Skip To The End » Cool Beans http://skip-to-the-end.com Giving you more time to waste time Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:44:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Shutterbug – Big Boi http://skip-to-the-end.com/shutterbug-big-boi/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/shutterbug-big-boi/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:52:01 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=706 Every now and then, a song comes along that from that within seconds of the first listen, you know is going to be huge. Remember the first time you heard “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley and “I gotta feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. Well get ready to remember the first time you heard “Shutterbug” by Big Boi.

Half of Rap Legends Outkast, you would be forgiven for thinking that Big Boi was lesser than his partner Andre 3000. Perhaps not anymore. Shutterbug is Sick! It’s Huge! The production is immense. It sounds fresh and unlike anything I have heard for years. Mad Props!

Here is Shuttebug by Big Boi:

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/shutterbug-big-boi/feed/ 0 Danger Termination http://skip-to-the-end.com/danger-termination/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/danger-termination/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:42:06 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=698 Videos are good. Musics is also good. Musics and videos together = :)

Just simplifying it there for you a little. Here a little beauty I just came across. The music is by Danger and the video is Terminator, obviously.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/danger-termination/feed/ 0 Light Warfare http://skip-to-the-end.com/light-warfare/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/light-warfare/#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:49:12 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=658 This reeks of awesomeness and must have taken a long time to make. This is what you can achieve when messing with shutter speed and exposure on a decent camera. Fine work chaps.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/light-warfare/feed/ 0 Mother Nature Creates Massive Sinkhole http://skip-to-the-end.com/mother-nature-creates-massive-sinkhole/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/mother-nature-creates-massive-sinkhole/#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:14:46 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=650 mother nature sinkhole

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/mother-nature-creates-massive-sinkhole/feed/ 0 Lego Printer http://skip-to-the-end.com/lego-printer/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/lego-printer/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:53:47 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=643 We used to build things. Great things. Great things capable of great things built by great people. These guys are still at it.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/lego-printer/feed/ 0 Running On Empty http://skip-to-the-end.com/running-on-empty/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/running-on-empty/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:34:12 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=625 For any of you that have been to LA, you might find this interesting. It’s a video inspired by Matt Logue’s Empty LA which what LA would look like if we were not there. I am a video editor and I don’t know how they have done it. Good work.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/running-on-empty/feed/ 0 If Carlsberg did World Cup Adverts http://skip-to-the-end.com/if-carlsberg-did-world-cup-adverts/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/if-carlsberg-did-world-cup-adverts/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 15:24:05 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=620 They would probably be the best in the world. Well actually it is pretty epic. This time it’s “If Carlsberg did team talks” and from this advert, I kind of wish they would. If England make the World Cup Final, I want them to show this to the team at half time!

Men of England, It’s time to join the immortals…

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/if-carlsberg-did-world-cup-adverts/feed/ 1 The Best Superpower? http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-best-superpower/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-best-superpower/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 16:07:58 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=618 If you are a person, then you have no doubt asked yourself this question at some point in your life. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Now immediately invisibility and super strength, the usuals pop into mind. But what are we missing? What have we forgotten? This man has found the answer, and become a super hero. His power? He has ‘the power of throwing stuff at other stuff precisely’! I know, its not the most easy to say power of all time, but it looks sweet!

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-best-superpower/feed/ 0 Introducing Underwear by FM Belfast http://skip-to-the-end.com/introducing-underwear-by-fm-belfast/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/introducing-underwear-by-fm-belfast/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 10:29:58 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=612 I know what you are thinking. I don’t usually talk about new lines of underwear, unless they are on sexy ladies. Anyway, I’m not so shup! Here is an awesome video for an awesome band called ‘FM Belfast‘. No they are not from Northern Ireland, they are actually from Iceland.

There must be something in the water up there, because they are not only renowned for volcanoes that ruin peoples holidays, but Iceland also has an excellent record of producing amazing musicians. I cannot think of a single Icelandic artist that isn’t amazing.

