My own personal tips for 2010! No, my opinion doesn't really matter, but yes, I'm entitled to give it.

I feel like giving you all (6 followers and a few cool readers) my very own tips for 2010. It's gonna be a cracker, I reckon...

Local Natives

This five-piece American band are simply an urban version of Fleet Foxes, and are very much on their way to achieving the same success as the Fleet. The opening song to their debut album 'Gorilla Manor' is 'Wide Eyes', my personal favourite, although it confuses slightly. I simply cannot decide whether I want to revel in it's beauty and let it slowly drift me off to sleep, or whether I want to stand up and dance around the room and appreciate it's trippyness. I'd be quite happy doing either. The other stand out song that I care to mention is 'Camera Talk', a string-and-percussion happy number, with an extremely catchy chorus.

>LISTEN<

Everything Everything

I've been a fan of these since I heard them on Zane Lowe's show a few months ago, with their debut 'Photoshop Handsome'. Very much appreciated in the blogosphere and in the "Oh, look at me, I'm so indie and cool because I know this band that have totally fucking weirdo lyrics" world. Yes, incase you were wondering, they do have extremely er, odd lyrics; "Foxhound frolic on the abattoir floor, up in heaven it's symmetrical," is just an example. Yes, weird to say the least. But song 'MY KZ, UR BF' is so amazing that it makes my heart skip a beat nearly more than my own boyfriend did. Sad, yet true.

>LISTEN< 

And now, for some quickies:

Frankie and the Heartstrings

Just read my previous blog on this band, sums them up. Watch the new video for 'Fragile' and listen to the plain grooooovy 'Hunger'

Fenech-Soler

Fabulous, synth savvy, indie-electro. 'Lies' - an anthemic indie floorfiller.

Two Door Cinema Club

Painfully cool Kitsuné signed band, with some epic choruses and catchy indie beats. Listen to either, or both, if you're feeling particularly awesome, tunes 'I Can Talk' and 'Undercover Martyn'

Delphic

Slightly controversial, yet I think, perfect electro-pop. Listen to new song 'Doubt'

The Drums

Anybody who knows anything about new music has heard of this Brooklyn based band. The Drums are what would've happened if The Cure ever took the surf-pop route. Watch the new video for 'I Felt Stupid'

The Cheek

Formerly known as the charmingly named Cheeky Cheeky and the Nosebleeds, these guys have certainly matured since then, and have risen with some gloriously deep tunes. Listen to 'Hung Up'

And that's about it. But keep your eyes peeled for the BBC Sound of 2010 shortlist, so far The Drums are in 5th, and Hurts in 4th. They always seem to predict the future painstakingly perfectly. Roll on 2010, it's set out to be a bloody good one.

No 'Doubt' that Delphic are brilliant.

Delphic are currently splitting opinions. Whilst some think they are the next best indie-electro band since Klaxons, others are saying they're predictable, boring and wannabes.

Seeing as reviews are all about opinion, I'm going to give mine straight. I think they're bloody fantastic.

New single 'Doubt' is a slight progression from debut 'Counterpoint'. Annoying overlapping, monotonous voices start off the song, but as soon as the chorus kicks in, you're hooked. It's anthemic and extremely catchy. What else does a chorus have to do, other than that? The video ain't half bad, neither.

It sounds a lot more mature on the new single, and a bit more thought has gone into how it can become more commercial. Considering this band are on the BBC Sound of 2010 poll, I think next year is going to be a massive year for Delphic. They're touring, album out mid-January and this time next year, everyone is going to know about them.

Listen to it >here<

I'd eat Late of the Pier's 'Blueberry' muffin.

Late of the Pier are finally back! Aren't we all glad to have them around again? Don't all shout at once, kids...

'Blueberry', at first, seems typical LOTP style; overlapped instrumental craziness. There's a certain Big Pink feel to the first 36 seconds, to be precise... Then the voice of Sam Eastgate is introduced. Both beautiful and haunting, it's not too often we get to hear his voice so untouched and angelic without the sound of absolute insanity overpowering. There's going to be plenty of David Bowie comparisons, that's for sure.

Synth heavy and really quite appealing, this will no doubt become an indie anthem rather soon.

If this song really were a foodstuff in the form of a blueberry, I'd happily suckle it dry.

Listen to it >here<

Zane Lowe - bit of a hero, I'd say

Not only has this New Zealand born DJ opened my ears to beautiful music over the past year or so through his Radio 1 show, but he also presents what is, in my eyes, the best, and most entertaining, music programme on TV - Gonzo.

I am happy to spread my passion for men in music, as seen before with Frank Turner and the like, but it's almost too hard for me to express my feelings for Zane. Wow, I sound like a fucking pervert, but seriously, he's a big influence on me.

It's great how he isn't a one genre man... he spreads the word of all. From British hip-hop to house, from dubstep to the best in new alternative music, there's no doubting he's a rather respected figure in music. Most DJ's nowadays stick to one genre - Huw Stevens and his indie, Annie Mac and her dance... I understand that's the way it is, but I reckon we need more open-minded DJ's like Zane.

And just to top it all off, once upon a time he saved Ryan Jarmans life at the NME awards all the way back in 2006. Imagine life without The Cribs in it? Nah, me either. If Zane hadn't of raised the alarm that Ryan was lying in a corridor bleeding like a fuckwit, that would of meant I wouldn't of met Ryan himself earlier this year, and wow, that'd be an utter travesty.

