Friday, January 24, 2014

Round-up II: Elephant, Free Swim, Department M, Radstewart

Elephant - Elusive Youth

If it feels like we've been waiting ages for Elephant to get round to an album... we have, their first single came out two and a half years ago. Sky Swimming is that long player, out 28th April. Elusive Youth was one of the demos that got them attention in the first place, a sighing modernist Brill Building confection that fits snugly between Summer Camp and Cults, neatly enough line-up demographic wise, and just below Camera Obscura, with whom they don't.




Free Swim - Transatlantic Tumnus

After his Android Angel sojourn Paul Coltofeanu is back with the band. They're cagey about where this track is from but it's a roar back to life, a landslide of imagery and a soupcon of satire amid a rush of guitars that sounds a bit to us like the intro to the Specials' Little Bitch, except it then becomes a charging garage rocker.




Department M - Miscellany

Apparently Owen Brinley had an album out at the end of 2013 which we missed, but luckily he's putting this from it out as a single. It seems more redolent of his previous life in Grammatics than what we've heard before of this project, brooding and stewing in its own self-doubt, then turning electronic, bass attack mode tail and ramping up the oppressive atmosphere just to make sure.




Radstewart - Garage Faery

What's already looking like 2014's hardest working support band - Mowbird next month and Johnny Foreigner in March following last year's tour with Sky Larkin, all of which seems as quick and easy a way to become adored by STN as any - have supplied this to a four artist-way split 12" brought into life by the combined efforts of Art Is Hard and Reeks Of Effort, two small labels with better RBIs than most to date. Usual deal: discordant shambling, cynical wordplay around hipsterdom angst, wide knowledge of Slanted And Enchanted, strangely charming for all that.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Johnny Foreigner - Le Sigh

Depending on which reading of their discography you adhere to You Can Do Better, out 10th March on Alcopop!, is either JoFo's fourth, fifth or ninth album. They still sound well on it, anyway. This starts by sounding like it's going to be one of their reflective moments. Then it thinks to hell with that and accelerates in the way only they can. Beyond that, the usual rush of taxi thoughts and strafing guitars, including at least one direct reference to lost kids in Birmingham indie clubs as standard.



Dates! Almost all with Radstewart, who in their incessant touring with bands we like seem to have become 2014's answer to Copy Haho.

13th March Kingston New Slang at McClusky's
14th March Canterbury Penny Theatre
15th March Leicester Firebug
16th March Manchester Gullivers
20th March Wakefield The Hop
21st March Southampton Joiners
22nd March Birmingham Flapper
27th March Nottingham. JT Soar
28th March Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach (with Totem Terrors too)
29th March Guildford Star Inn
30th March Bath Moles
31st March London Borderline
3rd April Sheffield Harley
5th April Workington Lounge 41

Friday, January 17, 2014

Colourmusic - Horse Race

It's been a couple of years since Oklahoma/Yorkshire's Colourmusic blew in, blew eardrums and blew out again with their noise-psych rabbit holes. May You Marry Rich, out 24th March, sees them pick up where they left off, depositing broken bits of guitar scraped from a stoner-rock anthem into space against a relentless roll of electronic bass. You can tell they're mates with Wayne Coyne alright, but also that there's method in their madness.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Her Name Is Calla - The Roots Run Deep

In the three years since their marvellous second album The Quiet Lamb Her Name Is Calla have shifted membership (bringing in members of Maybeshewill and live Bat For Lashes) and instrumentation, worked on a couple of solo projects and, it says here, gone through "life, death, distance, divorce and everything else in between". The results come out on 21st April under the title Navigator; this track is more digital glitch inclined than you might have expected, perhaps influenced by their running mates Ghosting Season, and even a hint of those 80s pop synths they have now. It still shifts like a monolith and appeals into the darkest recesses.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

School Of Language - Between The Suburbs

Miss, David's got his funk elastic out again! With Field Music on one of their regular hiatuses Brewis, D has relaunched his School Of Language identity for an album out 7th April entitled Old Fears, the first single stuttering, tightly wound up and fidgety to unspool, with a neat political undertow.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Liars - Mess On A Mission



Minimal and fleshy at the same time, moving on from their last sound while still identifiably them, inscrutable and direct... yep, it's a new Liars song alright, somewhere between New York no wave disco and a Pong machine imploding. Seventh album Mess is out 24th March.

Monday, January 06, 2014

And we start again

Having expounded the virtues of always writing in detail about new songs, here's a quick whip through the best of the load of new songs that have emerged in just the last few weeks.

Stanley Brinks and The Wave Pictures - I Wanted You

Brinks is André Herman Dune, founder member of, well, Herman Dune; the Wave Pictures are, um, the Wave Pictures. Their second collaborative album Gin is out 3rd March. It is, of course, quite winsome on one side and solo-ey on the other.




Rick Redbeard - Flow Like Unicorms

Having bared his soul to some effect on last year's album No Selfish Heart, Rick Anthony lets go another song from his past, a poignant spoken confessional on ageing.




Gorgeous Bully - Sinking Feeling

This is echoey and soul-baring too, but in a highly contrasting, noisier way. Gorgeous Bully is Thomas Crang, based in Manchester after a Devon and Cornwall existence, crafting lo-fi misery into compact power pop into an EP, Nobody Hates You As Much As You Hate Yourself, out 17th February via the ever reliable Art Is Hard.




Eugene Quell - Weird Purr

Working behind one of those biogs that leads you to assume it's someone relaunching themselves, a misery-flecked bedroom electric strum owing something to Lou Barlow and such increasingly common early 90s slacker reference points, being pulled astray by noises. An EP is name your price here.




Fickle Friends - Swim

You almost don't need to be told about this given it's had 33,000 plays in four days, so on point are the Brighton outfit in finding a mid-point between Friends' rhythmic Tom Tom Club channelling and early Summer Camp-flavoured postmodern 80s revivalism.




Is Tropical & Rose Elinor Dougall - When I'm With You

And finally, the art-electro party ranksters and the doyenne of synth-indie come together on a Sparks cover.




Saturday, January 04, 2014

Covers band: Melody Maker 1980-2000

The start of a very occasional series takes as its key point the obvious and undeniable fact that the list of NME covers on Wikipedia is the very best page on the internet. But why stop there? Why can't we chart the whole of pop culture by rise and fall to standfirst prominence?

