Here be my 10 favourite albums of the year:
1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
All those crazy, musically-diverse layers - beats, lyrics, themes, ego and doubts - through the album.
watch: the trailer (or "moving portrait" as Kanye called it) for the video for 'Power' (which is rumoured to be 40+ minutes long), my favourite song along with 'Monster' (but I love Monster more for Nicki Minaj's verse - she steals the song out from everyone)
2. The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
The album did not grab me on first listen, but it was definitely a grower - just like previous album Neon Bible - and by the end of the year I had completely fallen in love with the storytelling, the atmosphere. The music is lighter, but the claustrophobia of the Suburbs is clear still within, the dark heart under the beautiful, peaceful surface.
Listen: 'The Suburbs' / 'Month of May'
3. All Days are Night: Songs for Lulu by Rufus Wainwright.
I love that Rufus Wainwright's idea of“stripped back”still includes gorgeously lush piano-driven heartbreaking paens to grief and love.
Download: 'Who are you, New York?'
4. Everything Under the Sun by Jukebox the Ghost
So many fine, catchy pop songs, so much intelligent thought behind it. Great follow-up album.
Watch: the band being interviewed at the 'Bean' in Chicago, where they talk about Ben Folds Five comparisons and why they have such a weird band name.
5. Mines by Menomena
I love the musical layers in the songs, from the different qualities of the voices to the fuzzy bass to the beat to those great horns.
Download: 'TAOS'
6. Danger Days by My Chemical Romance
Anthemic and built to be played loud - it's not rocket science, but it is damn catchy and fun.
Watch: Art is the Weapon - a trailer of sorts for the first single, the intro for the thru-story and palette and concept for their whole album.
7. Life is Sweet! Pleased to Meet You by Lightspeed Champion
Great songs that are more complex than they seem at first, with lush orchestral arrangements, clever lyrics, and diverse musical styles.
8. Steel Train by Steel Train
Sweet, fun indie pop that I've had on repeat constantly this year.
Listen: 'Turnpike Ghost'
9. The Age of Adz by Sufjan Stevens
I'm still not sure I entirely like this album end-to-end though that might be my reflex reaction to at times deliberately harsh electronica mix through his trademark his beautiful, floaty music. But the album does have some absolutely terrific moments, such as I Walked and the 25 minute standout, Impossible Soul.
Download: 'I Walked'
10. The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae
I love her voice, and the ambitious mishmash of genres and styles all through her music, while remaining catchy as hell.
Watch: the video for 'Tightrope' - great song, great storytelling, creepy video with some mesmerising footwork. What's not to like?
Honourable Mentions
Bad Books – Bad Books
Belle and Sebastian - Belle and Sebastian Write About Love
Annuals – Sweet Sister EP
Boy & Bear – With Emperor Antarctic EP
Looking forward to new releases in 2011 from:
Patrick Wolf (Lupercalia)
Panic! at the Disco (Vices and Virtues)
The Decemberists (The King is Dead is out now)
Bright Eyes (The People's Key)
Okkervil River (I am Very Far)
Manchester Orchestra (Simple Math)
Taking Back Sunday
also rumoured to release new albums are:
fun.
Radiohead
Blink-182
It's looking to be an exciting new year of music! And hopefully some of these guys tour, which brings me to...
live music from 2010!
I saw a total of 19 bands at 16 shows. This included seeing Kevin Devine 3 times and Brand New twice in the space of five days and I don't regret any of that at all (as you will see from the list of best shows below).
Nine Favourite Performances
1. Kevin Devine @ East Brunswick Club, 29 Mar
2. Brand New @ Enmore Theatre, 25 Mar
3. The Decemberists @ The Metro, 19 Jan
4. The Pixies @ Hordern Pavilion, 14 Mar
5. Delta Spirit @ Factory Theatre, 3 Oct
6. Band of Horses @ Enmore Theatre, 29 July
7. Spoon @ The Forum, 7 May
8. Sunny Day Real Estate @ UNSW Roundhouse, 23 Feb
9. Neko Case @ City Recital Hall, 12 Jan
Upcoming Shows:
Sufjan Stevens, Menomena, Andrew McMahon, Belle and Sebastian
Showing posts with label my chemical romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my chemical romance. Show all posts
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Friday, November 30, 2007
My Chemical Romance - 30 Nov 2007 - Sydney Entertainment Centre
The second support act Circa Survive were a little rough at the beginning of their set, and the crowd response was minimal, but I quite enjoyed them by the end. Their frontman was crazy into performing, and also had a surprisingly high voice which contrasted with their heavier sound. They also had this crazy sense of rhythm, a lot of syncopation in their beats, which kept things on edge, and lead to some really interesting (and also kind of alarming) resonance.
But I was here for My Chemical Romance, and let’s be honest: I love everything – the theatrics, the mouthy attitude, their concern for fans, the unashamed rock roots in their punk music, the grand anthemic songs. The show did not disappoint despite seeing them only a few months ago – it was a bigger affair overall with the larger venue, the pyro, the fantastic solid playlist of hits and old favourites. The energy on the floor was great, and the band were playing well (despite losing their drummer to a wrist injury a few weeks ago and having to play with a substitute instead). I spent most of the night watching lead singer Gerard Way, with his deliciously camp showmanship, and guitarist Ray Toro with his halo of hair and power stance guitar playing.
