Top 10 of 2012

      I don't often put together lists of my albums of the year or singles in this case because sometimes I think they can become quite exhaustive, but I was asked to put together my own top 10 for the student paper alongside the rest of the contributors for the music section. A top 20 was then worked out from everyone's suggestions. My choices of Foe, Local Natives and Everything Everything made it in there so that's why they have a brief description below!

Published in T'Hud

Published in T'Hud

1.      Foe – The Black Lodge

Taken from her deliciously grungy debut, Bad Dream Hotline, The Black Lodge is emblematic of what Hannah Clark excels in. Her gory-fuelled lyrical tales are disguised by an ethereal vocal that serves as an artifice for this sinister Hansel and Gretel-esque imagining. It’s embellished with a tribal drum beat that immerses you in her fantastical musings and remains captivating with every listen.

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2.     The Neighbourhood – Sweater Weather

3.      Local Natives – Breakers

     Picking up where their previous effort, Gorilla Manor left off, LA’s Local Natives have tightened the foundations that made their debut so beautiful. Their sumptuous harmonies have always been their forte, and on ‘Breakers’ they rush in and grip you like a drowning man clinging onto his life jacket.  The militant drum beats that can be heard on fan favourite, Wide Eyes make a welcome return and help to create 4 minutes of bliss.

4.      Pins – Say To Me

5.      Fake Club – Do What You Gotta Do

6.      Rudimental ft. John Newman – Feel the Love

7.      Everything Everything – Cough Cough

     Opening with some frenetic spluttering, the Mancunian band certainly know how to return from a two year hiatus in style. ‘Cough Cough’ meanders from the frantic to the down tempo in seamless transitions when Jonathon Higgs sings, “and that Eureka moment hits you like a cop car”.  It’s instantly catchy and hummable resulting in its potential to become fairly irritating once it gets stuck in your head – as I’m sure it will.

8.      Jai Paul – Jasmine

9.      Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch - Sweet Nothing

10.      Widowspeak – Ballad of the Golden Hour 

It's Christmas all over again.

Ah, the sound of Christmas. I’m not talking about the echoes of laughter that erupt over Christmas dinner, or the strains of petty arguments that make their reliable appearance every Christmas morning without fail.  It’s the songs that take entry on those Christmas compilation albums every year  that I’m referring to. They appear in November and linger until Christmas time before they're forgotten about for another 12 months like the Christmas shops that appear in towns across the country for a limited time. You're just glad to see the back of them. 

Wham, Cliff, Slade, Mariah, Wizzard, East 17, Shakin Stevens and co all attempt to make a dint into the charts around this time after their heavy rotation in shops and on the airwaves .  But where are the contemporary festive carolings? Excluding Rod Stewart and his 'Merry Christmas, Baby' obviously. (That guy's a genius) Pins, Dan Croll, Lower Than Atlantis and Foe provide the best  for 2012. Although it’s unlikely that they’ll sit pretty at the crux of the charts, they’ll undoubtedly make you feel festive. Don your Christmas jumper and take time to listen to these merry offerings.

If they fail to get you into a festive mood, my last suggestion is Mele Kalikimaka by legendary crooner, Bing Crosby. 

I’ve also shared a thought for those on Boxing Day. A day where I normally spend glued to the TV, still in my PJs and gorging on the leftover strawberry creams that no one ever eats, ever. But for those brave enough to face the sales, it takes great determination and commitment to tussle your way through the swelling crowds. I have the perfect song to motivate you to barge past those in your way like a quarterback so you can nab the last JW Anderson jumper in the Topshop sale.