#joshwork

So I haven't really been on here much lately and that's because I guess I've had more of a life this summer then in previous months which can only really be a good thing. As I'm not doing much tonight I figured I'd do a bit of writing on here and in general and just have a bit of a ramble to myself about life and love and music and anything else that may crop up along the way. You should probably pepare for the odd cringe-y lovey-dovey reference to my current love life too if you are reading along.

It's strange I never get message on here either these days. I used to log in and have like 5-10 new ones each day but I suppose my "tumblrrrr famouz omg bbz" days have long gone now! Though feel free to pop in if you fancy saying hello or want to have a little catch up. In general I'm pretty useless at replying these days as I'm barely on a computer but I'll probably be playing Poker on here tonight and thus I will be around to reply and chat.

But yeah anyway, I've always greatly enjoyed writing and just generally speaking my mind (or writing it...). However it's something that I've really been slacking on lately - bar the odd personal ramble about how great a time I've had at a Festival. I've been having a bit of a browse through my archives and have found all sorts of nonsense. From:

my very own album of 2011 awards. A whole expansive and rather longgggggg top 40 list. I'm already trying to work out who'll be in the frame this year. (link)

the kind of girl I supposedly decided at the time that I wanted - I managed to track one down who was even better; but there's a link anyway.

And another post of me telling the world the kind of girl I wanted. In a more less ramble-y manner. I prefer this one. It's pretty accurate really for my current situation. Just add in Arrested Development and a girlfriend who buys me tickets to go to see The Gaslight Anthem in Paris and it's much better.

my very own, rather lame and tame "let's discuss skinny vs curves with myself and be decisively neutral debate".

the joys of my young teenage years. top 3's(did anyone else do them at school when they were like 12-13?!) and being single and lonely and naive and innocent.

My topless tuesdays antics. lol.... well it helped my body confidence somewhat I suppose. (probably not wise for me to link that up)

My own personal, slightly amusing and cringey attempts at writing "erotica" based on some personal experiences of my own. Not quite sure what I was thinking then though it seemed to go down well at the time I think. My girlfriend found it amusing to bring that one up a fair few weeks ago. (and I'm definitely not supplying a link for that one either!)

and many other posts that aren't even interesting enough to mention. I can't even remember half of them myself.

But yeah, it was quite amusing and interesting from a personal point of view to go back and read some past material that I had written and see where I was in my life at that point and to where I am now. It's strange to think of how a good relationship can really change your mindset and just generally make you (or least me, in my case) feel a whole lot more stable and happy with life. I can see it just in the way that I wrote that I wasn't particularly pleased about myself in terms of confidence and where I was heading for quite a long time in 2011 though I do think it did pick up a fair bit towards the end of that year.

10. JAMES BLAKE // JAMES BLAKE

In terms of originality and creativity this is hands down the best album of 2011. Unfortunately my top 40 is judged very differently but James still makes a solid entry at number 10. The BBC Sound of 2011 runner up, Mercury nominated and apparently Enfield born (same hospital of birth woo!) boy wonder has taken the world, literally the world - Bon Iver did a song with him for gods sake - by storm these last 12 months. My friend Emily absolutely adores him and it's far from the conventional music that I'd expect her to enjoy. I also had the pleasure of seeing him live a few weeks ago and after two songs my exact thoughts were, "what a load of crap this is...". By the end of the show, I couldn't get enough of it.

Favourite Track: Lindisfarne I & II

9. ALL AT ONCE // The Airborne Toxic Event

One of my favourite bands and their second album didn't disappoint. Even my mother and sister love them. I don't understand quite why this band haven't taken off as much as they should. Their first album was great and had a fantastic lead song in Sometime Around Midnight and while the second record isn't quite as punchy or heavy as it's predecessor, but it's a better quality record for sure. One of, if not my most played album of the year. All I Ever Wanted is fantastic, the anti-war song The Kids Are Ready To Die is engaging and passionate. Numb & Changing have awesome intros (Numb stays awesome, Changing doesn't) and songs like All For A Woman & The Graveyard By The House show off their smoother more poignant side.