Anyway these guys look pretty awesome and this track “Underwear” sounds fresh and exciting and I could certainly hear it being played on Radio 1 any day now. Here is the track with an awesome video if I do say so myself.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/introducing-underwear-by-fm-belfast/feed/ 0 “I’ll Never be LOST Again” http://skip-to-the-end.com/ill-never-be-lost-again/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/ill-never-be-lost-again/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 15:52:35 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=605 Sunday night saw the end of an era, as TV Phenomenon ”LOST” came to a climax after 6 years on our screens. Personally, I think it was the best TV show that I have ever seen. It was as close to perfect as I think I will ever see, and doubt it’s success will be surpassed for many years. Although I do hope it opens the door for more decently written TV shows.

As for the ending… I thought it was perfect! The show really was about the characters, not the mysteries, and it tied up their stores exactly the way we wanted since the very beginning when people started dying. And yes, I shed a few tears (I actually cried like a baby), so what!? If that didn’t make you cry you have no soul! Good Bloody Work to those involved! To commemorate the end, here is the best of the LOST virals circling the web right now. Gotta love those LOST strings! Shame they can’t rap.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/ill-never-be-lost-again/feed/ 0 How to make an Advert http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-to-make-an-advert/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-to-make-an-advert/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 09:09:08 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=586 Do this:

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-to-make-an-advert/feed/ 0 Lissie Gaga Cover http://skip-to-the-end.com/lissie-gaga-cover/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/lissie-gaga-cover/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 15:59:04 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=563 Nothing really interesting happening on the internet today. Dio died yesterday, that’s pretty sad, few of his videos about but nothing new. I think this whole year there has been a version of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” in the top 20 most watched videos. Its a song I thought was complete and utter crap when I heard it the first time. But ashamedly it has grown on me.

So here is probably my favourite version I have seen, a cover by acoustic rockette Lissie. Awesome Stuffs.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/lissie-gaga-cover/feed/ 0 The Cloud that Closed Airports http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-cloud-that-closed-airports/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-cloud-that-closed-airports/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 15:47:45 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=551 OK I’ve got one more for you for the weekend. Here is a beautiful time-laps video of the Volcano in Europe that grounded hundreds of flights to the UK and Europe. Music is by Jónsi, the lead singer of Icelandic Band Sigur Ros .

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-cloud-that-closed-airports/feed/ 0 Viral: Bad Romance http://skip-to-the-end.com/viral-bad-romance/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/viral-bad-romance/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 15:24:46 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=549 Here is you viral video to see you through the weekend. It is not brand new, it has been lingering in the Viral Chart 2 weeks and is worth a mention. A lot of people seem to be out doing Lady GaGa at her own game at the moment. Good work boys.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/viral-bad-romance/feed/ 0 Best Video Ever http://skip-to-the-end.com/best-video-ever/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/best-video-ever/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 13:59:54 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=544 This is one of my favourite things ever to be on the internets. Actually, it is just one of my favourite things ever. Most of my working day has in fact been wasted on gorging at its loveliness.

Girls, Check. Lingerie, Check. Ermm yep that’s all wee need to make a successful viral video. Win

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/best-video-ever/feed/ 1 Lamas With Hats 2 http://skip-to-the-end.com/lamas-with-hats-2/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/lamas-with-hats-2/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:02:06 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=475 This time, its personal. With more blood, more guts and more death than ever before. Probably one of the funniest videos of the internet. Period.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/lamas-with-hats-2/feed/ 0 This Too Shall Pass http://skip-to-the-end.com/this-too-shall-pass/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/this-too-shall-pass/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:16:26 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=469 OKGO. A distinctly average band with average music. Yet they are becoming a household name. Not from their songs but from their music videos. Nobody can forget such classics as “here we go again” and the treadmill dance. Every OKGO video since has done its best to top its predecessor, and this time they might just have done it.

