Music Chart - June 2013

This month brings us new albums from Alice In Chains, Seasick Steve, Gabrielle Aplin, John Murry, Queens Of The Stone Age, Jon Hopkins, These New Puritans, Vampire Weekend, Jagwar Ma, Filter, Sigur Rós and Lloyd Cole.

The National now hold top spot from Kurt Vile, Laura Marling, Biffy Clyro and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

1. Trouble Will Find Me by The National
2. Wakin On A Pretty Daze by Kurt Vile 
3. Once I Was An Eagle by Laura Marling
4. Opposites by Biffy Clyro 
5. Push The Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 
6. Kveikur by Sigur Rós
7. Waiting For Something To Happen by Veronica Falls
8. Love Has Come For You by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
9. ...Like Clockwork by Queens Of The Stone Age
10. Impossible Truth by William Tyler
11. The Beast In Its Tracks by Josh Ritter 
12. Nocturnes by Little Boots
13. Heartthrob by Tegan And Sara
14. Standards by Lloyd Cole
15. Welcome Oblivion by How To Destroy Angels
16. Les Revenants Soundtrack by Mogwai
17. More Light by Primal Scream
18. Let It All In by I Am Kloot
19. The Sun Comes Out Tonight by Filter
20. Spectre At The Feast by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 
21. Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
22. The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here by Alice In Chains
23. Black Pudding by Mark Lanegan & Duke Garwood 
24. Modern Vampire Of The City by Vampire Weekend
25. Tape Deck Heart by Frank Turner
26. Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO by Besnard Lakes 
27. Howlin by Jagwar Ma
28. Silence Yourself by Savages
29. People, Hell & Angels by Jimi Hendrix
30. Fade by Yo La Tengo
31. Wolf's Law by The Joy Formidable
32. Heart Of Nowhere by Noah And The Whale 
33. The Graceless Age by John Murry
34. Paramore by Paramore
35. Tales From Terra Firma by Stornoway
36. Electric by Richard Thompson 
37. Oblivion OST by M83
38. AMOK by Atoms For Peace
39. Wonderful, Glorious by Eels
40. Immunity by Jon Hopkins
41. A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart by Bill Ryder-Jones
42. Volume 3 by She & Him 
43. Hubcap Music by Seasick Steve
44. Wait To Pleasure by No Joy
45. A Long Way To Fall by Ulrich Schnauss 
46. Machineries Of Joy by British Sea Power 
47. Pale Green Ghosts by John Grant
48. All The Little Lights by Passenger
49. Tooth & Nail by Billy Bragg
50. Sound City - Real To Real by Sound City - Real To Real
51. Disarm The Descent by Killswitch Engage
52. The Messenger by Johnny Marr
53. If You Leave by Daughter
54. Pollen by Wave Machines
55. Mosquito by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
56. Back Into The Woods by Ed Harcourt
57. Clash The Truth by Beach Fossils
58. Country Sleep by Night Beds 
59. The Next Day by David Bowie
60. Rules By Passion, Destroyed By Lust by Asphodells
61. Blood Oaths Of The New Blues by Wooden Wand
62. Centralia by Mountains
63. In Love by Peace
64. Ores & Minerals by Mazes
65. Pedestrian Verse by Frightened Rabbit 
66. The Invisible Way By Low
67. Lysandre by Christopher Owens
68. English Rain by Gabrielle Aplin
69. Monomania by Deerhunter
70. California X by California X
71. Field Of Reeds by These New Puritans
72. Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy
73. 180 by Palma Violets
74. News From Nowhere by Darkstar
75. Almanac by Widowspeak 
76. Bloodsports by Suede
77. Graffiti On The Train by Stereophonics
78. Wash The Sins Not Only The Face by Esben And The Witch 
79. Comedown Machine by The Strokes
80. The Moths Are Real by Serafina Steer
81. {Awayland} by Villagers
82. Out Of Touch In The Wild by Dutch Uncles
83. Lost Sirens by New Order
84. Girl Talk by Kate Nash
85. Beta Love by Ra Ra Riot
86. Early Rocking by Paul Simon
87. Collections by Delphic

