I don’t know why I’m surprised, especially after last years very drab Brit Awards. Some part of me had hoped for a bit of excitement and drama this time round, but today’s Brit Awards nomination announcement has well and truly killed that hope. Why, I hear you ask? Because Bastille have the most nominations. During…
First things first: Happy New Year! Now that’s out the way, let’s get stuck into the serious business of looking forward to what 2014 has in store for us all. After a pretty impressive 2013 for big albums – Bowie, My Bloody Valentine, Daft Punk, Jay Z, Kanye, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Beyonce to name…
So in this final part, here are my top twenty songs of 2013! 20. Gary Barlow – ‘Let Me Go’ (Released: November, No. 2) After a few years captaining the reformed Take That man-band, Barlow released his first major solo single in fourteen years. Taking inspiration from Mumford and Sons, this perky, country-tinged number feels…
With the majority of my countdown already covered, let’s get a bit nearer to my top twenty with numbers #40 through to #21. 40. Clean Bandit – ‘Mozart’s House’ (Released: March, No. 17) Possibly one of the least accessible tracks of the year, Clean Bandit’s ‘Mozart’s House’ was, however, an eye opener, mixing in electronic…
With forty songs already covered, let’s get into the top sixty, with numbers 60 through to 41. 60. Bellowhead – ‘Roll The Woodpile Down’ (Released: February, didn’t chart) Around for the best part of a decade, this second single from their ‘Broadside’ album grabbed my attention with its catchy folk-indie-pop vibe that fitted neatly onto…
Following numbers 100 to 81 of my top 100 of 2013 countdown, here are numbers #80 through to #61. 80. Matt Cardle and Melanie C – ‘Loving You’ (Released: August, No. 14) Proving that he can make more interesting music once he’s escaped the pressures of the X Factor, this touching ballad was one of the…
Over the past twelve months I have reviewed 752 singles and EPs on my weekly All-Noise single reviews column so hopefully that puts me in a good position to create a best of list for 2013, comprised not necessarily of songs that have sold the most or charted the best, but have been the most…
There’s lots of talk about the lack of great new bands on the scene these days, but when you look at the amount of quality debut albums released in 2013 it seems that new music is in great shape. So let’s stop being defeatist and revel in some of the great first albums released this…
Ever since his first interview as a young and cocky guitarist back in the early 90’s, Noel Gallagher’s opinion has always been one worth noting. Whether you agree with him or not, you can’t accuse him of sitting on the fence. Today Rolling Stone have published a telephone interview with the former Oasis man, who…
As the BBC release the latest list of artists that we could be riding high in the charts next year as part of their ‘Sound of 2014’ poll, I eschew their technique of polling dozens of critics and music experts to compose my own list of fifteen artists who I think we’ll be hearing more of…