Here is the simply epic video for their new single “This Too Shall Pass”. Good job lads.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/this-too-shall-pass/feed/ 0 History in 2D http://skip-to-the-end.com/history-in-2d/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/history-in-2d/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:01:40 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=457 Every wondered how we came to exist on this planet? This viral video certainly does not answer that question but it is great none the less.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/history-in-2d/feed/ 0 The Bird is The Word http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-bird-is-the-word/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-bird-is-the-word/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:46:32 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=450 Alot of the time, Art is wanky pretentious shite. But sometimes it’s brilliant. This is one of those times:

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-bird-is-the-word/feed/ 0 How To Report The News http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-to-report-the-news/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-to-report-the-news/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:23:52 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=448 Here at skip to the end we like straight talking, balls out honesty. Charlie Brooker has asserted himself as one of the most brutal social commentators of recent times and just so happens to be hilarious at the same time. This week he climbs up to the top of the Viral Video Chart with his report on How to report the News.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-to-report-the-news/feed/ 0 2009 Year in Music Remix http://skip-to-the-end.com/2009-year-in-music-remix/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/2009-year-in-music-remix/#comments Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:55:05 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=426 2009 was a great year for music. Unfortunately the guy who made this brilliant mix of 2009 tracks forgot to include the good stuff from 09. Any-who here is the first viral video chart number 1 of the Teenies

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/2009-year-in-music-remix/feed/ 0 Viral: Happy Christmas http://skip-to-the-end.com/viral-happy-christmas/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/viral-happy-christmas/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:18:38 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=422 Yes its nearly Christmas which means its that time of year for lots of Christmas themed viral videos. Sure to be a lean one for us all this year but Happy Christmas never the less. I hope you have wrapped all you Christmas hampers up nicely, but I’m afraid I can’t get you all gifts this year as you have all been very bad!

Only joking, here is your Christmas gift from me to you in the form of Jack Bauer. Merry Christmas.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/viral-happy-christmas/feed/ 0 The Ginger Bonham http://skip-to-the-end.com/ginger-bonham/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/ginger-bonham/#comments Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:44:01 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=412 Epic Drumming legend John Bonham of Led Zeppelin is perhaps the best rock drummer of all time. If he was ginger, he might have looked and played something like this…

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/ginger-bonham/feed/ 0 Dubai Builds World’s Tallest Building http://skip-to-the-end.com/dubai-builds-worlds-tallest-building/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/dubai-builds-worlds-tallest-building/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:54:42 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=408 Ever wondered what it feels like to be on top of the world? Well this guy knows. He is standing on the highest man built point in the world located in construction heavy Dubai. Construction in Dubai is simply epic. This is the daddy of them all. The building work on the Burj Dubai, the worlds new tallest building has just been completed. It now towers 40% higher than any other man made structure in history. At 818 meters tall, flights to Dubai will be able to catch a glimpse for miles a round. But as temping as it looks, base jumping off it would be a very bad idea, with it slanted side and almost pyramid like design, it is extremely resistant to the weather but not a good place to jump off.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/dubai-builds-worlds-tallest-building/feed/ 0 Best Albums of the Decade: The 00’s http://skip-to-the-end.com/best-albums-of-the-decade-the-00s/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/best-albums-of-the-decade-the-00s/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:19:04 +0000 Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=367 It’s that time again, with nearly one month left until a new and exiting decade begins its time to take a look back at a decade that change music forever, again. The 00’s has seen perhaps the biggest transformation in music since Stereo. The internet has changed everything, reinventing and reigniting the music industry. Music is more available, more accessible, easier to share, and easier to by than ever before. Artists no longer need a big label to be discovered. Only talent and a website.

The mid to late 90’s saw a decline in real/decent music with only dreadful pop groups thriving. But the internet has changed the game, managing to both damage and save the music industry at the same time. So lets look back at perhaps the most important decade for music since the 60’s. Here is our pick of the best albums by year of this magnificent decade:

