The Music Chronicles

My best wishes and happy holidays to everyone!

2011-12-24T19:01:00.001+02:00

Rock The Vote - Best albums of 2011 - final top-20

2011-12-23T09:48:00.003+02:00

Last night the final top-20 was revealed in Bios and also on my Thursday show at Poplie radio, Preludes and Nocturnes. The top positions were not too surprising although I must say I am impressed by the number of points that PJ Harvey managed to gather in regard to the rest. I have six albums from my list in this one (the ones in italics)! Well done and let's do it again next year.

Here is my radio show Preludes & Nocturnes:

Preludes & Nocturnes blogovision results show 22-12-11 by Stratos Bacalis on Mixcloud

Top 20 Blogovision 2011

01. *PJ Harvey "Let England Shake"*	1272
02. *Bon Iver "Bon Iver"*	796
03. John Maus "We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves"	680
04. Radiohead "King Of Limbs"	633
05. EMA "Past Life Martyr Saints"	628
06. *Florence & The Machine "Ceremonials"*	601
07. Girls "Father Son Holy Ghost"	522
08. *James Blake "James Blake"***	502
09. Danger Mouse & Daniele Lupi "Rome"	473
10. M83 "Hurry Up We're Dreaming"	432
11. Tom Waits "Bad As Me"	421
12. Weeknd "House Of Balloons"	410
13. Wild Beasts "Smother"	400
14. Nicolas Jaar "Space Is Only Noise"	393
15. *Tori Amos "Night Of Hunters"*	392
16. *Anna Calvi "Anna Calvi"*	390
17. Washed Out "Within And Without"	369
18. Cults "Cults"	355
19. Adele "21"	348
20. Dirty Beaches "Badlands"	341

Rock the vote - best albums of 2011 - from 50 to 21

2011-12-22T20:25:00.000+02:00

Here are the results for the tallied voting of all participants in blogovision 2011 - positions 50-21

The top-20 albums will be announced tonight at the party in Bios - see poster above.

In the list below are four albums of the ones I had in my top-20 - those underlined.

144 bloggers voted
753 albums were voted

21. Lykke Li “Wounded Rhymes” (26 bloggers)	340
22. Feist “Metals” (26 bloggers)	338
23. Jamie Woon “Mirrorwriting” (20 bloggers)	329
24. Arctic Monkeys “Suck It And See” (23 bloggers)	326
25. Kate Bush “50 Words For Snow” (20 bloggers)	325
26. Boy “Ηλιοθεραπεία” (15 bloggers)	324
27. Rapture “In The Grace Of Your Love” (26 bloggers)	281
28. Iron & Wine “Kiss Each Other Clean” (19 bloggers)	280
29. Mogwai “Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will” (22 bloggers)	274
30. Bjork “Biophillia” (18 bloggers)	269
31. Fleet Foxes “Helpnessness Blues” (27 bloggers)	251
32. Kills “Blood Pressures” (20 bloggers)	238
33. Josh T. Pearson “Last Of The Country Gentlemen” (17 bloggers)	236
34. Still Corners “Creatures Of An Hour” (17 bloggers)	233
35. Horrors “Skying” (20 bloggers)	226
36. Peaking Lights “936″ (16 bloggers)	226
37. Raphael Saadiq “Stone Rollin’” (12 bloggers)	214
38. Crystal Stilts “In Love With Oblivion” (16 bloggers)	212
39. Battles “Gloss Drop” (12 bloggers)	211
40. Vaccines “What Did You Expect From” (20 bloggers)	205
41. Gang Gang Dance “Eye Contact” (12 bloogers)	201
42. Zomby “Dedication” (16 bloggers)	199
43. Kasabian “Velociprator” (12 bloggers)	198
44. Men “Leave Home” (13 bloggers)	198
45. Austra “Feel It Break” (17 bloggers)	190
46. Antlers “Burst Apart” (18 bloggers)	189
47. Foo Fighters “Wastin Light” (9 bloggers)	182
48. Tune Yards “Who Kill” (10 bloggers)	181
49. Foster The People “Torches” (16 Bloggers)	171
50. Real Estate “Days” (14 Bloggers)	167

Top-20 countdown - my best albums for 2011

2011-12-21T22:38:00.001+02:00

So the countdown has arrived at the end for one more year. It was a blast again. So much fun, not only in picking one's list but also discovering new music through other people's lists (lots of work to do there), feeling happy when a favourite took a high place in someone else's list or piqued when it didn't. The final results of the total tally from the 151 (maybe more, I'm not entirely sure about this number) bloggers participating, will be announced tomorrow night (Marcos and Panayiotis are still tallying as I write this post) at a great party in Bios in Athens. Until then, here is my final list - and also a nice musical Christmas tree of all the covers from the 20 albums on it - the bottom one is no.20 and then you go up starting always on the left side of each row (click on the image to see it bigger). Have a great holiday season and I sincerely hope to repeat this next year!

01. Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow

02. Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi

03. Tori Amos - Night Of hunters

04. Feist - Metals

05. Florence + The Machines - Ceremonials

06. Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting

07. Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You

08. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie

10. James Blake - James Blake

11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union

12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake

13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son

14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia

16. Gotye - Making Mirrors

17. Austra - Feel It Break

18. Soley - We Sink

19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes

20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.01

2011-12-20T12:00:00.000+02:00

Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow

Having a second Kate Bush album released in the same year as the previous one (even though Director's Cut was full of new versions of older tracks of hers) sounds outlandish even to the ears of her most ardent fans (in fact it has happened once before, back in 1978, with A Kick Inside and Lionheart being release in February and November of that year; the gap between is a personal best for her this time around, May to November). Yet she is here with us, with original material this time. And what material this is.

A wintry record, seemingly simpler than her previous ones, more organic and spontaneous. Not one of the seven songs (with more than 7 minutes duration for each) of the album is lacking from the rest. You want to listen them again and again, each time discovering something different, travelling to places far away, which in turn become familiar and closer because of her. With the help of collaborators like the prolific Elton John (who seems to be re-discovering his youth here), acclaimed actor Stephen Fry but also her son Bertie, Kate gives us her tenth album just as if she never was away from us. And we hope that she keeps on doing this in the future too.

Most of the text above has been first published as a review for free-press magazine FAGazine, issue 03

So far:

02. Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
03. Tori Amos - Night Of hunters
04. Feist - Metals
05. Florence + The Machines - Ceremonials
06. Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
07. Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You
08. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie
10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.02

2011-12-19T12:00:00.000+02:00

Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi

"London born, with an Italian father that instilled into her her first musical memories, from Maria Callas and Debussy to Rolling Stones and blues, she studied violin at first, then guitar. Influenced by many musical genres and artists, encouraged by none other than the grand Brian Eno and Nick Cave, produced by Rob Ellis (known from his P.J. Harvey productions) and the collaboration of Mally Harpaz on keyboards and Daniel Maiden Wood on drums, her first record proves to be a diamond of rare beauty and very possibly one of the best records of the year".

I was writing that at the beginning of the year in my review for the free-press magazine Screw (issue 25). It proved me right. And I am looking forward to hear what she does next.

So far:

03. Tori Amos - Night Of hunters
04. Feist - Metals
05. Florence + The Machines - Ceremonials
06. Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
07. Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You
08. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie
10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.03

2011-12-18T16:59:00.001+02:00

Tori Amos - Night Of Hunters

In contrast with her unintentional nemesis, Kate Bush, Tori presents us with new records regularly, not always with the best results. Having raised our hopes high with her two latest ones, she scores from afar and securely with this one. Inspired from classical music (Debussy, Chopin etc.) and with a concept of a dark and fantastic story, the ghost of a relationship ending but also a twin personality framing her, Tori returns to her beloved piano and grasps us from the strings of our hearts, never letting them go until the album finishes. The surprise gift here is her daughter's participation in the vocals of some of the songs. If you still love her, do not miss this.