As such, here's a list, as much as we could find, of every Melody Maker cover from the start of the Eighties, when it started moving away from news pieces on the front, to its demise. Filling in the gaps is welcomed. And yes, we will do more of these in time.


05/01/1980    Paul McCartney
12/01/1980    Brian Eno
19/01/1980    The Beat
26/01/1980    The Pretenders
02/02/1980    Thomas Leer & Robert Rental, Def Leppard
09/02/1980    Squeeze
16/02/1980    Andy Warhol
23/02/1980    The Selecter
01/03/1980    Michael Jackson
08/03/1980    XTC
15/03/1980    Madness
22/03/1980    The Cramps
29/03/1980    Genesis
05/04/1980    The Undertones
12/04/1980    Billy Joel
19/04/1980   
26/04/1980    Jah Wobble
(six weeks lost to strike action)
14/06/1980    Ted Nugent
21/06/1980    The Specials
28/06/1980    Joan Armatrading
05/07/1980    Peter Gabriel
12/07/1980    Any Trouble
19/07/1980    Elvis Costello
26/07/1980    The Police
02/08/1980    Mick Jagger
09/08/1980    Ray Davies
16/08/1980    Rainbow
23/08/1980    Grace Jones
30/08/1980    David Coverdale
06/09/1980    Kiss
13/09/1980    Yes
20/09/1980    Dire Straits
27/09/1980    Jon Anderson
04/10/1980    Kate Bush
11/10/1980    Paul Weller and Pete Townshend
18/10/1980    Gary Numan
25/10/1980    Madness
01/11/1980    Ian Dury
08/11/1980    Orchestral Manoevures In The Dark
15/11/1980    The Selecter
22/11/1980    Christmas Albums War (literally a story about there being some albums out at Christmas)
29/11/1980    Talking Heads
06/12/1980    Ian Dury
13/12/1980    John Lennon
20/12/1980    Steely Dan
27/12/1980    The Boomtown Rats
03/01/1981    Elvis Costello, The Selecter
10/01/1981    Spandau Ballet
17/01/1981    The Who
24/01/1981    Echo and the Bunnymen
31/01/1981    The Bureau
07/02/1981    Phil Collins
14/02/1981    Peter Gabriel
21/02/1981    The Stranglers
28/02/1981    Tiswas
07/03/1981    Gang Of Four
14/03/1981    Squeeze
21/03/1981    The Selecter
28/03/1981    Motorhead and Girlschool
04/04/1981    Adam and the Ants
11/04/1981    Linx
18/04/1981    Teardrop Explodes
25/04/1981    The Fabulous Thunderbirds
02/05/1981    Gary Numan
09/05/1981    Bruce Springsteen
16/05/1981   
23/05/1981    The Jam
30/05/1981    Psychedelic Furs
06/06/1981    The Clash
13/06/1981    Tom Petty
20/06/1981    Squeeze
27/06/1981    Bob Dylan
04/07/1981    UB40
11/07/1981    Wah!
18/07/1981    Chic
25/07/1981    Bryan Ferry
01/08/1981    Talking Heads
08/08/1981    Motorhead
15/08/1981    Toyah
22/08/1981    Dexys Midnight Runners
29/08/1981    Was (Not Was)
05/09/1981    Rip Rig & Panic
12/09/1981    The Pretenders
19/09/1981    Ian Dury
26/09/1981    The Go-Gos
03/10/1981   
10/10/1981    Madness
17/10/1981    The Police
24/10/1981    Linx
31/10/1981    Elvis Costello
07/11/1981    Orchestral Manoevures In The Dark
14/11/1981    Depeche Mode
21/11/1981    Blue Rondo A La Turk
28/11/1981    TV21
05/12/1981    The Teadrop Explodes
12/12/1981    Beggar & Co
19/12/1981    Christmas issue
02/01/1982    Graffiti art
09/01/1982    Altered Images
16/01/1982    Soft Cell
23/01/1982    Rick James
30/01/1982    UB40
06/02/1982    U2
13/02/1982    King Trigger
20/02/1982    Bananarama & Fun Boy Three
27/02/1982    Pigbag
06/03/1982    The Exploited, Chron-Gen, Anti-Nowhere League ('Kings Of The Wild Frontier: Punk Bites Back')
13/03/1982    The Jam
20/03/1982    Haircut 100
27/03/1982    Simple Minds
03/04/1982    Marine Girls
10/04/1982    BEF
17/04/1982    Spandau Ballet
24/04/1982    Blancmange and The Passage
01/05/1982    The Blasters
08/05/1982    Junior Giscombe
15/05/1982    Vice Squad
22/05/1982    Nick Rhodes
29/05/1982   
05/06/1982    Blondie
12/06/1982    The Bluebells
19/06/1982    Attila The Stockbroker
26/06/1982    Saxon
03/07/1982    The Jam
10/07/1982    Captain Sensible
17/07/1982    Shalamar
24/07/1982    The Beat
31/07/1982    Dee Sharp
07/08/1982    Dexys Midnight Runners
14/08/1982    Siouxsie & The Banshees
21/08/1982    Killing Joke
28/08/1982    The Associates
04/09/1982    Sting
11/09/1982    Stiff Little Fingers
18/09/1982    ABC
25/09/1982    Yazoo
02/10/1982    Peter Gabriel
09/10/1982    The Psychedelic Furs
16/10/1982    Culture Club
23/10/1982    Dire Straits
30/10/1982    Bauhaus
06/11/1982    The Jam
13/11/1982    Duran Duran
20/11/1982    The Adicts
27/11/1982    Simple Minds
04/12/1982    Marc Almond and The The’s Matt Johnson
11/12/1982    Kirk Brandon
18/12/1982    Shalamar
01/01/1983    Fun Boy Three
08/01/1983    George Clinton
15/01/1983    Soft Cell
22/01/1983    Pete Wylie
29/01/1983    The Belle Stars
05/02/1983    Kajagoogoo
12/02/1983    Indeep
19/02/1983    Haysi Fantayzee
26/02/1983    Mari Wilson
05/03/1983    Southern Death Cult
12/03/1983    Nick Heyward
19/03/1983    Tears For Fears
26/03/1983    John Taylor of Duran Duran
02/04/1983    Bananarama
09/04/1983    Marillion
16/04/1983    Wall Of Voodoo
23/04/1983    JoBoxers
30/04/1983    Level 42
07/05/1983    Wham!
14/05/1983    Siouxsie & The Banshees
21/05/1983    Thompson Twins
28/05/1983    David Bowie
04/06/1983    Spandau Ballet
