Urban 75's Albums of the Year... The Results!

[cliche guevara]

The Seers wiki is updated already, I see. I imagine Scott walkers will be too, soon - can he ever have received such an accolade?

(Urban75 appears to be a messageboard website and does not appear to be a reliable authority on musical matters (HG))

Already removed

 

[butchersapron]

The Seers wiki is updated already, I see.

Have they reformed?

 

[The39thStep]

yay Chromatics and Lower Dens

 

[Dr. Furface]

Ok now let's get on to the best bit of this exercise - seeing each other's top 20's and taking the piss

 

[Lord Camomile]

The Seers wiki is updated already, I see. I imagine Scott walkers will be too, soon - can he ever have received such an accolade?

And also undone

Urban75 appears to be a messageboard website and does not appear to be a reliable authority on musical matters

 

[butchersapron]

Urban75 appears to be a messageboard website and does not appear to be a reliable authority on musical matters

Used to be.

 

[belboid]

(Urban75 appears to be a messageboard website and does not appear to be a reliable authority on musical matters (HG))

Already removed

bastards! It's still there on Tarot Sports page!

 

[belboid]

Used to be.

and it's still better than the Guardians, but I'd bet they let that stay!

 

[cliche guevara]

Ok now let's get on to the best bit of this exercise - seeing each other's top 20's and taking the piss

I submitted:

Apologies, I Have None - London

Converge - All We Love We Leave behind

The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelejuh! Don't Bend! Ascend!

The XX - Coexist

But I would also add Passion Pit's new one, but only really got into it in the last week.

 

[killer b]

i only submitted 10

1. swans - the seer
2. scott walker - bish bosch
3. future of the left - the plot against common sense
4. carter tutti void - transverse
5. pye corner audio - sleep games
6. XTG - destertshore / final report
7. bo ningen - line the wall
8. raime - quarter turns over a living line
9. JK Flesh - posthuman
10. vatican shadow - Ghosts Of Chechnya

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I've heard 3 of the top 51 albums. I think this is an all time (high) record

 

[danny la rouge]

i only submitted 10

I thought that's what we were asked for?

 

[butchersapron]

I thought that's what we were asked for?

Poverty of aspiration.

 

[killer b]

up to 20 i think?

 

[danny la rouge]

up to 20 i think?

Damnit.

 

[gabi]

Did you vote?
I didn't and none of mine would have made the Top 30 but I can't complain.

I didnt even see a voting thread. i only mentioned the tame impala record on the nomination thread.

the urban list is always pretty mental. ive honestly only listened to one of the top 50 (hawley).

 

[Spandex]

Special thanks to Spandex for providing brief summaries of his list entries. I'm just sad that not a single one of them made it into the final top thirty.

Cheers. I'm used to none of my nominees getting in the top 30 by now

Here's my nominations:

1. Philadelphia International: the Tom Moulton mixes

The original remixer (arguably) remixes the original disco label (arguably). You'll probably disqualify this as all the tunes were originally recorded 30 to 40 years ago, but most of the remixes are new. And it's easily the best music released this year.

2. Mungolian Jetset - Mungodelics

Scandinavian cosmic disco house weirdos totally back on form after their embarrassing last album.

3. Legowelt - Paranormal Soul

I'm a bit obsessed with this at the moment. He brings Chicago, Detroit & UK rave influences to his usual analog synth techno sound, which either makes it more conventional or gives it focus. Who cares, it's great.

4. VCMG - VCMG

Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure) and Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) record together for the first time in 30 years. It's the synth-pop reunion of the decade. And what do they come up with? Some faceless euro-techno that could've been recorded by anyone, any time in the past 20 years. Why? Because they wanted to. A legion of fans go: wtf? Awesome.

5. School of Seven Bells - Ghostory

When I first heard their last album I wasn't in the mood, dismissed it as sounding like The Corrs meet Sisters of Mercy, then forgot all about them. I was wrong. They're brilliant, obviously.

6. Andrew Weatherall - Masterpiece

Can we have mix CDs? Really fucking good ones, with exclusive tracks and shit? Mr Weatherall shows off his latest sound over 3 CDs: dance music with a speed limit of 120bpm. Faster doesn't mean better.

7. Blondes - Blondes

Lush techy-housey stuff that meanders along, gradually building up before receeding again, not particularly going anywhere, but doing it all with style.

8. Prins Thomas - ii (mixed version)

Not as good as his Prins Thomas Orkester EP, but that isn't an album. Quality Scandi-house business.

9. Lone - Galaxy Garden

This could easily just've been a pastiche of 808 State and early rave, but he brings enough new to make it his own sound. Not that there'd be anything wrong with a pastiche of 808 State .

10. Orbital - Wonky

It's Orbital! Doing what Orbital do.

11. Matthew Dear - Beams

Former techno producer makes punk-funk/synthpop album with droning Bowie/Byrne style vocals. Cool.

