gotwit?

2010 in music so far…

Quarters one and two of 2010 have been packed full of brilliant lines ups in the UK, and a barrage of new music from promising new artists and established veterans -

To indulge of some voluntary self-importance for a moment, I thought I’d compose a list of my top ten things that have happened this year so far. I was going to confine it to releases, but there have been some rather special events that need a mention.

Ten - Blitz Kids: Scavengers

Kicking off the top ten is a band that work and play hard. Spazzy pop-rock magic from somewhere more northern than my southern brain can comprehend, Blitz Kids’ stop gap release preceding an album later in the year is as self assured as it is interesting, and a must here for anyone with an ear for something a bit different.

You can see Blitz Kids at this year’s Hevy festival on the Red Bull bedroom jam stage.

I reviewed this EP for Punktastic, and you can read that review here

Nine - Rx Bandits at Camden Underworld (June 2nd)

Rx Bandits have always been brilliant live, but their show at the underworld was nothing short of breathtaking. This willl probably end up being my favourite set of the year from any band, and was a fantastic showcase of what all bands should aspire to in terms of talent and chemistry.

I reviewed this show for Punktastic. You can read that review here

Eight - Straight Lines: Persistence in this Game

 A stunning debut album from a band with the   potential to be one of the UK’s best. A sonic mash up somewhere in the zone of Hayley’s Williams’ younger Welsh brother meets Billy Talent, the quality of songwriting and huge choruses Straight Lines have crammed on the record is astonishing.

I’ve no doubt this will end up on a few best-of lists for the year, and the band’s appearances at festival’s this summer should see them rightfully get the attention they deserve.

Eight - March of the Raptors (Self titled debut EP)

As close to a UK underground supergroup as you get, March of the Raptors delivery of crushing thrashy hardcore is an uncomplicated breath of fresh air to a scene filled with pristine hair cuts and songs with lyrical content Taylor Swift would be ashamed of.

It’s great to hear bands like March of the Raptors emerging and getting attention, and to see the return of Jamie Searle (ex Adequate Seven) to the mic. High expectations follow the debut, and it’d be great to see the band take on a full length in the near future.

I reviewed this album for Punktastic, you can read the review here

Seven - Lady GaGa: Fame Monster

As much a generator of intense hatred and birther of guilty pleasures - Lady GaGa’s weird and off-center pop and imagery is an unashmed reminder of what pop music is really about: theatre.

Reminding people of the redundancy behind applying integrity to the endeavours of those chasing pop stardom, the sillyness and twisted approach to live performance and video promotion by Lady GaGa is, at the very least an interesting spectacle, and at the most, a genuis marketing ploy.

Alejandro and Bad Romance are both pop classics, and this additional disc to last year’s insanely well selling debut album is the icing on the cake for her global takeover in 2009.

Six - Motion City Soundtrack: My Dinosaur Life

A brilliant return to form for MCS after a disspointing couple of albums, My Dinosaur Life is rammed full of brilliant pop tunes.

It’s great to see a band refuse to peter out, and between the fantastically geeky lyrical content and borderline cheesey pop moments, there very little left to be desired from the start to the end of the record.

I reviewed this album for Punktastic. You canr ead that review here

Five - Blood Red ShoesL Fire Like This

Brighton’s habit to produce utter dirge is broken by some truely special bands now and again - Blood Red Shoes are one of them. Plenty noisy for a two piece, Laura-May and Steve’s follow up to highly regarded debut ‘Box of Secrets’ is most definitely a grower, but where it lacks immediacy, it makes up for it in endearment.

Much darker, and borderline grune at times, ‘Fire Like This’ shows off the development of the band - to really get a feel for Blood Red Shoes, they need to be seen live, and this should be more than enough to entice you to do just that.

I reviewed this album for Punktastic, you can read that review here

Four - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: The Brutalist Bricks / Lumaire 6th May

If I had a list of bands it’s been an honour to be on the same bill as, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are sat right at the top.

This new record is their best in years, and though the band don’t seem to get as much love on this side of the Atlantic as the other, this really is a fantastic album, and one that should be added to the collection of any music lover.

I went to see Ted Leo + pharmacist as part of their short stint in the UK in May, and Iw as completely blown away again by how tight the band. Constant entertainment matched by a fantastic attitude is sometimes hard to come buy, but the set list selection and execution was incredible.

I reviewed both the Brutalist Bricks and the show at the luminaire for Punktastic. Read the CD review here and the live review here

Three - Slam Dunk Festival

A seemingly unstoppable growth of UK pop-punk has turned Slam Dunk from a one day event, to a national attention grabber, and this year’s expansion to an additional London site and countless spin-off gigs was ambitious from Ben Ray and Co.

At Hatfield - crowd problems marred the experiences of some, but for the unrivalled line up and the sheer effort into co-ordinating an event with the magnitude of Slam Dunk this year, there’s many congratulations to be handed out.

Two - Against Me!: White Crosses

I was a massive Against Me! fan when i was younger, and New Wave was a massive let down when it was released - White Crosses is a different thing altogether.

Tom Gabel’s songwriting is as good as it ever was, and White Crosses’ maturity throughout is fantastic. A brilliant and uncomplicated ‘alternative-rock’ album is hard to come across sometimes, but White Crosses is just that, and has barely left my headphones since I got hold of a copy.

I reviewed this CD for Punktastic, read that review here

One - Tiger Please: Seasons

Since first hearing Tiger Please last year, I haven’t been able to stay away from listening to them for more than a few days. A truly fantastic prospect for UK music, and a band I’ve been proud to work with (and allow to vomit in my house).

Seasons is a stunning second EP from the band, and the anticipation surrounding their first full length is in full force. If you haven’t taken the time to have a listen, then the band can be found on Spotify, iTunes and Myspace for your listening pleasure, and if I hear of a band that get called ‘epic’ more often this year I’ll eat my hat.

I reviewed this EP for Punktastic, you can read that review here