Best Album of 2000: Rated R – Queens of the Stone Age

Rated R - QOTSA

The second album from the band formed from the ashes of stoner rock pioneers Kyuss, featuring Josh Homme on vocals and guitar and Nick Oliveri on bass. The follow up to their first Hard Rock self titled album, Rated R was anything but conventional. From the off with the track “Feel good hit of the summer” you know this is going to be something important, but also a bit funny. The first track, which lyrics’ consist of only drugs [Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, Marijuana, Ecstasy  and Alcohol] sounds so addictive as the drugs themselves, leaving you craving the rest of the album. Each song takes you in a different direction, somewhere music has never been before and yet maintains the coherent sound of a concept album. Josh Homme always take making music seriously yet seems compelled to do it ironically threw out the album. Irony oozes from this record. Perhaps because you know it does not conform to popular music, yet it follows a basic and familiar song structure that people can understand. This is pop rock on crack. The Homme – Oliveri partnership thrives, with Homme’s almost angelic vocals and devilish guitar riffs and Oliveri’s simply evil and filthy bass lines, the two forces balance each other beautifully into a strangely beautiful album. Best Track: Better Living Threw Chemistry

2000 Runner Up: OutKast – Stankonia

A break-threw album for OutKast, with awesome hits such as “Ms Jackson” and “BOB (Bombs over Baghdad)”. These guys clearly had something to say and were one of a few stand out rap artists that we striving to be better than the status quo (not the rock band).

Best Album of 2001: Origin Of Symmetry – Muse

Muse - Origin of Symmetry

With their follow up to the groundbreaking debut album “Showbiz” Muse permanently stamped their mark on the British music scene. The album was a instant classic. The epic sounds of “Newborn” and “Plug In Baby” are unparalleled in British Rock in anything post 70’s. Front Man Matt Bellamy simply oozes talent, managing a unique and excellent guitar style, amazing vocal ability and he plays a mean piano. Muse essentially create their own genre with “Origin of Symmetry” that simply cannot be categorized only as rock. This is Unique, beautiful, heartbreaking, amazing and backed up with some of the best live performances of any British act ever. Best Track: Plug In Baby

2001 Runner Up: Toxicity – System of a Down

These 2 albums were a big part of the soundtrack of my youth. Music television had just started to really explode with the release of lots on new music channels, including rock and metal channel Kerrang, which can be partially blamed for the disgrace of the late 90′ early 00’s that was new metal. But it wasn’t all bad, I remember System of a Down must have been on at least once every 10 minutes after the release of Toxicity. It destroyed everything around at the time in the rock and metal scene, because it was actually good. Well it was in fact a lot better than good.

Best Album of 2002: A Rush of Blood to the Head – Coldplay

a rush of blood to the headColdplay pioneered a flood of soft rock bands with their first album at the start of the 00’s. But Their second album really blew all competition out of the water. The amount of feeling and passion in this album can be heard and felt threw-out and there is not a second of the album that does not sound powerful and amazing. This album is sure to have inspired many budding musicians already and will continue to do so for years to come. Best Track: Amsterdam

2002 Runners Up: Sigur Ros – () | Queens of the Stone Age – Songs For The Deaf

Yes, that’s not a misprint, its really called “()”. You have probably heard of, or atleast heard songs by Sigur Ros at some point in your life. But you almost definitely don’t appreciate them as you should. They are guilty of some of the most passionate and beautiful music ever made and this, their second album is the pick of the bunch. So good they could not name the tracks or the album, perhaps because words cannot describe its beauty, the band even created their own language to sing in the album. If you want to feel something, this album will introduce you to feelings you never knew existed, if you let it. In contrast their soft musical style, Queens of the Stone Age’s third album “Songs For The Deaf” thumped it’s way into the mainstream with its first single “No One Knows” with pounding rock beats provided by none other than Dave Grohl who appeared on the album in the previously vacant drummer position, providing perhaps the best drumming performance on any record of the decade. It’s a heavy, heavy album that will go down in history as one of the very best hard rock albums ever. Grohl enjoyed playing with the band so much he proclaimed it the best band he had ever been, but other commitments with the Foo Fighters lead QOTSA to find a worthy replacement with Joey Castello.

