THE NEW MUSICAL BOX

It's That Time Of Year Again

One of the joys of doing my radio show The Musical Box is listening to a wide range of new albums across the course of the year.

Even releases which don't look too promising usually have their moments - quite apart from the albums I've been keeping an eye out for because I Know They Will Be Good.

The music press like this time of year because it means they can fill up their pages with Top 10 listings - which all helps bring in extra advertising and readers. Record labels love it because it gives a boost to sales having their products picked over in the press once again. And bands like it too as their output is snapped up by folks intent on giving the gift of music at Christmas, either as a specific album or an itunes voucher.

So despite all the new marketing pushes given to existing albums, the special "extras laden" editions of albums which came out just months ago and the dearth of really good new music once December's under way, I couldn't resist either. 

Here then is a new project, a joint effort between this blog and my radio programme - welcome to The Musical Box Festive Forty. The great John Peel, of course, ran his famous Festive Fifty throughout December, choosing individual songs and then playing them down to his top choice of the year. I'm choosing my Top Forty albums released in the UK in 2012 - and then will be playing key tracks from them in The Musical Box on December 27th and again on January 3rd.

But you can help me choose the order.

I've done the hard work by selecting 40 albums, many of which were my Albums Of The Week and a few which - unaccountably - slipped through the net. These appear in the list below, together with copies of the album cover art and odd notes to provide a neutral guide to their content and origins.

Your input is simple- but vital: Nominate your Top 5 albums from the list - and then send them to me. I'll then use a simple points system to draw up a popularity listing for the 40 albums and publish them here on December 27th itself. In the Musical Box that night, I'll play a track from each of the albums numbered from 40 through to 21 - and then the following Thursday, January 3rd, I'll do likewise for the top twenty. 

Here's How It Works

• Select your Top 5 albums from the list below
• Number them in order of preference - 1 = Best, 2 = Next Best and so on
• E-mail me with your choices to breakthrough@forestfm.co.uk 
• Or - send me a facebook message to my facebook page Alan Dorey
• Or - leave a comment on this blog
• Make sure they arrive no later than Midnight on December 24th
• There will be mentions on-air for those who get closest to the final Top 5

What could be simpler?

In the listing below, I've arranged the albums completely randomly, so no preference is attached to any of them or the positions they may appear to hold. Each is as equally important as the next.

And - if there are albums you Really Think should have been included - why not tell me? There'll be a wildcard selection in each of the two shows.

And that's it.

Here's the listing.

THE MUSICAL BOX FESTIVE FORTY 2012

1) First Aid Kit: The Lion's Roar

Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit, sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg, released this their second album in January. 

They've been big on the festival circuit this last summer and are noted for their close harmonies and inventive song-writing.

2) Django Django: Django Django

Scots indie band from Edinburgh, this is their self-titled debut release which came out at the end of January. They're not named after guitar legend Django Reinhardt, but they are a very interesting new act and have since based themselves in London.

  







3) Smoke Fairies: Blood Speaks

A Sussex-based blues and folk duo comprising Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies. They've been performing their powerful brand of folk-blues - often with a rock overlay - for a few years now and this, their third album, Blood Speaks, was released in May. 

4) Janiva Magness: Stronger For It

Blues and soul singer Janiva Magness hails from Detroit and has released nine albums in the past 15 years, Stronger For It being the latest and hitting the stores in April. It's a good example of electric blues and has received several award nominations this past few months.

5) Public Service Broadcasting: The War Room

Debut release from London electronica & rock outfit Public Service Broadcasting. It's a unique approach they've taken by gaining access to WW II newsreels and Public Service films, taking samples from them and incorporating them cleverly into a series of electronic soundscapes underpinned by drums and guitar.

6) Alberta Cross: Songs Of Patience

An unusual set-up for this rock and blues band, Alberta Cross: they started out here in the UK based in London. Their sound is heavilly influenced by US southern rock - and these days, they're based mainly in New York. They've toured extensively across Europe and North America and Songs Of Patience, their second album, was released in July.

7) Toy: Toy

Another new band, Toy, with their self-titled debut release which came out in October. They're an indie/psychedelic rock quintet from London and made waves with the reception they got for their first two singles.   

8) Richard Hawley: Standing At The Sky's Edge

A former member of Sheffield bands The Longpigs and Pulp, Richard Hawley has been solo for some years now. He's brought quite a bit of variety to his work with his previous album being almost "lounge" in its gentle songs whilst Standing At the Sky's Edge is an altogether rockier affair. Released in May.

9) Tame Impala: Lonerism

Tame Impala are an Australian psychedelic rock band from Perth. This five piece were founded 5 years ago and Lonerism is their second album. It was released in October.

