I’ve been listening to Flamboyant Bella for a few days now and really can’t make up my mind on it. The fact that the first impression I got was “this is what Kate Nash fronting a full band would sound like” didn’t really help matters. I like Nash and all, but her songwriting certainly appeals over her voice. Anyway, Flamboyant Bella have a nice, airy sound to their music that does ultimately work, so I think I’m coming down on the side of like. It’s actually kind of perfect as summer music. Shame that it’s January.

Us Kids is out now directly from the band’s website.

It was only a few months after I discovered And What Will Be Left Of Them?, a very noisy yet very good band from Worcester, that they decided to break up. I didn’t really expect to hear much more from them after that. Suddenly this gem dropped into the inbox though, and in the course of a couple of minutes manages to run rings round the mighty AWWBLOT.

Lost Boy Scout is the one-man band of Peter Adams, who was the “chief shouter, song writer and guitar hitter” in the previous band. He apparently intends to release four albums this year (the result of a drunken bet naturally) and if this is anything to go by, it’s going to be a hell of a journey.

The first of the four albums, Stag, is out now on PopArt London.

I largely missed the Sambassadeur bandwagon up until now. I was vaguely aware of them and discovered a few songs in my music library, so I must have stumbled across them to at least some degree. By and large they went right over my head though, which is slightly odd as they seem to be my kind of band.

Days is the lead single from the band’s upcoming third album, entitled European. It’s a wonderfully orchestral journey that evokes the same kind of Swedish indie pop joy that one gets from bands like Irene, or even more local contemporaries like Camera Obscura. It has a big sound to it, which can easily be too much for this kind of music, but it’s self-assured enough to know how to make it work.

It’s about time I head back through those previous Sambassadeur albums I think.

European will be released on February 24 via Labrador Records.

Nirvana may be one of the laziest bands I’ve ever heard. Releasing a bunch of material between 1989 and 1994, they then started falling back on easy releases. Live acoustic shows, a singles collection, a box of rarities, a live set at Reading have all appeared in the years since. I’m sure it’s great for fans, but it seems to be taking the piss a bit to put out this same stuff over and again. You’d think after fifteen years they’d finally have that fabled fifth album ready, but it doesn’t seem to be anywhere in sight. Guns N’ Roses will put out another album before these guys at this rate.

Continuing to dredge out old material, we have a reissue of the band’s debut album, Bleach, which is somehow twenty years old at this point. It’s never done a great deal for me if I’m honest, but nor has much of Nirvana’s output. I think that maybe I’m a couple of years too young to fully “get” the band. It’s the same reason the Pixies are largely lost on me. Don’t get me wrong, I like both bands, but they’ll never be held in the same regard as Weezer or Pavement and the such. All that said, I do like About A Girl, mostly because I was won over my the MTV Unplugged version of it, but the original is pretty damn good too.

Great British Hopes features the very best bands that make us party like it’s 2011. Oh yes.

Now this is my cup of tea. You play sceptically through tons and tons of mp3s by bands that don’t do very much, and then one will make you sit up and go ‘wow’. Granted, my standards for that aren’t that high. Sound vaguely like Pavement (or a bunch of other 90s bands) and you’re already halfway there. Sir Yes Sir are far better than one lazy comparison.

This is guitar rock just the way I like it. Sloppy sounding through the verses, laced with distortion through the choruses. It jumps about all over the place, in both time and sound, and it’s all the better for it. A wonderfully punchy two minutes from a band I expect to hear a lot more of this year.

Pop quiz, hotshot. Gold Soundz an excellent song by Pavement that’s been remastered. The remastered one is below, the original is above. Can you hear the difference?

Me either.

The remastered Gold Soundz is taken from the upcoming best-of entitled Quarantine the Past. I hate best-ofs so I’ll be sticking with my demastered versions. For those that do want it, it will apparently be MID-PRICED. I’ve no idea what that means either.

I first heard of Finland’s Cats on Fire a few years back, but didn’t pay them much attention until Indietracks last year. Sadly I only caught part of their set due to heading outside for Camera Obscura. What I did see though was a band playing to ton of enthusiastic fans in a railway shed (video of them bringing the dancing here!) that really won me over, and by the end of the day, I’d picked up their most recent album from the merch table.

I still need to rummage through their back catalogue some more, but assuming they make it back to Indietracks again this year, I’ll be there front and centre for their entire set this time. Still, that’s another six months away yet, and as a precursor for the year, the band have put out a free double a-side single. A-side The Hague is a little sparser than I would have expected from them but certainly interesting. The Borders of This Land is the second song, and is much more traditionally Cats on Fire. Both have value, giving two entirely different directions that the band could easily follow in the future.

You can download the single in full (including a-side The Hague) from Cosy Recordings.

I love my Amazon wishlist. It’s my one holding bay for all of those lovely things I want to buy, from books to DVDs to games (and even the odd album). In fact, I’m so reliant on it at this point that I don’t know how I’d organise my entertainment purchasing without it. Sure, I don’t always buy from Amazon (I’ll go somewhere else to save 2p) but as a useful resource, it’s hard to top.