Best Album of 2003 : Veneer – José González

Jose Gonzalez - VeneerThe Debut album from one of the best singer songwriters to emerge from the 00’s. Veneer has incredible depth for an album that is only vocals and guitar. José González almost reinvents how to play acoustic guitar, managing to create a sound that is almost orchestral. The First single “Heartbeats” was shot to fame in a memorable Sony Bravia advert which helped it become a household hit in the UK. Best Track: Heartbeats

2003 Runners Up: Hail to the Thief – Radiohead | Fever To Tell – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2003 saw a real transformation in popular music, the boy-band era had ended and real bands had hit the mainstream thanks to the likes of Coldplay and Stereophonics. But few of this new wave of soft rock and indie bands made any classic records. Radiohead are worthy runners up for putting their past classic albums behind them and reinventing themselves to make a very modern sounding record that upheld their style and amazing songwriting. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs also deserve a mention for their instant classic album “Fever to tell”, that simply blew false saviors of rock like The Strokes and other indie bands out of the water. Lots of people praised the album but few really understood it at the time. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have continued threw-out the decade to make music of the tallest order, being only properly appreciated by a select few.

Best Album of 2004: Kasabain -Kasabain

kasabianAn album full of anthems, this really felt like the start of something important. Hailed as the new Oasis, their egos quickly became too big for their own good, but make no mistake this album is a classic in the history of British music. From the off the album has something to say, a protest record that makes you want to join the resistance and punch someones lights out, which perhaps is why it became a popular hit with football fans. An Epic manly record. Best Track: Club Foot

2004 Runners Up: To the 5 Boroughs – Beastie Boys | Funeral – Arcade Fire

After 6 years out of the game, the Beastie Boys make one of the best comebacks of all time. After making rap records for nearly 20 years, to come out again and make an album ash fresh and relevant as the first, they sure cemented their appeal as one of the all time greatest hip-hop acts. Arcade Fire’s debut album “Funeral” is arguably the best of the year, with such a passionate and unique sound, they paved they way for future bands like Friendly Fires and Be Your Own Pet. They gave indie a rural country edge twist that made “Funeral” feel really special.

Best Album of 2005: Demon Days – Gorillaz

Demon DaysThe second album from Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz dominated the pop charts in 2005. The band surely surpassed all expectations with this record that included chart toppers “Dare”, an amazing collaboration with Shaun Ryder, and “Feel Good Inc” with De la Soul. The record was produced by Danger Mouse, who is quite possibly the best in the business at the moment, which is sure to have played a part in its success. But characters in the band may be cartoon, but the talent behind this album was very real. The success of Demon Days called for the Identity of the real band members to come forward, but not before their first ever live performance, where they still masked their identities. Best Track: Kids With Guns

2005 Runner Up: Kaiser Chiefs – Employment

The Kaiser Chiefs continue a run of new British bands that carry a lot of social issues on their back and in their music. It was not long after people started hearing the likes of “I Predict a Riot” and “Oh My God” that it was clear they would be destined for the big time. Like Kasabian, they were a mans band, with rocky riffs and social shouts for the masses, and they came from Leeds.

Best Album of 2006: Who Needs Actions When You Got Words – Plan B

Who Needs Actions When You Got WordsI’m going to make a controversial decision here and go for Plan B over the Arctic Monkeys. Both are perhaps the social commentary albums of the decade, but I’m choosing Plan B because I believe it is more relevant, more honest and more important. At a time when mainstream Rap and Hip-Hop had become soulless, commercial and generic, Plan B came along and made it honest again at least in Britain. Just one guy and a guitar rapping about being brought up in East London. It’s very dark, which perhaps has warded off more people than it attracted, but this guy had a real message for the British people and we’d be a damn sight better off if we listened to him. He wins for rapping with relentless passion in his voice which you can hear him pouring into the record. If it scares you, then good, at least it made you feel something. Best Track: No More Eatin’

