A few of the music mags have had features like this recently, so I decided to make my own version. The Skinny did a countdown of the top ten Scottish albums released between January 2000 and December 2009. This isn’t based wholly around Scottish artists – although there are a few in there!

10. Beck – The Information (2006)

I saw Beck support Radiohead at Meadowbank Stadium around the time this album was released. In my opinion, he completely stole the show, outshining Tom York’s band a million times over. It was absolutely brilliant, I could have gone home after his warm-up and have been quite happy. The Information, is a really great album. Favourite track – Think I’m in Love.

9. Nouvelle Vague – Bande a’ Part (2006)

Nouvelle Vague was an excellent find in one of the smaller tents at Connect Festival 2007. This album is all covers of previous big hits, set with elevator style music and different female guest vocals. On stage, Nouvelle Vague was full of energy, but this album is very chilled out with lots of lovely surprises. Favourite track – The Killing Moon.

8. The Twilight Sad – Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters (2007)

Cumbernauld’s finest, the Twilight Sad rose to fame quite slowly but now have two successful albums under their belt. This was their debut and will always be my favourite. They supported Idlewild on their Scottish Fiction greatest hits tour, which is when I really sat up and took notice. With the most Scottish vocals you ever did hear, James Alexander Graham never seems to look at the crowd to whom he is performing. Lots of people have said this makes him a bit of an “arse” but I reckon it’s part of the charm. I’m actually listening to this CD right now and debating with myself whether or not this should have been higher than number eight. Favourite track – That summer, at home I had become the invisible boy.

7. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular (2008)

This album brought us three massive club anthems in the form of Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, and Kids. Really though, who doesn’t want to jump around all silly when the beginning of Kids comes on, belting out the infamous “dodododododododooooo do”? It was certainly my favourite past time during the summer of 08. Oracular Spectacular was just different from anything else, it’s hard to explain why. Favourite track – Electric Feel.

6. Sons and Daughters – The Repulsion Box (2005)

Where have Sons and Daughters gone? The Repulsion Box was their debut album, following the success of EP Love the Cup. They seemed to just be getting into their stride – gigging constantly around Glasgow and taking part in a number of side projects. This album is lyrically dark and raw, but has glittery twists and allows the demure of the band to be what can only be described as ‘posey’. Favourite track – Rama Lama.

5. Beirut – Gulang Orkestar (2006)

Beirut is something of a phenomenon to me. This album is a folky-emperimental mix, with lots of obscure instruments, all of which are played by the one-man-band. I think the reason I like this CD so much is because it is really quite odd. It’s very chilled out and easy to listen to, and gives a lot of happiness-vibes. Favourite track(s) – Mount Wroclai, and Scenic World.

4. Rilo Kiley – More Adventurous (2004)

This was the third album released by Los Angeles based Rilo Kiley. Since then they’ve released Under the Blacklight which is also amazing, but this one has the leading spot for me. It reminds me of being in Port Patrick sitting on top of a shed roof with my best friend, drinking Malibu (why?) whilst a barbecue feast was being cooked up. This album is gorgeous, as is singer Jenny Lewis. If you’ve not heard it you should go grab a copy now. Favourite track – Portions for Foxes.

3. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (2007/08)

First full length album from this guy, self-released in 2007 and re-released the following year by 4AD. This album was widely acclaimed and has won a bunch of awards. I got myself a copy after reading Idlewild’s myspace blog, all of whom were going a bit crazy for it. I’m so glad, it’s beautiful. Looking forward to seeing what he does next. Favourite track – Skinny Love.

2. Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions (2009)

This has been on repeat on my mp3 player since November 20 when it finally came out. Feels as though we’ve been waiting for years for this as they released three singles from it before the album was finished. Every track is just the best thing you’ll ever hear. Definitely worth the wait. Biffy Clyro can do no wrong in my eyes. Favourite track – Bubbles.

