White Lies - To Lose My Life...

Track Listing
Death
To Lose My Life
A Place To Hide
Fifty On Our Foreheads
Unfinished Business
E.S.T
From The Stars
Farewell To The Fairground
Nothing To Give
The Price Of Love

One of the first releases of 2009 also looks dead set to number among the most significant. Epically depressive London trio White Lies were named as number 2 in the BBC’s Sound of 2009 most-likely-to poll, reflecting the intentions and suppositions of industry movers and shakers (critics, DJs, suited big-wigs with expense accounts). And it’s not hard to fathom what sent their collective neck hairs tingling. Morbidly macabre (barely a minute passes without some reference to death), gothically cold and efficient and free of baseless sentimentality yet relatable to, To Lose My Life is a machine of a debut record, an example in really getting the job done. Driven by the propulsive, non-nonsense Larry Mullen-esque drumming (think pre-Joshua Tree U2) of Jack Brown on steady percussive powerhouses like “A Place To Hide” and “From The Stars”, a bold path is lain over which singer Harry McVeigh roams dispensing haunting melancholy, his statuesque vocal pitched between David Byrne, Paul Banks of Interpol and Ian McCulloch. It’s all undeniably derivative, portions of their sound easily attributed to various sombre post-punk stalwarts of the 1980s; Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen, Talking Heads. But there’s something so impulsively likable and vibrant about this very consistent set of songs that sees them make peers of Editors, The Killers and for the general dire tone, Glasvegas. Singles “Death” and “Unfinished Business” especially could spar with any of the above.

Rockferry - Duffy

Track Listing
Rockferry
Warwick Avenue
Serious
Stepping Stone
Syrup & Honey
Hanging On Too Long
Mercy
Delayed Devotion
Scared
Distant Dreamer
Product Details

Rockferry, the Welsh singer's lovingly constructed debut album, has already succeeded beyond expectations, and although Duffy may not quite be the ingénue portrayed by a clever press campaign (she nearly won a local television talent show a few years back while a single credited to Aimee Duffy is still available on iTunes) she is surely the most appealing of the current flood of young soul sirens. The astonishing title track, co-written by Bernard Butler, sounded like a lost transmission that had taken decades to get through as soon as it hit radio last year. But the gently rolling soul ballad "Stepping Stone", that strapping, inescapable monster hit "Mercy", the ice cool "Serious" (the one time she really does channel the spirit of Dusty Springfield) and the wistful, elegant "Warwick Avenue" are similarly effective. Suggestions by some that Rockferry is little more than sixties pastiche are churlish. Butler's previous work with David McAlmont (featured here as a backing singer) showed his skill at writing and arranging the dramatic, while her other collaborators such as Steve Booker and the team of Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White are hardly lightweights. But despite some wonderful orchestral settings, it's Duffy's terrific voice that makes this so satisfying, even overpowering Butler's exquisitely underplayed guitar work on "Rockferry" itself. Growling the blues on "Syrup & Honey" or belting it out over his lovingly arranged wall of sound on "Distant Dreamer", she sets the tone throughout, several of her songs dealing with escape, both physical and romantic. The sound of someone singing herself to stardom, Rockferry is at times genuinely amazing. 

Oracular Spectacular - MGMT

Track Listing
Time To Pretend
Weekend Wars
Youth
Electric Feel
Kids
4th Dimensional Transition
Pieces Of What
Of Moons Birds And Monsters
Handshake
Future Reflections
Electric Feel

The term Oracular Spectacular might not mean much, if anything, at all--it's essentially nonsensical--but that doesn't stop it feeling exactly right. Here is a band that treats dizzy cross-eyed awe and a vast bounding sense of sonic weightlessness as their yardstick, jostling to surpass themselves on a track-by-track basis and aiming for the musical equivalent of performing somersaults in tye-dye t-shirts off the rings of Jupiter. MGMT seemingly submit this debut album as an application to acquire and even supersede The Flaming Lips' previously uncontested mantle as spiritual leaders of over-sized Technicolor psychedelic-indie with a soul, weird but not so weird that swelling crowds and even flirtations with the charts aren't a foregone conclusion. "Time to Pretend" opens and sets a tone for the record, producer David Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev) providing a familiar expanse for them to riff across with bull's-eye synths, massive drums and their twist on the template--retro 80s electro and abstract shapes, see Suicide and the Talking Heads for reference. "The Youth" is centred around a hypnotically looping refrain that recalls Pink Floyd and David Bowie, as interpreted by a mellow Secret Machines and the brilliant "Pieces of What" is Ryan Adams spinning through cosmos with classic Neil Young on his headphones. "Future Reflections" meanwhile stand on its hands on a line somewhere in-between XTC and Ween. Thrillingly eclectic, endlessly colourful and never predictable. It's all a bit ridiculous, but indeed spectacularly so. --James Berry

Seasick Steve - I Started Out With Nothin And I Still Got Most Of It Left

Seasick Steve - I Started Out With Nothin And I Still Got Most Of It Left

Track Listing
Started Out With Nothin'
Walkin' Man
St Louis Slim
Happy Man
Prospect Lane
Thunderbird
Fly By Night
Just Like A King
One True
Chiggers
My Youth

I bought this for my dad for christmas, he'd never heard of him but i'd heard him on jool's holland a while back and i heard a song on radio and thought yup i'll get that cos he always tells people what cd's to get him. 