This review was first published in free-press magazine FAGazine, issue 01.

So far:

04. Feist - Metals
05. Florence + The Machines - Ceremonials
06. Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
07. Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You
08. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie
10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.04

2011-12-17T13:05:00.001+02:00

Feist - Metals

It took some time for Leslie Feist, better known by just her last name, to give us one more album, after the gorgeous The Reminder, which rocketed her to the top and made her music known to a wider audience (1234 in an Apple commercial). Instead of picking the easy way, serving us one of the same, Feist clammed up, trying to detoxify from her constant contact with music. Achieving a sort of catharsis then, she began to write songs again, this time more esoteric, more personal, more particular. Metals is not a difficult record, Simply, it is not just pop or just folk - I do not believe Feist was or is pop. Some may say it is cantankerous, deprived, wanting. It is not so. As she needed patience to regain her ability to write music, the same is needed for the listener to discover all that she has to offer in this metal box of hers.

This review was first published in free-press magazine FAGazine issue 02

So far:

05. Florence + The Machines - Ceremonials
06. Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
07. Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You
08. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie
10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.05

2011-12-16T12:00:00.000+02:00

Florence + The Machines - Ceremonials

The second album is always a trap for an artist. They must achieve the success of the first one but also move their oeuvre forward by one or more steps. At the same time they have to face the absence of the pleasant surprise of their "discovery". Does Florence succeed in all of these with the grandiose Ceremonials? I would say enough. It surely will be as successful as lungs. It definitely welcomes us pleasantly with exceptional compositions that find her and her group in form. We have to do with a solid album, imposing, impressive. At the same time though, she does not seem to move forward, evolve artistically, open up more to us - at least not as much as I think she should. Of course it is her right to do so. But I hope this does not prove to be a trap for her career next. But let's have fun with her. In the end, it is not a small thing to procure one of the best records of the year. Go Flo.

This review was first published in the free-press magazine FAGazine, issue 03.

So far:

06. Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
07. Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You
08. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie
10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.06

2011-12-15T12:00:00.000+02:00

Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting

The singles & EPs he released before his first album wet up the appetite for its content from way too early. His music, a special mix of soul and electronica is particularly seductive. Sometimes rhythmic, sometimes melancholy, he tries to keep the listener's interest irreducible, something he generally manages impeccably. Hopes for a new huge discovery in the future of dub-step were wildly exaggerated. Of course that does not mean he's bad: on the contrary. He just has to try a little more. And he's the more human at that. Which I really really like. If he manages to write more really exceptional songs (like Night Air) to match the level of his soundscapes, we will have something really incredible in our hands. So Jamie, we are counting on you.

(Part of the text above was first published as a review for free-press magazine Screw, issue 29)

So far:

07. Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You
08. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie
10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.07

2011-12-14T12:00:00.000+02:00

Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You

There must be something in Swedish water. How else to explain the sheer number of excellent groups coming out up there all the time? Acid House Kings release their fifth studio album and sound as fresh as if they formed just yesterday. Pop like only Swedes know how to make, strong, with rhythm, a woman's voice that captures the listener (Julia Lannerheim) and melodies that make you sing-along the whole day through with a stupid smile on your face. Like you're in love.

(review was published first in free-press magazine Screw issue no.27)

Ver todo videoclips Acid House Kings

So far:

08. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie
10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.08

2011-12-13T12:00:00.000+02:00

Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

I was not fond of Gang Gang Dance from their beginnings. They sounded too noisy for my taste back then. But they did evolve, moving their music forward by implementing influences from various other forms of their art and cultures too. And it seems they're onto something serious here. No, don;t be afraid, I do not mean it in a stiff, uptight manner. They even sound more relaxed than ever. But their music is now more coherent as a whole. Uplifting. Still weird though - in that good, organic, guttural way. They sound pop but this is not what one would call pop, no sir. Rather, they use pop stuff to punctuate their more abstract and far-out music in ways that make it sound more familiar and friendly. Spiritual even. "Our dreaming space is open" is one of the lyrics of their songs here. It is indeed. And we're in it to dream along.

So far:

09. When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie
10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.09

2011-12-12T12:00:00.000+02:00

When Saints Go Machine - Konkylie

If you wondered how would the child of Andy Bell (of Erasure) and Anthony Hegarty (of Anthony & The Johnsons) sound like, you get your answer here: Nikoladj Vonsild has this magical voice that can melt your heart when listening to When Saint's Go Machine songs. And what songs. An electronic, synth-pop landscape that verges on neo-classical sometimes, without any beats to crush that voice, reminding me a lot of Cocteau Twins and a male Elisabeth Fraser - only this time more pop-oriented. Sometimes you get the sense that it is all about the singing, not the songs or the stories. But what singing indeed.

So far:

10. James Blake - James Blake
11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.10

2011-12-11T14:43:00.001+02:00

James Blake - James Blake

What can I say for someone who has done covers of two of my all-time favourite artists (Joni Mitchell and Feist) with incredible results? Who writes songs that find their way into your heart in a nanosecond? Whose music has an aesthetic aspect that you identify so much with? This album, although not perfect, is a gorgeous debut that bodes so well for his future. Even though people said it was a bit disappointing compared to his many EPs that proceeded it, I find it unique, haunting, exceptional.

So far:

11. Little Dragon - Ritual Union
12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.11

2011-12-10T12:19:00.001+02:00

Little Dragon - Ritual Union

Little Dragon come from Sweden, like so many other exceptional musicians. They took their name from the nickname of their Swedish/Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano's nickname (she got it because of the way she defuses during recordings). Their music is seductive: electronic, synth-pop, with soul and chill-out elements, it hypnotizes you, driving you where it wants to take you. This, their third album, continues the tradition of the previous ones, with beautiful, well-made songs, that when you listen to them once, stick in your mind and haunt you. It is not simply luck that successful series like Grey's Anatomy or Gossip Girl pick Little Dragon songs for their soundtracks.

(this was first published as a review of the album in the free-press Fagazine issue 02 for November 2011)

So far:

12. P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake
13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.12

2011-12-09T12:00:00.000+02:00

P.J. Harvey - Let England Shake

Pre-recorded in a 19th century church at Dorset, England, the new album of British singer-songwriter PJ Harvey finds her return to her folk - blues roots. Her songs tell us stories from wars and battles, bloody events that she deftly weaves into her web with the proper musical thread to give us a complete album, mature, catalytic. An exceptional moment that you must not pass by indifferently, even if you have never heard even one of her songs before.

(review first published in Greek free-press magazine Screw, issue 26, 2011)

So far:

13. Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.13

2011-12-08T12:00:00.000+02:00

Scott Matthew - Gallantry's Favorite Son

Third album for one of my favourite Aussies. Scott, an old fashioned gentleman if there ever was one in the current music scene, sounds happier in this record, more uplifting than ever. He sounds content, though still that eerie melancholia that characterizes his work is unmistakably here. Love, loss, loneliness, ghosts are very much alive and well. And that voice... oh that voice. For me he currently has the best male voice around. He sounds nonchalantly sexy and lonely. And that is a dangerously attractive combination.

So far:

14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

TOp-20 countdown - no.14

2011-12-07T12:00:00.000+02:00

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Sophomore album for Bon Iver, that finds Justin Vernon taking a different approach to his music. I like artists that are not afraid to move forward (or sideways) from their previous work, even if that was successful. It means they are alert, curious, creative. And Vernon is all that here. Sophisticated, expansive and more evolved than his first album, this one employs a diversity of musical influences that lift it quite apart from the folk label that one would expect. Each song represents a place, and has the title to match. It is much more open to the world, even though the lyrics verge on poetry. But there are no pretences here. Just the joy of someone who enjoys and loves what he does best. And shares it with everyone else.

