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Bored. This is music I just started listening to. And its all awesome.

1. TV On the Radio



I just... didn't like them a few years back when Cookie Mountain came out... I thought they were too abstract and nonsensical, but I listened to Cookie Mountain again, and Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes and I got hooked. As you can see from my charts, they've absolutely hijacked my life in every way... and I've not even mentioned their best album yet. Easily my favourite album of the year so far, even though there aren't that many good albums so far this year that spring to mind. But yeah... these guys are easily my favourite band at the moment, and probably will be for a while yet. OK Calculator is obviously a bit mad, but a few songs on it are absolutely inspired. I'm going to see them on the 16th of November at the ABC in Glasgow. Should be awesome...

Favourite Song - Halfway Home or Say You Do.
Favourite Album - Dear Science

2. Weezer



I just... I don't know. I basically fell in love with them when I heard My Name Is Jonas (yes, in Guitar Hero. It doesn't mean I don't like the band, okay?). Then when I listened to the Blue Album it was like a fucking... revelation. I just instantly took to them, and admittedly over-played the Blue and Red albums. Oddly, I listened to Pinkerton... twice, I think, and I didn't see what all the fuss was about. But it was the third time through that something just... clicked. I don't know why or... whatever but... I just realised how brilliant it was. The lyrics, the riffs, the amazing, slightly ragged quality Rivers Cuomo's voice has throughout the album (except in Butterfly, obviously) it just all fits together perfectly, somehow. Honestly, listen to this album at least 3 times through, and if it doesn't change you in some way, you're not human. Obviously Make Believe is a bit of a dud, but Maladroit is growing on me, and The Green Album is a fucking solid album, if a little short. But yeah... they were very close to being my number 1... but they're still amazing.

Favourite Song - Tired of Sex
Favourite Album - Pinkerton

3. Bob Dylan



This was a toss-up between Dylan and Tom Waits, but Dylan wins it because of his classics. Much like TV On the Radio, I didn't like him at all when I first heard him. Maybe it was my musical naivety or contempt for anything that wasn't Arctic Monkeys (about... 2 years ago, ...ish), but I just couldn't get his voice. It didn't get through to me. And I hadn't heard Blonde On Blonde... I can honestly say its one of the best albums I've ever heard. Obviously there are classics such as Like A Rolling Stone and The Times They Are A-Changin' (they are, by the way...), but I think when you roll all the songs in Blonde On Blonde together, they make a... perfect album, in my opinion. I'll also note that I've only listened to a small portion of his work, so I can't preach Dylan to you as such, I just love what I've heard so far.

Favourite Song - All Along the Watchtower
Favourite Album - Blonde On Blonde

4. Tom Waits



I only first heard him a few weeks back, and the same applies to him as Dylan - I've not listened to most of his work, but what I've heard I love. I've heard Swordfishtrombones, Closing Time and Nighthawks at the Diner which is my favourite of what I've heard. Hearing how his voice changes from Closing Time to Swordfishtrombones is fantastic, and I like his voice when it is rougher, it seems more powerful to me. But his true mastery is best displayed in Nighthawks at the Diner in my opinion. The way he encompasses blues, jazz, folk and numerous other genres - a lot of that is down to his backing band on the album - is amazing, and he's a pretty funny guy into the bargain as well. I can't wait to indulge in the rest of his work, as there's plenty still to hear.

Favourite Song - Down, Down, Down
Favourite Album - Nighthawks At the Diner

5. Wilco



I heard Yankee Hotel Foxtrot a while back, about Christmas 2006... and again, I didn't really get it, as such. I knew it was good, but I just didn't feel it. Then around January of this year I gave it another go, and I realised how awesome it was. I was careful not to overplay it though, and I only listened to it a few times between then and now, but after getting Sky Blue Sky I just can't stop listening to them...

Favourite Song - Impossible Germany
Favourite Album - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Also, its not music as such, but its worth a mention as well. The Conet Project is well worth your attention. Its a series of recordings from short wave radio stations across the world, usually used to communicate with spies behind enemy lines (or is it...?). It might just be me and my conspiracy-mongering, but it fascinates me.

There you go... also worth a mention are: Wolf Parade, !!!, Holy Fuck and Battles (I've been listening to them for a while now but I've enjoyed something of a Battles renaissance, after realising the genius of Tonto.

I'm finished, and I certainly hope this was of mild interest to you. If not... why did you read all the way down to here?

I'm away for a bottle of Red Kola and a few games of Halo.