Favourite Track: All I Ever Wanted/Numb

8. WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM THE VACCINES // The Vaccines

When The Vaccines were on the BBC Sound of 2011 & MTV Brand New For 2011 polls I stood up and took note. Who were this new band. I listened to Post Break Up Sex and enjoyed it. I could relate to it and I was excited to see what else they had to offer. I heard a few more songs of theirs and wasn't that excited. The songs seemed quite different and a bit more edgy but I had liked their original sound that I had first come across and so though still enjoying their music, I wasn't too enthralled at the prospect of seeing them like in June supporting Arcade Fire at Hyde Park. However, it turned out I just hadn't quite "got it" yet. At Hyde Park I did. And co-incidently since then the band have gone from strength to strength headlining sold out shows, playing the set of Reading Festival 2011 (if NME are to be believed) and wowing crowds all over the nation. The album itself is wonderful, I haven't mentioned it once so far in this piece but that's all you need to know. Make sure you buy it, make sure you see them live. Believe the hype.

Tracks: All In White, Wreckin Bar (Ra Ra Ra), Wetsuit

7. BLISS RELEASE // Cloud Control

This album was officially released in 2010 though it came out in the UK in 2011 (plus I only got into them post Reading Festival this year) so it counts. My friend Emily (as with The Vaccines & James Blake) was a big fan of this band and dragged me along at Reading to see them. I've now seen them twice since and they've impressed every time. The Australian band (the first of two Aussies in the top ten) make fantastically catchy indie rock music. They remind me of a heavier Two Door Cinema Club, though each song is actually different unlike Two Door (not saying I don't like TDCC, I really do but it's true). I must admit I have a bit of a crush on the female member of the band too. I love the way she loses herself in the music while on stage as they all seem to. If you haven't listened to them, seriously check them out. They supported Foo Fighters on tour last year and have won numerous awards in 2011. The album itself is full of super tracks. Gold Canary & There's Nothing In The Water We Can't Fight are particular highlights but the album just rolls along with great song after great song, especially for the first 6 tracks. A band sure to take 2012 by storm here in the UK if they get a good break.

Favourite Track: There's Nothing In The Water We Can't Fight

6. EVERY KINGDOM // Ben Howard

The best effort of the British contingent comes from the wonderful Ben Howard in at number 6. I found it hard placing this album. Firstly because the deluxe version is better than the original (which do I count!?) and secondly because I think he's a lot better live than on record. That's not to say he's bad on record, because if he was then he certainly wouldn't be at number 6! Every Kingdom is a breathtaking debut album. The Fear is one of my favourite songs this year and Keep Your Head up was a great lead single. One of the great things about Ben is that he seems to great every song very carefully. He works very hard on giving it a good intro and even more so a memorable outro, as his live shows prove. I think a lot of unfair hate is placed upon Ed Sheeran from cynics who seem to hate him because he's so huge now and they don't really know why. The thing is Ed is very talented but there are better singer/songwriters out there right now and perhaps the best of all in this mould, and one man who should and most probably will recieve all this attention is Ben Howard.

Favourite Track: The Fear

5. PRISONER // The Jezabels

The strangest thing about this album is that I haven't actually had the chance to listen to it properly as an album. it's not on Spotify, I can't find it in shops, it's ridiculously expensive on Amazon and so I'm sitting here putting an album in the Top 5 that I haven't even listened to "as an album". Having said that, each YouTube clip for every song has taken a battering in views this year and those songs that are on Spotify are definitely amongst my most played. The Jezabels, led by the very interesting Hayley Mary are a band to watch. Hailing from Australia where they have already been critically acclaimed, won awards and had their debut album go Gold they're making indie/rock music as good as anyone right now. There is a distinct bit of pop in there too especially in some of their more commercially friendly tracks but that makes them no less brilliant. Songs like 'Endless Summer' & 'A Little Piece' will be very high up in my songs of the year chart for sure. In Hayley Mary they have a fantastic front woman who I fancy like mad even though I don't actually find her all that attractive. Having already done fantastically well in Australia, The Jezabels should find that 2012 proves to be the year that the rest of the world takes notice.

Favourite Track:Endless Summer/Prisoner/Trycolour

4. BURST APART // The Antlers

I'll be honest the first time I listened to this album I was a little under-whelmed. I didn't really see the buzz. I hadn't listened to The Antlers before so this was all pretty new to me. I guess I was waiting for the big choruses and catchy hooks to kick in and woo me. That wasn't going to come, and it was only on the second, third or maybe fourth listens that I realised the true beauty of their music. They're like if Bon Iver went rock. Nothing's over the top and you just drift to the music, nod your head and appreciate how beautiful the music they are making, actually is. And seriously it is something special. Peter Silberman's voice is absolutely amazing and they are fast becoming one of my favourite bands. I saw them last night for just the second time but I know there's many, many more to come.