This Week - Sigur Rós, Queens Of The Stone Age and Filter

Iceland's finest Sigur Rós are usually predictable and safe. You know what to expect from their music: the soaring instrumentation, string arrangements, stirring piano, big guitars and angelic floating vocals all add to the glorious mix. But this time, a year after the release of the subtle beauty of Valtari, the departure of founding member Kjartan Sveinsson, and nearly ten years on from the masterpiece Takk, Sigur Rós have gone in a new direction. Kveikur is positively industrial, harsh and magnificently raw, like Takk in a blender. The core of the album is focused around the wonderful voice of Jónsi Birgisson, which is the big difference from the piano-led Takk and the controlled chaos of Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust. Opening song Brennisteinn sets the mood perfectly, with a backdrop of grinding machinery and melodic vocals, it introduces the new brutal landscape. Hrafntinna arrives like something from the Game Of Thrones soundtrack before Ísjaki, the album's big highlight and a supreme combination of Jónsi and the band driven forward by Orri Páll Dýrason's drums. After this build-up, Kveikur never reaches the same heights but Stormur is another emotive piece with Jónsi's unique voice shining through. The dark title track makes way for the lighter Rafstraumur and the simple closer Var brings this strange, intriguing adventure to an end. This is the sound of Sigur Rós shaking off the past to make a raw, fractured, yet emotional record.

Josh Homme is a genius but life as a genius in Queens Of The Stone Age is not easy. Homme was hospitalised in 2010 and had to 'fire' drummer Joey Castillo about a third of the way through recording new album, ...Like Clockwork, to bring in Dave Grohl. Former bassist Nick Oliveri provides backing vocals on a couple of tracks but has not officially rejoined the band, and Homme has brought in guests Mark Lanegan, Trent Reznor, Alex Turner, Jake Shears and Elton John (yes, really). In spite of this turmoil and a host of side-projects (most notably the brilliant Them Crooked Vultures), Queens Of The Stone Age remains a solid, coherent and formidable musical force. That said, ...Like Clockwork feels like a band fighting themselves and the future; but ultimately it's rewarding. Darkness is everywhere, even in its lighter, more positive moments and the approach is much more interesting than the listless Era Vulgaris. As always Troy Van Leeuwen is excellent, providing supreme guitar work, while Grohl and the much maligned Castillo add solid percussion. This is evident from attention-grabbing prog-rock opener Keep Your Eyes Peeled, followed by the equally impressive I Sat By The Ocean. The Vampyre Of Time And Memory is something of a departure but Homme's subtle vocals and more incredible guitar work create an uneasy yet satisfying atmosphere. If I Had A Tail, Fairweather Friends and Smooth Sailing are instant highlights while Kalopsia is verging on Pink Floyd, until the last minute and half brings the noise. The title track closes the album in style, with Homme's delicate falsetto and piano making way for startling guitars and drums(this time from Jon Theodore (ex-Mars Volta). ...Like Clockwork is order from chaos and the best Queens Of The Stone Age album since Songs For The Deaf.

Filter, lead by Richard Patrick - brother of actor Robert and former touring guitarist in Nine Inch Nails, has not had a typical life as a band. With many more ex-members than current personal, and a very new present line-up, Filter are a different band than that of the mid to late nineties. Short Bus and Title Of Record remained their best work but new album The Sun Comes Out Tonight takes the approach of 2010's The Trouble With Angels and provides some genuinely excellent results. The songs fall into two styles - venomous vitriol (opener We Hate It When You Get What You Want, What Do You Say and This Finger's For You) and more reflective acoustic style (the wonderful Surprise, the elegant pop of First You Break It and the sweet It's My Time). The title track is something in between while Take That Knife Out Of My Back deftly switches from soft to hard - but Filter remain a schizophrenic outfit, able to produce full-on alt-metal and light, airy pop with equal and effortless ease. Closer It's Just You is the album's most coherent and unique moments, as it seems to transcend this juxtaposition. The Sun Comes Out Tonight is Filter at their best and this is a tremendous, and worthwhile, comeback.