So far:

15. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.15

2011-12-06T12:00:00.000+02:00

Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia

Patrick found love this time. It infuses his music in this album, probably in much the same way as it does his life. He sounds optimistic, inspired, happy. It even shows on the bright white cover, with only his shock of red hair as a coloured splash on it. Playing again with is surname for the title (lupus=wolf), Patrick serves us with a collection of songs that is bound to please even his most difficult fan. And yes, they are approachable, maybe for the very first time. No, he has not sold out. He's simply in love.

So far:

16. Gotye - Making Mirrors
17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 Countdown - no.16

2011-12-05T12:00:00.000+02:00

Gotye - Making Mirrors

This album, by Wouter "Wally" De Backer, the Belgian-Australian artist better known as Gotye, does not only contain one of the best songs of the year (Somebody That I Used To Know). It is also addictive, catchy, quirky (in that great Australian way only Antipodeans know how), rich, with lots of musical influences, intelligent, pop, intriguing. He knows his craft well and avoids the traps of over-producing while still offering a rich sonic landscape to pick from. If Peter Gabriel was emerging now on the music scene, he would sound a lot like this.

So far:

17. Austra - Feel It Break
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.17

2011-12-04T12:56:00.001+02:00

Austra - Feel It Break

Canada keeps churning out so much good music that I am starting to think the northernmost countries must have something in their water that influences their musicians so much. Austra has the wonderful Katie Stelmanis as a singer and main driving force, an incredible voice that transforms their music and makes it instantly identifiable. A début album that has half its songs as potential singles is, for me, quite a formidable achievement. The music is strong, spare, electronic, addictive.

So far:
18. Soley - We Sink
19. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
20. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 Countdown - no.18

2011-12-03T18:15:00.001+02:00

Soley - We Sink

She was introduced to me by a friend - he asked me if I knew where to find her music. I had not heard of Soley before, so I looked her up. It was love at first listen. Calling her music ethereal might conjure false expectations, but it is one adjective that could describe her songs. Another is magical. She stands somewhere between Soap & Skin and Russian Red - the only other artist that comes to mind being as close to her would be Sarah Worden aka My Brightest Diamond. Definitely a keeper and one of the best débuts this year.

So far:

No.19 - Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
No.20 - St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 Countdown, no.19

2011-12-02T12:00:00.000+02:00

Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes

Modern retro sound, clever riffs, dreamy vocals, catchy tunes. Do you need anything more to be entranced by an album? Guess not. They never get boring, drowning their sound in reverb and distortion, avoiding the more obvious retro influences for darker details - this one is their only defect too: too much and they miss their uniqueness. Most interested to see how they progress.

no.20 - St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Top-20 countdown - no.20

2011-12-01T12:00:00.000+02:00

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

One would think, upon a quick first listen, that St. Vincent, or Annie Erin Clark, had gone commercial. No fear for that though. Although this is the most coherent, well-produced and defined of her albums up to now, she definitely remains the quirky, unpredictable, charismatic artist we loved with Actor - and still do. Like that very good friend that you have not seen for oh so long, but you only need to look at each other to make sure that it's all OK.

Rock the vote 2011 - Top-20 albums of the year!

2011-11-30T19:41:00.001+02:00

For the 5th year in a row, my dear friend Gone4sure organizes the vote for the best albums of the year by Greek bloggers. I have taken part in this since the first time back in 2007, a thing I do with pleasure and fun. Second time now that I am going to do it through my music blog and not my design blog.
So how is it done? Let's see:

01. We vote from the 1st of December our 20th favourite album of the year. On the 2nd of December the 19th and so forth until the 20th of December when we vote our number 1 favourite album. The countdown should be evaluative and not random. And we post one album per day, no delays, to keep up the rhythm and fun of it. Best posted before 22:00 each night. Anyone who wants to do this but not post each day bit make the full list on the last day, can e-mail Gone4sure before the 1st of December their list.

02. We vote only new albums released in 2011 (no compilations, re-releases, live recordings EPs smaller than 30 minutes in duration etc) according to their official release date and not when we happened to listen to them Don't fall victims of hype but make it really be your favourites. Let your subjectivity triumph!
03. Keep your posts small. Most of us have little time to spare.

04. 20 disks are the minimum. Do not vote for less. Only these are eligible for the total vote. Any list with less than 20 albums will not be accounted for in the final tally.

05. All who want to participate can state it with a comment on Gone4sure's blog until the 30th of November. There is almost no time! As I said in my introduction, you can be a guest at someone else's blog if you do not have your own.

06. The points for every album from no.20 till no.1 for the final tally will be like this: Νο.01=35Νο.02=29Νο.03=24Νο.04=20Νο.05=17Νο.06=15Νο.07=14Νο.08=13Νο.09=12Νο.10=11Νο.11=10Νο.12=09Νο.13=08Νο.14=07Νο.15=06Νο.16=05Νο.17=04Νο.18=03Νο.19=02Νο.20=01

This is the reader that gathers all the posts from all participants.

There is a Google+ page as well.

Twitter hashtag is #blogovision

There is a Facebook fanpage too!

Tassos did the great poster again this year!

So let's start! Participants in order of entry (the comments are by Gone4Sure) :

