But now, Arcade Fire are a band that
have cemented their place in my CD collection. I didn’t give them a chance at
first because I thought they were a bit strange. The third offering by the
Canadian septet, The Suburbs, confirms how wrong I was. The organised chaos
punctuated by a myriad of instruments, dominant jangly guitars and with all
their idiosyncrasies ceasing to fade away they’ve undoubtedly produced their
best album to date.
Similarly, I wasn’t Florence and the
Machine’s biggest fan at first either. I recall a surge in profile songs on
MySpace switching to Kiss
with a Fist. It’s unlike the rest of the songs on the album and I’m not sure
whether the attempt at unleashing her inner rock chick paid off. But the rest
of the LP stands high above this first single. The dark and sadistic imagery
flowing through the album on tracks like Girl With One Eye; “I took a knife and
cut out her eye/ I took it home and watched it wither and die.” (I won’t
be getting on the wrong side of Florence) accompanied by the glimmering harp
and strings that intertwine beautifully with her ethereal voice; most resonant
on Rabbit Heart, rack up a stunning assortment of songs.
There are some albums that deserve to
be ranked highly based on its nostalgic value. This is where Spice Girls,
Madonna and You Me At Six fit in. As girl power swept the nation; I too
was sucked in to Spice World. With my Spice Girls video proudly held in one
hand, CD in the next and donning my Sunshine yellow dress with the Spice logo
plastered at the top; I always did look the part. Spice Up Your Life and
Wannabee are the best pop tracks to screech along to when getting ready for a
night out. I think my 6 year old self would be proud and in case you were
wondering Sporty Spice was my favourite. They’re one of the only bands me and
my friends come to a consensus about. Not only were they great in the Nineties
but they still sound brilliant in the Noughties. Spice transcends decades and
will remain timeless. As they once said - Viva Forever!
As we’re on the subject of
friends; or past friends as you could say. You Me At Six were the support act
for the first gig I went to 5 years ago. I had a different circle of friends
and we discovered the band together. Take Off Your Colours isn’t an amazing
album, although, at the time I thought it was; blinded by the fan girl in me.
It’s the memories attached to it that makes it significant. We may not be
friends anymore but that Album not only created a buzz around a band but built
a friendship. It’s bursting with anthemic choruses and I can’t help but have a
fondness for not just the Album but the band too.
Madonna. I don’t even like her. In
fact, I despise her. So does my Mum and my Sister. I’ve heard Confessions of a
Dance Floor more times than Louis Walsh reassures the Irish contestants on The
X Factor that they’re going to be stars. I haven’t got any stories about all
the classic albums that my parents introduced me to and I’m quite glad really,
or I could have been writing about UB40 or the Bay City Rollers instead - thank
God. Madonna is a slight improvement, I suppose. I do blame my Dad for this
though. She’s always been the source of many a dispute in my household, whilst
my Mum throws obscenities at the TV, my Dad says he loves Madonna even more to
aggravate her. Every time I’d get a lift to school, her LP would be on repeat
so it has grown on me. It’s packed full of dance floor fillers, but it’s
Madonna. I don’t want to like it but I admit that I do; although I won’t tell
my Mum that.
Every once in a while you’ll hear a
sound that you’ve never quite heard before. Foals are what I consider to be one
of the greatest bands of the past 5 years and I don’t mind the NME hype that
surrounded them, because for once NME, you got it bob on. Antidotes is an
instant mood lifter, it’s upbeat, energetic and infectiously catchy. The
angular riffs and the vocals marry to make a futuristic sound. Not that of
robots and electronics but revolutionary in the sense that this is what the
future of guitar music is, not The Vaccines or Viva Brother.
Whilst some albums have a special
significance; some are loved because they are just simply amazing. Lower Than
Atlantis stuck it out from their hardcore beginnings to make an accomplished
rock record. Fenech Soler provided an explosive album of glittering, electro
tinged pop and Two Door Cinema Club have become an indie guitar sensation
making waves with a feel good debut.
Meet Me Halfway, At Least perfectly
encapsulates what I think a great album should be. It’s got its melodic hooks
and heavy riffs and the racing tempo is brought back down with the slower
tracks. Lyrically it’s very strong but whilst it’s completely personal it’s
entirely relatable and where the roaring screams are in ratio to the sung
vocals are completely faultless. It’s an album that takes you through the
motions. Whether you’re angry, sad or bursting with happiness there’s a song to
fit whatever mood. Favourites include Another Day In This House and In
Desperate Need Of Adventure projecting a tinge of teen angst that I’m sure we
can all share. It’s a work of beauty with rock stamped all over it and that
makes Deaf Havana’s debut album my favourite of all time.
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