best albums 2010

1. The Drums – The Drums
2. Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme
3. Best Coast – Crazy for You
4. Wild Nothing – Gemini
5. The Magnetic Fields – Realism
6. Math and Physics Club – I shouldn’t look as Good as I do
7. The Electric Pop Group – Seconds
8. Allo Darlin’ – Allo Darlin’
9. Northern Portrait – Criminal Art Lovers
10. Darren Hayman & The Secondary Modern – Essex Arms
11. Teenage Fanclub – Shadows
12. Stars in Coma – And The Cloud Withdrew From The Sky
13. Soda Fountain Rag – Reel Around Me
14. Belle & Sebastian – Write about Love
15. Sambassadeur – European
16. The Hi-Life Companion – Say Hi!
17. Darren Hanlon – I will Love you at all
18. Trembling Blue Stars – Fast trains and telegraph wires
19. The Mare – I’m so happy
20. CEO- White Magic
21. Lucky Soul – A Coming of Age
22. Le Futur Pompiste – Le Futur Pompiste
23. The Orchids – The Lost Star
24. The School – Loveless Unbeliever
25. The Vaselines – Sex with an X
26. Eux Autres – Broken Bow
27. The Depreciation Guild – Spirit Youth
28. Standard Fare – The Noyelle Beat
29. Horowitz – Popkids of the World Unite
30. Twig – Hourglass

David Gedge (The Wedding Present ) Interview

Our beloved Wedding Present return this sunday in athens! David Gedge is talking about their re-birth and his own obsessions.

This year De Castro left the band after 12 years working with you. What did that mean for the style, sound and feeling of the Wedding Present?

It's always sad when people leave the group, especially when they have been with us so long... but we always go through a little ‘re-birth’ when it happens, and this time as been no different. I think the sound has become rockier lately. Louder and harder! Our new bass player is from Switzerland, so maybe our style will become more continental, too… whatever that means!

Which is the motivation for creating music in 2010? Has that changed over the years?

I think it is more an obsession than a motivation! It was never a decision I’ve had to make... I already knew when I was five years old that I would be doing this and nothing has changed. I’m not totally sure what drives me…

You’ve been around for a long time. Are you bothered by those judging (or maybe doubting) your presence on the music scene?

Ha! No… of course not. I am never going to please everybody and I’ve never tried. As long as the people in the band are happy and proud of the music we are making, I am happy.

Your two singles "I'm From Further North Than You", and "Ringway to SeaTac" appeared on an independent film. Is that a direction you would be more interested to take in the future?

I’m always interested in doing anything that takes me off in a tangent. It’s one of the reasons why my ‘job’ is so interesting... you never know what you will be doing next.

Do you follow the current scene? Any new bands you like/would like to work with?

I do. We’ve just had Ringo Deathstarr from Texas on tour with us here in the U.K. and they were excellent. Their influences are obvious…. The Jesus And Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine… but they weren’t even alive when those bands were around!

Are you planning on releasing new stuff?

Well, this year we have been playing our album ‘Bizarro’ live and, in fact, our concert in Athens will be the last time that we do that. We already know this album very well, though… so we’ve had plenty of spare time at rehearsals to work on new songs, which means that we should be able to release some new stuff in 2011. I’ll try and include a new song or two in the set for Greece!

sugar baby

Formed in the streets of Scotland, Sugar Crisis eat tons of sugar in the centre of their own little cute world. Neil Brunton (vocals/keyboard) and Lorna Anthony (vocals/guitar/synth)play with their toys while unfold their sarcastic witty pop comments on the current scene. Compared to bands like Tilly and the Wall, Golden Grays or Burning Hearts they are a name to watch for. Sugar Obsession.



http://www.myspace.com/sugarcrisis

Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy) Interview

The Divine Comedy will bring their magic this monday in Athens. Neil Hannon was more than polite to answer my questions. Again, Neil you are my hero <3.

Tenth album “Bang Goes The Knighthood”... how would you describe it? Would you say this is your first ‘solo album’?
Well, it's got twelve songs of differing lengths and styles. It's a bit like my other records sometimes and sometimes it's not. Some songs are quite cheerful, some are more gloomy. I wouldn't describe it as my first solo album really. I would have released it under my own name if it was. Having said most of my records are quite soloish. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Is emotion important and in what ways? Is that your first goal while creating a song?
If a song has no emotion it is utterly worthless. Each song has a different sentiment, a different reason for it's own existence. Some songs don't appear to have a big message or a grand theme. That is because they are supposed to be curious and interesting rather than of enormous importance. My first goal when writing a song is not to bore myself!

Your songs sound like reading a fairytale… is that contrived?
I suppose some are a little fairytale-esque. It's honestly not something I consciously think about when I'm doing them. I simply do what comes naturally and hope for the best.

You often have extensive arrangements with strings and horns… have you thought of stripping out pop music to its simpler melodic forms?
I care little for how simple or complicated the arrangement of a song is. It's the end result that really counts. For example Down In The Streets Below is quite epic in scale, but that seemed the best way to create the mood I thought the song needed. But At The Indie Disco wouldn't have worked like that at all so it's quite simple.

You have been related to the brit-pop era of the 90s... do you reminisce those years? [how do you feel about bands like pulp or blur reforming?]
Pulp or Blur are very different from me. They were proper bands for a start, which means they could actually split up and reform. The Divine Comedy was always me with whoever I thought I needed at the time. I enjoyed the 90's a lot but I've never been one for reminiscing. It was hard work but I thrived on the excitment of being a chart act (even if a slightly strange one). I am considerably happier now however.

Any news/future plans for The Divine Comedy? Other projects you are involved with?
My first musical has just opened in Bristol. It's an adaptation of a 1920's children's book called Swallows and Amazons. This year has been very heavy going with lot's of promo and touring, so I'm going to be more Dublin-centric next year. A spot of writing, a bit more touring, and a lot of sitting around watching the cricket!

FM Belfast Interview

Plisskën Fest will be held this saturday in Athens. Amongst other wonderful bands, FM Belfast will bring some of their icelandic cuteness.

Is Reykjavík a city that can bring out your inspirations and in what ways? In the city, underneath the drama and money grabbing free market people, there lies an old attitude. It's an undying optimism and a do-it-yourself type of thinking. Our new mayor is one of these former punks. It's very inspiring.

How do you feel about the Icelandic music scene? It's big compared to population. It is very varied and most people are friendly and try to help each other out.

Is electro pop a genre that can combine emotions and pure physical excitement? Yes, but so is speed metal and rockabilly.

Do you feel stage presence is your strong point? No, I think our optimism is our strong point. Our stage presence varies. It also depends on the audience. We've been very lucky with our nice audience. But we do our best every time.

I read that the members in the band now vary from 3 to 8 depending on who can make it. Why is that? Because the 3 of us have dropped everything to do this and the others can't always make it because of previous commitments. Pretty basic I would say.

Are you sure you will be able to handle Athens right now? It’s still hot here! Really? Woohoo! I was hoping it would be hot. We are in Barcelona right now and sadly it's raining and a bit cold. We are fans of warm weather.