It's the beginning of December and that can mean only one thing. It's list time! Rather than compiling my favourite albums, singles, gigs etc I thought I would just do one list encompassing all that I enjoyed in 2005. It’s a thankless task and I am sure there is plenty I have missed out due to my unwillingness to go through all that I have covered, bought, borrowed and stole in 2005.
And unlike the NME list this has not been fixed! Allegedly…..
1) The Bridge Gang - Best band of the year for scintillating live sets and the best demo of 2005. If there is any justice in the world this lot are going to be big in 2006. The debut single will be released on Brille Records early in 2006 titled “Pangs Of Guilt/Neutrino”
2) The Envelopes - "Demon" has to be my favourite album of 2005. It rolls in at just over 33 minutes which is the ideal time for any album. The singles were great and they were bloody good live. They even gave Clor a chance to sound good when they remixed “Sister in Love”.
3) Wan Light - "That Grim Reality". Single of the year for me! Band also named after an Orange Juice song.
4) Decoration. It's 1986 and it's Reception Records. Only it's not but Leeds’ Decoration harks back to that wonderful era. Two cracking singles followed by an album. It's not all bad you know.
5) The Crack Babies - First decent thing that hit 2005. Their Psychocandy inspired “Smoking at Gas Stations” EP was pure class. You can download the whole EP from here as well as an EP from the fella behind the band.
6) Take Your Medicine Blog. It keeps me in touch with what the kids are listening too. Well written too.
7) Santa Dog – Lovely band, lovely CD’s and a lovely website. Did I say they were lovely?
8) My DJ debut at the age of, ahem, 38 at The Penelope Tree. And people danced & listened too. Bargain.
9) Stereo Test Kit Records – UK label reissuing Labrador releases in the UK and giving us number 16 on this list.
10) e-music – You know all that American indie which recently arrived in Rough Trade? It has been on e-music for months.
11) Songs I Wish I Had Written. Not only a great mail order shop for Swedish CDR’s but they also now have their own label which has given us The Lovekevins and Le Sport.
12) The Wedding Present. Okay I know it is Cinerama really but heading down the front to “Once More” took me back a few years I can tell you.
13) The Charade – “The Best Is Yet To Come” Second best album of the year from these Swedish popsters via America’s Skipping Stones label.
14) Labrador Records starting accepting Pay pal. Bastards! Don’t you know what you have done to my bank account?
15) The Pipettes – and I got both the rare 7”s. Makes 2005 a good year indeed for that alone.
16) Audrey – “Box, and Fights” from the self titled EP says it all as does the lovely wallpaper on their site. New album due in 2006 I think.
17) The Besties – When are you going to release that damn LP! (Edit: Valentines Day 2006) I cannot keep listening to The Pirate Song. Actually I lied. Of course I can.
18) Sounds XP – Okay I contribute for them but things got bigger and better in 2005 culminating in putting on The Bridge Gang, The Schla La las and Wintergreen. And the mugs let me run the radio station and DJ again. Watch out for more in 2006 including the label (fingers crossed). And maybe a badge….
19) The Fire Engines at the ICA – 29 minutes of magic despite no “Candyskin” due to the lack of violins. It made us old folk very happy indeed. The compilation on Domino was a bit of a let down though. They should have re-issued “Fond” instead.
20) Persil – “Happy”. Very close contender for my single of the year. From the Tune-Up EP. And they have a cover of “Kennedy” on their site too!
Bubbling under: Celestial, Lucky Soul, “Alligator” by The National, “Glasgow School” Orange Juice Compilation, “Clockwork Mice” by Wintergreen, Sambassadeur and too many more to mention.
And a big thanks to Lost Music & Magnusk – My two co-contributors on this blog. Where would I be without them? Probably not spending so much on the bands they recommend the swines! Of course I am indebted to Tom Miles for his excellent moderating of the indie-mp3 Yahoo Group.
And unlike the NME list this has not been fixed! Allegedly…..
1) The Bridge Gang - Best band of the year for scintillating live sets and the best demo of 2005. If there is any justice in the world this lot are going to be big in 2006. The debut single will be released on Brille Records early in 2006 titled “Pangs Of Guilt/Neutrino”
2) The Envelopes - "Demon" has to be my favourite album of 2005. It rolls in at just over 33 minutes which is the ideal time for any album. The singles were great and they were bloody good live. They even gave Clor a chance to sound good when they remixed “Sister in Love”.