01. g (Space Age Disco)
Last years’ No.o1: Chilly Gonzales “Ivory Tower“
02. Nikisot
New entry – Welcome.
03. Dustroad (A Dustroad In The Middle Of Nowhere)
Last year’s No.01: Pan Pan ”Someday Maybe, I Don’t Mind“
04. Booldoza
Last year’s No.01: Autechre “Oversteps“
05. Narita (deka7ta)
Last year’s No.01: Caribou “Swim“
06. Biglebo (Who Cares About Normality)
Last year’s No.01: Yesayer “Odd Blood“
07. Matteus (Who Cares About Normality)
(New Entry! – Welcome)
08. SerpentinePad (We Are The Music Makers)
Last year’s No.01: Beach House “Teen Dream“
09. Silentcrossing
Last year’s No.01: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club “Beat The Devil’s Tattoo“ (θα στείλει τη λίστα του μέσω mail)
10. Thodoriksan (Margaret On The Guillotine)
Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“
11. Dionisis Rigas (Fierce Invalid Home From Hot Climate)
Last year’s No.01: Crystal Castles “Crystal Castles“
12. P.V. (Pretty Visitors)
Last year’s No.01: Gonjasufi “A Sufi And A Killer“
13. Stratos (The Music Chronicles)
Last year’s No.01: The National “High Violet“
14. Homo Ludens (Popo Culture)
Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“
15. Laviebohemie (Urban Diaries)
Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“
16. Nikitas (Untitled)
Last year’s No.01: Caribou “Swim“
17. Georgethebeast (Βαρεμένα Ημερολόγια)
Last year’s No.01: LCD Soundsystem “This Is Happening“
18. Mrs. Dalloway (Mrs. Dalloway Says…)
New Entry! – Welcome
19. ZlatkoGr. (Λογική Της Πλάκας)
Last year’s No.01: Mumford & Sons “Sigh No More“
20. lkrory21 (Hauptpunkte)
Last year’s No.01: Flying Lotus “Cosmogramma“
21. Vikonika (Hauptpunkte)
New entry! – Welcome
22. Mean Mr. Mustard’s Sister (The Long Medley)
Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“
23. Θεοδόσης Μίχος (Πάνω Στη Βέσπα)
New entry! – Ol’ buddy – Welcome
24. Aris K. (Musica-Re)
New entry! – Ol’ buddy – Welcome
25. KBougas (Σκέψεις – Κείμενα Και Άλλα)
New entry! – Welcome
26. Elafini
Re-entry! – Ol’ buddy – Welcome
27. Vasilakos (Heroes Rule)
Last year’s No.01: She & Him “Volume Two“
28. Johnny Got His Keyboard (Το Απόλυτο Αστικό Soundtrack)
Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“
29. Tassos (One Man Show Studio)
Last year’s No.01: The National “High Violet“
30. MetaCapsule (Dear All, I’ve Got Some News)
New entry! – Welcome
31. KostasK (Muz!cOn)
Last year’s No.01: Ten Kens “For Posterity“
32. Hellboy (Hell Is A Land Without Comicbooks)
Last year’s No.1: The Sword “Warp Riders“
33. Dark Tyler (US TV)
Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“
34. Asterios Nakopoulos (Blogύδρια Αισχίστου Είδους)
New entry! – Welcome
35. Green Onion (Mezzanine)
Re-entry – Welcome!
36. Schottkey (Κομμάτια Ενός Ολογραφικού Ρόδου)
Last year’s No.1: Twin Shadow “Forget“
37. Mixalis Epsilon (Stereo Nova)
Last year’s No.1: Beach House “Teen Dream“
38. Jay B (Meant To Be Artists)
New entry! – Welcome
39. Spiral (Τετράδιο Spiral)
New entry! – Welcome
40. Avaton Kortez (The Switcher)
Last year’s No.1: MGMT “Congratulations“
41. Vkp (Ruby In A Music Comma)
Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“
42. dcoded (I Feel Space)
Last year’s No.01: Sufjan Stevens “The Age Of Adz“
43. Bee & Gee (To And Fro)
Last year’s No.01: LCD Soundsystem “This Is Happening“
44. Gee (Meant To Be Artists)
New entry! – Welcome
45. DimitrisDX
New entry! – Welcome
46. Kyriakos (Antimatter)Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“
47. Barracuda
New entry! – Welcome
48. Sinnerman (Look Up! You’re Falling Down)
Last year’s No.01: Gonjasufi – “A Sufi And A Killer“
49. Fantasmenios (Ακραία Μουσικά Φαινόμενα)New entry – Ol’ buddy – Welcome
50. M1rto (A Good Year For The Robots)
Last year’s No.01: Black Keys “Brothers“
51. Onizuka83 (Room For Thoughts)
Last year’s No.01: The National “High Violet“
52. Pluto (Pluto’s Music Mag)Last year’s No.01: Delta Mirror – “Machines That Listen“
53. Ody (Cool Music Central) (θα στείλει κατευθείαν λίστα)Last year’s No.01: The Fall “Your Future Our Clutter“
54. Alekzunder (Alekzunder’s Brainstorm)Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “The Suburbs“55. ZacGk (Serialgk)Last year’s No.1: Caribou “Swim”
56. Dilated (Dilated Thoughts)Last year’s No.01: Deftones “Diamond Eyes“
57. Inverted A (artminus)Last year’s No.01: Flying Lotus “Cosmogramma”
58. FotobillLast year’s No.01: National “High Violet“
59. No Heathen (There Is A Place In Hell For Me And My Friends)
Last year’s No.01: Broken Bells “Broken Bells“
60. hlektronio
New entry! – Welcome
61. Broken Beats (Excess Energies)
Last year’s No.01: Male Bonding “Nothing Hurts“
62. Markisia New entry! – Welcome
63. TheSkyEtc. (hjartadhamast)
New entry! – Welcome
64. La Maestra
Last year’s No.01: These New Puritans “Hidden“
65. Depecher (Songs for my funeral)Last year’s No.01: Mike Patton “Mondo Cane“
66. Indictos (Indiblog)Last year’s No.01: MGMT “Congratulations“
67. Chemical RobertLast year’s No.01: 65Daysofstatic “We Were Exploding Anyway“
68. TagresNew entry! – Welcome
69. Fangyuan (Riot)
Last year’s No.01: Flying Lotus “Cosmogramma“
70. Tasos (John Tikis)
New entry – Welcome
71. Τρούπερ είμαι (Once Upon A Time)
New entry – Welcome
72. SexPistols.Gege (Koblopoulos)
New entry – Welcome
73. PetrosK87 (Koblopoulos)
New entry – Welcome
74. Tερέζος (Laternative)
Last year’s No.01: Caribou “Swim“
75. Τσουλούφης (Laternative)
Last year’s No.01: Caribou “Swim“
76. b-side (Laternative)
Last year’s No.01: Caribou “Swim“
77. Kapetank
Last year’s No.01: Broken Records “Let Me Come Home“
78. StefanosBel (The Escapist)
Last year’s No.01: Motorama “Alps“
79. Your Music Ride (Θα στείλει κατευθείαν λίστα)Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “Suburbs“
80. Άννα (Music Saves My Soul)Last year’s No.01: Midlake “The Courage Of Others“
81. m.hulot (m.hulot nothing days)Re-entry – ol’ buddy – Welcome
82. Aggelos K (In A Space Of A Few Minutes)
Last year’s No.01: Caribou “Swim“
83. Papadicki (Τρίβια)New entry – Welcome
84. Aggelos kl (Daybreeze)New entry – Welcome
85. Cartoondandy (Θα στείλει κατευθείαν λίστα)Re-entry – Ol’ buddy
86. Ough! (Reality Bites)
New entry – Welcome!
87. Maria Markouli (It’s My Blender)
New entry! – Welcome
88. A Silver Home Ghost
Last year’s No.01: Midlake “The Courage Of Others“
89. Human TraffficLast year’s No.01: National “High Violet“
90. Alan DuringNew entry! – Welcome
91. Soul Auctioneer (Minus One)
Last year’s No.01: These New Puritans “Hidden“
92. Dreamer (Dreamer Shows)Last year’s No.01: Twin Shadow “Forget“
93. Mr. PetemyNew entry! – Welcome
94. Iacovos Camchis (Δεν Είσαι Δέντρο)
New entry! – Welcome
95. Ludopatini (Δεν Είσαι Δέντρο)
New entry! – Welcome
96. Lila Pit (And When You Wake Up Everything Will Be Fine)
New entry! – Welcome
97. Manos P (Pepon – Pepoff)
New entry! – Welcome
98. South Of The River (Ring Of Smoke)
Last year’s No.01: Broken Records “Let Me Come Home“
99. James (Urban Riots)
New entry! – Welcome
100. Whatisluv (Mumblers)
Last year’s No.01: Peter Nalitch & Friends “Jolly Baburi“
101. Kostis (Radio – War)
New entry! – Welcome
102. Andreas Rizos (Less Human, More Being)
New entry! – Welcome
103. Ntelirio (Ntelirio’s Notes)
New entry! – Welcome
104. Influences Only
Last year’s No.01: Cherry Ghost “Beneath The Burning Shoreline“
105. Μάγος Γίσσπορ (Οι Νέες Περιπέτειες Του Μάγου Γίσσπορ)Re-entry! – Welcome
106. Chris (@Monksdream – Twitter)
New entry! – Welcome
107. Xαρά (Το Blog Της Χαράς)
New entry! – Welcome
108. Nikos (Shit I Think When I Wake Up)
New entry! – Welcome
109. Sunny
New entry! – Welcome
110. Moody (Just Moody)
Last year’s No.01: Gonjasufi “A Sufi And A Killer”111. Anna (Inspire Me)New entry!- Welcome
112. Άρης Δημοκίδης (Bits And pieces)
Last year’s No.01: Hurts “Happiness“
113. Γιώργος Κοκονίδης ( ΠΟΠ!)New entry!- Welcome
114. Διονύσης ΤσονόπουλοςNew entry! – Welcome
115. blemobill (Marine Basura)
Last year’s No.01: Crystal Castles “Crystal Castles II“
116. Fotis Vallatos (The Present Is A Grotesque Animal)
Last year’s No.01: Zola Jesus “Stridulum II“
117. Γιάννης Δράκος (Left Luggage) (Θα στείλει κατευθείαν λίστα)New entry! – Welcome
118. Ανδρέας Ράπτης (Μίλα καθαρά, μίλα ωραία) (Θα στείλει κατευθείαν λίστα)
New entry! – Welcome
119. Nikeii (Earcom: 1)
Last year’s No.01: Caribou “Swim“
120. Pharmartistic (An Art Called…)New entry! – Welcome
121. Nickolas (An Art Called…)
New entry! – Welcome (πέρσι είχε καταρτίσει λίστα χωρίς να συμμετέχει με Νο.01 Janelle Monae “The Archandroid“
122. Σκρατ (Celebrate The Lizard) (Θα στείλει κατευθείαν λίστα)New entry – Welcome
123. Green Bananaz
Last year’s No.01: Gonjasufi “A Sufi And A Killer”124. Chris Ex (Musica-Re)New entry! – Welcome
125. Ela Mesa
New entry! – Welcome
126. Dr. Manolis Vamvounis
Last year’s No.01: Marina & The Diamonds “Family Jewels“
127. Chris VDW (MVP)New entry! – Welcome
128. MariannaNew entry! – Welcome
129. Thekocf
New entry! – Welcome
130. Αρχιμήδης Παναγιωτίδης (Retro Rock ‘N’ Roll Circus)
New entry! – Welcome
131. Mimis (Pop Music Under Construction)
Last year’s No.01: Arcade Fire “Suburbs“
132. Sintiesto (Super Sonic Studio)New entry! – Welcome
133. bombbier (One Will Burn Music)New entry! – Welcome (Πέρσι δεν συμμετείχε αλλά είχε στο Νο.01 Gil Scott Heron “I Am New Here“
134. Melody (Melody Is A Word For Silence)New entry! – Welcome
135. Gloriousmono
New entry! – Welcome
136. Dunno (Laberinto De Amores)
New Entry! – Welcome
137. Kathleen (Hellyeah)
New entry! – Welcome
138. The Robbed (The Robbed Groove)
New entry! – Welcome
139. Mitrellino
Last year’s No.01: Δεν μπορώ να το βρω.
140. Truant (When You Got Words)
New entry! – Welcome

