2009: What Rocked My World

Editor’s Note: Here at BIYL we like to wing things. There’s no master plan for our end of year lists, and frankly I don’t even know if I’ll be able to make one. But I imagine we’ll each be tackling the year separately (and possibly in one collective discussion, we’ll see how things go). Mark has decided to kick things off, and breaks down what artists & performances that had the greatest impact on him this year.

2009! What a year for me, musically! I have never been so enthused from January right through the end of the year. The stunning debut from White Lies carried me through the early months untill March brought the Grammatics and Polly Scattergood. The spring and summer was filled with excellent albums from Tom Allalone & The 78’s plus The Duke and The King. A little later Temper Trap filled my senses through to Mumford & Sons. Fantastic albums from old favourites Echo & The Bunnymen alongside newcomers Florence & The Machine and Bat For Lashes also moved me. However, one release above all was my constant companion all year!

If I had one album to take to a desert island this year it would be the Joy Formidable mini-album A Balloon Called Moaning. After much consideration and scribbling out and rewriting my list, here is my collection of the top five album releases of 2009:

1# The Joy Formidable – A Balloon Called Moaning
The Joy Formidable – The Last Drop

2# The Duke & The King – Nothing Gold Can Stay
The Duke & The King – If You Ever Get Famous

3# Grammatics – Grammatics
Grammatics – D.I.L.E.M.M.A.

4# Polly Scattergood – Polly Scattergood
Polly Scattergood – I Hate The Way

5# The Temper Trap – Conditions
The Temper Trap – Down River

Still, for me there is nothing better than getting out and watching live music. This year I have been lucky enough to catch some great shows and collect memories that will live with me forever. Top of the pile was The Duke & The King at London’s Scala. I can say in all honesty that it was a life changing experience as I felt the love and warmth in the room. You may think that’s a little crazy, but it was a total celebration of togetherness of both band and audience. June this year I was privileged to see the Purple Hearts headline show at the iconic 100 Club. I have been both a fan and friend of the band for the last thirty years. I was blown away to be invited onstage to take the lead vocal during the second encore of ‘Millions Like Us’. Yet again Norwich Art Centre played host to some great live acts and I would recommend anyone to catch The Joy Formidable, Temper trap, Mumford & Sons and the Airborne Toxic Event live.

So who will be movers and shakers for me through 2010? Well without stating the obvious I will be looking forward to the long players from The Joy Formidable, Sweet Jane, Yeti Lane and Is Tropical. I also cant wait for a debut release from To Kill a King (formerly Kid iD) who are all over my playlist right now!!

Tags: best of 2009, grammatics, polly scattergood, the duke & the king, the joy formidable, the temper trap