Highlights for me included Mama (complete with Way's hilariously OTT fake crying at the end; Toro's awesome extended guitar solo leading into Teenagers; the grand, slow-build of Sleep; and once again, the incredible feeling of joy that I get from seeing and hearing Famous Last Words live, my arm in the air like every other kid there, yelling the same affirmative words. I also loved the amount of songs they played from second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge as well as getting to hear songs that are not usually in their live shows.
How I Disappear
Dead!
I’m Not Okay
Give ‘em Hell
The Sharpest Lives
Mama
Cemetary Drive
Welcome to the Black Parade
I Don’t Love You
House of Wolves
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison
Teenagers
Helena
Sleep
Cancer
-
Desert Song
Famous Last Words
But I was here for My Chemical Romance, and let’s be honest: I love everything – the theatrics, the mouthy attitude, their concern for fans, the unashamed rock roots in their punk music, the grand anthemic songs. The show did not disappoint despite seeing them only a few months ago – it was a bigger affair overall with the larger venue, the pyro, the fantastic solid playlist of hits and old favourites. The energy on the floor was great, and the band were playing well (despite losing their drummer to a wrist injury a few weeks ago and having to play with a substitute instead). I spent most of the night watching lead singer Gerard Way, with his deliciously camp showmanship, and guitarist Ray Toro with his halo of hair and power stance guitar playing.
Highlights for me included Mama (complete with Way's hilariously OTT fake crying at the end; Toro's awesome extended guitar solo leading into Teenagers; the grand, slow-build of Sleep; and once again, the incredible feeling of joy that I get from seeing and hearing Famous Last Words live, my arm in the air like every other kid there, yelling the same affirmative words. I also loved the amount of songs they played from second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge as well as getting to hear songs that are not usually in their live shows.
How I Disappear
Dead!
I’m Not Okay
Give ‘em Hell
The Sharpest Lives
Mama
Cemetary Drive
Welcome to the Black Parade
I Don’t Love You
House of Wolves
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison
Teenagers
Helena
Sleep
Cancer
-
Desert Song
Famous Last Words
Saturday, January 27, 2007
My Chemical Romance - 26 Jan 2007 - Big Top
Late last year, Alison made me listen to MCR's latest album, The Black Parade. I put it on not expecting much but to my surprise I fell in love – with the soaring anthemic melodic rocks songs, the passionate lyrics, the underlying punk attitude, the absolute sing-a-long enjoyableness of an album that is ostensibly about death. And I could not wait to see them live and sing-a-long with my fist in the air, which is the default feeling I get when I listen to the albums over and over again.
Support act Another Day Down came across really LAME, trying to be this heavy rock band. One of them had a mullet and looked right out of the 80s, but without the irony. Totally forgettable songs that didn't even sound good the first time.
But My Chemical Romance were AWESOME. They played so much from The Black Parade, almost the entirety. Gerard sounded great and looked healthy and happy, and seemed like he was really enjoying himself in Australia. During 'Dead!' the front of the mosh got quite scary and he stopped the song completely to try and calm it down. He made sure the people getting crushed were pulled out, he instructed everyone to take some steps backwards slowly to create more room, and told the kids that no matter who much fun they were having they should stop and help people up if they’ve gone down in the mosh. He had the room’s attention all nigh. He made a great frontman, with gestures and voice and passion, throwing himself around the stage, singing his heart out. I *love* him.
The rest of the band were great, but subdued. Ray was so so so good – whenever I knew a great lick was coming up I would make sure I was watching him shred on his guitar. There wasn’t much band interaction during the set, mostly Gerard talked to the audience and had them eating out of the palm of his hand. The highlight of the night was last song 'Famous Last Word'. It was insanely good live, with Gerard taking out his earpiece to hear the audience yelling the refrain back to him, arms reaching out towards the stage, loving him and the band and their music and his words.
The End
Dead!
How I Disappear
I’m Not Okay
Mama
Welcome to the Black Parade
I Don’t Love You
Thank You for the Venom
Teenagers
House of Wolves
You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison
Helena
Sleep
Cancer
Famous Last Words
Support act Another Day Down came across really LAME, trying to be this heavy rock band. One of them had a mullet and looked right out of the 80s, but without the irony. Totally forgettable songs that didn't even sound good the first time.
But My Chemical Romance were AWESOME. They played so much from The Black Parade, almost the entirety. Gerard sounded great and looked healthy and happy, and seemed like he was really enjoying himself in Australia. During 'Dead!' the front of the mosh got quite scary and he stopped the song completely to try and calm it down. He made sure the people getting crushed were pulled out, he instructed everyone to take some steps backwards slowly to create more room, and told the kids that no matter who much fun they were having they should stop and help people up if they’ve gone down in the mosh. He had the room’s attention all nigh. He made a great frontman, with gestures and voice and passion, throwing himself around the stage, singing his heart out. I *love* him.
The rest of the band were great, but subdued. Ray was so so so good – whenever I knew a great lick was coming up I would make sure I was watching him shred on his guitar. There wasn’t much band interaction during the set, mostly Gerard talked to the audience and had them eating out of the palm of his hand. The highlight of the night was last song 'Famous Last Word'. It was insanely good live, with Gerard taking out his earpiece to hear the audience yelling the refrain back to him, arms reaching out towards the stage, loving him and the band and their music and his words.
The End
Dead!
How I Disappear
I’m Not Okay
Mama
Welcome to the Black Parade
I Don’t Love You
Thank You for the Venom
Teenagers
House of Wolves
You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison
Helena
Sleep
Cancer
Famous Last Words
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