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T13:52:00.000+03:00

Poplie radio show, 10th of April 2011: Kylie Minogue tribute

2011-04-10T14:57:00.000+03:00

Blogovision: the Movies! - Best soundtrack!

2011-03-30T20:31:00.000+03:00

This category is not "officially" in the competition but was added in the very last minute. Furthermore, we have to post five instead of ten of our selections. For me it was a welcome addition, since this blog's primary reference is music and welcome it gladly. So here are my five favourite soundtracks from last year:

5. Black Swan - Clint Mansell

For writing wonderful music under the shadow of Tchaikovsky alone (while sampling him ingenuously), he deserves this. Brilliantly haunting.

4. The Social Network - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

They did get the Oscar for their work here. Superb music that can stand alone easily.

3. The Illusionist - Sylvain Chomet

One could not have done a better job "dressing"up the animated film with this incredibly romantic but also bitterly sweet music. And of course the songs in French are always a favourite. Particularly this one which manages to include the most famous French singers of all time. Genial!

2. Inception - Hans Zimmer

Powerful, engaging, impressive, larger than life. Zimmer always delivers but this is one of his best soundtracks ever.

1. Tron Legacy - Daft Punk

Their long awaited return to the studio brought us a soundtrack for a film that was in limbo quite a while. And was probably the best thing to come out of it.

Blogovision: the Movies! - Best Film 2010

2011-03-29T21:35:00.000+03:00

So here comes the big one - best films. I did not see many films in 2010 and some of them were from 2009 so the list was a bit tight, but here it is:

20. Alice In Wonderland

19. The Kids Are All Right

18. The Tempest

17. True Grit

16. Another Year

15. How To Train Your Dragon

14. The Town

13. Unstoppable

12. I Love You Phillip Morris

11. Ghost Writer

10. Inception

09. The Social Network

08. The King's Speech

07. Despicable Me

06. Scott Pilgrim VS. The World

05. Toy Story 3

04. I Am Love

03. The Illusionist

02. Never Let Me Go

01. Black Swan

Trouble Over Tokyo live at poplie.eu

2011-03-26T14:12:00.002+02:00

Blogovison! the Movies! Best Actress

2011-03-25T19:56:00.001+02:00

10. Chloe Moretz - Let me In

09. Annette Benning - The Kids Are All Right

08. Ruth Sheen - Another Year

07. Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

06. Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

05. Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right

04. Helen Mirren - The Tempest

03. Carey Mulligan - Never Let Me Go

02. Natalie Portman - Black Swan

01. Tilda Swinton - I Am Love

And a special tribute to Elizabeth Taylor who died on March 23rd 2011 - love you always

Blogovison! the Movies! Best Actor

2011-03-24T01:10:00.000+02:00

10. Edoardo Gabbriellini - I Am Love

09. Ewan Mc Gregor - Ghost Writer

08. Paul Giamatti - Barney's Version

07. Grigory Dobrygin - How I Ended The Summer

06. Michael Cera - Scott Pilgrim VS. The World

05. Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine

04. Jim Broadbent - Another Year

03. Jeff Bridges - True Grit

02. Jesse Einseberg - The Social Network

01. Colin Firth - The King's Speech

Blogovision: the Movies! - Best screenplay

2011-03-21T21:39:00.001+02:00

10. Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin - Black Swan

09. Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini - Winter's Bone

08 Alex Garland - Never Let me Go

07. Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich - Toy Story 3

06. Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg - The Kids Are All Right

05. Christopher Nolan - Inception

04. Jacques Tati & Sylvain Chomet - The Illusionist

03. Luca Guadagnino - I Am Love

02. David Seidler - The King's Speech

01. Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

Blogovision: the Movies! - Best Director

2011-03-19T12:09:00.000+02:00

Bit weird to give the director award before the script one but rules are rules. So here we go:

10. Lee Unkrich - Toy Story 3

09. Tony Scott - Unstoppable

08. Edgar Wright - Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

07. Luca Guadagnino - I Am Love

06. Tom Hooper - The King's Speech

05. Julie Taymor - The Tempest

04. Mark Romanek - Never Let me Go

03. Christopher Nolan - Inception

02. David Fincher - The Social Network

01. Daniel Aronofsky - The Black Swan

Blogovision: the Movies! - Best supporting actress nominations

2011-03-17T21:55:00.001+02:00

Let us see which ladies caught my eye in the films of 2010:

10. Agnes (Elsie Fisher) - Despicable Me

09. Helena Bonham - Carter - Alice In Wonderland

08. Rooney Mara - The Social Network

07. Ellen Wong - Scott Pilgrim VS The World

06. Olivia Wilde - Tron Legacy

05. Olivia Williams - The Ghost Writer

04. Keira Knightley - Never Let Me Go

03. Marion Cotillard - Inception

02. Helena Bonham - Carter - The King's Speech

01. Mila Kunis - Black Swan

Blogovision: the Movies! - Best supporting actor nominations

2011-03-15T20:11:00.001+02:00

As we did at the end of 2010 for albums, here we go again for films. Manolis, Dark Tyler and Rebelli0n decided to organize a vote for some categories based on the films that came out in 2010. There will be seven categories:

Movie of the Year
Script
Directing
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress

Each participant will nominate 10 - and their list placement will correspond to certain points, which will be tallied at the end to produce the final winners. So, let us not wait and start with my list of the ten Best Supportin Actors of 2010:

10. Vincent Cassel - Black Swan

09. Crispin Clover - Alice In Wonderland

08. Kieran Culkin - Scott Pilgrim VS The World

07. Ewan Mc Gregor - I Love You Philip Morris

06. Alfred Molina - The Tempest

05. Tom Hardy - Inception

04. Andrew Garfield - The Social Network

03. Joseph Gordon - Levitt - Inception

02. Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

01. Andrew Garfield - Never Let Me Go

Poplie radio show, 26th of December 2010

2010-12-26T17:15:00.000+02:00

This show was dedicated to the best songs of the year in my humble opinion. I made the top-20 initially for Poplie radio and then decided to do the show and adding more to fill the two hours. I think it turned out quite good. You can always get the show from the left column. Click on the image (Vienna in snow) to see the playlist and the top-26.

