OCD Time

Ok, so this isn't exactly original, ground breaking citizen journalism, but I thought I should make the most of my OCD ninja powers and give you my interpretation of the year that was 2009.

So, I guess, this being a music blog and all, we'll start with the choons. Innit.

Lady Ga-Ga

Bands

• Frank Turner- What can I say? His second album was phenomenal and has currently overtaken The Smiths in my most played. This should speak for itself. If you ever get the chance to see this man play live you'd be only foolish, FOOLISH I TELLS YE to miss it. Frank takes the singer songwriter niche to another dimension with shouty, rambunctious music designed to make you smile.

• Lady Gaga- At the start of this year I really hated her. I mean, REALLY hated her. Just another boring talentless drone who loves making a tit out of herself. Now, in December, not much has changed (I'm actually stunned at some of the outfits she's come out with this year) but musically I think she's been one of the most refreshing artists to come out of this year and indeed decade. Say what you like, but we ALL know you've been singing along to Pokerface, don't try and deny it. But then who can blame you? Lady Gaga is an example of pop at it's weirdest and most wonderful.

• Mumford & Sons- Is it wrong that I herald these guys as the Fleet Foxes of 2009? I hope not, I adore Fleet Foxes. For me they made the winter months at the start of this year that much more bearable with their warm, cosy melodies and beautifully folky harmonies. But Mumford & Sons have somehow managed to bring the whole low fi country to the kids. They're getting daytime airplay on both Radio 1 and 6, and it's only a matter of time until the NME jumps on the bandwagon and starts singing their praises too.

All together now.. GHOSTBUSTERS!

The World

So, we've survived Swine Flu, MJ's death hysteria and the biblical flash floods of Glastonbury; not to mention nearly being sucked into a black hole by those crazy guys at the CERN. It's been a good old year really. But what we really want to know is what have been the best bits according to a bored 17 year old blogger?

- Jedward: Coming soon to a Butlins near you.

-Trafigura-Gate: A major step forward in the fight for free speech and shows just how powerful 140 characters can be.

- AS Exams: If ANYONE says that A Levels are getting easier next year I will personally make them pay.

- Star Trek: Yes there were major plot holes, but I've been waiting for a really good, engaging Star Trek film for ages. My name is Madison, and I'm proud to be a Trekkie.

-Kanye West being, well Kanye West: Funny for about the first five minutes, but I'm as tired of seeing pisstakes of this on the interweb as I am of those blasted Lolcats.

- Growing Up: When you've reached the point where you'd rather stay at home and watch Come Dine With Me marathons instead of getting pissed in the park, you know you're not a kid anymore. Midlife crisis at 17, who knew?

-Sartre: I never thought I'd fall in love with a French, communist, existentialist Philosopher. But there we go. Being and Nothingness is one of the most demanding books I have and will possibly ever read, but when it comes to trying to explain our existence, he makes a good point. Be who you want, do what you want, just make sure you know you're responsible for it. Some may call it depressing, I call it bloody brilliant.

Jack Whitehall

TV, Films, ET CETERA..

• Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: Thoroughly disappointing: it seems the director has lost their original vision of creating the alluringly bewitching world of witchcraft that every child dreams of, into just another mega budget Twilightesque romp. I'll still buy the DVD though, of course.

• Which brings me to Twilight. I haven't seen the films but I've read enough of the books to know that it isn't worth the hype that the swathes of preteen girls seem to be creating. Seriously, if I have to hear about Jacob and fucking Edward ONE MORE TIME there will be blood. And there'll be nowt sparkley about that.

• Misfits: Think it's just another variation of Skins? Think again. Take the unconventional superhero style that Heroes does so well and mix with a large dose of comedic realism of what it's like to be a young offender in Britain. Both the writing and acting are superb: Nathan's character is brilliantly loveable and I've found myself warming to even the chavviest of them throughout the series. A definite must-watch.

• Dave: The saviour of Saturday nights. Where would we be without endless repeats of Have I Got News For You from 2008?

• Comedy: This year has seen the likes of Michael Mcintyre, Russell Howard, Marcus Brigstock and Jon Richardson finally get the recognition they deserve. Jack Whitehall has also shown that us yoof can be funny too; I'm hoping that he will rise to the same heights that Howard and Frankie Boyle have over the past 12 months.

2009 has been one hell of a year. The lows have been gut wrenchingly grim, the highs have been utterly unbelievable and it's made me fucking RELIEVED I only have a few more months left before I can finally unleash the bonds of Bristol and see what lurks beyond the veil of childhood.

I really hope it snows this year; gives me the chance to play Laura Marling's new track, Goodbye England, to my heart's content.

I've never been a huge fan of Marling for some reason. As much as I tried, her debut album just didn't do it for me. I couldn't see what all of the fuss in the blogosphere was about. This song, however, has finally made me fall under her spell a little bit. It's poetic, wistful and just a touch Christmassy without even a hint of a sleighbell. I love it.
(The Powers that Be have declared I have to take down the track, sorry!)

