I wasn't a big fan of Album to be honest.

weezer placed already so this list is already over pretty much

just a bunch of fleet foxes and animal bands to come

Shit flag alert right there.

did some votes get overlooked? i was pretty sure chrono had that at #1 or something

forgive me if im pulling this out of my ass

I DEMAND A RECOUNT

FRIGHTENED RABBIT MUST GET THE RANKING IT DESERVES

In the 2001 poll?

Only five places higher.

Long as they don't decide #1.

endless bummer

“When I'm not thinking about how great this album is I'm thinking about how great their live show will be playing this album.” - Nick`

#9.




British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
(3606 Points, 48 Votes, Three #1 Votes)

US Chart Position: #5 (Heatseekers)

UK Chart Position: #10

Charting Singles: n/a

SOMB Says: Following on from the opening, fidgeting drumbeat, there’s a drop out before Noble’s piercing wail of guitar breaks through the wash and screams into the sky. This how soon it is before you can tell that British Sea Power have managed to marry up the frenzied messiness of The Decline of… and polished sheen and restrained grace of Open Season.

I considered writing this review along the lines of the Rock Music / Non-Rock Music concept a la the PR as the album was coming out (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2007/nov/28/rockmusicornonrockmusic) The only Non-Rock Music items to do with this album on my list though were slipping a disc whilst stage diving and Stephen M. Deusner.

I don’t want to dwell on how a number of US critics, not just Pitchfork, completely misunderstood this record but it’s the elephant in the room. Comparing the record to the output of 21st Century U2 and criticising the lyrics for not having an emotional resonance, when it’s clear that since their inception, British Sea Power have favoured the Big Music stylings of Echo and The Bunnymen and that the lyrics and the subject matter on this album are less obtuse than before. OK, they still sings songs about the Bird Flu, immigration, floods and Wrestling but what are those but if not examples of writing what you know? Accusing the band of having their noses stuck in history books seems churlish when most Indie bands in the UK can’t write about beyond what goes on past their fringes let alone Camden High Street. Must we have our hands held through everything? These subjects are what we find in the news, the reverb and feedback of life.

It’s also, with the production of Howard Billerman fêted for comparison to Arcade Fire; but would British Sea Power ever perform a song as insular as “My Body Is a Cage”? The tag of rockier Arcade Fire attached itself to DYLRM? from an early stage came as an acknowledgement of an attempt to go mainstream but elsewhere on the record Graham Sutton, of Bark Psychosis, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor co-founder Efrim Menuck are on production duties in the forests of Czech Republic and the crumbling facade and pigeon shit of Tregantle Fort in Cornwall. Where does this fit in with this theory?

This is a proper indie band shooting for the moon and carrying on the ambition seen in the aforementioned Bunnymen’s Porcupine mixing in the more American influences of The Replacements and Hüsker Dü with the usual influences found on the previous two albums. Beautifully book-ended by “All in It” beckoning us to join together (another flag waving call for inclusiveness that went over the heads of a few critics but not the thousands of heads in the fields of Glastonbury) and the comedown of “We Close our Eyes”, although personally I’d have finished with b-side “Everyone Must Be Saved” Between is some of the most thrilling Indie guitar music from the UK this year.

“Lights Out…” describes the campaign for reducing light pollution amid a backdrop of rasping Surfer Rosa guitars before the big festival anthems: “No Lucifer”, aping a recent atheist bus campaign ‘There’s probably no God, so stop worrying and enjoy life” comes to a surer position on whether Satan is real amid Abi Fry’s fiddle and Big Daddy’s “E-say, e-say, e-say” chant. Secondly there is “Waving Flags” a sky-scrapping call to arms in appreciation for the drinking capacity and work ethic of the 2004 entries to the European Union while they are here. Joining a few of the rougher, readier riff farms taken from 2007’s Krankenhouse? EP in the middle of the record. (“Down on The Ground”, “A Trip Out” and the air-raid siren din of “Atom”), are the lush lullaby to the victims of the 1953 North Sea floods (including the records of Canvey Island FC) dripping with the portent of HN51outbreak and memory of the 2007 flooding and the epic beauty of “The Great Skua” a wordless love letter to the Arctic bird as sincere as “Larsen B” was to the Antarctic ice shelf. It is fair to say that this is very much the album where Hamilton assumed equal footing with his voice no longer cooing his way through the quieter, tranquil moment but roaring like an off shore gale as forcefully as his brother. It’s a more subdued Hamilton treading carefully through "No Need to Cry" and "Open the Door" in a relaxing drift out to sea after the battering of the first two thirds of the record.