Holiday wishes

2010-12-24T18:49:00.000+02:00

Final Top-20 countdown for best albums of 2010

2010-12-22T00:29:00.003+02:00

So as you know if you have been reading my posts for the last month, for the 4th year in a row, my dear friend Gone4sure organized the vote for the best albums of the year by Greek bloggers, with the valuable help of homo Ludens and Aggelos K. I have taken part in this since the first time back in 2007. You have seen my top-20 and also Giannis' top-20 list in my previous post. Here are the final results of the jury for this year's Blogovision (fun name, isn't it?)

01. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
02. The National - High Violet
03. Caribou - Swim
04. Beach House - Teen Dream
05. Gonjasufi - A Sufi And A Killer
06. Black Keys - Brothers
07. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
08. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
09. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
10. Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
11. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
12. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
13. Janelle Monae - Archandroid
14. Gil Scott Heron - I'm New Here
15. Ariel Pink - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
16. Midlake - The Courage Of Others
17. MGMT - Congratulations
18. Broken Bells - Broken Bells
19. Sufjan Stevens - Age of Ads
20. Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
21. Twin Shadow - Forget
22. Motorama - Alps
23. Grinderman - Grinderman 2
24. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
25. Yeasayer - Odd Blood
26. These New Puritans - Hidden
27. Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago
28. Pantha du Prince - Behind The Stars
29. John Grant - Queen of Denmark
30. Foals - Total Life Forever
31. Electric Litany - How To Be A Child And Win The War
32. Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me
33. Divine Comedy - Bang Goes The Knighthood
34. Four Tet - There Is Love In You
35. Lone Wolf - The Devil And I
36. Neil Young - Le noise
37. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
38. Pan Pan - Someday Maybe I Wont Mind
39. Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
40. Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme

No big surprises on the top-5, it was expected that Arcade Fire and National would give a strong fight for the top, Caribou was a really strong contender as were Beach House who were really popular, and Gonjasufi is this year's hip selection. I am happy to have eight of my top-20 selections in the top 40. Let's do it again next year!

Top-20 Countdown - our lists

2010-12-21T01:09:00.000+02:00

Stratos - Top-20 countdown:

01. The National – High Violet

02. Groove Armada – Black Light

03. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

04. Daft Punk – Tron Legacy OST

05. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More

06. Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks

07. Five Star Hotel – This Sound

08. Pan Pan – Someday Maybe I Won’t Mind

09. Lisa Gerrard & Marcello De Francisci - Departum

10. Caribou - Swim

11. Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

12. Scissor Sisters - Night Work

13. Goldfrapp - Head First

14. Marina & The Diamonds - Family Jewels

15. Robyn - Body Talk

16. Lone Wolf - The Devil And I

17. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim - Here Lies Love

18. Zola Zesus - Stridulum II

19. The Divine Comedy - Bang Goes The Knighthood

20. Beach House - Teen Dream

Giannis - top20 countdown:

01. The National – High Violet

02. The Black Keys – Brothers

03. LCD soyndsystem - This Is Happening

04. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles

05. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

06. Groove Armada – White/Black Light

07. Hot Chip – One Life Stand

08. Ratatat – LP4

09. Scissor Sisters – Night Work

10. Angus & Julia Stone – Down the Way

11. The Boy – Koustoumaki

12. The Walkmen - Lisbon

13. Wavves – King Of The Beach

14. Goldfrapp – Head First

15. The Radio Dept - Clinging To A Scheme

16. CocoRosie – Grey Oceans

17. Spoon - Transference

18. Of Montreal – False Priest

19. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang

20. Metaform – The Electric Mist

Top-20 Countdown - No.01

2010-12-21T00:25:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.01: The National - High Violet

What to write about this one? That it was the soundtrack of my life this year? That it defined so many of my sleepless nights and groggy mornings? That it took me by the hand and helped me get through a difficult period of my life not by supporting me or whispering soft sweet nothings in my ears but by entering me and inhabiting every vein and every cell of my body, making me feel all emotions stronger, clearer, more thorough. Oh and yes, I think this is their best one yet.

Here is my review for High Violet as published in Screw magazine issue 19:

Ever since 2001, The National have been gifting us with one wonderful song after another. Songs that mark personal moments for everyone, that carve themselves deep in our hearts whether we want it or not. Their new album is not an exception. From the first track of this record you understand that once more you will cry, scream, beat up yourself, smile, love, separate and The National will be there, next to you, writing the soundtrack of your life. And of course Matt Benninger's characteristic voice is simply unsurpassed. It's difficult to pick songs that stand out, because they are all exceptional.

Selections: Conversation 16, Terrible Love, Anyone’s Ghost

Giannis - no.01: The National - High Violet

Top-20 Countdown - No.02

2010-12-19T14:29:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.02: Groove Armada - Black Light

Such a great album, full of incredibly amazing songs, discovering a brilliant new voice (Saint Saviour), re-discovering old ones (can Will Young keep on doing this?) and Groove Armada in top form - what more can I ask for? Oh yes, seeing them live (Santa, are you listening?). Dance, dance, dance, dance all the way through. Love 'em. Plus they gave us a second one with remixes and live versions called White Light!

Giannis - no.02: The Black Keys – Brothers

Top-20 Countdown - No.03

2010-12-18T22:03:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.03: LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

Final three now... this is probably their last album (I hope they change their mind) and it is at least as good as their previous work. LCD Soundsystem keep defining my music world with their music, their beats deeply ingrained in my cells, their electronic sounds etched in my mind, James Murphy's voice echoing in my ears. And yes, I want to have his baby (I'll settle for Pat Mahoney of James declines, thank you). Murphy's law indeed.

My review for "This Is Happening" as published in Screw magazine issue 19:

James Murphy and his group give us their third (and rumoured last) album as LCD Soundsystem. Combining exquisite beats, electronic elements and Murphy's particular style, they do not disappoint - instead they pull you inside their world without giving you an escape route. This might not make you feel like exploring distant soundscapes like their previous one, but it fills you with aesthetic and sensual gusto. And in these days it is so very rare.

Selections: Dance Yrself Clean, Drunk Girls, Home

Giannis - no.03: LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

Top-20 Countdown - No.04

2010-12-17T22:10:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.04: Daft Punk - Tron Legacy Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Soundtrack of the year for me, it probably has already defined the way I am going to see the film. Much anticipated album from Daft Punk, it disappointed lots of their fans because they probably expected another Discovery, Of course it is not one. It is a chillingly brilliant work that puts them right up there with any major contemporary film music composer. I usually listen to it late at night, dreaming about running with my light cycle away...

Giannis - no.04: Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles

Top-20 Countdown - No.05

2010-12-16T21:40:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.05: Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

This came out in late autumn of 2009 but we barely noticed it until the first months of 2010, when it was officialy released in Europe. Gorgeous dreamy folk music that can either fill me with joy or tear me up depending on the song and time of day, it was one of the records I could barely stop playing either at home or on my radio show. Their music speaks straight to my heart without even trying. I am certain we will be listening a lot of these guys in the next few years and that they will keep getting better with time - like great wine does. Drink non-stop of their nectar.

Giannis - no.05: Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Top-20 Countdown - No.06

2010-12-15T20:46:00.001+02:00

Stratos - no.06: Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks

Karen Elson was always one of my favourite models, so different than your run of the mill blondes that filled the glossy pages of Vogues around the world. When she married Jack White I was worried that it may make her change from high fashion to grunge/rock chic but instead she became a bona-fide singer /songwriter, turning out an album that many seasoned ladies of the scene would kill for. Sensual, intelligent and tasteful, she brings to music all the right ingredients from her fashion career. I do have a thing for redheads and I am so glad she did not disappoint me.