Which begs the question of why no one has written a song about it before. Far more trivial things have had songs written about them (like sex, love and war), but not one verse about our trusty online retailing organisation system? It’s madness I tell you. Which makes it all the more apt that Moustache of Insanity have gone and done it. Like all of their songs, it’s incredibly haphazard, but it possesses such a ramshackle charm that it’s impossible not to enjoy.

You can download the entire Postcards to Strangers EP from the band’s website. For limited time only apparently. Though that limited time is already a month, so who knows?

From about ten minutes after I first heard Allo Darlin’s Henry Rollins Don’t Dance, I was certain that it was going to be a strong contender for my favourite song of the year. I couldn’t see anything else coming close to the utter joy that those three minutes brought over and over, and as the year moved on, it seemed even more certain. Indeed, it took until December for another song to challenge for the position, and incredibly, it was from Allo, Darlin’ once again.

The Polaroid Song isn’t as immediate as the aforementioned Rollins. It doesn’t have one particular line or image that ingrains itself into one’s attention. What it does have though is a feeling. It’s all upbeat and cheerful enough, but there seems to be a slightly mournful take to the proceedings here. It’s the vocals that do it I think. Elizabeth Darling’s voice here seems more restrained than before, only really letting go for certain lines, but it works. We end up with a song that seems to lament the passing of time and what’s left behind, making it ideal for this time of year.

You can download the b-side to the Polaroid Song, the even more apt for this time of year Will You Please Spend New Year’s Eve With Me? for absolutely nothing from the superb Fortuna Pop. They’ll also sell it to you on 7″ vinyl if that’s your cup of tea too.

I’ve missed far too much music in the past year to make a proper best of list, so instead, here’s a list of 22 songs that I’ve loved from 2009. Listed in alphabetical order, not preference. Even though all of them are bloody good.

4 or 5 Magicians – Preaching to the Converted
So 2009 didn’t turn out to be the year that 4 or 5 Magicians finally “made it”. They did manage to put out their first proper album though, and despite a few missteps, it’s an excellent start. Dan Ormsby’s great talent as a songwriter shine through throughout, perfectly chronicling both a struggling band and the state of the country side by side.
Obama is your new Che Guevara / Scouting for Girls are your new Nirvana / You’ve written ‘Free Tibet’ on the back of your hand / But you figure Tibet is a part of Iran
Youtube

Allo Darlin’ – Henry Rollins Don’t Dance
Pretty much the song of the year for me, although The Polaroid Song put in another strong effort for Allo Darlin’ Seemingly going from strength to strength at the moment, I’m half expecting them to be everywhere this year.
But in my head you’re Patrick Swayze / You drag me from the corner and call me ‘baby’ / But baby you don’t even wanna see Dirty Dancing
Youtube

The Answering Machine – Another City, Another Sorry
The album as a whole never quite lived up to the promise, but The Answering Machine did manage to deliver some superb individual songs. Kind of what the Arctic Monkeys might be sounding like now if they hadn’t turned to shit.
I’m sort of lacking certainty / Situations tease the drunk out of me
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Art Brut – Demons Out!
Three albums in and Art Brut seem to be stuck in a holding pattern. No real advancement in terms of songs or abilities. A set of decent songs that are a hell of a lot better when performed live due to the natural charisma of Eddie Argos. I suspect Art Brut are about as a popular as they are ever going to be at this point. Which is why we can expect plenty more songs like Demons Out! in the future.
How am I supposed to sleep at night when no one likes the music we write / Record buying public, we hate them / This is Art Brut vs. Satan
Youtube

Camera Obscura – French Navy
2009 seemed to be the year that Camera Obscura finally came into their own, to the extent that after 13 years, the band were finally able to give up their day jobs. Each album has seen the band grow considerably, with more complex and elaborate arrangements making their way in. It might have taken a while, but they certainly aren’t the “female Belle & Sebastian” any longer.
Spent a week in a dusty library / Waiting for some words to jump at me
Youtube

Cats on Fire – Horoscope
The album was a little patchy, but Horoscope is an excellent little song. Mattias Björkas’s voice is the standout attraction here. He may sound like a Euro-Morrissey, but it’s incredibly easy to drift away in his voice.
I don’t believe in happy ever after / A pyramid scheme, I keep telling you
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Dananananaykroyd – Pink Sabbath
A band that creates such a ruckus that they require a whole new genre has to be created for them (fight pop). Dananananaykroyd’s album was an assault on the ears from start to finish, but in a good way. If such a thing is possible.
Buy it, run it, kick it, fuck it, yeah
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Emmy the Great – First Love
It took her the best part of five years, but Emmy the Great’s debut album just about lived up the high expectations. Boldly leaving off a number of “old favourites” in favour of a more structured collection, the album is a grower, but worth investing the time in.
You said I have a room / At the top of the stairs / I have a room with a view
Youtube