10) Jack White: Blunderbus

One time main-man of The White Stripes, Detroit-born Jack White has done several collaborations since the Stripes called it a day in the early part of 2011. Blunderbus is his first proper solo release and came out in April.

11) Alabama Shakes: Boys And Girls

Formed in 2009 in Athens, Alabama, The Alabama Shakes made a big impression on the music scene this year. Fronted by Brittany Howard, their style of garage rock/blues rock and overones of Americana has proved quite infectious. This, their debut album, was released in April.

12) Jim Jones Revue: The Savage Heart

The Jim Jones Revue are a London-based garage-rock band formed in 2007. Alongside the eponymous Jones is Beth Orton's brother Rupert. The Savage Heart is their third album and it came out in October.









13) The Shins: Port Of Morrow

The Shins are an indie-rock band from New Mexico: they inhabit the more melodic end of the genre and Ports Of Morrow is their fourth album - and their first for five years.

14) Cat Power: Sun

Chan Marshall is better known by her stage name of Cat Power and she's specialised in a wide range of musical genres: folk, rock, blues and a more lo-fi singer-songwriter style too. She's been recording since the mid-90s and Sun is her first release in four years and came out in September.








15) Bob Dylan: Tempest

Tempest is veteran Bob Dylan's 35th studio album and follows the musical vibe of his last release, 2009's Together Through Life - a revisiting of musical styles that influenced him as he was growing up. Released in September, it hit the top 5 in both the US and UK.








16) Dave Matthews Band: Away From the World

The Dave Matthews Band is a rock and jazz fusion outfit from Virginia and they've been recording since the early 1990s. This latest release - their eighth - has been well received by critics and it hit the stores back in September.









17) Deer Tick: Divine Providence

Hailing from the smallest of the US states - Rhode Island - Deer Tick are a indie rock band who also dabble in country sounds too. Their fourth album - Divine Providence and named after their home city - was released at the turn of the year.








18) Ian Anderson: Thick As A Brick 2

Ian Anderson is the front-man and principle songwriter for Jethro Tull. From time to time, he releases solo work and such is this, Thick As A Brick 2, a new song-suite that follows up the 1973 Tull classic Thick As A Brick. It imagines the 8 year old Gerald - who featured in the early concept piece - now grown up and dealing with modern life. Released in April.






19) Patti Smith: Banga

Patti Smith started out as a poet in New York before she fell in with the naescent new wave scene at CBGBs in the early 70s. despite occasional period of inactivity, her brand of rock with its considered lyrics still finds a place today. Banga - her 11th studio album - was released in June.






20) Grace Potter And The Nocturnals: The Lion, The Beast, The Beat

2012 has been a big year for blues and indie rockers Grace Potter And The Nocturnals. Another band from Vermont, this - their fourth album - went straight into the Billboard Top 20 and has continued to sell well both at home and in Europe. It was released in June.








21) Little Feat: Rooster Rag

Little Feat have overcome many pitfalls in their long career, particularly the death of their front man Lowell George back in 1979. Boogie rock, funk and the blues are their thing and this new album - released in June - is their fifteenth to contain all-original material.








22) Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball

One of New Jersey's biggest musicians in terms of creativity and sales, Bruce Springsteen returned this year with his seventeenth studio album, Wrecking Ball. It's full of his usual rock stylings with occasional folk-leanings too. It was released in March.








23) Aimee Mann: Charmer

Aimee Mann started out in The Young Snakes and then 'Til Tuesday before  going solo in 1993. She's a highly literate songwriter and has a distinctive guitar sound too. Charmer - her  eighth solo release - came out in September.









24) Polica: Give You The Ghost

Polica are an indie and R&B band from Minneapolis who were only formed last year. This - their debut album - came out in February and is noted for the varied and accomplished approach to a number of the songs, particularly the lead single, Dark Star.








25) Hooded Fang: Tosta Mista

Hooded Fang are a Canadian indie-rock quartet from Toronto. They're quite experimental with their sound veering from electronica to full out rock and back. Tosta Mista is their second album and although released in their home country in 2011, it didn't appear hear in the UK until January.








26) Dark Horses: Black Music

Dark Horses hail from Brighton in West Sussex and are an unusual rock band - a cross between Siouxie Sioux and Grace Slick was one description of their music. Fronted by Lisa Elle and also featuring Harry Bohay-Nowell, the son of celebrated Bonzo Dog member Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell, their debut album was released in April.




27) Show Of Hands: Wake The Union

In recent years, folk-rockers Show Of Hands have expanded to a trio with bassist Miranda Sykes joining founders Steve Knightley and Phil Beer. They've had another successful year, filling the Royal Albert Hall for the fourth time in their career and releasing their fifteenth studio album, Wake The Union - a mix of original songs celebrating the roots traditions of both the USA and UK.