My review for the album for Screw Magazine issue 21:

Some will say «Jack White's wife». Others will say «model». But if they put this album to play without knowing who Karen Elson is and listen to it in one go, from start till finish, they will adore it without a second guess.Mrs. White has crafted a small gem, embellishing our walls with her wonderful soundscapes, sometimes dark and sadly fragile, others more strong and demanding. And her distinctive voice is the link that threads her stories from beginning to end. And we listen to her.

Selections: The Ghost Who Walks, Stolen Roses, Cruel Summer

Giannis - no.06: Groove Armada – Black Light

Blogovision party - 21st Of December 2010!

2010-12-15T20:06:00.000+02:00

Instead of Gone4sure posting the results first in his blog, as he did the previous years, this year the results will be announced at a party organized in Blink at Karytsi square, on the 21st of December, starting at 22:00. Be there if you want to have fun with Tassos Papaioannou (who designed the poster as well) and Vassilis Bibas (both from Poplie radio) on the decks or listen to songs of the top-20 albums of the year as voted by Greek bloggers and after that, Teresos will take over the decks. Or if you just want to discuss the results whether you agree or not with them.

Top-20 Countdown - No.07

2010-12-14T20:31:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.07: Five Star Hotel - This Sound

Yes, George is a friend. Yes I have been listening to their songs, even playing them at the bar I used to DJ, in one form or another, for three years now. Waiting for this album to come out was like having your wife pregnant for aforementioned years. But it is out. And it is amazing. And we get to enjoy it in its best form yet. And listen over and over to this incredible music. Thanks a lot George, keep it up!

My review of "This Sound" for Screw magazine, issue 21:

George Begas, Yiannis Kretsios, Yiannis Varelidis, Euripidis Papadopoulos and Antonis Vellios are members of a group that all of Thessaloniki (OK, all of "smart" Thessaloniki) was waiting impatiently to make their first CD. And finally we have it in our hands... and it's stuck on repeat! Gorgeous music with a view, style and balls that thousands of much more experienced groups would be jealous of, from both sides of the Atlantic. Pop? Yes, but also rock and electronica merging harmoniously. For those who cannot understand unless they compare one with another artist, I will give one name: Camera Obscura (yes they will be the opening act for them in Thessaloniki on the 29th of October). You want more? St. Etienne. OK, enough with ask the audience, now go get the CD!

Selections: Minimal, Underground, Highway Traffic

Giannis - no.07: Hot Chip – One Life Stand

Top-20 Countdown - No.08

2010-12-13T21:21:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.08: Pan Pan - Someday Maybe I Won't Mind

I am so proud of Panayiotis Pantazis. I know him for some years now, read his comics and listen to his music and now that he has released his first fully fledged album (which you can download here for at least 1 euro) I am so happy to see his dreams come true. The album is very intense and atmospheric, his sound relentless but heart - warming. Go Pan Pan, go!!!

My review for this album published originally in Screw issue 22

Panayiotis Pantazis is something of a Renessance artist - an architect with a phD in theoretical Architecture if you please), designer and writer of comics (his four wonderful Common Comics are published by Giganto Books) and musician. Self taught. Researching to the limits. For years he has been fighting with keyboards, samples, his inspiration, making dreamy or nightmarish soundscapes that accompany even his comic stories. For his first official album he gathered what he considers best from all the music he wrote these last few years, "freshened" it up and laid them out, nine pieces, only as a digital download, as his soul testament.

Selection: Never Gonna Happen, 5 Years, Wake Up With The Sun

Giannis - no.08: Ratatat – LP4

Poplie radio show, 12th of December 2010

2010-12-12T16:26:00.005+02:00

Mid-December and mid-blogovision countdown, I tried to refrain from focusing on that as I intend to do a show for my top20 albums when this is over. You can always find the show on the left hand column to listen to again. Click on the image above to see the playlist.

Photo courtesy of Stratos Bacalis

Top-20 Countdown - No.09

2010-12-12T14:28:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.09: Lisa Gerrard & Marcello De Francisci - Departum

This woman is one of my favourite artists of all time, so a new release from her is always welcome. A collaboration album again, Lisa picks this time Marcello De Francisci (he is a soundtrack composer, they had worked again together in the Balibo soundtrack) and they deliver to us a gorgeous haunting album, with that voice that will always send shivers down my spine and fill my eyes with tears. I cannot resist her.

Giannis - no.09: Scissor Sisters – Night Work

Top-20 Countdown - No.10

2010-12-11T12:09:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.10: Caribou - Swim

What a gorgeous album! Dreamy electronic dance music that characterised much of this year's summer for me. It was one of my mainstay listens at home and it had a permanent place in my radio shows almost every week - either Odessa or Jamelia was sure to be on my playlist. More please!

Giannis - no.10: Angus & Julia Stone – Down the Way

Top-20 Countdown - No.11 and the story so far

2010-12-10T21:09:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.11: Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

This is one of her purest dance albums - not one ballad in sight! I thoroughly enjoy it and keep on dancing to it whenever I listen to one of its tracks. Stuart Price hit the nail right on its head and gave her the best production he could , in fact making the album sound a lot like his other great production this year, the Scissor Sisters album Night Work (check previous post). There is even a Jack Shears collaboration here, Too Much, a dance stomper if there ever was one! I cannot imagine a more perfect summer (or winter) night in a great club dancing to this till dawn. She could release almost every track as a single and get away with it.

Giannis - no.11: The Boy – Koustoumaki

Let's see how our lists have evolved so far, from no.20 till no.11:

Stratos

11. Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

12. Scissor Sisters - Night Work

13. Goldfrapp - Head First

14. Marina & The Diamonds - Family Jewels

15. Robyn - Body Talk

16. Lone Wolf - The Devil And I

17. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim - Here Lies Love

18. Zola Zesus - Stridulum II

19. The Divine Comedy - Bang Goes The Knighthood

20. Beach House - Teen Dream

Giannis

11. The Boy – Koustoumaki

12. The Walkmen - Lisbon

13. Wavves – King Of The Beach

14. Goldfrapp –Head First

15. The Radio Dept-Clinging To A Scheme

16. CocoRosie – Grey Oceans

17. Spoon- Transference

18. Of Montreal – False Priest

19. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang

20. Metaform – The Electric Mist

Top-20 Countdown - No.12

2010-12-09T21:11:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.12: Scissor Sisters - Night Work

When I heard their first single out of Night Work, Fire With Fire, I started dancing on my own in front of my PC. The album did not disappointing either. A collection of pure gay dance music ready to lift you of in another dimension. More focused and strong then ever, Scissor Sisters are reaching their peak so far. And Mapplethorp's photography used on the cover is always mesmerizing.

My review of Night Work for Screw magazine issue 20:

One of the groups with defining influence over the dance scene of the last years returns with their latest album to find out if they still have their lucky charm. Even though they are American, Scissor Sisters members have european influences and references in their music, a thing that helps them achieve their target: beautiful riveting dance music with definite point of view a gay affair and what it entails. Dive deep and feel refreshed!

Selections: Fire With Fire, Whole New Way, Invisible light

Giannis - no.12: The Walkmen - Lisbon

Top-20 Countdown - No.13

2010-12-08T19:55:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.13: Goldfrapp - Head First

Yesterday Giannis had them at no. 14, today they are my no.13. Alison Goldfrap lets her Olivia Newton-John Xanadu fantasy come to life (how can I not love her even more for that? Olivia is my number one favourite singer since 1978!) and the result is a dance album that I cannot stop dancing to! It may not be their best but it has become my favourite!