I thought it would be something he'd like. He has since got 2 more of his albums on his i-pod. 

I know this isn't a 'proper' review cos it doesnt describe the music but i liked it too. Its blues is all i can say which lets guess. . .you know already? my dads taste in music is very varied and he likes modern stuff like the fratellis,the killers,james blunt, and older stuff like, rolling stones, eric clapton, travelling wilburys. . .???!!!No idea there! His favorites are Morrissey and his fave fave is Rory Gallagher who he has every album ever made. I think hes sort of bluesy too!I know he was irish and died young. 

So if you like most of them. . . except maybe James Blunt. . . .then you'll probably like this. 

I'm 30 and female and my dads 54ish, and errrrrm. . .a male - i sure as hell hope so anyway!! 

Hope this has helped. . . . . if not never mind - just don't bother leaving a comment saying what a pants review it is! \o/ WoooHoooooo!

Lily Allen - It's Not Me It's You

Lily Allen - It's Not Me It's You  

Track Listing
Everyone's At It
Fear
Not Fair
22
I Could Say
Back To The Start
Never Gonna Happen
Fuck You
Who'd Have Known
Chinese
Him
He Wasn't There

Lily delivers conttender for best album of '09 
so far we have had artists creating wonderful masterpieces of music for 2009, just see Britney Spear's epic Circus album, P!nk's wonderful Funhouse, and Lady Gaga's superb The Fame. 
now it's Lily Allen's turn, and she more than delivers the second time round all complete with an excellent new direction of sound, and 'say it how it is' lyrics...the only thing that makes this such a large difference to Alright, Still is the pace of the tracks making it entirely different yet with Lily's distinctive lyrics and delivery makes this a masterpiece of music. 
all 12 tracks are a wonderfully crafted and produced and are very distinctive while also iconic to the singer. 
It's Not Me it's You is one of the greatest follow up albums i have ever heard. 
Alright, Still was my favourite album of 2006 and i find Lily has a well earned nomination for the best album of this year in leagues with Ms.Spears style (heard in Blackout(2007) and Circus (2009)and lady Gaga's The Fame. 
this album is currently getting me through some harder times at the moment and the feel good tone of INMIY really makes me proud to be a fan and is not only majestic to hear but makes you feel good too. 

now for the songlist- 

Everyone's At It- the stunning introductory song that reflects the 'new' Lily with her unique lyrics backed up by a fantastic rhythm and pace. 

The Fear- the masterful lead single from the album, you have all heard it and you have all loved it this is possibly the greatest thing Lily has ever done, it's an amazing single while taking a look at the life of celebrity and The fear surrounding celeb life(so far three weeks at #1). 

Not Fair-another genuinely superb track about not being 'satisfied' styled with a western intro...i cannot wait 'til this is released this spring, it will be a genuine hit and may cause controversy...but Lily will live it up. 

22-classic in every sense of the word looking at the successes of a 20 year old who has now reached 30 and feels downtrodden as she look back at her life, it's rhythm carries the song while the lyrics are deep and genuine, a real pleasure to hear. 

I Could Say- while this is a song that may not sand out of the album it is certainly very enjoyable with it's unique style and crafted nicely by Lily's overtones. 

Back To the Start-again wonderful to hear and stands out miles from the album, the fast paced style and approach to the lyrics makes the pace of the instrumental backing to intensify. 

Fu*k You-my favourite song of the album (and not only because of the title) it is an attack of Mr.Bush when he was in control and even works today now that Obama is president of America...it reflects change and now that the US is in safe hands it is a chance to reflect on those bleak days...overall the song is amazing. 

Who'd have Known- a charming song about a friendship turning into romance backed up by a sample of Take That's Shine, it is unique and fantastic to hear. 

Chinese- basic in lyrics but admirable in its execution with its more iconic delivery by Lily. 

Him-rather than taking on grandparents in Alright,Still...she takes on 'the almighty' with her opinion of religion and what if 'he' was amongst us...what would he get up to? 

He Wasn't there- a nice little ending to the masterpiece second outing by Lily. 

overall, INMIY is an amazing album by Lily and produced masterfully by Greg Kurstin as she made a brave choice to leave the retro pacing of Alright, Still(now carried by Duffy,Adele and Winehouse) to give more of an electronic old style method of delivering such amazing songs. 
a genuinely fabulous album to add to your collection. 
10/10 
also buy(for similar sounds)-Aright,Still 
-Britney's-Circus 
& Lady Gaga's- the fame