1. Idlewild – The Remote Part (2002)

100 Broken Windows may have been voted the Skinny’s number one, but this is my personal favourite. I cannot believe it’s been almost eight years since it came out – I was only 15! and I still listen to it all the time! In an interview with Drowned in Sound, lead singer Roddy Woomble said the band felt like a group of collective songwriters during the writing process for this album. It was the third studio album they had released, and have kept going over the years. They now have six, and a greatest hits from 1997-2007. Another band who can do no wrong, I will continue to go see them live until they decide to call it a day. Favourite track – Tell Me Ten Words.

So there you have it. My ten favourite albums of this decade. And here’s the ones that just missed out -

11. Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004)

12. Bell x1 – Flock (2005)

13. The Shins – Oh, Inverted World (2001)

14. Death cab for Cutie – Plans (2005)

15. Marmaduke Duke – Duke Pandemonium (2009)

16. The Music – Welcome to the North (2004)

17. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)

18. Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires (2008)

19. Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight (2008)

20. Flaming Lips – At War with the Mystics (2006)

I got my Celtic Connections ball rolling today by purchasing my first ticket for the 2010 festival. Funnily enough, it’s for the last show of the fortnight, but tickets can tend to get quite pricey if you’re planning on going to a number of events, so I’m trying to be selective. This one is a must-see. It is Glasgow-based label Chemikal Underground’s 15th anniversary and will have the likes of Emma Pollok, the Phantom Band, and Zoey Van Goey playing. £15 to spend an evening watching a bunch of talented musicians is, in my opinion, money well spent.
Chemikal Underground have been responsible for putting on excellent events such as Ballads of the Book – a musical/literary collaboration day at the Tramway a couple of years ago, which had Scottish poets writing for different bands. There is also the Burns Unit, a group of singer/songwriters who took themselves to a log cabin in some magical highland existence to collaborate together and make fantastic music.
Getting off the point there though…..January 31 is the date, o2 ABC on Sauchihall Street is the venue, this is not one to be missed!
(And if you’re planning on hitting the Festival Club, the final night is the one you’ll want to be at!)

Celtic Connections Tickets

Does anybody else think that Florence, of Florence and the Machine, is completely ripping off Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley’s style?

I had myself a little frightmare about this video last night….

Am I exaggerating, or is it the creepiest thing you’ve ever seen?

However, I totally love the song. It makes me want to go out to the Abc and request it …. even though the DJ box there is clearly designed so that people like me are unable to ask for rubbish songs.

I get the last laugh though: I can jump high enough.

I really need to get this off my chest…!

Today, I was quite excited to see Biffy Clyro on the front cover of the Big Issue. So I counted out my £1.50 and thanked the lady for my copy….

There was a nice three-page-spread with the band discussing their new album (which is amazing by the way) and how they felt about coming back to the Barrowlands for two nights last week, after spending months in LA recording.

I was about halfway through and thinking to myself:  ’this is really quite a good feature’ – then it happened. The worst possible thing you could ever imagine a journalist could do. The writer, Jasper Hamill, referred to frontman Simon NEIL as Simon KING.

There it was, in a block quote – not even hidden within the article with the hope of going unnoticed. It continued throughout the whole story. Mr Hamill should go back to Journalism Lesson One: make sure you have the right names, and spell them right. He clearly does not know anything about the band if this is the kind of error he’s making, I just cannot believe it. I feel like writing to the Big Issue editor and telling him that I could have made a better job of this piece.

Seriously though, what a big mistake to make.

On Tuesday night I left the Barras looking like I’d been showering with my clothes on. I’m not exaggerating when I say this was one of the top five gigs I’ve ever been to. Have a look at my photo story…

Biffy Clyro at the Glasgow Barrowland

Biffy Clyro will be realeasing their fifth studio album ‘Only Revolutions’ on 14th floor records, on November 9.

Although they have a new album coming out, they didn’t overload the setlist with new stuff. They managed to get through 23 songs in 90 minutes, with a great mix from Blackened Sky right up to unheard new tracks.

