Steve tweeted about blogging his top ten albums of the decade thus far, and as a result I’ve spent my entire evening pulling my list together. Here they are.
10. Yo La Tengo, And then nothing turned itself inside out
I poached this album title for an artwork, that’s how much I love it. Cherry Chapstick is my little piece of crazy guitar heaven.
9. Dan Bern, New American Language
Dan Bern has many wonderful albums, but to me this seems the most personal and honest. I did want to put the Swastika EP in place of this, but decided to be strict and pick a full length album instead. My favourite tracks are New American Language and God Said No, while Mr Pants In Motion loves this one.
8. Tim Oxley, It’s all about love
Paul bought me Tim Oxley’s first album as a surprise random gift one day after it was chosen as album of the week on Triple R. He knew I would adore its folky poppy lovely beautiful sweethearted prettiness. Unfortunately I couldn’t find an adequate clip to go along with this pick.
7. Darren Hanlon, Little Chills
It was a toss up between this and Hello Stranger. Again, it could’ve gone either way. Full of folky, lovely, silly wordplays. My favourite track is I wish that I was beautiful for you (you are Darren, silly muffin!), but you get The Unmade Bed.
6. Hem, Rabbit Songs
The story goes that the lead singer from Hem didn’t really know if she had a good voice before she answered the bands’ ad for a singer. She can sing, oh hell yes. This is a beautiful soft dreamy pillow of an album. Go and buy it now.
5. Tegan & Sara, The Con
Again, I could have chosen any Tegan and Sara album, but went with The Con because it’s essentially perfect. All the other CDs have one or two tracks that I skip, this does not. Power pop at its brief finest. The new album, Sainthood, is in the post and I have high, high hopes.
4. Architecture in Helsinki, Fingers Crossed
Architecture in Helsinki’s first album NEVER fails to put a bounce in my step. Sometimes we all need a dash of twee lightheartedness.
3. Sigur Rós, Takk
When I’ve had my share of twee lightheartedness, I enjoy an excessively indulgent epic or two or eleven. Hopelandic, Icelandic, it’s all good. And this video clip is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
2. Josh Pyke, Chimney’s Afire
I bought this album on a whim one day last year having heard one Josh Pyke song, downloaded as the free track of the week from iTunes. It got me through the last semester of my degree. I’d just printed up the Moby Dick models for my animation and took a JB HiFi break to buy a game for Paul and picked up this too, without really looking at the image on the cover. This album tied in so well with the work I was doing at the time. To me, it feels literary… music about storytelling. It’s mellow and beautiful and whole.
1. The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Whoever thought a song about a killer pink robot who develops emotional understanding could be so inspiring. I cannot adequately express the love I feel for this album and its predecessor, The Soft Bulletin. I touched Wayne’s foot through the bubble at the concert this year. <3 I’m tempted to say my life is now complete…