BBC Radio has got some great shows. I reckon most people think of BBC Radio as a 'mainstream pop with the occasional bit of indie-wankerness' type of radio station, but switch over to BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq show on at about 4 or 5 in the evening, and feel your ears melt in a flurry of orgasmic music, and of course, Zane Lowe's show at 7 on Radio 1.

I am now bored of my own BBC related rambling, therefore will end this with blog with a full stop. As you do.

BBC Sound of 2010

Once again, it's time.

Last year, Little Boots was the winner. Boy, she's done rather bloody well this year, hasn't she? It seems the bigwigs that decide the longlist for the BBC Sound of 2010 are mighty fine talent spotters. Fortunately, I'm feeling pretty musically intelligent right now for knowing (and loving) half of the bands on the list. You can see the full longlist >here<, but I'll just have a quick ramble about a few of the bands...

First up, The Drums. Well, they're probably the only band about at the moment that is truly living up to the hype. NME really shags the arse off of them. As do I. Their 'Summertime!' EP suggests that we have a 21st century Cure on our hands...

Delphic - electronic rock at it's best. Single 'Counterpoint' is really rather orgasmic. Friendly Fires-esque loveliness with high appeal.

Two Door Cinema Club - I'm a really big fan of these at the moment. Touring with The Wombats last year, they bring a new, refreshing twist to the currently dead indie-pop scene. Listen to new single 'I Can Talk'.

And now, Ellie Goulding. Whether you recognize the name or not, I can guarantee that you've heard her debut 'Under the Sheets' at some point recently - electro-pop with an unbearably catchy chorus. Precisely as my Dad said - it's as if Bjork and Kate Bush had a baby. It seems the BBC said exactly the same thing. Wise man.

Everything Everything in my eyes, are so fresh that they can't possibly fit into a genre. 'Photoshop Handsome' is lyrical nonsense, yet awfully hypnotizing. A bit of a fucking corker, I'd say.

Then there's Stornoway - close to my heart because they too are from my native Oxford. Recently appearing on Later with Jools Holland, it's clear to see that folk is coming back into fashion, with Mumford & Sons in the picture aswell...

Last but not least, Marina & the Diamonds. Marina's voicebox and face both being beautiful is rather annoying for me, yet there's no denying she and her band are gonna be big next year. Obviously, I suppose, as they've been on the NME Radar tour this year, and now their being on this list. To round off this band very quickly, Marina & the Diamonds create dreamy pop.

That's not all who is on the list. Giggs, a hurrendously flat-voiced grime artist from South London with no apparent idea as to what music is; Devlin, who is just such a bad R&B/Rapper that I can't be bothered to even waste time typing about him; Joy Orbison, a future dance producing hero; but now I do not feel obliged to comment on any of the other people on this list as I haven't yet checked them out. I should probably go do that now...

Frankie & The Heartstrings - a revolution is coming, I can feel it in my ears.

The retro-pop revival is absolutely on the way... the movement headed by Sunderland newcomers Frankie & The Heartstrings. The fact that Pete Gofton's (guitarist) sister is a certain Lauren Laverne, (indie type who mainly presents teen music programmes on T4 for the musically under-privalidged) has probably helped them on their way to the mini-stardom they're nearly at. Having recently supported The Drums, and about to support Florence + The Machine on their tour next month, it seems that they should soon finally be getting the recognition they deserve.

F&THS are about to release their debut on December 7th via Rough Trade. The two track single contains 'Hunger', an irresistible head-bopping sing-a-long that makes you want to pull down your trousers and do a little dance, and 'Fragile', a soothing XX/Black Lips-esque beauty. Also, random tune 'Possibilities' is available to download here.

In Frankie & The Heartstrings own words, "it's about time." It really is. It's about time to bring some life and soul back into the drained indie party.

misery makes me creative.

So I'm feeling quite unwanted in the world. Who do I turn to? My Dad, friends, boyfriend, some randomer off the internet? Nope. Mister Fucking Music, that's who. Mainly in the form of Frank Turner, as per usual.

As said before in the last post, Frank Turner defines my life. His lyrics are like poetry to my ears. When I went to go see him at Oxford O2 Academy in October, I've actually never felt so united with the human kind before. Normally, I'm a miserable bitch who doesn't particularly like people, but at that particular moment, whilst Frank was trawling through the classics (and future classics), the feeling of unity I felt was truly overwhelming. All through the night I had some sexy, indie, pissed-out-of-his-face kinda guy holding my hand, looking into my eyes and singing every single lyric. Every single one. What sort of an artist has literally everyone in the crowd praying to him? 

Because Frank Turner isn't exactly your mainstream artist, it means you don't get indie-wankers coming to his gig just because he's 'cool' or whatever. (I'm referring to most of the twats that went to the Passion Pit gig, you know you only knew a couple of songs; 'Sleepyhead' and 'The Reeling'). Fans don't just relate to the one or two songs... because his lyrics are actually true to life, meaningful and poetic in every way, shape and form, this means that he has TRUE fans. I may be young, but I'm not naive when it comes to music. I know it's hard for a band/artist to form an army of loyal troopers. But he's only gone and bloody done it.

Frank Turner, not only are you my hero, but you are a fucking God to so many people.