Albums Of 2009

As each year comes and goes I make a point of saying to myself that I must get around to doing more album reviews. Yeah, that worked out well in 2009 didn't it? Oh well, there's always next year.

Right?

So while that bright idea quickly fades into the back of my mind, here's a quick look back on three albums I thought were noteworthy from the past 12 months.

Combichrist - Today We Are All Demons

Industrial music. Not an easy genre to define these days. But recently it boils down to something approaching 'take some distorted vocals and throw them over Mac generated electronics'. Now, while there's nothing inherently wrong with that if that's your cup of tea, it's rare to find an album that really stands out and dare I say, involves actual songwriting.

With Today We Are All Demons, Andy LaPlegua has done a fine job balancing haunting gravelly vocals with pulsating synths and driving beats. What amounts is one of the better electro-industrial albums of the past few years and thoroughly recommended.

Recommended track: All Pain Is Gone.

Editors - On This Night And On This Evening

Editors are one of the surprising finds of the last few years and a personal favorite of mine. Along with their peers Interpol and She Wants Revenge, they've been (fairly or not) tagged with the 'sounds a bit like Joy Division' label. For their third album, they've gone and brought the synths in.

Moving the guitars way into the background is a gutsy move but seems to have given them a new lease of life. Tom Smith's vocals are energetic and boom out eerily reminiscent of one Mr Curtis.

Recommended track: Bricks And Mortar.

Depeche Mode - Sounds Of The Universe

In recent years Depeche Mode albums have been a mixed bag. I can't help reminiscing over their golden era with Alan Wilder at the musical helm, and for anyone not certain, go have a listen to Exciter. Not one of their finer moments. That being said, Playing The Angel was a pleasant return to form and I was really hoping that would continue with Sounds Of The Universe.

For the most part it did although I have to admit that it took a long time to grow on me. With songwriting on par with Playing The Angel, what sets this album apart is the band's return to vintage analog synths. From subtle bleeps and melodies, to pulsing basslines, the music is all the better for it. One surprising omission from the album proper, Ghost, only appears on the deluxe box set. I can't quite fathom why as it's one of their best songs of the past few years.

Recommended track: Peace.

Also Recommended From 2009...

Sometimes you don't have really anything to say about albums except, "I like them, maybe you will too". So here is that list.

The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
Marilyn Manson - The High End Of Low
Muse - The Resistance
White Lies - To Lose My Life
Nitzer Ebb - Industrial Complex
Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (yes Lily Allen)
Cold Cave - Love Comes Close