The AEC Top 10 for 2011

1. Arctic Monkeys- Suck It and See
2. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
3. Jamie XX & Gil-Scott Heron- We're New Here
4. S.C.U.M- Again Into Eyes
5. The Vaccines- What Did you Expect from The Vaccines?
6. King Krule- King Krule EP
7. Hurts- Happiness
8. Azari & III- EPs
9. The Horrors- Skying
10. The Duke Spirit- Bruiser

I have had this list ready for a few weeks now, but am finally sitting down to give it some editorial. I also don't want to short change your wait, so I will give you the full top ten now, and will fill in some extra insight to each one hereafter.

1. Arctic Monkeys- Suck It and See
I'm pretty sure I have made it fairly clear that I love this band. For most of the year I was sure this was going to be my #1, but Noel almost came in and made me rethink that. But that moment was short lived and after reflecting on this year, Suck It and See was by far the most interesting record this year and the one that I gave the most listens. I won't rehash all the praise I gave it before, but again, to me this is the perfect statement by Alex and company about who they are, what they can do and how much they embody and deliver the best rock n roll music in 2011.



2. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
More than any other record this year, the release of this record filled me with fear. After Beady Eye, I had the lowest of expectations for Noel's solo debut. Much to my delight, all of my fears were proved unfounded. Unfettered by his brother and the weight of the Oasis name, Noel somehow found a level of freedom that not only made good on his recent shortfalls, but even proved he could better his past bests. For the first time, Noel produced ideas and depth and lyrics that resonated on a deep level and even delivered (gasp!) romantic sentiments that actually make stop every time I hear them. Sometimes, you just have to keep the faith.





Next up, #s 3 & 4...

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

With his solo release Noel Gallagher has brought back to light all of those age old Oasis arguments. There's a basic timeline of how most Oasis superfan's attitude toward Liam vs. Noel goes... At first it is all about Liam. His voice, his look, his style, his swagger. Then you realize the songs that are the grandest, most bombastic and most memorable are Noel's songs, either the ones he sings or the ones that are the most autobiographical. After discovering the b-sides from the first 2-3 records cements it, Noel is now your favorite. But then, after seeing them live, you remember how much of a presence Liam really is, and how the live Oasis experience is always focused on Liam. No matter how little he moved or talked, Noel's witty quips are no contest. So in the end you try to reconcile everything, and settle on the fact that it takes them both to create the magic.

So now, with Beady Eye's debut and Noel's first solo effort, the knee-jerk judgement is easy: Noel wins. Beady Eye's flimsy lyrics and post-modern pastiche melodies are paint by numbers, while NGHFB is pretty much a modern classic. I won't say it's perfect, ("Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks" and "Stop the Clocks" are definitely filler that should have been scrapped), but song for song there is no contest. NGHFB has much of the best of the last few Oasis records: the "Mucky Fingers" 12-bar blues of "The Death of You and Me," the soaring "Let There be Love" moments in "Dream On" and "Record Machine," and a couple of unexpected rockers including "Stranded On the Wrong Beach" and "AKA...What a Life." Even more unexpected is the fact that for the first time in his career, I can actually say that his lyrics finally caught up to the standard that his melodies have always reached. This debut is at times smart, romantic and utterly compelling in ways Noel's work has never been before.

But now, even while the glow of this record still shines, I am still 100% sure I still prefer Oasis. Not the last few records, but the platonic ideal that is Oasis. Noel's best songs, Liam's best vocals and the brick wall of sound that the best rock band of the last 20 years years produced. But I can wait. Enjoy the freedom, boys, and come back when you're ready.

If I Had A Gun... by noelgallagher

Stream it:
Spotify
Rhapsody

Buy it:
iTunes

Noel Gallagher

New song, new video and I approve.

Noel Gallagher

In the interest of time and importance, no editorial on this for now, just the press release:

NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS RELEASE THE ALBUM "NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS" THROUGH SOUR MASH RECORDS/MERCURY ON NOVEMBER 8 IN THE U.S.



Noel Gallagher confirmed today at a press conference in London that his brand new album "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds" - the first of TWO albums which have recently been completed - will be released through his own label, Sour Mash Records, on October 17 2011 in the U.K. followed by a U.S. release on November 8 2011 on Sour Mash Records/Mercury.



Video from today's press conference at Electric Cinema in Notting Hill will be available shortly on http://www.youtube.com/noelgallaghertv.



The album, his debut as a solo artist, was recorded in London and completed in Los Angeles during 2010 and the first half of 2011. It was co-produced by Noel and David Sardy, with whom Noel has worked previously. It features ten brand new tracks.



Guests on the album include The Crouch End Festival Chorus and The Wired Strings (full list below).



The choice of a single will be decided shortly.



A second album, a companion to the above but as yet untitled, was recorded in the UK this year and is now complete. This album is the result of Noel's continued collaboration with the Amorphous Androgynous, and will be released in 2012.



Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds will tour this autumn, subsequent to the release of their eponymous album.



The track-listing for Noel's debut solo album is:



EVERYBODY'S ON THE RUN

DREAM ON

IF I HAD A GUN...

THE DEATH OF YOU AND ME

(I WANNA LIVE IN A DREAM IN MY) RECORD MACHINE

AKA...WHAT A LIFE!

SOLDIER BOYS AND JESUS FREAKS

AKA..BROKEN ARROW

(STRANDED ON) THE WRONG BEACH

STOP THE CLOCKS



Guests on the album include:



JEREMY STACEY - DRUMS

MIKEY ROWE - KEYBOARDS

MARK NEARY - DOUBLE BASS, SAW, WINE GLASSES, WASHBOARD, ELECTRIC KETTLE

BECCY BYRNE - BACKING VOCALS

JON GRABOFF - PEDAL STEEL

LUIS JARDIM - PERCUSSION

LENNY CASTRO - PERCUSSION

GARY ALESBROOK, ANDREW KINSMAN, TREVOR MIRES - HORNS CROUCH END FESTIVAL CHORUS THE WIRED STRINGS



"Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds" is the first new material from Noel Gallagher for 3 years.

The White Room

Figured I could take a break from the new music and give you an oldie.

I had never heard of this compilation before, but it was released in 1996 by Q magazine and sounds like something the 96 version of myself would have died for. So does the 2009 version of me to be honest. Can't get much better than this tracklisting:

David A. Stewart and Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side
Oasis - Good to Be Free
Edwyn Collins and Bernard Butler - A Girl Like You
Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher - Talk Tonight
Sleeper - Inbetweener
Bobby Womack and Jeanie Tracey - It's All Over Now
Ray Davies and Damon Albarn - Waterloo Sunset

Enjoy.

http://beatoasis.blogspot.com/2009/09/va-white-room-album-1996.html