28) Band Of Horses: Mirage Rock

They come from Seattle, The Band Of Horses and although mainly an indie-rock band, they also dabble in country rock and southern rock for variety. Formed in 2004, this five piece released their fourth album back in September.









29) Bonnie Rait: Slipstream

Bonnie Rait has been releasing fascinating albums since the early 70s and these days is very much recognised as a talented blues slide guitarist and songwriter. Slipstream is her first album for seven years and came out in April.









30) Donald Fagan: Sunken Condos

Donald Fagan is one half of the core of Steely Dan and this solo release Sunken Condos allows him to explore his jazz-rock fusion sound a little more than usual. It came out in October.









31) Gary Clark Jr: Blak And Blu

He comes from Texas and Gary Clark Junior is a master at a wide range of guitar styles - rock, blues, psychedelic, R&B and soul. He's had a high profile this year helped by the warm reception to his third album proper, Blak And Blu. He's toured extensively and is much in demand by other bands.








32) Garbage: Not Your Kind Of People

Formed in Wisconsin back in the early 90s, Garbage are a fine rock band and noted for the striking vocal style of their lead singer, Scotland's very own Shirley Manson. They broke up for a while in the noughties, but returned this year with their first new studio album in seven years, Not Your Kind Of People, released in May.







33) Dodson & Fogg: Dodson & Fogg

One of the surprise releases this year was this self-titled album from West Yorkshire based outfit, Dodson & Fogg. The band as such is in reality musician Chris Wade's musical folk-rock project. He's managed to bring in Celia Humphries (from 70s folk-rock band Trees) and Judy Dyble (original female vocalist with Fairport Convention in 1967) and has created an album that lives both in that 70s era and the modern day. It was released in September. 






34) The Black Keys: El Camino

The Black Keys are a rock band from Akron, Ohio featuring Dan Auerbach (guitars) and Dan Carney (drums). They've managed pretty much an album a year since their formation in 2002 and the latest, El Camino, came out in January.









35) Heart: Fanatic   

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson returned as Heart with another new studio release, Fanatic. It's very much in a similar vein to their early 70s output (which is good) rather than their somewhat wayward and directionless 80s work. Originally from the US - but also based for a while in Canada's Vancouver - the album was released in October.







36) Beth Orton: Sugaring Season

It was a welcome return for Norfolk-based singer-songwriter Beth Orton who has been almost in hiatus for some 6 years. The album - Sugaring Season - is named after the time of year when the maple trees of Canada and Vermont are about ready to give up their syrup. It's been well-received  and was released in October.







37) Martha Wainwright: Come Home To Mama

Martha Wainwright's previous album was the French-language tribute to Edith Piaf, Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers a Paris. The Canadian singer-songwriter returned this year with Come Home To Mama, a release that has received much praise across North America and the UK. A stand out song is Proserpina, the last song that her mother Kate McGarrigle wrote before her death in 2011. The album was released in October.





38) Spiritualised: Sweet Heart, Sweet Light

Twenty-two years down the line from their founding in Rugby, Spiritualised returned after a four-year gap since 2008's A&E with this new release, Sweet Heart, Sweet Light. Frontman Jason Pierce spent almost a year mixing the final result, the album coming out in April.









39) John Mayer: Born And Raised

John Mayer is noted for his pop and blues sounds as well as being an actor; he comes from Connecticut and 2012 saw the release of Born And Raised - his fifth studio album. Critics have described the album as a mix of "Laurel Canyon folk and Californian country-rock".








40) Jake Bugg: Jake Bugg

Our youngest artist is 18 year-old Jake Bugg, a real discovery in this year of 2012. His songs remind one of early Bob Dylan in their intensity of lyrical content - and his virtuosity with acoustic guitar is very much becoming his trademark. His self-titled debut release came out in October.

So, There You Have It

It's a difficult exercise trying to select just 40 albums to represent the many hundreds that were released across the year of 2012. I believe there's a good mix of the sounds we play on The Musical Box and an interesting range of acts old and new. There are many other albums that could have squeezed in and I'm sure that you'll very quickly identify the ones you believe should be included. As I noted at the start of this piece, I'll be including two wild-card selections in the final run-down, so do please tell me what they ought to be.

As for the rest, well, don't forget:

• Vote for your Top 5 albums from this listing (see start of blog for details)
• Make sure your votes are in to me by midnight, December 24th.
• I'll calculate the running order based on votes cast
• The albums from 40 through to 21 will have a song from each in my December 27th show
• The albums from 20 through to 1 will have a song from each in my January 3rd show
• Name checks for those who get closest to the final top 5  

And of course, although we're not offering huge cash prizes or fancy holidays in far-flung parts of the globe, we are here to bring great music to a wider audience: so please play your part in making that continue.

There'll be a follow-up blog next week as a gentle reminder.

Happy voting!

Alan Dorey

December 14th 2012.