Music Chart - May 2013

A definite case of quality over quantity for a busy May. New albums this month from Little Boots,  Noah And The Whale, Deerhunter, She & Him, Savages, Primal Scream, Mark Lanegan & Duke Garwood, Daft Punk, The National and Laura Marling.

Kurt Vile holds the number one spot from Laura Marling and Steve Martin/Edie Brickell.

1. Wakin On A Pretty Daze by Kurt Vile 
2. Once I Was An Eagle by Laura Marling
3. Love Has Come For You by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
4. Trouble Will Find Me by The National
5. Impossible Truth by William Tyler
6. Opposites by Biffy Clyro 
7. Push The Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
8. Waiting For Something To Happen by Veronica Falls
9. The Beast In Its Tracks by Josh Ritter 
10. Nocturnes by Little Boots
11. Heartthrob by Tegan And Sara
12. Welcome Oblivion by How To Destroy Angels
13. Les Revenants Soundtrack by Mogwai
14. More Light by Primal Scream
15. Let It All In by I Am Kloot
16. Spectre At The Feast by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 
17. Black Pudding by Mark Lanegan & Duke Garwood
18. Tape Deck Heart by Frank Turner
19. Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO by Besnard Lakes 
20. Silence Yourself by Savages
21. People, Hell & Angels by Jimi Hendrix
22. Fade by Yo La Tengo
23. Wolf's Law by The Joy Formidable
24. Heart Of Nowhere by Noah And The Whale
25. Paramore by Paramore
26. Tales From Terra Firma by Stornoway
27. Electric by Richard Thompson 
28. Oblivion OST by M83
29. AMOK by Atoms For Peace
30. Wonderful, Glorious by Eels
31. A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart by Bill Ryder-Jones
32. Volume 3 by She & Him
33. Wait To Pleasure by No Joy
34. A Long Way To Fall by Ulrich Schnauss 
35. Machineries Of Joy by British Sea Power 
36. Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
37. Pale Green Ghosts by John Grant
38. All The Little Lights by Passenger
39. Tooth & Nail by Billy Bragg
40. Sound City - Real To Real by Sound City - Real To Real
41. Disarm The Descent by Killswitch Engage
42. The Messenger by Johnny Marr
43. If You Leave by Daughter
44. Pollen by Wave Machines
45. Mosquito by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
46. Back Into The Woods by Ed Harcourt
47. Clash The Truth by Beach Fossils
48. Country Sleep by Night Beds 
49. The Next Day by David Bowie
50. Rules By Passion, Destroyed By Lust by Asphodells
51. Blood Oaths Of The New Blues by Wooden Wand
52. Centralia by Mountains
53. In Love by Peace
54. Ores & Minerals by Mazes
55. Pedestrian Verse by Frightened Rabbit 
56. The Invisible Way By Low
57. Lysandre by Christopher Owens
58. Monomania by Deerhunter
59. California X by California X
60. Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy
61. 180 by Palma Violets
62. News From Nowhere by Darkstar
63. Almanac by Widowspeak 
64. Bloodsports by Suede
65. Graffiti On The Train by Stereophonics
66. Wash The Sins Not Only The Face by Esben And The Witch 
67. Comedown Machine by The Strokes
68. The Moths Are Real by Serafina Steer
69. {Awayland} by Villagers
70. Out Of Touch In The Wild by Dutch Uncles
71. Lost Sirens by New Order
72. Girl Talk by Kate Nash
73. Beta Love by Ra Ra Riot
74. Early Rocking by Paul Simon
75. Collections by Delphic