Killing In The Name Of.. Good Music

Ok, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. You may have heard of a reality TV programme called the X Factor. For those not in the know it's an annoying show where contestants compete for who has the biggest sob story, the judges fight over who can be the most controversial and Simon Cowell sees how much money he can rake in through week upon week of phone votes. Oh, and there's also a bit of singing thrown in too.

Now, every year that the X Factor has been on, the winner has gone on to receive the 'prestigious' title of Christmas Number One in the mainstream music charts. Bit boring really. Where's the competition if we all know already that whatshisface is going to win with his sappy vomit inducing cover of a Miley Cyrus song? Miley fucking Cyrus. Has it really come to this?!

So, there's this little campaign to offer an alternative to the X Factor winner's single, in the form of Rage Against The Machine's Killing in the Name Of. Of the millions of alternative songs that could have been chosen, I'm not too sure why they chose this one, but even so it'd be quite refreshing to see if it ends up in the chart- alongside that slushy song by the Soldiers and Mariah Carey.

Let's face it, music today is more about making money than acute craftsmanship. More about shifting units than penning beautiful, catchy melodies, at least when it comes to pop music (Lady Gaga being a possible exception). So why not have some fun with it?

If you want to join in this experiment that's already received praise from the likes of 6 Music and NME Magazine, then go buy it on iTunes or Amazon THIS WEEK.

A MUST Listen

Are you sitting comfortably?

Good, then I'll begin.

Just a quick one from me, (I've a million and one things to do this week) but I felt compelled to share this with you, my lovely readers on this cold winter's eve. Get some chocolate, sit by the fire if you can and just let yourself slowly become transfixed by this beautiful sound. If this doesn't chill you out, nothing will.

This has genuinely made my day.

Oh and while I'm at it, today marks World AIDS Day. Just 40 cents/pence provides one day's treatment for a person suffering with HIV and AIDS. Whatever you can give will no doubt be very much appreciated and help to save the lives of those suffering with this horrible and rather unnecessary disease.
To donate click here.

Midwinter Lullabies

So, it seems at long last this year has taken its toll on me. College is becoming a living nightmare and I find myself embroiled in a pathetic teen drama that isn't even Hollyoaks worthy and, lets face it, it's not that difficult a depth to sink to. Still, amongst all the teenage angst I've managed to uncover some delicious music for you to sink your teeth into.

Well, maybe not 'sink your teeth' so much as caress it gently, for these guys are more hypnotising than heavy. Nevertheless they're just what the doctor ordered in terms of mood and style on a cold winter's eve. Whether or not you've yet succumbed to the hype of Mumford and Sons, you should know that they are possibly one of the finest acts to emerge from 2009. They are everything Fleet Foxes were last year and more: their songs pack a punch in terms of lyrical content, as well as having numerous singalong choruses (definitely at least half of the album is single worthy; not an easy feat for a band only two years into their career). However, the punch is soon negated by an overwhelming sense of warmth protruding from nearly every crevice of this album.


Sigh No More has been on repeat for the past few days, I find it's the perfect wind down to a stressful day. Winter Winds and a nice cup of tea- what more could a girl ask for?

Seriously though, if you download one album this year let it be this one, it's brilliant.

Sigh No More is out now

Rabbit in the Headlights

I really like this track, imagine it would be a great song to drive to.




Frightened Rabbit are one of my new favourite discoveries, definitely one of the more exciting bands the Scottish isles have spoiled us with this year (and lord knows there's been a few). It's only a matter of a time before these guys reach the same dizzy heights that fellow Scots Glasvegas effortlessly climbed to in 2008 (was it really that long ago?).

If you prefer the softer side of Biffy Clyro and Fleet Foxes but still like their fatally catchy choruses then Frightened Rabbit are your new best friends.

Definitely Not S.A.D

Let's be honest, this isn't exactly the most wonderful time of year. There's a chill in the air that doesn't yet hold that familiar festive excitement of winters past- more misery than merriment. The night engulfs us with an ever increasing vehemence and it's not even acceptable to be humming Fairytale of New York yet for fear of eternal ridicule.

Isn't November great?

However, there is a somewhat hazy light in the darkness in the shape of electro titans Asobi Seksu.

This is 3 minutes and 49 seconds of trippy, cathartic beauty. The song just screams summer and takes us back to the good old days when we actually saw the sun for more than half an hour and didn't have to dress like the Michelin Man everytime we ventured to the shops. The melody is gorgeous and has more than a hint of self-indulgence, (Yuki Chikudate's light and airy vocals make this track what it is, sends shivers down my spine) making this a very welcome antidote to the rather stodgy, heavy music that finds itself in the mainstream charts at the moment.

The video is also a perfect fit and makes one feel a certain sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of many a lazy sunny afternoon spent wandering through fields of wildflowers and blossom.. or at least a muddy field full of thousands of sweaty festival folk. Same diff.

In terms of their previous stuff Transparence is very laidback which I think works quite well for them, allowing the vocals to truly shine. I for one definitely prefer this calmer, more pensive side to Asobi Seksu.

What do you think?