2006 Runners Up: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not – Arctic Monkeys | The Warning – Hot Chip

Arctic Monkeys mark a milestone in the history of music. A band discovered by millions threw word of mouth, well not word of mouth exactly. This was the dawn of the internet age for music. Over the space of 6 months, the Arctic Monkeys went from playing in small pubs around the UK, to being one of the most talked about bands in the country, headlining massive shows. The internet had now become fast enough and social enough to share music and videos instantly with your entire network of friends. Myspace gave anyone the chance to upload their own music onto a website for free and share it with the world. The Arctic Monkeys represent this new generation, signing about having nothing better to do than cause trouble and get pissed. But their simply epic rise to fame was not only down to the Internet, it was also down to “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance floor”. This is a huge tune, so good I can even specifically remember where I was the first time I heard it, just instantly acknowledging with myself that it was going to be a massive hit. A classic so timeless, I had to check to see if it was actually new because it felt like it could have fitted in at any point over the last 30 years. The Album, perhaps one of the most anticipated of the 00’s, was used as a launching point for online music stores like iTunes, which now meant people could download tracks and albums straight to their computers. It smashed the record book, becoming the fastest selling album of all time. As for Hot Chip, they rightfully deserve a mention for bringing Electro Pop back into the mainstream with their fantastic second album, setting a trend for the years to come.

Best Album of 2007: In Rainbows – Radiohead

In RainbowsWhat a year for music! The success of the Arctic Monkeys provided the new hope for the music industry that everyone thought was dying. 2007 saw some simply awesome music. I could give 3 or 4 albums that would top most mentioned on this list. In Rainbows was not a mainstream hit, but it hit the mainstream smack in the face. Digital downloads were thriving. Radiohead could see the industry had changed, and not satisfied with making one of the greatest concept albums of all time, again, they made the headlines by releasing the album only as a download from their website. But the twist was you, the buyer, could choose how much you wanted to pay for it. Some said it was the future, others said it was a joke, but it was never the less a shock to the system. Reports say they pocketed far more than they would have got if they had signed up to release on a Major label. The way it was sold unfortunately overshadowed the sheer awesomeness of the album, which is certainly in my top 3 of all time. It’s so very raw and edgy, yet beautiful and smooth. At a time where new technology is transforming everything, production of albums had become way over the top. All signs of emotion and raw feeling were compressed out and smoothed over to be easily listening for the masses. In Rainbows was totally different from everything else at the time. The production was clearly  minimalistic, so it really captures everything the band were feeling. The first time I heard it, it sounded so unfamiliar, it felt like I was hearing music for the first time. That is the biggest compliment I can pay to it. Despite critical acclaim, I still feel its one of the most under rated albums of the decade. Best Track: Videotape

2007 Runners Up: Sound of Silver – LCD Soundsystem | Memory Almost Full – Paul McCartney

Sound of Silver is the best electronic album of the decade. Electro was becoming more and more mainstream and more and more relevant. Their first album was fantastic and this was miles better. It’s simply an exquisite piece of work. “Get Innocuous” is an engrossing opener that sets the tone of a progressive and engaging experience. “All My Friends” is a stand out anthem for anyone who is considering whether to stay in, or party with friends. Listen to it and you realize its a no brainer. It’s beggars belief how Paul McCartney can still produce an album of excellent original tracks after having already writing so many over his 40 years in popular music, that have become part of the furniture of British music. It’s a really amazing album, it’s not going to change the world hey, I think he has already done that enough times.

Best Album of 2008: Seldom Seen Kid – Elbow

Seldom Seen KidElbow are band that have been around threw out the entire decade, consistently creating good albums. This was the exception. Seldom Seen Kid is an outstanding album, which met much critical acclaim including winning the Mercury Prize, a just reward for a band that have always made good honest music. Many acts at the time we re-branding themselves to try to appear to the new internet age of music and loosing all sense of who they really are and what the were about. Elbow on the other hand carried on regardless and made a fantastic honest record. Best Track: Grounds For Divorce

2008 Runners Up: Third – Portishead | Made in the Dark – Hot Chip | Random Album Title – Dead Mau5

The long craved comeback of Portishead was not a disappointment. There had always been a void in the Trip Hop scene since their last album over 10 years previous. Third proved they were very much still the kings of the Genre even after so long away from the music scene. Check out the intense “Machine Gun“. Hot Chip continued to get better and better with their third album “Made in the Dark”. Dance newcomer Dead Mau5 (pronounced ‘dead mouse’) became one of the hottest new producers in the music scene with his first album. An Electronica & Dance album that is perfectly progressive and the production is fantastic.

