Last year I began this blog with a post highlighting some of my favourite albums of 2011. I love traditions, alas Ear Candy From The Distant Past returns for installment numero deux (part two for those of you who aren't as savvy with the french language as I am). As always, these are in no particular order, so please keep your seats in the upright position and your tray tables locked.
Muse - The 2nd Law
To say I wasn't a fan of The 2nd Law upon first listen would be a shocking understatement. So, thank goodness for a good old fashioned win-over. I'm convinced that there isn't a style of music that Muse can't assimilate into their arsenal. 'Supremacy' is a James Bond theme in a parallel universe (complete with string stabs) and 'Panic Station' is a pure slice of 80s funk-pop (complete with horn shots). Bassist Chris Wolstenholme takes over vocal duties on two tracks, one of which ('Save Me') is an achingly beautiful composition. Bravo Muse! Bravo!
Standout tracks: Supremacy, Panic Station, Animals, Save Me
Blur - Under The Westway/The Puritan
Albeit not an "album", there was enough excitement surrounding this release from the Britpop icons that I'm going to include it. 'Under The Westway' is quintessential Blur. A mournful piano ballad that harkens back to 1995's The Great Escape. 'The Puritan' is a jittery pop-rocker that would've fit nicely on 1997's Blur. A live stream on Twitter on July 2nd featured the two songs performed live on a London rooftop to promote the release. Definitely took me back to the mid to late 90s.
Standout tracks: both
Toy - Toy
Toy were definitely my most hyped band of 2012. There was a period where I was telling anyone who would listen to check them out. There were a few live performances making the rounds on Youtube prior to their self-titled debut's September release. The biggest surprise when it did drop was that fan favourites 'Left Myself Behind' and 'Bright White Shimmering Sun' didn't make the cut. Thankfully, many others did.
Standout tracks: Motoring, Colours Running Out, Kopter, Dead & Gone
The Moons - Fables Of History
The sophomore release from The Moons finds the band fine-tuning what they began on 2010's debut Life On Earth. The Moons are steeped in the tradition of crafting great British pop songs, not unlike The Kinks, The Jam and, oh, what's that band from Liverpool called again? Right, The La's. When not crafting some of the best retro tinged songs in quite some time, frontman Andy Crofts plays keyboards in Paul Weller's band and even recruits the Modfather for a duet on 'Something Soon'.
Standout tracks: Jennifer (Sits Alone), Double Vision Love, Something Soon, Forever Came Today
The Shins - Port Of Morrow
After a sabbatical playing in Broken Bells, lead Shin, James Mercer returned with a revamped (read: entirely new) supporting cast. Port of Morrow is Mercer's strongest collection of songs to date. He could easily teach a class on the requirements of a quality pop song, namely hooks, of which there is no shortage here. There is next to no filler which makes this is an album in the classic sense of the term.
Standout tracks: The Rifle's Spiral, Simple Song, Bait and Switch, No Way Down
Temples - Shelter Song/Prisms
Psychedelia is back! If you're a fan of musical time travel as I am, get in your DeLorean (or the more fashionable police call box) and take a trip with Kettering, England's Temples. Like the Blur release above, Temples released a 7" single which I've listened to almost non-stop since it's November release. Chiming 12-string guitars, booming kick drums, and there is even a flute (don't run away, this isn't flute like in high school band class) on b-side 'Prisms' which make for an instant trip to 1960s Carnaby Street.
Standout tracks: both
Richard Hawley - Standing At The Sky's Edge
Richard Hawley's Standing At The Sky's Edge made a lot of noise in 2012, literally. Plugged in and turned up loud, the former Longpig delivered a psychedelic barn burner. Lead off track 'She Brings The Sunlight' and its seven minutes plus wah assault begs to be listened to at high volume. Some would say this troubadour's new direction is a mid-life career crisis of sorts. I think sometimes you just want to turn everything up to eleven and see what happens.
Standout tracks: She Brings The Sunlight, Standing at the Sky's Edge, Down in the Woods, Don't Stare at the Sun
Tame Impala - Lonerism
Spoiler alert. Lonerism, the sophomore album from Australia's Tame Impala, is a musical acid trip. Largely the brainchild of leader Kevin Parker, Lonerism is a best appreciated with headphones on. The production is raw, the bass lines plod along and the drums ring out. Parker's vocals glide over the guitars and vintage keyboards that feature quite prominently on most of the songs. Refreshing to say the least.
Standout tracks: Apocalypse Dreams, Mind Mischief, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards, Elephant
Honourable mention: The Vaccines - Come of Age, Alt-J - An Awesome Wave, Gaz Coombes - Here Come the Bombs, Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg, Paul Weller - Sonik Kicks, The Maccabees - Given to the Wild
