2010 Music Chart - July

No new reviews this month but three great new albums to add: The Place We Ran From by Tired Pony and the new Mercury Prize nominated Sky At Night by the always wonderful I Am Kloot. Also, a real surprise from Ambeson, aka Rich Keyworth with his second album When Colours Flow - a gem of a record that mixes acoustic, electronica and sampling.

1. I Speak Because I Can by Laura Marling
2. Brothers by The Black Keys
3. High Violet by The National
4. This Is Happening by LCD Soundsystem
5. The Betrayed by LostProphets
6. The Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit
7. Sea Of Cowards by The Dead Weather
8. The Place We Ran From by Tired Pony
   
9. Acolyte by Delphic
10. The Courage Of Others by Midlake
11. Close-Up Volume 1: Love Songs by Suzanne Vega
    
12. July Flame by Laura Veirs
13. Further by The Chemical Brothers
14. Year Of The Black Rainbow by Coheed & Cambria
15. How To Destroy Angels EP by How To Destroy Angels
16. Sky At Night by I Am Kloot
    
17. The Quickening by Kathryn Williams
18. Hearts & Minds by Seth Lakeman
    
19. Immersion by Pendulum
    
20. Handmade Life by Chris Wood
    
21. End Times by Eels
22. When Colours Flow by Ambeson
    
23. Crystal Castles (II) by Crystal Castles
24. When This Was The Future by Lisa O Piu
25. Fire Like This by Blood Red Shoes
    
26. Graceful Bow (EP) by Jason Ward
    
27. Rotten Pear by Andrew Vincent
28. Renegades by Feeder

Thea Gilmore - Angels In The Abattoir Update (July 2010)

An interesting new song from Thea this month, a cover of How Little We Know from the 1944 film To Have And Have Not, originally sung by Lauren Bacall in the film. This is released as the winning entry in the Song Lottery in which us Angels suggested songs for Thea to record. Thea, who didn't know the song before, describes it a 'a truly beautiful piece of writing' with 'a complex melody that is a total bugger to learn'. A fantastic result all round and great support as always from 'musical superhero' Nigel Stonier who plays the melodica on the song.

So, as Angels In The Abattoir enters its second year (yes I have resubscribed), we look forward to more wonderful songs, gigs and the new album. Thanks Thea. x

Mercury Music Prize 2010 - Shortlist

The 2010 Mercury Music Prize nominees have been announced. They are:

Biffy Clyro 'Only Revolutions'
Villagers 'Becoming A Jackal'
Corinne Bailey Rae 'The Sea'
Mumford & Sons ‘Sigh No More’
Paul Weller 'Wake Up The Nation'
Wild Beasts 'Two Dancers'
Kit Downes Trio ‘Golden’
Laura Marling 'I Speak Because I Can'
Dizzee Rascal 'Tongue N’ Cheek'
Foals 'Total Life Forever'
I Am Kloot 'Sky At Night'
The xx 'xx'

My choice (you won't be surprised to know) is Laura Marling. That said, I haven't heard half the albums and I would be happy with Mumford & Sons, I Am Kloot (about time they got a nomination), Biffy Clyro and The XX.

All the albums are here.

Ra Ra Riot - new album and single preview

You can hear a preview of the new song Too Dramatic from Ra Ra Riot's new album The Orchard. Check out the website.

Tired Pony (Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck)

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and REM's Peter Buck have joined forces as Tired Pony. This is an interesting prospect and the debut album The Place We Ran From has now been released. The sound is obviously lead by Lightbody's distinctive vocals but the music is more Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers than REM. The rest of the band comprises Richard Colburn of Belle & Sebastian, former Snow Patrol lyricist Iain Archer, producer Jacknife Lee and REM collaborator Scott McCaughey. There is also contribution from actor/singer Zooey Deschanel (She & Him) and Tom Smith (Editors).