Here’s the full setlisting….

Encore:

On Tuesday morning, Emma and I went to the Celtic Connections Press Launch at the Royal Concert  Hall.

First we heard from Ann Loughrey, Head of CSR for ScottishPower – Celtic Connections’ Principal Sponsor. She spoke about how glad ScottishPower are to yet again support the festival. This year, they are also launching the ScottishPower Powerful Performance schools competition, to give one school group the chance to appear as part of the music festival.

We then heard about the extensive Education Programme of the Festival. Finally, Donald Shaw, Artistic Director, announced this year’s line-up, highlighting some of the great things we can look forward to in January.

Emma and I were also able to interview Jade Hewat, the Festival Manager. Below you can listen to some more details of the Festival and our interview with Jade. You can read our artlice on the Local News Glasgow website!

Celtic Connections Press Launch

They have been recording since 1997 but this year Idlewild became an unsigned band when their label Sanctuary went into administration. They decided to fund their new album by asking fans to pre-order it, and those who did received their copies back in June.  

Post Electric Blues is a variety of folk, rock and pop, with the band sounding refreshed and their most comfortable since The Remote Part in 2002. It is a mix of Loch side sing-alongs and bigger, louder songs that should go down pretty well when they head out on tour again.

While their obvious influences from bands like REM are still there, the folk-rock cocktail of this album brings a sound that could only belong to them.

The song: (The Night Will) Bring You Back To Life features vocals from both Roddy Woomble and Rod Jones, and is very typical of Woomble’s solo album style, however it seems to be a duet which sees the musicians equally content in their production of happy indie folk.

The tone of the album is very hopeful, particularly on the track Younger Than America, which has melodic keyboard pieces reinforced by the enchanting guest vocals from Irish folk singer Heidi Talbot.

Idlewild have always been a band that has worked hard for their fans, and since their last studio album in 2006 they have had numerous gigs in special venues, such as the album-a-night at King Tuts last Christmas.

This is a Scottish band we can all be proud of, and there is a lot to look forward to as they embark upon their latest tour.

Post Electric Blues went on general release on Monday October 5.

The band

Roddy Woomble: vocals

Rod Jones: guitar, backing vocals and keyboard

Allan Stewart: guitar

Gareth Russell: bass

Colin Newton: drums

Track Listing

Hello !

For my first little piece of blogging I’ve decided to bring to your attention something that’s been having my attention for the past couple of weeks. This would be the soon to be released single by Biffy Clyro. The three piece Ayrshire rockers have come up with a new beaut of a song, The Captain. It begins heavy as many of their songs do, but they incorporate their signature melodies and gorgeous lyrics as always – and of course, it wouldn’t be a Biffy song without a massive chorus for the crowds to get hold of at their live shows.

I always know when I’m about to fall in love with a song as the first time I hear it I actually get tingles. Generally what happens next is a lot of hearing it on repeat or the radio absolutely murdering it with airtime, and I eventually become sick of it, but for now I’m still at that blissful can’t-get-enough-of-it stage.

The video for the song is also pretty special. Pirate themed, frontman Simon Neil takes a leaf out of Johnny Depp’s book and gets into the black eyeliner. Have a look for yourself … http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=63466271

The band appeared on Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge tour last week on Radio One, recorded in the front room of bassist James’s house. They did a few lovely acoustic tracks, one of my favourites was a cover of Love & Sexy Magic. I wasn’t a fan of the original, and I really think they’ve taken something pretty rubbish and made it great. Check it out if you don’t believe me …

All Biffy fans will be happy to hear that after a couple of amazing singles following their 2007 album Puzzle, a newbie is on the way! Only Revolutions is set for release on November 2 (tying in nicely with their two scheduled dates at the Barrowland in Glasgow at the start of that month.  It seems to have taken forever for this band to get there – a decade to be more precise – but this album is being tipped to be mega. 

The Captain, by Biffy Clyro is out on October 26.