The success of this album and of this band is what UK Indie needs. There are too many festivals topped by the Razorlights, Scouting For Girls, Kooks and Colons of the world pandering to people who wouldn’t have been reading the NME in 1998, let alone 1988. Just a look at the slevenotes mentioning The Disco Drug Store in Chatham High Street and that “all the nice girls love a pasty” is a glorious throwback to when indie meant DIY sleeves, C-86 and John Peel sessions. How many more post “Wonderwall”, post “The Drugs Don’t Work” post Diana, caring, wet indie anthems are we going to mope through? How many sub-prime Libertines are still being signed in a pathetic mirror of the post-Cobain malaise in the US?

Just this year British Sea Power held their own festival in the highest pub in England (which saw several Arctic Monkeys and Klaxon’s turn up on James Ford’s stage do) celebrated by brewing their own ale, playing Canvey Island, the Natural History Museum, The Czech Embassy, Greco Roman Wrestling on Jools Holland, appearing with The London Bulgarian Choir on stage to brilliant effect and hosting a section on BBC One’s Countryfile. In a music climate where the soundtrack to a Sunday afternoon discussing tracker mortgages is the same as that earnestly pouring out of the laptops of freshers we need more big, ambitious strikes on the mainstream from bands like British Sea Power in 2009 and beyond. - Mitchell

Artist's Previous Rankings on Our Albums Lists: “Open Season” (#46 of 2005)

Ranked Highest By: Sam, amotin, Torrance (#1)

Also Ranked By: demonclearner, Rob Gordon, Waterloo, carl (#2), frankie say relax, Mitchell, Sickpup (#3), hinsey21, RabbiSchmoiley (#4), spiritofeden, Paper Tiger, Ogawa, Lewis, Pookie (#5)

Amazon Link

hehe

i could give a fuck about them, just making an observation

Dig! is just a bit fantastic. As always, Cave delivered. All the songs I saw them do from it were pulled off superbly as well.

Had no idea that anybody liked British Sea Power except for Mitchell Stirling and other prissy anglophiles.

Might have to check them out so I can know what real indie rock sounds like!

I didn't know Chrono had that at #1.

Yes

forgive me then

Can't think of a song on this that isn't a keeper. Anyone who drives down the highway listening to "Magazines" and doesn't get a speeding ticket b/c they stepped on the gas as they were singing along has never paid the price of great rock. (I know, that didn't make any sense, but jesus, saying nice shit is hard when you're out of practice.)

Most of my Ten have made the list. Gotta guess Glenn Campbell won'tbe Top Five, though.

This thread is kinda like a failed attempt at climbing treacherous mountain. It's pretty tough for most of the ascent (No Age, Coldplay) yet every so often you get a sense that you are doing something really worth while (Genghis Tron, Flying Lotus). Reaching the summit is glorious moment (Weezer) but unfortunately, when decending, you slip and implale yourself on a jagged rock (Blitzen Trapper). It's not immediately fatal but over the next hour or so life slowly drains away (#11-#2).

But, just as begin to breathe your last there is a shining light which still gives you hope (Portishead, hopefully).

Wait, what.

I have no idea what Chrono's list even was. I think it just disappeared into a roaming cloud of pot smoke at some point.

You'd probably prefer their debut.

easily fooled is easily schooled

How was he schooled? Seems like a solid poster.

glad this placed.

Album of the year. fuck Fleet Foxes

Bit early for the scotch, eh?

“such a perfect winter record too...” - solace

#8.




Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
(3907 Points, 48 Votes, Four #1 Votes)

US Chart Position: #169

UK Chart Position: #42

Charting Singles: n/a

SOMB Says: Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago is not the kind of album I usually champion. There’s not a lot of variety in the instrumentation, or in the songwriting for that matter. It sounds like it was recorded underwater, and then played back through styrofoam speakers. The lyrics, occasionally half-mumbled, feel like an afterthought more often that not. And it could be arguably classified under one of my most loathed categories: indie folk.