My review of Head First for Screw magazine issue 17:

Goldfrapp reach hopefully their fifth album. Alison Goldfrapp and her gang tale their obsession with Olivia Newton-John from her Xanadu era (the definitive gay cult musical) to it's limits – even the first single's cover , the rousing Rocket, is a direct reference to the film. The sound is brimming with electronic elements, very commercial and optimistic. I do not believe that there is a human being that will listen to this and will not want to get up and dance right away - you?

Selections: Rocket, Believer, Alive

Giannis - no.13: Wavves – King Of The Beach

Top-20 Countdown - No.14

2010-12-07T21:33:00.000+02:00

Stratos - no.14: Marina & The Diamonds - Family Jewels

This is a record I thoroughly enjoyed this year. playing over and over at work - luckily my colleagues loved it as well. When I managed to get the CD in Edinburgh, we started playing it at the place I was staying a lot, along with Florence's Lungs. It's so infectious and feel-good! Well done Marina!

My review for Family Jewels, published in Screw issue 17:

Marina Diamandis is of Greek origin (her dad that is) but she grew up in the UK. And it definitely shows in her first album titled "Family Jewels" (we all know what this phrase means I guess!). Beautiful songs with the spunky and lively Marina spreading her characteristic voice with ease and guts on the 13 album tracks. It is not the perfect record but you have a great time listening to it! Do not miss!

Selections: Are You Satisfied?, Shampain, Mowgli’s Road

Giannis - no.14: Goldfrapp – Head First

Top-20 Countdown - No.15

2010-12-06T20:31:00.001+02:00

Stratos - no.15: Robyn - Body Talk

Robyn released three albums with the same title this year, Body Talk parts 1 & 2 and this one which contains five tracks from pt.1, five from pt.2 and five new ones. To me it seems this is the most representative of her releases this year so I picked this for my list. I love her sound, her voice, her attitude, yet she always seems to be just a small step behind in her personal stuff compared to what she does working with artists like Kleerup or Röyksopp. I still can;t believe we only got to listen to her voice while waiting in-line to enter Athen's Olympic Stadium when she was Madonna's support. She's a firm favourite of mine - just keep on dancing!

My Screw magazine review for this album, published in issue no.23 (December 2010):

She became famous with the exceptional "With Every Heartbeat" in 2007. We saw her as the support act in Madonna's concert in Athens. This year she decided to release three full albums titled Body Talk, having of course her own recording company. The last one of them just came out and is essentially a concentration: five track from I & II each and five new ones. Rhythmic and dynamic tracks that get you up for dancing like crazy till falling exhausted on the dance floor. Ignore her at your own peril.

Selections: Indestructible, Dancing On My Own, Hang With Me.

Giannis - no.15: The Radio Dept-Clinging To A Scheme

Poplie radio show, 5th of December 2010 - Temptations

2010-12-05T20:00:00.000+02:00

The Temptations tribute was long overdue. I grew up listening to their music, they are my strongest influence in terms of beat, orchestral arrangements, melodies, harmonics. And that style! I really enjoyed this show and hoe you did too. You can listen to it again if you get it from the left column of this blog. Check the play list by clicking the image above.

Top-20 Countdown - No.16

2010-12-05T18:40:00.000+02:00

Stratos: no.16: Lone Wolf - The Devil And I

Paul Marshall from Leeds has captivated my heart with his sophomore release (the previous one, Vultures, was released under his name). Folk with a twist (the band arrangements take care of that mostly), it makes hair stand on my neck. This is the kind of music I like best, the one that speaks directly to your heart, travelling through your emotions. I am anxious to listen to what he will release next.

Giannis: No.16 - CocoRosie – Grey Oceans 2010

Top-20 Countdown - No.17

2010-12-04T00:34:00.000+02:00

Stratos: No.17 - David Byrne & Fatboy Slim - Here Lies Love

If somebody told me a year ago that I would e posting a photo of Imelda Marcos in one of my blogs I would tell them they're crazy. But here it is. She is the concept of this album (actually her relationship with one of her maids) by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, two very creative music artists. I love this because they picked incredible singers to sing their stuff, some of them real favourites: Sharon Jones, Camille, Róisín Murphy, Candie Payne, St. Vincent, Shara Worden, Florence Welch, Allison Moorer, Cyndi Lauper, Tori Amos, Martha Wainwright,Natalie Merchant, Sia Furler, Santigold, Charmaine Clamor, Nicole Atkins, and Kate Pierson among many others, alternately playing the roles of Imelda Marcos and Estrella Cuempas.

I love most of the songs, many of them make the singers "play" against type with great results. For my biased ears, Róisín and Tori come as the winners from all of them here, Tori having to sing a duet with Cyndi Lauper apart from her solo. I have played many of them in my radio show and will keep on listening to this for years to come.

Giannis: No.17 - Spoon - Transference

Top-20 Countdown - No.18

2010-12-03T03:07:00.001+02:00

Stratos: No.18 - Zola Jesus - Stridulum II

I knew Zola from last year's album, The Spoils. I liked her voice more than I did her music. She reminded me of Siouxsie, so it made her songs sound familiar to my ears. This year she has an exceptional song in this album, Night. But she still needs lots of work to make a clear point of what she wants to do with her music. She still sounds to me like someone else, not herself. But she sure gives many signs that she's on the right track. Hope she lives up to my expectations - cause it seems for others she has already fulfilled them.

My review from Screw magazine, issue 22:

Nika Rosa Danilova was "baptised" Zola Jesus to make a career in music beyond the opera she begun to study. Aged just 21, from Winsconsin USA, she is part of a small team that brings back the Goth aesthetics at the forefront, visually as well as sonically. Obviously influenced by the priestess Siouxsie (even her voice reminds of her a lot), with the guidance and support of James Stewart of Xiu Xiu fame (with whom she makes up the group Former Ghosts), Zola writes epic compositions, with stirring vocals, her music impressive and evocative at the same time, dark, menacing, rhythmic but also romantic, in a hellish, cursed way.

Selections: Night, I Can’t Stand, Lightsick.

Giannis: No.18 - Of Montreal - False Priest

Coming on Sunday: A tribute to The Temptations

2010-12-03T00:38:00.000+02:00

I grew up listening to their music, thanks to my uncle who is a great fan. I had the luck to see them play live in my home town, Thessaloniki, back in the early 90s, a concert I will never ever forget. So join me this Sunday at The Sandman Chronicles on-air at Poplie radio, for a tribute to this amazing group.

Top-20 Countdown - No.19

2010-12-02T21:36:00.001+02:00

Stratos: No.19 - The Divine Comedy - Bang Goes The Knighthood

This one was a favourite right from the start. I was so certain I would see them live in Edinburgh's Fringe Festival this year I kept listening to it again and again, wanting to learn all the lyrics so that I cloud sing along with them during the concert. Alas it was sold out months before (the cheap price of 20 GBP was a major factor as well as them being, well, THE Divine Comedy) so I did not have the chance to sing this wonderfully theatrical ditty:

Giannis: No.19 - The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

Top-20 Countdown - No.20

2010-12-01T00:54:00.000+02:00

Stratos: No. 20 - Beach House - Teen Dream

And it begins with Beach House, an American duo from Baltimore, with the native Alex Scally (love that name) and the French-born Victoria Legrand (niece of the composer Michel Legrand). Dreamy pop with a proper dosage of dynamism and intensity, it fills your ears with joy and a sense of satisfaction. Victoria's husky vocals are seductive, finding the perfect match to Alex's guitar. Brilliant third album, their best yet, easily surpassing this year's Vampire Weekend's "Contra" - they were the latter's opening act in their tour.

Giannis: No.20 - Metaform - The Electric Mist

Poplie radio show, 28th of November 2010

2010-11-28T19:20:00.009+02:00

Last show in November and before the beginning of the Top-20 albums of the year countdown. So lost of different music, old and new, from a vast array of artists. You can always listen to the show from the left column (just clik the date) and click on the image above to see the playlist.

Photo courtesy of Stratos Bacalis 2010