US government by having headquarters of of American soil. We're having this discussion in the UK too, and in my opinion avoiding tax is the same as evading it. You should be prosecuted and made to pay up. And to clarify, a bill normally doesn't need a 2/3 majority, but the democrats wanted to avoid amendments by republicans, such as not allowing those who helped but were illegal immigrants from getting the free healthcare. Those damn freeloaders...

So, the people who acted in the true spirit of the American ideal are, excuse my french, fucked over by the very people who claim to stand for it. And all because they didn't want their precious businessman friends to have to pay a little bit more for the right to trade in their country and to protect those who served their country. It really makes me sick.

So, I only have one more thing to say. To Naomi, Republicans and any others who can't see past their own noses to provide a little help to the needy: Go fuck yourselves. Thank you.

Albums of the year SO FAR!

I don't know about you, but I've got the feeling that this year is going to be one of the best for music in a long time. We've had a number of great albums already released with plenty more to come. So I thought, as we're nearly halfway through the year (and I have some spare time), why not look at what I think are the top 5 albums of 2010 so far? Why not indeed. So lets get stuck in:

5. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

The third instalment from the animated band, which has morphed into a huge machine including a string quartet and plently of guest stars. Many have said this album sees Gorillaz taking a big move towards Pop. This is obvious in singles Stylo and Superfast Jellyfish, which have the simple and catchy melodies, but the usual portion of guest rappers is still present. There are a lot of guests on this album, and I was afraid this might detract from the music. But instead it adds something to the experience, to know that a large group of very talented musicians have come together to create something so mellow and chilled, perfectly capturing the warm image Damon Albarn wanted, while still making you question the relevance of our plastic obsessed world.

4. Gogol Bordello - Trans-continental Hustle

Gypsy-punk is one of those odd genres that only exists really to accommodate one or two bands. Gogol go very neatly into it. The nutty Romani tribe have released an absolute gem here, bringing together politics, love and general silliness into their unique style. The folksy Pala Tuteand My Companero kick the album off brilliantly, building to the fantastic Immigrada and finishing off with the folky title track, as they take you on a journey through punk-folk perfection. As main support to Rage Against The Machine for their free Finsbury Park show, they have started to break even further into the public eye.

3. Cancer Bats - Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones

With Hail Destroyer being such a solid album, you'd think Cancer Bats would struggle to build on it. Yet this is possibly their best album to date. From the pounding opening of Sleep This Way, through the hardcore swagger of Black Metal Bicycle and Doomed To Fail and finishing with an epic cover of Sabotage, we are given a master-class in hardcore. There are thrash tracks, slow pounding tracks and modern groove-metal classics, we have the whole spectrum making this a brilliantly varied album. This band were without a doubt a highlight of Download this year, and it looks like they're going from strength to strength.

2. As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise

Well, this is just amazing. As with CB, As I Lay Dying's last album was an absolute cracker, defining their sound and maturing into one of the best metalcore bands ever. It was going to take something spectacular to beat it, and that's what they've done. Brutal riffing with sing-a-long choruses is what AILD do best, and there is plenty of that on The Powerless Rise. It comes flying at you from the first brutal guitar riff, and doesn't let up until the last note fades away. Anodyne Sea and Parallels are almost the perfect metalcore songs, Without Conclusion is one of the heaviest songs they've ever written, yet the lyrics are extremely profound and soulful. This is without a doubt their finest hour, and as another band who slayed at Download this year, it just goes to show how fantastic the line-up really was.

Speaking of Download....

1. Deftones - Diamond Eyes

It's being hailed by some as their best ever, and those some are not far off. On Diamond Eyes we are treated to the full range of Deftones unique style, from the crunching heavy licks of Rocket Skates to the ethereal, wandering melodies of Sextape, with others such as the title track that mix the two for epic results. Although there are arguably less stand out tracks as previous offerings, the album as a whole is a clever, solid and beautiful piece of work that shows off just how fresh Deftones can be with each album, yet still keep their instantly recognisable sound. Live the new tracks have sounded powerful, fitting in perfectly with the rest of the back catalogue, blowing audiences minds as they have been for years (apparently, I've only seen them this year...). It is imperative that everyone sees them when they next tour, it is a truly awesome experience.

So that's my top 5. There should be special mentions to dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip - Logic of Chance and The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis, both fantastic albums that haven't quite made it. If I've missed anything or you disagree, don't hestitate to inform me/ call me a moron so I may be corrected, or re-evaluate my friendship with you. That is what is at stake here.

RIP Ronnie James Dio

Today is a sad day for metal. It has been confirmed that Ronnie James Dio, Singer for Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Heaven and Hell, has lost his battle with stomach cancer.

As one of the most respected and talented singers in rock, he inspired many bands in a number of genres. Two of the albums that he featured on, Heaven & Hell by Black Sabbath and his solo album Holy Diver, are often considered to be some of the best albums ever recorded, and are certainy two of the most important heavy metal records ever made. As frontman for Black Sabbath, he was able to resurrect a band that was heading for the trash heap after the depature of Ozzy, and a series of other unsuccesful vocalists.

I first came across Dio a little while after experiencing Sabbath for the first time, when I was about 13/14. Although I always prefered the stuff they recorded with Ozzy Osbourne, Dio was far and away the better singer. I still consider Live Evil to be one of the greatest live albums of all time, and it's majorly because of him. Holy Diver, of course, speaks for itself. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends.