Best Album of 2009: Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures

Them Crooked Vultures AlbumI know I’m a little quick to make this call seeing as the album came out today, but hear me out. In a decade of disappointing rock comebacks and distinctly average rock albums, where rock-stars like Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper have resorted to appearing in TV ads selling insurance or televisions and Coldplay became the biggest “Rock” band in the world, you would be forgiven for thinking that Rock ‘n’ Roll was dead. But there was still some soon to be (or perhaps already) rock legends keeping the fire burning: Dave Grohl [Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Probot, Queens of the Stone Age] and Josh Homme [Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, Eagles of Death Metal]. Both residing in the Los Angeles music scene it was inevitable for these two to bump into each other. They first worked together when Homme invited Grohl to return to the drums for the first time since the end of Nirvana to play with his band Queens of the Stone Age on their third album “Songs for the Deaf” (See 2002 runners up). It was one of the best rock collaborations of the decade and produced a hard rock album of simply epic proportions. The pair continued separately to make some great rock music threw out the following years. Grohl’s band “Foo Fighters” played some amazing live shows, including surprise performances with former rock legends “Queen” in Hyde Park and rock pioneers “Led Zeppelin” in Wembley Stadium. Then in 2009 a monster was formed. Grohl and Home decided to make a new record under their own terms and tempted none other than John Paul Jones [Led Zeppelin] to join them in making a record, making one of the most exciting super-group line ups of all time. After months of secret recordings in Homme’s studio, the band was announced as “Them Crooked Vultures” and they hit the road revealing very little about their forthcoming album. Dave Grohl recently called it the best band he has ever been in, which is a mighty big claim. People feared they would go the way of most modern super-groups and fall short of expectations and just plain suck, but this band broke the trend.

But that’s enough back story, why is this album the best of the year? Because it is one of the only Rock albums of the last twenty years that upholds the original point of Rock ‘N’ Roll. This is just three guys fooling around, having fun and making a record. They ain’t trying to be cool, they ain’t trying to make money, they ain’t trying to be popular, they ain’t trying to have sex with you, they ain’t trying to tell you how to live your life, they ain’t trying to change the world, they ain’t trying to be Bono, they ain’t trying to start a new fashion trend, they ain’t trying to tell you about climate change, they ain’t trying to make you think they are the best guitarist/drummer/bassist in the world and most importantly of all, they ain’t trying to be something they are not. That is what makes this album and this band so different to everything else around at the moment. Music doesn’t always have to have a point. Sometimes it’s just about having a good fucking time! I think that’s exactly what we all need right about now. There are no hidden homages to former bands like Led Zep or The Doors or even QOTSA, if you think there is you are looking too much into it and missing the point entirely. This is a funny, hard, invigorating, in your face, devilish and downright dirty record. Now pick up the bottle of bourbon and lets have a fucking party! Best Track: Nobody loves me, and neither do I (On the record, stick it out to 2.44 and it will blow your tits off!)

2009 Runners Up: West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum – Kasabian | Common Dreads – Enter Shikari

I thought all hope was lost for Kasabian after their second album “Empire”, which they grossly and egotistically claimed was better than Oasis’ “Definitely Maybe”, was awful bar a few tracks. But their third album “West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum” is amazing. An album so complete and fresh at times it felt like a Led Zeppelin record. Their Egos seem to at least for the moment, be put to rest, although they can be very very proud of this piece of musical mastery. Common Dreads is the closes thing there has been to a protest record for years. I mean a real protest record, not something like Muse’s latest album titled “The Resistance” which you would expect to say something about the dysfunctional mess society has become over the past decade. Instead it largely conforms so blatantly to a commercial audience, loosing all of the fight and edge they had with albums like “Origin of Symmetry” listed above. Enter Shikari have enthralled the not so mainstream fun loving hardcore scene over the past 2 years, providing an old school style rock and roll haven for the underground, occasionally making it into the spotlight with big performances such as Reading festival. “Common Dreads” is fun and fierce and a bloody good album.

So there you have it. Those are my opinions and I expect most of you to disagree with me. Feel free to give your views/choices in the comments below.

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