Favourite Albums 2010-2014

St Vincent: St Vincent (2014)
Annie Clark has undoubtedly been my favourite musician of the last 5 or 6 years, the freakiest guitarist we've had since Jack White and a radiant, magnetic presence on stage, screen and record. My only question here was whether to opt for 2011's "Strange Mercy", a tricksy work which gives up more intricacies with perseverance and which convinced me of her genius, 2012's interesting but not entirely satisfying collaboration with David Byrne, or 2014's award gobbling, much more straightforward and approachable eponymous album. Today I have opted for the latter - despite my deep personal connection to the earlier record, "St Vincent" is the one she will be remembered for, a hugely confident and focused concoction, combined with its elaborately choreographed stage show it evoked thoughts of Ziggy Stardust for the 21st century, as well as comparisons with Arcade Fire, Blondie and Talking Heads.

Cate Le Bon: Mug Museum (2013)
Coming across like a latter day Nico fronting the Velvet Underground, or perhaps a slightly rustic Television, Mug Museum is by turns wistful, delicate and downright weird. It's a beautiful confection.

Janelle Monae: The Archandroid (2010)
A sprawling, insanely ambitious sci-fi soul concept album, the sheer number and quality of ideas make this an intoxicating record.




John Grant: Queen of Denmark (2010)

Wryly humorous tales of depression and addiction through a dreamy 70s soft rock filter. Funny and moving.

 The War on Drugs: Lost in the dream (2014)
I found this initially quite repellent, as it represents a distillation of all sorts of 80s stadium rock. However, it does this extraordinarily well, and adds a pleasant Dylan-esque lyrical element to the mixture. Once I got over my snobbery and embraced the widescreen vision of band, I found it utterly addictive.

 Radiohead: The King of Limbs (2011)
Precisely nobody's favourite Radiohead album - a lot of fan's actively dislike it - but I've got to admit I've been really keen on it from day one. Its subtle, snake hipped grooves seemed a bit tuneless and half-arsed to some, but for me it's a very enjoyable piece of work, and probably the Radiohead album I've engaged with most since Amnesiac.

 The Duckworth Lewis Method: Sticky Wickets (2013)
Second cricket based comedy concept album from members of the Divine Comedy and Pugwash, pushing the 70s rock influences (particularly ELO) even further to the fore. The most fun album on this list.

 Arcade Fire: Reflektor (2013)
Arcade Fire go Eurodisco on their latest epic. A lot of it takes some getting used to, but as time has gone by I have come to really appreciate the ambition and boldness of this record. Their best (possibly THE best) song of the decade was actually on their previous album though, the prototype for what was to come, Sprawl II (Mountains beyond mountains).

 Tame Impala: Lonerism (2012)
In the absence of a decent Flaming Lips album for quite some years now, Australians Tame Impala did as good an imitation as anyone and came up with a latter day psychedelic treat.

 La Roux: Trouble in paradise (2014)
Inexplicably unpopular with the masses, this long in gestation album is the best pure pop record I can recall in many a year.

 Beach House: Bloom (2012)
As with Tame Impala doing the Flaming Lips (above), Beach House do their best Cocteau Twins impersonation, and it pleases me greatly.

Tune-Yards: Whokill (2011)
Ramshackle, chaotic, and bursting with imagination. Great fun.





Bubbling under: Jack White, Pixies, Gruff Rhys, Courtney Barnett, Wilco, Tom Waits