11/06/1983    Orange Juice
18/06/1983    Anti-Nowhere League
25/06/1983    Vince Clarke
02/07/1983    Nick Heyward
09/07/1983    Eurythmics
16/07/1983    Shalamar
23/07/1983    Duran Duran
30/07/1983    Echo and the Bunnymen
06/08/1983   
13/08/1983    Paul Weller
20/08/1983    Carmel
27/08/1983    Marc Almond
03/09/1983    The Glove
10/09/1983    Kid Creole
17/09/1983    Special AKA
24/09/1983    Spandau Ballet
01/10/1983    Siouxsie Sioux
08/10/1983    Bauhaus
15/10/1983    King Kurt
22/10/1983    The Lotus Eaters
29/10/1983    Wham!
05/11/1983    Public Image Ltd
12/11/1983    Limahl
19/11/1983    Eurythmics
26/11/1983    The Smiths
03/12/1983    Culture Club
10/12/1983    Big Country
17/12/1983    Duran Duran
24/12/1983    Tracey Ullman
07/01/1984    Depeche Mode
14/01/1984    Thompson Twins
21/01/1984    Terry Hall
28/01/1984    The Alarm
04/02/1984    Howard Jones
11/02/1984    Simple Minds
18/02/1984    Sade
25/02/1984    Marilyn
03/03/1984    The Smiths
10/03/1984    Icicle Works
17/03/1984    Carmel
24/03/1984    Paul Weller
31/03/1984    Madness
07/04/1984    Duran Duran
14/04/1984    Dead Or Alive
21/04/1984    Big Country
28/04/1984    Echo & The Bunnymen
05/05/1984    Psychedelic Furs
12/05/1984    David Sylvian
19/05/1984    Lloyd Cole
26/05/1984    Cocteau Twins
02/06/1984    Swans Way
09/06/1984    Human League
(six weeks lost to strike action)
28/07/1984    Wham!
04/08/1984    The Kane Gang
11/08/1984    The Mighty Wah!
18/08/1984    The Armoury Show
25/08/1984    Malcolm McLaren
01/09/1984    Senate
08/09/1984    The Associates
15/09/1984    Bronski Beat
22/09/1984   
29/09/1984    Echo & The Bunnymen
06/10/1984    Heaven 17
13/10/1984    Aztec Camera
20/10/1984    Big Country
27/10/1984    The Pogues
03/11/1984    The Smiths
10/11/1984    U2
17/11/1984    Wham!
24/11/1984    Duran Duran
01/12/1984    Frankie Goes To Hollywood
08/12/1984    Bob Geldof and Midge Ure
15/12/1984    Sade
22/12/1984    Frankies Say Christmas! (lots of photos of people called Frankie or similar)
05/01/1985    U2
12/01/1985    The Cult
19/01/1985    Jerry Dammers
26/01/1985    Strawberry Switchblade
02/02/1985    Del Amitri
09/02/1985    Chaka Khan
16/02/1985    Mick Jagger
23/02/1985    Big Sound Authority
02/03/1985    The Bangles
09/03/1985    Tears For Fears
16/03/1985    Morrissey
23/03/1985    Billy Bragg
30/03/1985    Go West
06/04/1985    Paul Young
13/04/1985    State Of The Union US rock special, Peter Buck sole on cover
20/04/1985    King
27/04/1985    Vince Clarke
04/05/1985    Eurythmics
11/05/1985    Tom Petty
18/05/1985    Propaganda
25/05/1985    Frankie Goes To Hollywood
01/06/1985    Bryan Ferry
08/06/1985    Bruce Springsteen
15/06/1985    REM
22/06/1985    Scritti Politti
29/06/1985    The Redskins
06/07/1985    The Men They Couldn’t Hang
13/07/1985    The Style Council
20/07/1985    Live Aid
27/07/1985    The Coward Brothers
03/08/1985    Johnny Marr
10/08/1985    Colourbox
17/08/1985    The Cure
24/08/1985    Sigue Sigue Sputnik
31/08/1985    Simply Red
07/09/1985    Neil Young
14/09/1985    Marc Almond
21/09/1985    Bronski Beat
28/09/1985    Madonna
05/10/1985    The Waterboys
12/10/1985    The Communards
19/10/1985    Tears For Fears
26/10/1985    The Cult
02/11/1985    Siouxsie & The Banshees
09/11/1985    Propaganda
16/11/1985    Cocteau Twins
23/11/1985    Jesus & Mary Chain
30/11/1985    Eighth Wonder
07/12/1985    King
14/12/1985    Echo & The Bunnymen
21/12/1985    ’85: The Year Of Giving Generously
04/01/1986    Sigue Sigue Sputnik
11/01/1986    New Order
18/01/1986    Raymonde
25/01/1986   
01/02/1986    Win
08/02/1986    U2
15/02/1986    Marc Almond
22/02/1986    Pet Shop Boys
01/03/1986    Elvis Costello
08/03/1986    Chakk
15/03/1986    Ruefrex
22/03/1986    David Bowie
29/03/1986    Balaam & The Angel
05/04/1986    Fine Young Cannibals
12/04/1986    Big Country
19/04/1986    Siouxsie & The Banshees
26/04/1986    Big Audio Dynamite
03/05/1986    The Cocteau Twins
10/05/1986    Fuzzbox
17/05/1986    Pete Wylie
24/05/1986    Public Image Ltd
31/05/1986    Robert Smith and Stuart Adamson
07/06/1986    Sigue Sigue Sputnik
14/06/1986    Simple Minds
21/06/1986    The Waterboys
28/06/1986    Hollywood Beyond
05/07/1986    The Housemartins
12/07/1986    The Woodentops
19/07/1986    Real Roxanne, Lovebug Starski and Grandmaster Flash
26/07/1986    Sherone
02/08/1986    Edwyn Collins
09/08/1986    Frankie Goes To Hollywood
16/08/1986    Killing Joke
23/08/1986    Prince
30/08/1986    The Cure
06/09/1986    REM
13/09/1986    The Beastie Boys
20/09/1986    Cameo
27/09/1986    The Smiths
04/10/1986    New Order
11/10/1986    Human League
18/10/1986    Big Audio Dynamite
25/10/1986    The Mission
01/11/1986    Julian Cope
08/11/1986    Billy Idol
15/11/1986    Schooly-D
22/11/1986    Eurythmics
29/11/1986    Band Of Holy Joy
06/12/1986    Mantronix
13/12/1986    Jesus & Mary Chain
20/12/1986    Mick Jones and Pete Wylie
03/01/1987    The Housemartins
10/01/1987    Siouxsie Sioux
17/01/1987    The Christians
24/01/1987    The Cult
31/01/1987    Iggy Pop
