Albums 2010

Another good music year, one where The Pineapple Thief grew a pair and rocked out, yet missed the cut for my top10. Post-rock came through in a big way (Oceansize, Amplifier), prog became more mainstream (whats up with the mainstream press reporting on prog?!). And I like pricing of CDs in the UK, particulary through Amazon...even if the debit card doesn't.

PS: following an upheld complaint, The Mountain Goats have been kicked off for Peter Gabriel.

Albums that didn't make the cut, but probably should have
The Pineapple Thief 'Someone here is missing'; Anathema 'We're here because we're here'; The Enid 'Journey's End'

10 Peter Gabriel 'Scratch my back'. A covers album? well yeah. But it's worth it alone for the Radiohead and Elbow covers. It's superb.
9 The Phoenix Foundation 'Buffalo'. The best album by the lads, and with the UK signing/tour and release party, maybe their year to break Europe. the Independent already has them as a band to watch.
8 Oceansize 'Self-preserved while the bodies float up'. Their best album, and a brilliant example of post-rock. I was tempted to put the new Amplifier (Octopus) in, but that should make next years list. It's heavy, the songs breath and have space, and the centrepiece, Oscar Acceptance Speech, is superb. And maybe my track of the year.
7 Jon Lord 'To Notice Such Things'. Yes, ex-Deep Purple Jon Lord. He's carved out an excellent career as a classical composer, and this album is dedicated to, and inspired by the late John Mortimer (of Rumpole fame). The music is lyrical, sweet, emotional, and very tuneful.
6 Spock's Beard 'X'. Ya wouldn't guess it's their 10th album? It's good, prog-rock. Everything just works on the album, even the slightly forced tribute to all those who paid to get a namecheck. Recent albums have felt a little long, but this time (and we're talking 1.3 hours) it flows and holds the interest. Great stuff.

Top 5 in the next post.

Me