my essential music of 2011...
below you will find my list of albums of the year, including some clips to give you a feel for the artist. what are your thoughts? what were your albums of the year?
enjoy!
happy new year everyone and thanks for all your support this year.
more to come in 2012...
l - initale
wow, what an album. i have loved this so much this year. melancholy without being depressing, laid back without being dull, smooth but with an edge.
update: there is now a deluxe edition of the album with 5 extra songs!
melanie laurent - en t'attendant
a surprisingly good album - even the english language songs work. this is a live version of my favourite song from the album
icona pop - nights like this e.p.
i have a soft spot for swedish pop anyway but this takes it to another level. it sounds a bit like if the knife had edged slightly more towards pop. also, this isn't manufactured - it's the real deal.
alex beaupain - pourqoui battait mon coeur
i think he is one of the best songwriters in france at the moment. (he even has a second entry on my list this year!)
charlotte gainsbourg - stage whisper
an album of songs left over from 5.55 and i.r.m. yet it sounds like a legitimate album in its own right. the music ranges from angry electronica to whispery beautiful ballads. plus it has the added bonus of a live album too. marvy!
Labels: charlotte gainsbourg, french 10s, video
john grant - queen of denmark
honest, angry, heartfelt, beautiful. influences of the 70s singer songwriters shine through on his amazing album.
yelle - safari disco club
some proper french pop. bloody brilliant!
christophe willem - prismophonic
i'm surprised he's on the list too! but i just grew to really enjoy this album. it's poppy and dancey and how could he go wrong when he had help from top pop peoples like richard x, karen poole, hannah robinson, isabel guzman and even kylie.
lady gaga - born this way
what can i say? i love this woman. watch this incredible live performance of gaga on taratata singing hair; it made me cry! plus watch from 07.45 where she sings an impromptu version in french.
les bien-aimes - soundtrack (written by alex beaupain)
here is alexs second entry. i haven't even seen the film yet but if this album is anything to go by then it's bound to be pretty good. sung by denueve, sagnier and mastroianni, it makes for great doll vocals with an eclectic style of songs.
medina - for altid
i don't know what it is that prevents medina from being just another euro pop/dance nobody. she is the danish lady gaga! i loved her english language album and this new danish album is ace too.
...honourable mentions go to
the saturdays - on your radar - for channelling the sounds of medina and september and for creating what should have been the girls aloud comeback song 'all fired up' (
watch here)
beth ditto - e.p. - just for being amazing - next time more than an e.p. please! watch beth justify her love
herenicola roberts - cinderellas eyes - for keeping the energy of girls loud alive and for bearing her soul. kudos nicola! watch her amazing performance of 'i'
hereflorrie - experiments - more great pop, again keeping the girls aloud vibe alive (anyone think i miss girls aloud?!). watch her experiment with rugs
herebritney - femme fatale - for adding a more clubby dance orientated feel to her music. i went to see her on tour a few months ago - she put no energy into her performance, she was lazy, occasionally looked a bit lost and mimed a lot. yet i still managed to enjoy it! watch her go
herevanbot - vanbot - if you didn't know any different you would think these were robyn cast offs - which is not bad thing at all! watch
here
happy crimbo
happy christmas everyone!
retro to go
THE POSTMARKS - NO-ONE SAID THIS WOULD BE EASYmany artists try to bring a retro vibe to their songs - most of the time they fail and it ends up sounding kitsch or just like a bad copy. so when a band like the postmarks get it right, they do it in style. i still adore this song, it's cinematic, full of emotion, 60's sounding and made with a genuineness that's not present on most other 'modern retro' music.
bardot a go go
MONIQUE THUBERT - AVES LES OREILLESshe might not look like a sexy party girl but she sure sounds like one. imagine bardot partying hard and you've got monique!
lilo lil
not the best song- but absolutely wonderful to see christine delaroche on a lilo!
delaroche doll
CHRISTINE DELAROCHE - UNE FLEURshe is up there in my top ten of dolls - this is a great example of her marvyness
mysterious girls
HOLLYWOOD JILLS - HE MAKES ME SO MAD"telling the gang i swim raw...well don't you?!" love this, full of sass and attitude.
with love from f.g.
a perfect christmassy treat
triple threat
THE KANE TRIPLETS - THEME FROM MISSION IMPOSSIBLEthis makes me smile so much with their very loud dramatic harmonies. a classic.
off with her head
ANTOINETTE - JENNY LET HIM GO
i can never get enough of this track - all i need is for the unreleased orchids version to surface and all my dreams will come true!
Labels: 60s, antoinette, the orchids
double o heaven
NANCY SINATRA - LAST OF THE SECRET AGENTSwith the same vibe as 'these boots...' this is taken from the '66 film of the same name featuring nancy.
doll duo
WENDY AND BONNIE - YOU KEEP HANGING UP ON MY MINDharmonies of the mamas and papas with a psychedelic flavour make this a groovy trip
more french grooves
ELISABETH - JE SUIS SUBLIMEi'm back finally - sorry about the long wait. the next lot of posts will just be totally random - anything doll that brings a smile to my face and hopefully to yours.
lady in leather
one word: sofuckingcool