by music lovers, for music lovers, because there is only 'music'
27/02/2011 Leave a comment
The albums that have been occupying the office stereo at Skin Back Alley of late:
Leaders of the Free World, Elbow
Truelove’s Gutter, Richard Hawley
Monster’s Ball Original Soundtrack, Asche & Spencer
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West
Sakura, Sasumu Yakota
Heard something that we absolutely MUST listen to? Be sure and get in touch to let us know.
22/01/2011 Leave a comment
The office stereo at SBA has been on fire this week with the following:
III / IV, Ryan Adams (Pax Am, 2010)
The Defamation of Strickland Banks, Plan B (Atlantic/679, 2010)
Engines of Creation, Joe Satriani (Epic, 2002)
Passion & Warfare, Steve Vai (Sony, 1993)
Anna Calvi, Anna Calvi (Domino, 2011)
If you’ve heard something that we HAVE to listen, just let us know!
15/01/2011 Leave a comment
What has been bothering the office stereo lately at Skin Back Alley?
Zeroes QC, Suuns (Secretly Canadian, 2011)
Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age, Broadcast and The Focus Group (Warp, 2009)
Sign O The Times, Prince (Paisley Park, 1987)
Lateralus, Tool (Volcano, 2001)
10,000 Days, Tool (Volcano, 2006)
Heard something we absolutely MUST listen to lately? Let us know!
07/01/2011 Leave a comment
What has been bothering the “office stereo” lately at Skin Back Alley?
Queen of Denmark, John Grant (Bella Union, 2010)
1372 Overton Park, Lucero (Universal, 2009)
Pink Friday, Nicki Minaj (Young Money, 2010)
Come Around Sundown, Kings of Leon (RCA, 2010)
The Mercury Albums Anthology, The Runaways (Mercury, 2010)
Heard something we absolutely MUST hear, lately? Let us know!
03/01/2011 Leave a comment
It’s funny how your perception of the music released during any given period of time can change from moment to moment. 2009 seemed like a bumper year for music. There were many new bands to discover and other that simply hadn’t been listened to before. At the end of the year there were spoils aplenty to choose from.
On initial reflection, great music in 2010 has seemed a little harder to come by. The year certainly hadn’t felt like the series of epiphanies experienced in 2009. Nevertheless, a trawl through the memory banks demonstrates that there is still plenty that is worthy of note.
So although a little later than your favourite music magazines, sites and blogs, here are Skin Back Alley’s favourites in all their glory. No voting system. No points scoring. Just a list of our most listened to albums of 2010.
1. Flamingo, Brandon Flowers
2. Heaven Is Whenever, The Hold Steady
3. Treats, Sleigh Bells
4. American Slang, The Gaslight Anthem
5. Have One On Me, Joanna Newsom
6. Acolyte, Delphic
7. The Final Frontier, Iron Maiden
8. Archandroid, Janelle Monae
9. The Drums, The Drums
10. Lights, Ellie Goulding
11. The Boxer, Kele
12. Li(f)e, Sage Francis
13. Loud, Rihanna
14. Infinite Arms, Band Of Horses
15. Sea Of Cowards, The Dead Weather
16. Plastic Beach, Gorillaz
17. Surfing The Void, Klaxons
18. Hidden, These New Puritans
19. Crystal Castles, Crystal Castles
20. The Optimist, New Young Pony Club
21. Are The Roaring Night, The Besnard Lakes
22. Odd Blood, Yeasayer
23. High Violet, The National
24. Quarantine The Past, Pavement
25. Come Around Sundown, Kings Of Leon
Those who know the prejudices of this site well will be asking “What? In a year when Bruce Springsteen released an album it doesn’t feature in your favourites?” Well, no. It doesn’t. The Promise may have been the mother load for fans, but it didn’t completely capture the imagination this year. But there is much to admire therein.
Honourable mentions must also go to Relayted by Gayngs and This Is Happening by LCD Soundsystem that find themselves just outside of the top 25. Others have been enjoyed but haven’t lodged themselves in the consciousness in quite the same way.
Disagree with us? Want to mention your own favourite or list of loved albums? Let us know what you’re thinking by commenting or getting in touch via e-mail. 2011 is shaping up nicely. See you here this time next year.
Buy the Skin Back Alley top 25 of 2010 at the SBA Music Store.