Favourite Tracks: Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out/Putting The Dog To Sleep

3. BON IVER // Bon Iver

Probably the most anticipated album of my life. It may have been a far cry from his first release in that cabin. Infact it couldn't have been further. I'd say it was over produced and far from perfect but in that voice, and the mastery that goes on in Justin Vernon's mind he could make any song a great one. Had the unbelievable cover of Bonnie Raitt's 'I Can't Make You Love Me' been on the album then maybe it would have made it to number one but third is not a bad place. And I'm pretty sure he's going to top a hell of a lot of other year end lists this Christmas. Nominated for Four Grammy's Bon Iver has become the biggest non mainstream artist on the planet right now and this album confirmed it. Nothing he makes will most likely ever better 'For Emma, Forever Ago' but as long as he keeps making music as good as this I can live. I remember hearing the intro snippet of "Perth" and genuinely thinking it was the most beautiful piece of music I had ever heard. It was about 50 seconds long and I must have listened to it about 100 times in the wait for the album to leak.

Favourite Track: Perth/Holocene/Hinnom, TX

2. THE FEAR OF HIBERNATION // Youth Lagoon

One of the latest entries to this list, but definitely one of the best. The best find of the year and one that's gone pretty much under the radar - though it has been appreciated in some end of year lists. A 22 year old guy named Trevor Poers from California made this album in his bedroom. It's astounding. From the very first listen I was hooked and I haven't stopped listening since. There's a moment just after the 2 minute into the first track, 'Posters' where the song just kicks right in and it's amazing. I get a little feel of euphoria, a little buzz and from the second I heard that for the first time I knew I was listening to something special. It's the arrangements that make it so good. Each song is like a journey and each one has a crescendo that never fails to engage and captivate me. He's playing at a little venue in March in London and I doubt 2012 will be a year to remember for Youth Lagoon, however if he manages to create another masterpiece like this I'm pretty sure the world will soon sit up and take notice.

Favourite Track: 17/Afternoon/Bobby

1. ELSIE // The Horrible Crowes

An album that has undeservedly been ignored by most critics lists but that doesn't mean it's not the best of the year! Brian Fallon strikes again and I wonder if it's possible for him to even make bad music. Drawing on from all sorts of influences including Tom Petty, Nick Cave, The National, and even The (recently reformed) Afghan Whigs, Fallon set out to make a new record differing from his typical punk-rock Gaslight exploits. Well it didn't disappoint. There's not a bad song on Elsie, only shining points and then even shinier points that outshine those that you thought shone before. I remember when the 'Black Betty and The Moon' snippet was released I expected a classic, and we certainly got it. The best songwriter on the planet right now. One that I hope keeps making music for many years to come.

Favourite Tracks: Black Betty and The Moon/Sugar/Behold The Hurricane

Top 40-31

Top 30-21

Top 20-11

I mean firstly, I'm quite not sure why Justin and co are in the "Best New Artist" category. 2007 isn't exactly new. They should also be up "Album of The Year"; but its great that they've been given any nominations at all.

Holocene is up for both Record and Song of the year. Why they make those two different categories I'll never know. I remember I did work out the difference last year but I've forgotten already. The nomination lists for those two awards are exactly the same bar one song...

The award shows always seem to bum the same mainstream artists year on year and the Grammy's is no different; but they give out so many awards that you usually find a few decent nominations. And its always nice to see a few other bands and artists that you love get some coverage and good praise for their work. The Decemberists, The Black Keys (again?!)), Foster The People, Death Cab For Cutie and Mumford & Sons (again?!) all nominated. Why the same song/album can be put up for nomination two years in a row makes no sense to me either. I'm probably wrong but I'm sure Mumford/Black Keys were nominated last year. I remember Mumford performed anyway (avec Bob Dylan/Avett Brothers). I could understand if they had new material but Mumford's isn't out till the new year (Feb I think- which is when the Grammy's are on) and Black Keys new album was just leaked. I suppose Mumford re-released their stuff and cracked America so that's why.

Going back to those "identical" awards, Kanye West's All Of The Lights was nominated for record of the year but can't get in song of the year. I don't really understand the point of two awards. I remember there is a reason for it but if there was at least make the two categories have a few different songs on them to differentiate the two awards. P.s. I'm in love with Childish Gambino's remix of All Of The Lights, beats the original hands down for me.