Fight Like Apes – Something Global
Possibly the most exciting band that I came across this year, I can’t think of album that has anywhere near as much play on my car stereo. And boy does it sound superb when bombing along at speed. Wonderfully unhinged.
So give me my hook / I know it might sound lame / Do you like my new look? / Waistcoats are so today
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Go Away Birds – The Year of Letting You Down
The first of two songs on this list to feature Catherine Ireton, who quickly became one of my favourite voices. A small start for someone who deserves to be huge.
I met with a little success in my work / You wouldn’t call it taking off / But you wouldn’t call it starving
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God Help the Girl – God Help the Girl
..and here’s the second. For some reason that’s baffling to me, the Gold Help the Girl album didn’t seem to get the acclaim I expected it to. The fact it’s not showing up on many end of year lists is deeply confusing to me, but I suppose you can’t win them all. The song choice here is pretty arbitrary, as it could have just as easily been I’ll Have To Dance With Cassie, Musician Please Take Heed or a handful more.
The dawn will touch me in a way a boy could never touch / Their promise never meant so much to me
Youtube

Johnny Foreigner – Choose Yr Side and Shut Up!
An excellent song from what was an ultimately disappointing second album. Don’t get me wrong, I do like it and all, but it doesn’t even come close to Waited Up Til It Was Light. This album opener hints at the bigger things in store though. Short and to the point, it has anthem written all over it.
So we scattered pretty / Arcs across the city / Turned pockets of doubt / Into blankets of hope
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Let’s Wrestle – We Are The Men You’ll Grow To Love Soon
A slightly disjointed debut album from Let’s Wrestle still brought us a bunch of excellent little songs, if nothing incredibly exciting. Still, a band very much of their time. Few others can so perfectly articulate life in modern Britain.
We’re going down the job centre / And soon we’ll come out with a job
Youtube

Loney, Dear – Airport Surroundings
Typically late to the party with stuff like this, I never got into Loney, Dear (is there a comma or not?) much when the critically loved Loney, Noir came out. I absolutely love Airport Surroundings though. You’d think that would inspire me to check out the rest of the album, but I still haven’t got around to it. One day.
The last pain got away when I gave up myself / I bought a ticket to hell when I met up with you
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Los Campesinos! – The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future
Utterly, utterly perfect. The album is quite good too. So I’m told.
I ask her to speak French and then I need her to translate / I get the feeling she makes the meaning more significant
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Pocketbooks – Footsteps
The debut album from Pocketbooks delivered on all of the promise of the past few years. One indie pop gem after another, it makes me very excited for the future. From their adoration soaked performance at Indietracks to high profile support slot of God Help the Girl, bigger things are almost certainly in their future.
From the supermarket aisles to the dance floors of provincial towns / I’d occupy my vacant hours just waiting for something
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Projekt A-ko – Molten Hearts
It always great when you discover a great band that is still rocking as if it’s 1994, and that’s exactly what Projekt A-ko do. Distortion, lazy vocals and even the odd “woo”. More like this in 2010 please.
I’ve got no fashion sense / I haven’t got any sense / I’ll never make any sense
Lastfm

Stagecoach – Break
Another band unashamedly influenced by the 90s US indie rock scene, Stagecoach bring the sound of Seattle to Brighton. Break is three minutes of song perfection, from a band we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the near future.
It’s not like her to cross the line / But she crossed it before and she’s gonna cross it one more time / Shit breaks / I kick in her face
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Superman Revenge Squad – Super Sad Morgan
Pretty much any song from the supremely talented Ben Parker could have made it onto the list. I actually debated placing a Nosferatu D2 song on here, but it seemed to be pushing things a little. His songs are a masterclass in the writing of lyrics. Quite why a label hasn’t snapped him up is completely beyond me.
If someone mentions Woolworths again I think I’m gonna combust / We stole all of the Pic ‘n’ Mix from out her hearts
Lastfm

Tigers That Talked – Black Heart Blue Eyes
One of the most beautiful songs of the year from a band I really need to listen to more of. Black Heart Blue Eyes has such a wonderfully theatrical sound to it, topped off with some perfectly snappy wordplay.
Bigotry’s obligatory around here / There’s nothing for me to defend / Just got to go
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Voxtrot – Berlin, Without Return…
Everything that the debut album should have been but never managed. Ramesh Srivastava’s vocal is as pitch perfect as ever, once again with a song worthy of his talents.
Do you spend your whole life trying to get back home? / Where do you go?
Youtube

The Young Republic – The Wolf
Now a fully formed band, The Young Republic may not be the same band they were a few years ago, but they know exactly what they want to be. Shifting from orchestral indie pop to Americana isn’t the easiest leap, but they’ve pulled it off with style. Incredibly self assured.
It hasn’t been this bad since my grandpa was a kid / He made it through, he never told us what he did
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