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The Pixies - Doolittle (1989)

I always end up coming back to this album, it’s the kind that you can come back to, and I love it so much. I love The Pixies and I’m always torn between Surfer Rosa and this one (despite Bossanova having Is She Weird on it) simply because I love the way they transition from their main hits (see Wave Of Mutilation, Debaser, Monkey Gone To Heaven) to a bunch of ‘other songs’ that sound just as good, if a bit less familiar because we’ve all sung along to them a little less. This album is a great album.

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Death Cab For Cutie - Plans (2005)

This is a very deliberate album to follow Transatlantacism, the 2003 record. It’s an excellent blend of acoustic and less-so, and it’s all very sad and easy to listen to and it’s very, very lovely. I’d advise that you listen to it because I adore it so much, it’s a very meaningful album for me and it was probably one of the only albums that I’ve listened to since the age of 12 and still love.

It has this beautiful edge of sadness without even touching on the miserable, and it’s so consistent, there is no song to be singled out that lets them down.

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Bright Eyes - I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (2005)

Let’s face it, Conor Oberst is basically an indie sex icon. His fragile little self makes teenage girls all over the world quiver. Which probably makes half the fan base. But I don’t care, I do enjoy Bright Eyes and I enjoyed it before I knew who the frontman was (let’s face it, I don’t do my research as often as I should, I thought the guy who was singing was at least 45 before I looked it up).

This is a good album. It’s solid, it’s got the sentimentality that so many folksy albums do possess, and it’s relaxing. There are new melodies to uncover every time you listen and there’s so much good stuff in there. I’d advise that if you like metal, listen to this. It makes for a really interesting change and, well, you never know. I used to be a complete metal head and now I listen to so much more thanks to bands like this.

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blur - Parklife (single) (1994)

This is the first of a couple of Albarn posts I’m probably going to be doing for the next few days, in lieu of and in afterglow of the Gorillaz concert tomorrow. I’m sure you’ve heard of Parklife, and if you haven’t, consider it some of blur’s best work.

I’m not a massive blur fan, but this is just great. I make sure to listen to it pretty much every time I have access to it, and there’s no mood that isn’t a Parklife mood. This song is capable of cheering you up, calming you down, making you laugh, everything but depressing. It’s comedic, it’s colloquial, it’s catchy, it’s casual, it’s got me unintentionally using alliteration, that’s the extent to which I enjoy it! It’s a brilliant record and it’s just so smiley and witty. And the video ain’t half bad either.

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Death Cab For Cutie - Plans (2005)

I really love this album, it’s got some of my favourite songs of all time on there, or at least, my favourite components of songs. I reckon there’s a great bassline going in Soul Meets Body, particularly around the chorus, and the song itself has this playful air about it. I Will Follow You Into The Dark is the first DCFC song I ever heard (in fact, I only heard it because I was asked to sing it) and I’ve been in love with their music ever since, particularly this album; it’s so melodic and meaningful and cryptic, and really, it’s surprisingly mature.

My favourite song on this whole album would have to be Crooked Teeth. It’s got such a simple tune going to it, but the lyrics are absolutely beautiful, it’s catchy, and there’s a great guitar line which always makes me smile.

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Ludo - Topeka

I haven’t posted any Ludo yet, so here you go, this is my favourite song by them. Bear with me, because it’s awesome, I love it and you should too. Ludo are an incredible band and they deserve to be heard by more than me and the million other people that listen to them. Now go and listen to them. That’s right, I know you’re not listening yet, get to it.

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Elliott Smith - XO

I’ve recently been introduced to the wonderful world of Elliott Smith by Elizabeth (www.bornandraisedforthejob.tumblr.com), and I must admit (not that I have any objections to doing so) that it’s one of the most incredible things I’ve ever come across in my life. As a matter of fact, my brother used to listen to one of Elliott Smith’s songs a lot when I was in his presence, and when I came across it on this album, I was very close to crying.

Elliott Smith in general was damn good at what he did. Fancy riffs, easy listening, the man was a genius. Some of his stuff was very, very depressing, but you’ll listen to it anyway. Why? Because I’m telling you to! Or, if you’d rather have a good reason, then because it’s a fucking brilliant addition to your library.

This album is a very minor toned album, full of little delicacies and intricacies that show the care put into it. There’s a lot of good quality music in there, something that anyone in the next generation up will complain about the lack of nowadays. There are lyrics in there too meaningful for me to understand, and it’s all tied together with Elliott’s dulcet tones.

My favourite track on here is Waltz #2. I find that whilst it’s depressing, it’s danceable; its minor highs and lows soothe a harsh mood on a rough night, and really hit the senses. There’s so much feeling in this song that you can practically feel it drip off your tongue as you sing along.

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Ok Go - Of The Blue Color Of The Sky, Extra Nice Edition (2010)

This is a selection of remixes and covers of the tracks on the original OTBCOTS, which was a pretty fucking fantastic album to begin with. But not only are there remixes, there’s a super special set of interviews thrown in there too which divulges a great deal that you might be interested in. It involves witty banter and Damian Kulash, so I know I’m interested!

The remixes are beautiful, the covers are brilliant, and there’s a new original track on there (Louisiana Land) which is simply a pleasure to listen to. I know that the Passion Pit remix is very hyped, and I confess to loving it.

Note: Prior to this, I should mention that I love OK Go as a band and as people; they’ve really become a part of my life, and I’m very partial to them, I refer to them as my favourite band because not only are they all fanciable, but they’re deliciously talented and not afraid to break the mold. Also, they dance. What more could you ask for?

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