 

[danny la rouge]

Anyway, mine were:

1. Bat Chain Puller – Captain Beefheart

2. Advaitic Songs – Om

3. House of Legends – Courtney Pine

4. Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II – Earth

5. Bish Bosch – Scott Walker

6. Son of a Bitches Brew – Acid Mothers Temple

7. Bloom – Beach House

8. Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! - Godspeed You! Black Emperor

9. Blues Funeral - Mark Lanegan Band

10. I Bet on the Sky – Dinosaur Jr

 

[Spandex]

Another album I meant to vote for, but completely forgot about until it was too late is: The Primitives - Echoes & Rhymes.

I loved them in the 80s and here's their first album in 21 years. It's all covers of 60s songs, but sounding like The Primitives and their fuzzy indie guitar pop.

Not that it matters I didn't vote for it; no other fucker did either

 

[gabi]

Last year the Horrors were robbed of their rightful place at the top of the tree and this year it's Tame Impala. Just shocking, Urban75. Shocking.

 

[belboid]

Most Number 1’s got in there somewhere, the ones that didn’t included:

Aesop Rock - Skelethon
ALPHA & OMEGA meets DAN I - Blessed are the Poor
Apologies, I Have None – London
Barry Adamson – I Will Set You Free (yew Urban fules, yew!)
Hangedup and Tony Conrad - Transit of Venus
Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
The Milk - Tales From The Thames Delta
Philadelphia International: - The Tom Moulton mixes
Sufjan Stevens – Silver and Gold

 

[ska invita]

3. Legowelt - Paranormal Soul

I'm a bit obsessed with this at the moment. He brings Chicago, Detroit & UK rave influences to his usual analog synth techno sound, which either makes it more conventional or gives it focus. Who cares, it's great.

4. VCMG - VCMG

Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure) and Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) record together for the first time in 30 years. It's the synth-pop reunion of the decade. And what do they come up with? Some faceless euro-techno that could've been recorded by anyone, any time in the past 20 years. Why? Because they wanted to. A legion of fans go: wtf? Awesome.

9. Lone - Galaxy Garden

This could easily just've been a pastiche of 808 State and early rave, but he brings enough new to make it his own sound. Not that there'd be anything wrong with a pastiche of 808 State .

nice list - will check out Lone and Legowelt for sure.
so is that VCMG any good? Hadnt heard of this - Ms Invita loves a bit of DM, dont think she knows about this. Though she may be a bit disappointed by the sounds of it

 

[ska invita]

Most Number 1’s got in there somewhere, the ones that didn’t included:

sorry Belboid, what does that mean?

 

[danny la rouge]

sorry Belboid, what does that mean?

"Many people selected a favourite album, and alloted it their own personal Number 1. Most voters will find that their Personal Number 1 has found its way into the Urban Top 31. Sadly, though, some didn't, and I list these below".

 

[ska invita]

"Many people selected a favourite album, and alloted it their own personal Number 1. Most voters will find that their Personal Number 1 has found its way into the Urban Top 31. Sadly, though, some didn't, and I list these below".

ah right yeah of course

 

[Spandex]

So is that VCMG any good? Hadnt heard of this - Ms Invita loves a bit of DM, dont think she knows about this. Though she may be a bit disappointed by the sounds of it

I love it. But then I love faceless euro-techno. It sounds nothing like DM or Erasure. I think the two of them are both into that sound, so decided to make an album for the hell of it.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Reminds me of The Beautiful South but without anyone thinking of writing some lyrics.

To further distance themselves from Heaton's lot they left out the tunes as well.

I haven't heard much of this stuff tbh, and from the mini-reviews here posted little of it seems like it would interest me that much. One thing I know is that there have been some really shit album covers going on this year. I'm looking at you, Springsteen. Hawley's album cover might have been OK before he left it open in photoshop and his cat stomped all over the keyboard.

As usual Spiritualized own the competition when it comes to cover art, my favourite record by them in a long time as well.

 

[clandestino]

Another album I meant to vote for, but completely forgot about until it was too late is: The Primitives - Echoes & Rhymes.

I loved them in the 80s and here's their first album in 21 years. It's all covers of 60s songs, but sounding like The Primitives and their fuzzy indie guitar pop.

Not that it matters I didn't vote for it; no other fucker did either

Oh yes, good point. I'd have voted for that too. I forgot about Dexys as well.

 

[braindancer]

This was my list:

1. Actress - RIP
2. Recondite - On Acid
3. Robert Hood - Motor: Night time world 3
4. Swans - The Seer
5. Voices from the Lake - STL
6. Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras, The Congos - FRKWYS - Vol. 9
7. Instrumental Tourist - Tim Hecker and Daniel Lopatin
8. Claro Intelecto - Reform Club
9. Lukid - Lonely at the top
10. Lee Gamble - Diversions

The order was a bit arbitrary really - loads of cracking albums this year as ever and plenty on the list to check out...

 

[Crispy]

I've heard 3 of the top 51 albums. I think this is an all time (high) record

I can always rely on the urban countdown to populate my music collection with stuff that makes my friends go "what the fuck is this shit?"