Another Form of Relief

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
mp3

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
mp3

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
mp3

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
Youtube

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
mp3

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
Youtube

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
mp3

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
Youtube

Each time I write about Nosferatu D2 on here, I say to myself that it’ll be the last time. Excellent as they were, they broke up two years ago now, so what more can I keep saying? If I haven’t sold you on them by this point, odds are I’m not going to.

Step forward the “specialists in commercial suicide” Audio Antihero who have taken it upon themselves to finally get the debut Nosferatu D2 album a proper release. It would be easy to write this off as both pointless and/or foolhardy. These songs need to be out there though, and AA deserve nothing but praise for getting it done.

As with his more recent Superman Revenge Squad project, it’s Ben Parker’s songwriting abilities that are the main attraction here. Over the course of ten songs, we move from ferocious attacks on his home town of Croydon to melancholy laments at Christmas to that shitty feeling of every band disappointing you eventually. This is accompanied by music that shifts from the violently abrupt on some songs to subtle backing on others. It’s an odd record, one that regularly contradicts itself, but as a snapshot of what it’s like to be a young adult on the periphery of London, you’ll be hard pushed to find anything better.

Not bad for a band that was only around for a couple of years.

We’re Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise should be released on October 16 via Audio Antihero. The songs have been remastered, artwork supplied by the band and comes with a retrospective inlay. You can’t say fairer than that for £5.99

Every band I’ve ever loved has let me down eventually
The worst album will always be the last one
It’s a grower, yeah, but it never grew on me

I really should stop writing about Nosferatu D2. They never recorded anything properly and only played a handful of gigs, the last of which was a year and a half ago. Yet I still keep coming back to them.

It was the above lines in A Footnote that brought me back this time. I don’t know if it’s just the way things work, but it certainly holds true to my own tastes. Perhaps it’s the constant search for the next favourite that makes the previous one lose their appeal quickly. It could be something else entirely. It’s true though. There are a ton of bands where I adored the first album or two and now don’t even bother listening to what they put out. When I do listen, I tend to regret it and return to the older stuff. Maybe all bands should break up after one album or a set time period or something. It would certainly keep things fresh.

So I don’t know whether or not I’m saddened by the loss of Nosferatu D2 so quickly. Ben Parker is definitely one hell of a songwriter and is doing good stuff within his Superman Revenge Squad project. It’s kind of a shame that we won’t get to see what ND2 would have come up with, but at least they can’t eventually let me down.

What would you do if you were the last person left in the world? You’d probably have quite a few things you’d be able to do that you never had the chance to previously. Ben Parker, aka Superman Revenge Squad, is quite the opposite. He’d rather tell you what he wouldn’t do. He wouldn’t reading books because there will be no girls to see him reading them and give him “knowing looks”. Instead, he’ll just feel sorry for himself.

This kind of lyrical honesty echoes through When Everyone’s Dead. Tracking our lead through the early years of his life through the grunge explosion and the sudden horror of discovering he’s turning into a goth. He’s unapologetically literate, to the point where the song almost stops just so he can rant about that “sexist, talentless twat” Jack Kerouac.

You can download the other two songs from Superman Revenge Squad’s single absolutely free from those lovely people at God Is In The TV.

Yeah yeah.

Arriving from the ashes of the mighty Nosferatu D2 is Superman Revenage Squad, a one man stream of consciousness tour de force. The music doesn’t really matter because it’s all about the words. Which is for the best, because as Idiot Food is disjointed at best. The song is littered with entire sections that go wandering off on separate tangents and leave the music behind. But it doesn’t really matter as you’ll usually find yourself nodding in agreement with everything he’s saying.

I woke up feeling like a new person, unfortunately he was much worse than the one I used to be

A fine slice of upbeat melancholy from Sweden’s ambassadors of loserpop (I will make this a genre if it’s the last thing I do).

Rock bands fronted by girls with aggressive vocals seem to be in favour at the moment, but who are we to argue when the results are as good as Australia’s Operator Please? Seemingly a rallying cry against popularity, all of the crucial boxes are ticked, from shouty-to-gentle vocals, music that goes all over the place, as well as the obligatory occasional fuck.

