Election and dat

Thom Yorke published his election playlist yesterday. (READ IT HERE). It included some Aphex, Massive Attack and PJ Harvey. Which reminded me of the below song, which is up there with my fave tracks of all time. Kinda sums up this hung parliament business...

Thom & Giles

If you're into glitchy basslines, freeform jazz or alt hip hop you should listen to Thom Yorke and Giles Peterson together on Radio 1 the other night. Thom talks about how Public Enemy's beats have influenced Radiohead, his love of the Hyperdub label and working with Madlib.

LISTEN AND GET A FULL TRACKLISTING HERE

My Gigs Of 2009

A TOP THREE (in no order)

Phoenix- Brixton Academy

For some reason I never thought I'd see the French band live but they absolutely smashed it down the road from my flat. I actually paid for this one too which I think makes it even better. Listen to my own personal Best Of Phoenix on Spotify here...

Radiohead- Reading

Had almost forgotten that Radiohead are the best band in the world until this. In Rainbows is their most complete album and the tracks from it sounded perfect here. Plus there was still room for National Anthem, Everything..., Idioteque, Paranoid Android and Street Spirit. Proper magical. Read a full review at my day job here...

Blur- Hyde Park

The sun shone, the Essex boys wore Fred Perry shirts and played nearly all their best songs in central London. It was truly astonishing if you ask me. Just a shame that new material seems highly unlikely. Buy the CD here...

Three others...

Jamie T @ Electric Ballroom
New song Spider’s Web features ukulele and rhymes Intifada, Robert Palmer and er, pyjamas and yet somehow still doesn’t sound forced, while the killer chorus reminded us of The Clash’s pop moments. On 368 there were echoing 80s style guitars and a rapid Beastie Boys-a-like rap, coupled with a gently sung hook, and while new single Sticks N’ Stones loses some of its breakbeat clarity live it still showcases the solo star’s knack for writing choruses - boasting two so good they put a lot of indie bands to shame. (review here)

Jay-Z @ Ally Pally
Referencing his 10 successive number one albums in the US the rapper thanks his loyal fans before mentioning the previous record holder. He tells the crowd: “Elvis has left the building!” Jay-Z definitely hasn’t. (Full review here)

Kraftwerk @ Bestival
Backed by superb visuals, the four Germans ran through their often sampled bleepy hits including Tour De France, Man Machine and Computer Love. (Full review here)

My 21 Favourite Albums Of The Decade

Published this list back in March but thought I should repeat it as everyone else is putting theres out now. It was 20 but I had forgot Avalanches. So here are 21 and some honourabe mentions. Think Kid A would be my number one.

Avalanches- Since I Left You
Amy Winehouse- Back To Black
Gorillaz- Demon Days
M.I.A- Arular
M.I.A- Kala
The Streets- Original Pirate Material
The Streets- A Grand Don’t Come For Free
Radiohead- Kid A
The Strokes- Is This It
Kanye West- Late Registration
Daft Punk- Discovery
The Beastie Boys- To The 5 Boroughs
Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP
N.E.R.D- In Search Of…
Broken Social Scene- Broken Social Scene
Outkast- Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below
Jay-Z- Blueprint
Gnarls Barkley- St Elsewhere
Justin Timberlake- Justified
The White Stripes- Elephant
Arcade Fire- Neon Bible

Honourable mentions: Hot Chip- The Warning, Cornershop- Handcream For A Generation, Gwen Stefani- L.A.M.B, Jay Z- The Black Album, Common- Electric Circus, Wu Tang- The W, Dizzee Rascal- Boy/ Maths, Outkast- Stankonia, Basement Jaxx- Rooty, Lily Allen- Its Not Me, It’s You, Radiohead, In Rainbows.

Any of which would have made my (pretty populist) run down much cooler. But you can’t leave Justin out, right?