07/02/1987    Big Audio Dynamite
14/02/1987    Luther Vandross
21/02/1987    Dead Or Alive, The Communards
28/02/1987    Stump
07/03/1987    Simply Red
14/03/1987    U2
21/03/1987    Beastie Boys
28/03/1987    Throwing Muses
04/04/1987    The Mission
11/04/1987    The Cure
18/04/1987    Pop Tarts
25/04/1987    Jesus & Mary Chain
02/05/1987    The Proclaimers
09/05/1987   
16/05/1987    The Replacements
23/05/1987    Run DMC
30/05/1987    The Cure
06/06/1987    Echo & The Bunnymen
13/06/1987   
20/06/1987    The Young Gods
27/06/1987    Prince
04/07/1987    The Cocteau Twins, Throwing Muses, Colourbox, Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil
11/07/1987    Swans
18/07/1987    Loop
25/07/1987    AR Kane
01/08/1987    Terence Trent d'Arby
08/08/1987    Public Image Ltd
15/08/1987    The Primitives
22/08/1987    Tom Waits
29/08/1987    The Mission
05/09/1987    Sisters Of Mercy
12/09/1987    REM
19/09/1987    Jesus & Mary Chain
26/09/1987    Morrissey
03/10/1987   
10/10/1987    Ian McCulloch and Bernard Sumner
17/10/1987    Gaye Bykers On Acid
24/10/1987    The Sugarcubes
31/10/1987    Ben Elton
07/11/1987    10,000 Maniacs
14/11/1987   
21/11/1987    All About Eve
28/11/1987    Public Enemy
05/12/1987    The Cure
12/12/1987    Sinead O’Connor
19/12/1987    U2
02/01/1988    The Sugarcubes
09/01/1988    World Domination Enterprises
16/01/1988    Fields Of The Nephilim
23/01/1988    Nick Cave
30/01/1988    The Primitives
06/02/1988    Faith No More
13/02/1988    Sonic Youth
20/02/1988    All About Eve
27/02/1988    The Mission
05/03/1988    The Fall
12/03/1988    Morrissey
19/03/1988    Pixies
26/03/1988    Jesus & Mary Chain
02/04/1988    Butthole Surfers
09/04/1988    Kevin Rowland
16/04/1988    The Sugarcubes
23/04/1988    10,000 Maniacs
30/04/1988    AR Kane
07/05/1988    Megadeth
14/05/1988    Swans
21/05/1988    Skinny Puppy
28/05/1988    Public Enemy
04/06/1988    Sinead O’Connor
11/06/1988    The Hothouse Flowers
18/06/1988    Nick Cave
25/06/1988    Darling Buds
02/07/1988    Green On Red
09/07/1988    Siouxsie Sioux
16/07/1988    Tracy Chapman
23/07/1988    Prince
30/07/1988    House Of Love
06/08/1988    Patti Smith
13/08/1988    Pixies
20/08/1988    The Young Gods
27/08/1988    Fields Of The Nephilim
03/09/1988    Front 242
10/09/1988    The Wonder Stuff
17/09/1988    Cocteau Twins
24/09/1988    Darling Buds
01/10/1988    Butthole Surfers
08/10/1988    Thin White Rope
15/10/1988    My Bloody Valentine
22/10/1988    U2
29/10/1988    REM
05/11/1988    All About Eve
12/11/1988    Loop
19/11/1988    Spacemen 3
26/11/1988    Yello
03/12/1988    New Order
10/12/1988    The Pogues
17/12/1988    The Primitives
24/12/1988    The Sugarcubes
07/01/1989    The Mission
14/01/1989    The Sundays
21/01/1989    Jane’s Addiction
28/01/1989    Throwing Muses
04/02/1989    Holly Johnson
11/02/1989    Lou Reed
18/02/1989    Darling Buds
25/02/1989    The Wonder Stuff
04/03/1989    Michelle Shocked
11/03/1989    Tanita Tikaram
18/03/1989    The Cult
25/03/1989    Cowboy Junkies
01/04/1989    Pixies
08/04/1989    Simple Minds
15/04/1989    House Of Love
22/04/1989    Swans
29/04/1989    The Cure
06/05/1989    Robert Smith and J Mascis
13/05/1989    Elvis Costello
20/05/1989    Fields Of The Nephilim
27/05/1989    REM
03/06/1989    The Stone Roses
10/06/1989    Bobby Brown
17/06/1989    Pixies
24/06/1989    Transvision Vamp
01/07/1989    David Bowie
08/07/1989    The Primitives
15/07/1989    The Cure
22/07/1989    Simple Minds
29/07/1989    Big Audio Dynamite
05/08/1989    The Beastie Boys
12/08/1989    Wolfsbane
19/08/1989    Tears For Fears
26/08/1989    The Mission
02/09/1989    The Sugarcubes
09/09/1989    Jesus & Mary Chain
16/09/1989    All About Eve
23/09/1989    INXS
30/09/1989    Ian McCulloch
07/10/1989    The Creatures
14/10/1989    The Wedding Present
21/10/1989    Kate Bush
28/10/1989    House Of Love
04/11/1989    NWA
11/11/1989    Thurston Moore, J Mascis, Gibby Haynes
18/11/1989    Aerosmith
25/11/1989    The Cult
02/12/1989    Happy Mondays
09/12/1989    The Stone Roses
16/12/1989    Soul II Soul
23/12/1989    The Mission
06/01/1990    Sisters Of Mercy
13/01/1990    Birdland
20/01/1990    The Sundays
27/01/1990    The Beloved
03/02/1990    Bob Dylan
10/02/1990    Marc Almond
17/02/1990    Lush
24/02/1990    Cowboy Junkies
03/03/1990    House Of Love
10/03/1990    Depeche Mode
17/03/1990    Nick Cave
24/03/1990    David Bowie
31/03/1990    Happy Mondays
07/04/1990    B-52s
14/04/1990    Inspiral Carpets
21/04/1990    Adamski
28/04/1990    Lou Reed
05/05/1990    Hothouse Flowers
12/05/1990    Revenge
19/05/1990    Flowered Up
26/05/1990    The Breeders
02/06/1990    The Mission
09/06/1990    Aztec Camera
16/06/1990    Soul II Soul
23/06/1990    The Cure
30/06/1990    808 State
07/07/1990    The Heart Throbs
14/07/1990    The Wedding Present
21/07/1990    Soup Dragons
28/07/1990    Cranes
04/08/1990    Billy Idol
11/08/1990    Pixies
18/08/1990    Jesus & Mary Chain
25/08/1990    Cocteau Twins
01/09/1990    INXS
08/09/1990    Sinead O’Connor
