Sonntag, 2. Jan 2011, 18:56

A very happy 2011 to all of you!
Traditions are there to be kept so without further ado, here are my diamonds of 2010, one big digest in the usual albums, songs & gigs form.
Feel free to share your comments and thoughts!

Bram
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ALBUMS

1/ Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse EP + The Fool LP
In an unrivaled fashion, the ladies of Warpaint carve their way under your skin, where they ride a wave of reverb and melancholy straight into your heart. The Fool confirmed what was already becoming clear with debut EP Exquisite Corpse: beneath the layer of warpaint is a diamond in the rough!

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2/ Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Back again as the brightest star in the indierock galaxy, Arcade Fire’s nostalgic trip toThe Suburbs is a superb testament of lost youth and innocence. Filled to the brim with great songs it proves that the concept of a full album is not yet dead in this impatient ipod era.

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3/ Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
The words: Australia, psychedelic and rock, all together in one sentence? Absolutely possible, when wrought in such a greasy and dirty way as Tame Impala! Crushing debut album.
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4/ Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
FlyLo’s Cosmogramma earns the prize for the most exciting thing happening in the world of electronic music in 2010! Aims in a lot of different directions at the same time and never misses its target. Impressive live-set at Pukkelpop festival too, a true sound-mosaique-maker!
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5/ James Blake - CMYK EP + Klavierwerke EP
The new wonderchild of dubstep only needed 2 excellent EP's and 1 Feist cover to prove that there is a lot of talent hiding behind the name James Blake. Besides Anna Calvi one of the tips for 2011!
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6/ Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way
Brother and Sister open up a can of acoustic folk songs, pour some intimate arrangements over them and weave their voices around it. This is as romantic as they come without getting too cheesy!

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7/ Caribou - Swim
A new Caribou record, a new sound. Between almighty album opener Odessa and classy closer Jamelia, Dan Snaith creates one long maniac mantra of electronica.

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8/ Gonjasufi - A Sufi And A Killer
Quite the premise: guru from Las Vegas releases a record on Warp backed by Flying Lotus and The Gaslamp Killer. The album turned out to be special, intriguing and extremely exciting. His live skills were about the biggest disappointment in years…

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9/ Deer Tick - The Black Dirt Sessions
Neocountry splendor, the sandpaper way. Deer Tick have fallen from the same tree that also dropped the Tallest Man On Earth on us.

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10/ John Grant - Queen Of Denmark
John Grant’s bariton deliciously melts with Midlake’s instruments. The Czars lead singer crawls out of emotional limbo in a magnificent heart-stirring way.

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11/ The National - High violet
12/ Yeasayer - Odd Blood
13/ The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
14/ Grinderman - Grinderman 2
15/ Four Tet - There Is Love In You
16/ Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
17/ Agnes Obel - Philharmonics
18/ Jack Johnson - To The Sea
19/ Wolf People - Steeple
20/ Bonobo - Black Sands
21/ Fanfarlo - Reservoir
22/ Midlake - The Courage Of Others
23/ The Black Keys - Brothers
24/ Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
25/ Beat Connection - Surf Noir EP
26/ Smoke Fairies - Through Low Light And Trees
27/ Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Hawk
28/ Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers
29/ The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
30/ The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream

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SONGS

1/ Fever Ray - Mercy Street
In 2009 Karin Dreijer Andersson, the female singer of The Knife, had a well deserved succesful launch of her solo album. For 2010 she chooses quality over quantity. This atmospheric cover of Peter Gabriel’s Mercy Street is the best song that caught my ears in 2010!

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2/ Lissie - Record Collector
Last year Ellie Goulding was the pop princess to keep an eye out for. Is the same fate to be bestowed upon her american folkfriend Lissie. Album opener Record Collector is an irresistable feelgood song with a lovely buildup towards the end that will make you happy anyday!

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3/ Anna Calvi - Jezebel
When warming up the Ancienne Belgique for Grinderman she already blew me away. What a voice, what a presence. I sure hope I can bring her solo album in to my best of 2011!

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4/ Janelle Monáe - Tightrope
-Ms. Monáe walks the tightrope and stays clear of the genres dull clichés, delivering an überfunky and swinging R&B song.

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5/ Marble sounds - The Time to Sleep
In the shadows of Amatorski and Isbells there is another belgian band going strong and quiet at the same time. They go by the name of Marble Sounds and with The Time To sleep they effortlessly overtake their two more famous brothers.

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6/ The Raveonettes - I Wanna Be Adored
Stones Roses classic revisited, bloody well executed by The Raveonettes. And all because a shoe brand turned 50 years! You can download the whole album containing more covers for free on http://50.drmartens.com/

7/ James Blake - Limit To Your Love
Preceding his 2011 full album release, another dubstep pearl of James Blake reaches our ears. After sampling other peoples voices we finally hear that there is no reason for modesty, he has a talent for singing as well.

8/ Stornaway - Zorbing
Harmonious folky popsong that is practically impossible to get out of your head!

9/ Gayngs - The Gaudy Side Of Town
Sensual song with a lazily shuffling beat. Members of Bon Iver, Megafaun and Solid Gold use the moniker Gayngs to break their way into your bedroom.

10/ Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks
Living with Jack White must influence your life some way. Amazing title track that has some sort of an eerie feeling to it.

11/ M.I.A. - Born Free
12/ Fool’s Gold - Surprise Hotel
13/ Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La
14/ Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band
15/ Marina & The Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot
16/ The Swiss - Bubble Bath
17/ Absynthe Minded - Moodswing Baby
18/ Die Antwoord - Enter The Ninja
19/ Broken Glass Heroes - Let’s not Fall Apart
20/ Lindstrøm & Christabelle – Lovesick

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GIGS

1/ Jónsi @ AB
Now also out on CD, a truely magical evening at AB with Jonsi! He created such a breathtaking live universe, it was an unrivaled experience that left me speechless after the final storm of Grow Till Tall.

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2/ Grinderman / Anna Calvi @ AB
A screeching, howling, dancing and sweating Nick Cave, looming of the front rows and teaching the world the ways of the Grindermen. Awesomeness in pure form. Anna Calvi was the cherry on top of the cake!

3/ Gorillaz @ Lotto Arena
Even though I like smaller venues better, every now and then you just hàve to head to a bigger venue. Gorillaz is one of those reasons. And they deliverd big time, a smashing live show, great atmosphere, cool animations and Clint Eastwood in the encore which appeared to be sung along by everyone. Another evening to never forget!

4/ Kruder & Dorfmeister / The Cinematic Orchestra @ Gent Jazz
5/ Warpaint / Wolf Parade / Surfer Blood @ Les Nuits Botanique
6/ The XX @ AB
7/ LCD Soundsystem @ Vooruit
8/ Editors @ Lotto Arena
9/ The National / Flying Lotus / Gogol Bordello @ Pukkelpop
10/ Tame Impala @ witloofbar, Botanique