But holy hell is this an ineffably beautiful album.

Like most things in this world that are sublimely gorgeous, it’s all the more lovely for its flaws. It’s Gina Gershon’s nose. The Venus de Milo’s arms. January Jones’ petulance. It’s the burnt Cheez-It. The Whopper malted milk ball that’s chewy.

It’s Damien Rice without the calculated plea for p. It’s charming and moving and feels genuine to the point where you think maybe it’s a little invasive to be eavesdropping something so personal.

But mostly, For Emma, Forever Ago feels like the last few seconds of a dream you don’t want to leave. The more you try to pinpoint its specifics, the more elusive it becomes. Better to just pull up the comforter and let it wash over you like a cool breeze from a drafty winter window. Sometimes “music to fall asleep to” is actually a compliment. - Slackmo

Artist's Previous Rankings on Our Albums Lists: n/a

Ranked Highest By: qwerty, August West, Whiskey!, Ella Isquire (#1)

Also Ranked By: nole.kennedy, Paul (#2), Alright Still, thresholdofrevelation, tystu, davidortiz, carl (#3), demoncleaner, blackswede, DrJimmy, Ogawa, Man Is Matter (#4), Ben Thayer, Guy, JeffTweedysFatStomach (#5)

Amazon Link

What the fuck is "Bon Iver."

yeah, i didn't know this...

...

i lold

Intentional mis-spelling of Hiver. The band whose name means "Good Winter" made a "perfect winter record"

HA HA HA

This list is not what I expected at all. The order is definitely unexpected. The Black Keys should have been higher. I expected Girl Talk to be higher, but I'm glad it placed where it did. Expected Bon Iver to be lower. Biggest surprise, though, might have been British Sea Power. Nine? Wow.

So what's the deal with Bon Iver?

Isn't he just some New York hipster?

where do you think such seminal rap albums as young jeezy, lil wayne, ratatat, and girl talk should place sonicalligator

Thread needs more WP64.

Not that surprised at Bon Iver, but I share your sentiments on British Sea Power...

I don't know if you're kidding or not, but I think he's from Wisconsin.

Looks like the answer is "YES!!!"

“This thing is gorgeous, lush, sexy.” - vurt

#7.




Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
(4111 Points, 53 Votes, Four #1 Votes)

US Chart Position: #167

UK Chart Position: n/a

Charting Singles: n/a

SOMB Says: Remember how excited you were when Depeche Mode was awesome? I personally remember buying Exciter after a 4 year absence from their previous release and just feeling kinda bummed out that it was bland and okay. Well In Ghost Colours is the album Depeche Mode always wanted to do if they incorporated a bit more dance beats.

I caught on to In Ghost Colours much later in the year, but it didn't take more than a few listens to hook me. There are so many albums on my shelf that grew on me or are an acquired taste, but give one listen to "Lights & Music" and i dare you not to dance in your seat. - Hero

Artist's Previous Rankings on Our Albums Lists: n/a

Ranked Highest By: SmashNapCrash, no magnets, worrywort, souviaki (#1)

Also Ranked By: Lewis, amotin, Le Bunk, Wolfgang (#2), yancy, +marios+ (#3), vamos, James Iha, Heretix (#4), RoBKoZ, thresholdofrevelation, cerebralcaustic (#5)

Amazon Link

more like british pee hour

that time of day when all the brits have a good wank

w/e

im here for the fish

Nut Sloppy

negative.

just some dude from Eau Claire, like literally, just the most normal dude ever.

kinda bummed Furr missed the top 10 :/

re-listened to in ghost colours last night. First three songs are great, hearts on fire is pretty good too.

the rest floats by, i dunno. Should be one of my albums of the year you'd think.

confusing album.

man, i hate Cut Copy.

hmm... not even sure what's left at this point

nah, the first album still rules

Yeah, I've started listening to Cut Copy again after I burned out on it the first go-round. Really good album. Sickpup knows what's up.

portishead, tv on the radio

cyhsy

the nationa