15/09/1990    Neneh Cherry
22/09/1990    Ride
29/09/1990    The Beautiful South
06/10/1990    Sisters Of Mercy
13/10/1990    The Charlatans
20/10/1990    The Mission
27/10/1990    Paul Gascoigne
03/11/1990    Deee-Lite
10/11/1990    Happy Mondays
17/11/1990    The La’s
24/11/1990    The Farm
01/12/1990    Pet Shop Boys
08/12/1990    James
15/12/1990    Lush
22/12/1990    Shaun Ryder and Bernard Sumner
05/01/1991    Ride
12/01/1991    The Cocteau Twins
19/01/1991    Seal
26/01/1991    The Cure
02/02/1991    Dream Warriors
09/02/1991    808 State
16/02/1991    The KLF
23/02/1991    Jane’s Addiction
02/03/1991    REM
09/03/1991    The Charlatans
16/03/1991    Ride
23/03/1991    Ocean Colour Scene, Chapterhouse
30/03/1991    Transvision Vamp
06/04/1991    Blur
13/04/1991    Electronic
20/04/1991    The Shamen
27/04/1991    Inspiral Carpets
04/05/1991    Curve
11/05/1991    Siouxsie & The Banshees
18/05/1991    The Waterboys
25/05/1991    The Wedding Present
01/06/1991    Primal Scream
08/06/1991    Pixies
15/06/1991    Carter USM
22/06/1991    The Cure
29/06/1991    Sinead O’Connor
06/07/1991    The Wonder Stuff
13/07/1991    Jesus Jones
20/07/1991    Manic Street Preachers
27/07/1991    EMF
03/08/1991    Guns’n’Roses
10/08/1991    The Shamen
17/08/1991    Perry Farrell and Ice-T
24/08/1991    Blur
31/08/1991    Metallica
07/09/1991    The Senseless Things
14/09/1991    Electronic
21/09/1991    The Black Crowes
28/09/1991    Happy Mondays
05/10/1991    Lush
12/10/1991    Carter USM
19/10/1991    Teenage Fanclub
26/10/1991    Curve
02/11/1991    Nirvana
09/11/1991    James
16/11/1991    The Wonder Stuff
23/11/1991    The Cult
30/11/1991    Neil Young
07/12/1991    Jesus Jones
14/12/1991    Ned’s Atomic Dustbin
21/12/1991    REM
04/01/1992    Nirvana
11/01/1992    The Wedding Present
18/01/1992    Primal Scream
25/01/1992    Daisy Chainsaw
01/02/1992    The Wonder Stuff
08/02/1992    Thousand Yard Stare
15/02/1992    Teenage Fanclub
22/02/1992    Pearl Jam
29/02/1992    Ride
07/03/1992    The Cure
14/03/1992    Curve
21/03/1992    Jesus & Mary Chain
28/03/1992    Mercury Rev
04/04/1992    James
11/04/1992    The Mission
18/04/1992    The Black Crowes
25/04/1992    Suede
02/05/1992    Metallica
09/05/1992    Carter USM
16/05/1992    L7
23/05/1992    Faith No More
30/05/1992    Guns’n’Roses
06/06/1992    Soundgarden
13/06/1992    Verve
20/06/1992    Pearl Jam
27/06/1992    Whose Land Is It Anyway? travellers special
04/07/1992    The Levellers
11/07/1992    The Shamen
18/07/1992    Nirvana
25/07/1992    Ministry
01/08/1992    The Orb
08/08/1992    Faith No More
15/08/1992    Therapy?
22/08/1992    Mudhoney
29/08/1992    Suede
05/09/1992    The Cure
12/09/1992    Reading Festival special
19/09/1992    Babes In Toyland
26/09/1992    REM
03/10/1992    The Shamen
10/10/1992    Riot Grrrls!
17/10/1992    Throwing Muses
24/10/1992    Gallon Drunk
31/10/1992    Mega City Four
07/11/1992    Sonic Youth
14/11/1992    Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
21/11/1992    The Black Crowes
28/11/1992    Faith No More
05/12/1992    Nine Inch Nails
12/12/1992    Suede
19/12/1992    Nirvana
02/01/1993    Suede
09/01/1993    Sugar
16/01/1993    Dinosaur Jr
23/01/1993    Henry Rollins
30/01/1993    Suede, Stereo MCs, Belly, Therapy?, Ride
06/02/1993    Stereo MCs
13/02/1993    The Lemonheads
20/02/1993    The Auteurs
27/02/1993    Huggy Bear
06/03/1993    Belly
13/03/1993    Back To The Planet, Orbital, Ozric Tentacles
20/03/1993    Pavement
27/03/1993    The Orb and Dave Gilmour
03/04/1993    Depeche Mode
10/04/1993    The Frank And Walters
17/04/1993    Suede
24/04/1993    Perry Farrell
01/05/1993    Ozric Tentacles
08/05/1993    New Order
15/05/1993    Bjork
22/05/1993    Therapy?
29/05/1993    Manic Street Preachers
05/06/1993    The Waterboys
12/06/1993    Kingmaker
19/06/1993    Suede
26/06/1993    Stereo MCs
03/07/1993    Smashing Pumpkins
10/07/1993    PJ Harvey
17/07/1993    Faith No More
24/07/1993    'The 13 Year Itch - Lush, Throwing Muses and Red House Painters Celebrate 4AD’s 13th Birthday'
31/07/1993    U2
07/08/1993    'Bonfire Of The Vanities - The Levellers Torch The Music Press'
14/08/1993    James
21/08/1993    Nirvana
28/08/1993    New Order, Porno For Pyros, The The
04/09/1993    Shaun Ryder
11/09/1993    Cocteau Twins
18/09/1993    Afghan Whigs
25/09/1993    Blur
02/10/1993    REM
09/10/1993    Pearl Jam
16/10/1993    Spin Doctors
23/10/1993    Radiohead
30/10/1993    The Breeders
06/11/1993    Grant Lee Buffalo
13/11/1993    Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield
20/11/1993    Bono and Frank Sinatra
27/11/1993    Pet Shop Boys
04/12/1993    The Jesus Lizard
11/12/1993    Saint Etienne and Tim Burgess
18/12/1993    Megadog
25/12/1993    Kurt Cobain and Kim Deal
08/01/1994    Poll results
15/01/1994    Kristin Hersh
22/01/1994    Underworld
29/01/1994    Manic Street Preachers
05/02/1994    Snoop Doggy Dogg
12/02/1994    Pavement
19/02/1994    Courtney Love
26/02/1994    Credit To The Nation
05/03/1994    Senser
12/03/1994    Kurt Cobain