3) Wan Light - "That Grim Reality". Single of the year for me! Band also named after an Orange Juice song.
4) Decoration. It's 1986 and it's Reception Records. Only it's not but Leeds’ Decoration harks back to that wonderful era. Two cracking singles followed by an album. It's not all bad you know.
5) The Crack Babies - First decent thing that hit 2005. Their Psychocandy inspired “Smoking at Gas Stations” EP was pure class. You can download the whole EP from here as well as an EP from the fella behind the band.
6) Take Your Medicine Blog. It keeps me in touch with what the kids are listening too. Well written too.
7) Santa Dog – Lovely band, lovely CD’s and a lovely website. Did I say they were lovely?
8) My DJ debut at the age of, ahem, 38 at The Penelope Tree. And people danced & listened too. Bargain.
9) Stereo Test Kit Records – UK label reissuing Labrador releases in the UK and giving us number 16 on this list.
10) e-music – You know all that American indie which recently arrived in Rough Trade? It has been on e-music for months.
11) Songs I Wish I Had Written. Not only a great mail order shop for Swedish CDR’s but they also now have their own label which has given us The Lovekevins and Le Sport.
12) The Wedding Present. Okay I know it is Cinerama really but heading down the front to “Once More” took me back a few years I can tell you.
13) The Charade – “The Best Is Yet To Come” Second best album of the year from these Swedish popsters via America’s Skipping Stones label.
14) Labrador Records starting accepting Pay pal. Bastards! Don’t you know what you have done to my bank account?
15) The Pipettes – and I got both the rare 7”s. Makes 2005 a good year indeed for that alone.
16) Audrey – “Box, and Fights” from the self titled EP says it all as does the lovely wallpaper on their site. New album due in 2006 I think.
17) The Besties – When are you going to release that damn LP! (Edit: Valentines Day 2006) I cannot keep listening to The Pirate Song. Actually I lied. Of course I can.
18) Sounds XP – Okay I contribute for them but things got bigger and better in 2005 culminating in putting on The Bridge Gang, The Schla La las and Wintergreen. And the mugs let me run the radio station and DJ again. Watch out for more in 2006 including the label (fingers crossed). And maybe a badge….
19) The Fire Engines at the ICA – 29 minutes of magic despite no “Candyskin” due to the lack of violins. It made us old folk very happy indeed. The compilation on Domino was a bit of a let down though. They should have re-issued “Fond” instead.
20) Persil – “Happy”. Very close contender for my single of the year. From the Tune-Up EP. And they have a cover of “Kennedy” on their site too!
Bubbling under: Celestial, Lucky Soul, “Alligator” by The National, “Glasgow School” Orange Juice Compilation, “Clockwork Mice” by Wintergreen, Sambassadeur and too many more to mention.
And a big thanks to Lost Music & Magnusk – My two co-contributors on this blog. Where would I be without them? Probably not spending so much on the bands they recommend the swines! Of course I am indebted to Tom Miles for his excellent moderating of the indie-mp3 Yahoo Group.
Thanks a lot.. that's really flattering.. I've got new stuff ready now. You can stream 4 songs from http://www.myspace.com/triphatesmyspace or download the whole demo from www.lostmusic.co.uk/recordings/ ..
I'm not sure where I first heard about Audrey but suspect it was here so thank you so much for that! The EP is tremendous...
Thank you for all the sweet words and support, you make my life a brighter place. Hopefully Celestial will stop "bubbling" soon and surface properly. Whatever happens I´m sure that there always will be free dowloads on www.myspace.com/ourcelestial
/a sunshine smile from Sweden
THE BESTIES ARE GAY.
Couldn't agree with you more about The Bridge Gang (although I live in the US and will just have to take your word about their live sets, at least for now). After I initially discovered them through one of your earlier posts, I wrote a bit about them in my blog, 2songs. In an uncharacteristic fan-boy moment, I forwarded a link to my blog to the band's email address. I promptly got a very nice note back from Jose, the guitarist. So, not only do they rock, but they have manners as well.
38, that's nothing - we clubbed together to get a mate of mine a set of decks for his..... 60th birthday! Presented at midnight at his party - he hadn't even noticed that he hadn't received any exciting presents up to that point. He's been happily DJing at various pubs ever since, mixing up 60s R&B with new indie and dance.
And at 42 I have also been toying with the idea of doing some DJing again (I did some when I was 20, gulp).
cheers, Jim