Influential, incredible and irreplaceable. That is Ronnie James Dio. RIP

Electoral reform protest in Trafalgar Square and Smith Square

Today, as Nick Clegg and his party talked behind closed doors about the possibility of a Tory/Lib Dem coalition (ConDem, thank you Phil), around 1000 protesters led by Billy Bragg and electoral reform coalition Take Back Parliament, marched from Trafalgar Square to Smith Square where the talks were taking place to, as one protester put it: "remind Nick Clegg that electoral reform is a key issue and that he should not sell out to any of the other parties."

The chants of: "Fair votes now!" and: "Make votes count!" rang out across central London as angry citizens called for change to the current "first past the post" system.

After speechs from Bragg (and a song) and head of the Electoral Reform Society Andrew Burns, and a skit featuring the slaying of the Rupert Murdoch News Corpse dragon in Trafalgar Square, the demonstartion moved past the Houses of Parliament to Smith Square, outside the building where Clegg and other senior Lib Dems are holed up working out how to make a "ConDem" coalition work. On the way a minor scuffle nearly broke out between Bragg and a group of anti-capitalists who tried to hi-jack the protest, marching in the middle of the road holding a big banner saying "Capitalism isn't working." It all calmed down very quickly however, and Bragg later jokingly asked their leader: "Did you get dressed in the dark this morning?"

When we made it to Smith Square (complete with police escort), there were already a legion of journalists and cameramen hanging around outside. When Nick Clegg eventually came out to speak to everyone, they had to be pushed back. Some of the crowd started chanting: "Move the press," until they were reminded by the organisers that if the press weren't there, there wouldn't be a great amount of coverage. This prompted some to start chanting: "Just Move Sky," which may have been a response to Kay Burley's earlier comments: http://tinyurl.com/34d6jzh

Clegg thanked the crowd, and spoke about how: "Reforming politics is one of the reasons I went into politics." adding, "It is in the interests of everyone in Great Britain for us to use this opportunity to usher in a new politics after the discredited politics of the past." He then urged them to continue their campaign for a new and better politics.

Overall it was a reasonable success. The point of the protest was made known, got plenty of exposure and it got a response from Nick Clegg. And on a personal note I met Billy Bragg, a hero of mine. Hopefully Nick Clegg will take on board the message of this protest and not sell himself out to either party.


A short video of the protesters on my crappy phone camera. The chant is: "No more wasted votes."

Scrooby Dooby Doo (Bet I'm the first one to say that...)

dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip
Brighton Concorde 2

UK hip hop is rubbish. The headliners tonight think so, and a lot of others agree. Strange, then, that most of the dates on this tour have sold out. The irony is delicious.

But if B.Dolan is anything to go by, US Hip hop is also pretty bad. There isn't anything special about him, which is what is needed in any genre that has been around for as long as this one has, although he puts on somewhat of a show by stripping down to a white jump suit and cape before performing a death-defying jump over an audience member. This seems to please the crowd, but not much else does.

There is an energy in the room tonight. There are a mix people in this sell-out crowd: old, young, white, black, Asian, bearded, male, female, indie kids, metal heads, hip-hop fans, the list goes on, and they're all excited to be here. Opening with "The Beat That My Heart Skips," dan and Pip treat us to some delicious beats and insightful lyrics. The set alternates between old stuff and new stuff, and it all seems to blend together well. Despite disappointment with the latest offering "The Logic Of Chance", the tracks from it take on a new level live, more atmospheric and definitely more angry. Pip apologises for the "depressing suicide songs," namely "Magician's Assistant" and "Angles", but spirits are lifted by the politically charged songs like "Get Better," and of course the angry observations of "Thou Shalt Not Kill."

Although the average age of the crowd is probably 15, and many seem to be snobby indie kids, the rest have a good grasp of what Scroobius Pip is trying to say, and in any case the former are kept happy by the musical genius of dan le sac. Either way, the whole place is pretty pumped by the time "Letter From God To Man" brings the evening to a close.

But of course, UK hip-hop is rubbish...

Vote For Policy

Some of you will already be aware of voteforpolicies.org.uk. For those who aren't, go to the website and find out for yourself, lazy buggers...

But seriously, as the name suggests the site was set up to encourage people (quite admirably) to not just blindly vote for a party, and instead take the time to look at the parties policies and vote according to those you think are best. The centre piece of the website is a survey in which you chose at least four policy areas from a list of twelve, and then each of the 6 biggest party's (Labour, Tory, Lib Dem, Green, UKIP, BNP) policies on the issue are brought up unlabelled. You are then asked to chose the set of policies you think are the most sensible, and at the end it tells who you liked in each area, and which party you are most suited to.

It's a great tool for those who haven't decided which way to vote, or for those who want to test their allegiances. But it does throw up other interesting points. For example, a couple of the areas (namely education) are so difficult to chose from, for the sole reason that every party is rather wishy washy, none of them actually seems to have a real idea about what to do (or maybe that's just me...) .

Also, a fun game to play is spot the BNP. It's very easy. Just look for the phrase "decent white British people." You can also play this game with UKIP (both parties policies are unsurprising similar).

My personal results were 83% Green, 17% Labour. I expected as much (although I wouldn't have been surprised to see Lib Dem in there), and it seems that most of the 83,000 or so people who have done the survey already agree, since the current winning party is Green, followed by Lib Dem and Labour. Unfortunately, I doubt the election will turn out like this.

The main premise of this survey is something I strongly agree with. Living in Surrey, I'm sick and tired of everyone moaning about our MP, Council etc, yet the Conservative MP for Reigate, Crispin Blunt, has a 10,000 majority, while the council is overwhelmingly Tory. People will blindly vote Tory in this area, and it is bewildering how many people just won't vote because of it.

So, if anyone reading this doesn't know who they're going to vote for, or think they know who they should vote for, just take a few minutes to do the survey. You might be surprised...