19/03/1994    Soundgarden
26/03/1994    Soul Asylum
02/04/1994    Henry Rollins
09/04/1994    Erasure
16/04/1994    Kurt Cobain
23/04/1994    Kurt and Courtney
30/04/1994    Pearl Jam
07/05/1994    Blur
14/05/1994    2 Unlimited
21/05/1994    Pearl Jam
28/05/1994    S*M*A*S*H
04/06/1994    Pulp
11/06/1994    Therapy? and Henry Rollins
18/06/1994    Echobelly
25/06/1994    Smashing Pumpkins
02/07/1994    Glastonbury
09/07/1994    Transglobal Underground
16/07/1994    Phoenix 1994 - Pop Will Eat Itself, Carter USM, Fun-Da-Mental
23/07/1994    Jesus & Mary Chain
30/07/1994    Suede
06/08/1994    Oasis
13/08/1994    Soundgarden
20/08/1994    Dinosaur Jr
27/08/1994    Cypress Hill, Evan Dando
03/09/1994    Courtney Love
10/09/1994    Shed Seven
17/09/1994    S*M*A*S*H
24/09/1994    Suede
01/10/1994    Shampoo
08/10/1994    Elastica
15/10/1994    Echobelly
22/10/1994    'Beat Fighting Men': Primal Scream, The Drum Club, Fun-Da-Mental
29/10/1994    Nirvana
05/11/1994    Gene
12/11/1994    REM
19/11/1994    The New Mod Generation
26/11/1994    Warren G and Snoop Doggy Dogg
03/12/1994    Richey Edwards
10/12/1994    The Cranberries
17/12/1994    The Stone Roses
24/12/1994    '1994 - Britpop’s Brilliant Face Lift': Liam Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Brett Anderson, Jarvis Cocker, Justine Frischmann
07/01/1995    Veruca Salt
14/01/1995    Sleeper
21/01/1995    Portishead
28/01/1995    REM
04/02/1995    Menswear
11/02/1995    Supergrass
18/02/1995    Boo Radleys
25/02/1995    Gene
04/03/1995    The Beastie Boys
11/03/1995    Radiohead
18/03/1995    Tindersticks
25/03/1995    Elastica
01/04/1995    The Prodigy
08/04/1995    Kurt Cobain and Richey Edwards
15/04/1995    Offspring
22/04/1995    Oasis
29/04/1995    Marion
06/05/1995    Boo Radleys
13/05/1995    Black Grape
20/05/1995    Supergrass
27/05/1995    Pulp
03/06/1995    McAlmont & Butler
10/06/1995    Supergrass, Elastica, Gene, S*M*A*S*H
17/06/1995    Menswear
24/06/1995    Bjork
01/07/1995    Glastonbury - Oasis
08/07/1995    Gene
15/07/1995    Phoenix - The Verve, Public Enemy, The Wildhearts
22/07/1995    Britpop
29/07/1995    Pulp
05/08/1995    Goldie
12/08/1995    Blur
19/08/1995    Skunk Anansie
26/08/1995    Soundgarden
02/09/1995    Foo Fighters
09/09/1995    Warchild
16/09/1995    The Charlatans
23/09/1995    The Bluetones
30/09/1995    Echobelly
07/10/1995    The Amps
14/10/1995    Menswear
21/10/1995    Cast
28/10/1995    Radiohead
04/11/1995    Pulp
11/11/1995    Oasis
18/11/1995    Foo Fighters
25/11/1995    Romo - Orlando, Plastic Fantastic, Sexus, Dexdexter
02/12/1995    Garbage
09/12/1995    Blur vs Oasis
16/12/1995    Green Day
23/12/1995    Pulp
06/01/1996    Mike Flowers Pops
13/01/1996    Manic Street Preachers
20/01/1996    The Chemical Brothers
27/01/1996    Northern Uproar
03/02/1996    Sex Pistols
10/02/1996    The Bluetones
17/02/1996    Edwyn Collins
24/02/1996    Supergrass
02/03/1996    Jarvis Cocker
09/03/1996    Blur
16/03/1996    Cast
23/03/1996    Oasis
30/03/1996    Pulp
06/04/1996    Foo Fighters
13/04/1996    Sleeper
20/04/1996    Ash
27/04/1996    70th Anniversary Special - Oasis
04/05/1996    Tricky
11/05/1996    Super Furry Animals
18/05/1996    The Bluetones
25/05/1996    Soundgarden
01/06/1996    Manic Street Preachers
08/06/1996    Garbage
15/06/1996    Primal Scream
22/06/1996    Divine Comedy
29/06/1996    60ft Dolls
06/07/1996    Terrorvision
13/07/1996    Super Furry Animals
20/07/1996    The Prodigy
27/07/1996    Cast
03/08/1996    Boo Radleys
10/08/1996    Oasis
17/08/1996    Oasis
24/08/1996    Ash
31/08/1996    The Stone Roses
07/09/1996    The Charlatans
14/09/1996    Placebo
21/09/1996    Oasis
28/09/1996    Super Furry Animals, Heavy Stereo, 3 Colours Red
05/10/1996    Babybird
12/10/1996    Metallica
19/10/1996    Cast
26/10/1996    DJ Shadow
02/11/1996    Dodgy
09/11/1996    Skunk Anansie
16/11/1996    Beck
23/11/1996    Mansun
30/11/1996    Babybird and Eddie Izzard
07/12/1996    Space
14/12/1996    Bjork
21/12/1996    Starspotting
04/01/1997    Manic Street Preachers
11/01/1997    Kenickie
18/01/1997    Suede
25/01/1997    Kula Shaker
01/02/1997    Blur
08/02/1997    Placebo
15/02/1997    Pavement
22/02/1997    U2
01/03/1997    Mansun
08/03/1997    Mark Radcliffe
15/03/1997    Eels
22/03/1997    Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci
29/03/1997    Symposium
05/04/1997    The Chemical Brothers
12/04/1997    Manic Street Preachers
19/04/1997    Supergrass
26/04/1997    Foo Fighters
03/05/1997    Kenickie
10/05/1997    Super Furry Animals
17/05/1997    Gillian Anderson
24/05/1997    Radiohead
31/05/1997    Mad For It! festival special
07/06/1997    Symposium
14/06/1997    Cast
21/06/1997    Blur
28/06/1997    Oasis
05/07/1997    Glastonbury
12/07/1997    Embrace
19/07/1997    The Charlatans
26/07/1997    Echo and the Bunnymen
02/08/1997    Reef
09/08/1997    Morrissey
16/08/1997    Melanie C
23/08/1997    Suede
30/08/1997    Manic Street Preachers
06/09/1997    Republica
13/09/1997    No Doubt
20/09/1997    Oasis