If any band can put as much of a smile on my face as Tullycraft can, I haven’t heard them yet. Probably the best kept secret within the indie pop scene (this is their 13th year and they still seem to be obscure), last year saw the release of their fifth album, Every Scene Needs A Center. The whole thing is loaded with excellent pop songs, but few come close to the pure joy of If You Take Away The Make-Up.., with it’s handclaps, gentle vocals and to the point two minute running time.

Coming across as a sort of 2007 version of The Futureheads (only, you know, good), Assembly Now don’t seem to have quite nailed their final sound yet, but it’s fun listening to them mess around while they try. Leigh-On-Sea perfects the all over the place vocals and guitar rhythms that initially worked so well for the aforementioned band. Assuming they keep on doing what they’re doing and finally settle on a sound that is just a tiny bit more original, these guys have the potential to be something very special.

It was the always great Nothing But Green Lights that first put me onto The Bridge Gang, and thanks to my ever excellent timing, they had already broken up by the time I started listening. It still amazes me that great bands can fly entirely under your radar for years without you ever being aware they exist. Oh well, late or not, London Sky Tonight is a perfect rock single – rough, ready and deceptively simple.

One of only two songs from Under The Blacklight that I still quite like a few months later, Dreamworld is far, far too good to have anything to do with that album. The only Blake effort within an increasingly Jenny-centric band, it has all of the subtlty and depth that the rest of the album seems to lack. Just listen to the wonderful guitar work and take in the oh so softly vocals. I have no idea what it’s about, and honestly I can’t say that I care. It’s all about the sound.

Just when I think Two Gallants are destined to be a band where I appreciate a few songs but never really love any of them, along comes a song like this and completely blows me away. This song alone has rocketed the band to the top of my ever expanding “bands I should check out in more detail when I have the time” list. If they have just one more song as good as this, it’ll be worth it.

Inara George’s vocals are the only reason I like this. Ironically, I don’t really like her solo work or even other Bird & The Bee songs, but this song? The vocals are perfectly crafted, particularly on the verses. It gets a little close to spoken word, which is probably the appeal. More songs like this please.

Nosferatu D2 formed in June 2005 and broke up in June 2007. For two years they did their thing, recording ten songs and playing eighteen whole gigs. I was lucky enough to be at their final gig, a support slot for Los Campesinos! back in March, although it wasn’t their final one at the time. They played through their songs to a room of 50 or so mildly interested people. I don’t know if that’s a good end for a band or not. Regardless of whether it is, they deserve a little attention.

The band was made up of two brothers from Croydon. Ben sang and played guitar while Adam did his drumming thing. For a band without even a bass player, they developed a rich sound, which is all the more impressive for songs that were (I think) home recorded. Their most memorable songs were upbeat tirades about consumer culture and the modern music scene peppered with some very bizarre tangents. The songs that grew on you were slower, more reflective numbers. Both had their place, and they worked well side by side.

MP3 Nosferatu D2 – Broken Tamagotchi (expired)
MP3 Nosferatu D2 – A Footnote (expired)
MP3 Nosferatu D2 – Springsteen (expired)

Those songs are all from the upbeat end of their catalogue, but you can download all ten songs from their lastfm page. Ben now does his own thing in the more restrained, but no less interesting Superman Revenge Squad.

Nosferatu D2: Myspace

What’s the point in anything but money?
We’re gonna write a song like Coldplay
We’re gonna creep into the top 40
We’re gonna tour until we hate each other’s guts

Superman Revenge Squad, despite the name, is a man called Ben and his guitar. These are not so much songs as spoken word diatribes about anything and everything, from lamenting the past to the state of the music industries to amusingly tragic tales of private detectives. The music doesn’t really matter, it’s all about the words. Which is for the best, because as songs these are disjointed at best. These songs are littered with vocals that go wandering off on separate tangents and leave the music behind. But it doesn’t really matter as you’ll usually find yourself nodding in agreement with everything he’s saying.

MP3 Superman Revenge Squad – Idiot Food (expired)
MP3 Superman Revenge Squad – Been a Private Detective for 17 Months (expired)
MP3 Superman Revenge Squad – Kendo Nagasaki (expired)
MP3 Superman Revenge Squad – The Devil Has Two Hands (expired)
MP3 Superman Revenge Squad – A Funny Thing You Said (expired)
MP3 Superman Revenge Squad – When Everyone’s Dead (live) (expired)

Superman Revenge Squad: Myspace

Ben is also the lead singer and guitarist of the fantastic Nosferatu D2, so you should go and listen to them as well.