27/09/1997    Sleeper
04/10/1997    Oasis
11/10/1997    The Verve
18/10/1997    Zoe Ball
25/10/1997    Bush
01/11/1997    Black Grape
08/11/1997    Kylie Minogue
15/11/1997    Spice Girls
22/11/1997    Radiohead
29/11/1997    Lara Croft
06/12/1997    The Seahorses
13/12/1997    Travis
20/12/1997    The Fast Show
03/01/1998    Readers Poll - Radiohead, The Verve
10/01/1998    Lo-Fidelity Allstars
17/01/1998    The Verve
24/01/1998    Catatonia
31/01/1998    Richey Edwards
07/02/1998    All Saints
14/02/1998    Stereophonics
21/02/1998    Shaun Ryder
28/02/1998    Shed Seven
07/03/1998    Oasis
14/03/1998    Natalie Imbruglia
21/03/1998    The Bluetones
28/03/1998    Kylie Minogue
04/04/1998    Divine Comedy
11/04/1998    Spice Girls
18/04/1998    '50 Rock’n’Roll Things You Must Do By The Year 2000'
25/04/1998    Kula Shaker
02/05/1998    All Saints
09/05/1998    Creamfields
16/05/1998    Garbage
23/05/1998    The Verve
30/05/1998    Kenickie
06/06/1998    Ian Brown
13/06/1998    World Cup - Tommy Scott
20/06/1998    Embrace
27/06/1998    Festival Guide - Jarvis Cocker
04/07/1998    Glastonbury 98
11/07/1998    Robbie Williams
18/07/1998    Wanted - Have You Seen These Bands?
25/07/1998    Theaudience
01/08/1998    Dandy Warhols
08/08/1998    The Verve
15/08/1998    Bratpop
22/08/1998    V98 preview - Texas
29/08/1998    Reading - The Beastie Boys
05/09/1998    Reading 98
12/09/1998    Ash
19/09/1998    Manic Street Preachers
26/09/1998    Republica
03/10/1998    Fun Lovin’ Criminals
10/10/1998    The Cardigans
17/10/1998    Idlewild
24/10/1998    Catatonia
31/10/1998    Placebo
07/11/1998    The Stereophonics
14/11/1998    Metallica
21/11/1998    Pulp
28/11/1998    Ash
05/12/1998    Chris Moyles
12/12/1998    Belle & Sebastian
19/12/1998    Cerys Matthews
02/01/1999    Readers Poll - Manic Street Preachers
09/01/1999    The Young Person’s Guide To ‘99
16/01/1999    Garbage
23/01/1999    Mansun
30/01/1999    The Offspring
06/02/1999    Fatboy Slim
13/02/1999    The Stereophonics
20/02/1999    Gay Dad
27/02/1999    The Cardigans
06/03/1999    Robbie Williams
13/03/1999    Skunk Anansie
20/03/1999    Catatonia
27/03/1999    'The 50 Maddest People In Rock' - Dolores O’Riordan
03/04/1999    Suede
10/04/1999    All Saints
17/04/1999    The Offspring
24/04/1999    Fun Lovin’ Criminals
01/05/1999    Ali G
08/05/1999    3 Colours Red
15/05/1999    Korn
22/05/1999    Nina Persson and Debbie Harry
29/05/1999    Catatonia
05/06/1999    Homelands festival
12/06/1999    The Coolest People In Rock
19/06/1999    Suede
26/06/1999    Uri Geller
03/07/1999    Glastonbury
10/07/1999    'Everyone! Outside! Now!' - Metallica, Stereophonics, Blur, Marilyn Manson, Placebo
17/07/1999    Manic Street Preachers
24/07/1999    A
31/07/1999    Stereophonics
07/08/1999    Divine Comedy
14/08/1999    Feeder
21/08/1999    V99 - Supergrass
28/08/1999    Mansun
04/09/1999    Reading & Leeds - Blur
11/09/1999    TLC
18/09/1999    Idlewild
25/09/1999    Manic Street Preachers
02/10/1999    Travis
09/10/1999    Limp Bizkit
16/10/1999    Net Aid - Robbie Williams
23/10/1999    Foo Fighters
27/10/1999    Kelly Jones and Cerys Matthews
03/11/1999    Manic Street Preachers
10/11/1999    Huey Morgan and Shirley Manson
17/11/1999    The Cardigans
24/11/1999    'Drugs Nation'
01/12/1999    Supergrass
08/12/1999    Oasis
15/12/1999    Travis
22/12/1999    Stereophonics
05/01/2000    Feeder
12/01/2000    Readers Poll - Nicky Wire, Fran Healy
19/01/2000    Oasis
26/01/2000    Embrace
02/02/2000    Korn
09/02/2000    Red Hot Chili Peppers
16/02/2000    Travis
23/02/2000    Muse
01/03/2000    Kelly Jones and Tom Jones
08/03/2000    Blink 182
15/03/2000    Ocean Colour Scene
22/03/2000    Kurt Cobain - 'The Excess Files'
29/03/2000    Radiohead
05/04/2000    Travis
12/04/2000    The Bloodhound Gang
19/04/2000    Elastica
26/04/2000    Vic & Bob, Nina Persson
03/05/2000    Sex Pistols
10/05/2000    Embrace
17/05/2000    'Are The Charts Going Down The Toilet?'
24/05/2000    Festivals
31/05/2000    Oasis
07/06/2000    Toploader
14/06/2000    The Coolest People In Rock 2000 - Nicky Wire, Cerys Matthews, Fran Healy, Kurt Cobain
21/06/2000    Radiohead
28/06/2000    Glastonbury - Travis
05/07/2000    Kittie
12/07/2000    Oasis
19/07/2000    ’High Fidelity Allstars’
26/07/2000    Mansun
02/08/2000    Green Day
09/08/2000    Slipknot
16/08/2000    V2000
23/08/2000    Reading & Leeds
30/08/2000    Reading & Leeds - Fred Durst
06/09/2000    Radiohead
13/09/2000    The Dum Dums
20/09/2000    No Doubt
27/09/2000    JJ72
04/10/2000    Fred Durst, Marilyn Manson, Eminem and Corey Taylor of Slipknot - 'Why America Rules Rock Right Now'
11/10/2000    'The Alternative Nation Fights Back'
18/10/2000    King Adora
25/10/2000    Eminem and Fred Durst
01/11/2000    The Offspring
08/11/2000    Smashing Pumpkins
15/11/2000    Eminem
22/11/2000    'Guns’n’Poses - The Shocking Inside Story Of Rock’s Fatal Fascination With Firearms'
29/11/2000    Queens Of The Stone Age
06/12/2000    Billy Corgan
13/12/2000    Feeder
20/12/2000    Limp Bizkit

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

UK Blogger Albums Of 2013 Poll Results

Truth be told, we didn't think there'd be a blog poll this year. Partly because this place was out of commission by choice for a while, but also the number of blogs closing down without notice, just disappearing and leaving a regular last post hanging, is notable. Those that are left are meanwhile becoming ever more widespread and eclectic in trying to find a new way out of the blog cliche morass, which for the curious is of course a good thing more often than not, or at least so in theory, but for something like this list which by its nature thrives on concensus, less so.

Regardless, for the ninth time here's the poll of polls, this year chiefly featuring 17 Seconds, The Album Wall, Alphabet Bands, Both Bars On, Bowlegs, Breaking More Waves, Crack In The Road, Dots & Dashes, Drunken Werewolf, Just Music That I Like, Just Played, Keep Pop Loud, Last Year's Girl, The Mad Mackerel, Manic Pop Thrills, The Metaphorical Boat, the already deceased Mudkiss, Music Liberation, The Pop Cop, Ragged Glories, Song By Toad, There Goes The Fear and The Von Pip Musical Express. This is what the cognescenti claimed credits 2013:

50 ANNA CALVI - One Breath
49 SUEDE - Bloodsports
48 OKKERVIL RIVER - The Silver Gymnasium
47 BLUE HAWAII - Untogether
46 JAMES BLAKE - Overgrown
45 FOREST SWORDS - Engravings
44 GEORGIA RUTH - Week Of Pines
43 DUTCH UNCLES - Out of Touch In The Wild
42 VALERIE JUNE - Pushin' Against A Stone
41 VOLCANO CHOIR - Repave
40 ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER - Personal Record
39 DAVID BOWIE - The Next Day
38 KURT VILE - Wakin' On A Pretty Daze
37 TORRES - Torres
36 THE SUPERMAN REVENGE SQUAD BAND - There Is Nothing More Frightening Than The Passing Of Time
35 LOW - The Invisible Way
34 MAJICAL CLOUDZ - Impersonator
33 ADAM STAFFORD - Imaginary Walls Collapse
32 HOOKWORMS - Pearl Mystic
31 THESE NEW PURITANS - Field Of Reeds

30 TEGAN & SARA - Heartthrob
29 DARKSIDE - Psychic
28 KANYE WEST - Yeezus
27 SIGUR ROS - Kveikur
26 CAITLIN ROSE - The Stand-In
25 PARQUET COURTS - Light Up Gold
24 FOALS - Holy Fire
23 FACTORY FLOOR - Factory Floor
22 JANELLE MONAE - The Electric Lady
21 WAXAHATCHEE - Cerulean Salt

20 JULIA HOLTER - Loud City Song
19 FUCK BUTTONS - Slow Focus
18 DAUGHTER - If You Leave
17 SPEEDY ORTIZ - Major Arcana
16 BILL CALLAHAN - Dream River
15 JOHN GRANT - Pale Green Ghosts
14 PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING - Inform-Educate-Entertain
13 PHOSPHORESCENT - Muchacho
12 DAFT PUNK - Random Access Memories
11 LOS CAMPESINOS! - No Blues

10 CHVRCHES - The Bones Of What You Believe
9 MY BLOODY VALENTINE - m b v
8 SAVAGES - Silence Yourself
7 VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Modern Vampires of the City
6 JON HOPKINS - Immunity
5 LAURA MARLING - Once I Was An Eagle
4 ARCADE FIRE - Reflektor
3 THE NATIONAL - Trouble Will Find Me
2 ARCTIC MONKEYS - AM
1 NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS - Push The Sky Away